The collapse of anime’s mentorship systems and the attempts to fix them aren’t new. At its peak 10 years ago, the Young Animator Training Project produced Little Witch Academia and Death Billiards while raising new talent—but did it succeed, and what’s their legacy now?
Anime isn’t escaping unscathed from these turbulent times, so we’ve got a bit of a special season preview: focused not just on the new Spring anime that look like the most interesting gatherings of talent, but also those best prepared to weather the storm and avoid falling apart.
SSSS.GRIDMAN‘s not losing any momentum, with interesting new reveals boosted by very purposeful directorial choices… but also quite the controversy (or not really) regarding the production that we thought should be addressed before it gets out of hand.
It’s time to look at a handful of notable opening and ending sequences from this season of anime, briefly disclosing the staff that made them possible and highlighting their particular strengths. Since people were fond of this concept last time, I went ahead and decided to make it into a recurring thing. Enjoy!
Super Yoshinari Bros.
Little Witch Academia, Big Animation Festival.