We’re back with another lengthy Sarazanmai piece that focuses on Kunihiko Ikuhara’s unique storytelling, including shortcomings that the team is aware of and is attempting to address in an interesting, thematically-appropriate way. As usual, plenty of production & staff details and all sorts of fun speculation too!
Sarazanmai coverage is back with an extensive analysis of Kunihiko Ikuhara’s storytelling practices, the contributions of other creators involved, the meaning hiding behind certain recurring imagery, the state of the production, and some speculation fueled by endlessly rewatching this fascinating cartoon.
Sarazanmai‘s wild ride continues, which means it’s time to learn more about Kunihiko Ikuhara‘s creative mindset and the perfectly fitting team he assembled for the second episode’s needs.
Sarazanmai marks the return of Kunihiko Ikuhara, one of anime’s most brilliant and socially conscious directors. While it’s still too early to unravel his many playful mysteries, we had to take our time to detail his team’s unique directorial approach and address some deeply rooted misunderstandings about the production.
One of the keys to Kunihiko Ikuhara’s success is his ability to surround himself by creators who fit his aesthetic but also thematic needs, no matter the artistic field those people belong to. So while his upcoming TV series Sarazanmai is still a ways to go, there’s a lot we can infer already, and much to analyze about the way he operates.
In today’s collection of writing topics, we dive into the neat staffing changes at Kyoto Animation to further improve working conditions, how Spy x Family‘s co-production has further adjusted (and struggled) to accommodate a big workload, and the production of some lovely Pokemon web series.
Tomohiro Furukawa draws from the philosophy and methods of living legends like Mamoru Oshii, Hideaki Anno, and his mentor Kunihiko Ikuhara. He reconstructs their teaching and his influences from countless fields into a unique thrilling style—that’s Revue Starlight The Movie, and what he calls experience-centric anime.
It’s no secret that Spy x Family is a co-production between Studio WIT and CloverWorks, but what’s the backstory behind that deal, what does it involve, and what are the dynamics, history, and intent of anime co-productions in the first place?
Kaguya-sama: Love is War Season 2 came to an end with big surprises: touching moments that recontextualized entire relationships, and plenty of non-standard production decisions that allowed it to punch way above its weight, with a flexible team that enabled spectacular individual performances. Time for a last look at the show!
Our animation awards continue with the aesthetics that have impacted fans and industry members the most: the most inspired art direction and color design, the animation designs that fulfill their goals the best, and most striking compositing to bring it all together!