Shopping Guide
Those longing to produce anime and work toward building the future of anime are many in number and are likely to choose to attend a technical school, like an art school where they can take animation courses or a school that will train them to be a pro, at which they can study anime. There, they will learn how to make anime and get practical training producing anime through a variety of tasks. Additional projects include creating their own independent anime with their friends, with the finished work being graded and critiqued. From this, students are able to learn what their areas of weakness are and improve. This process is thought to have been in place for many years.
However, unlike anime of the past, the current realm of anime production allows for anyone to create an independent anime. This is due to the use of computers and digital tools. Long ago, there were nothing but cheap works like kamishibai 1. Even though these independent anime don’t hold a candle to anime produced with a pro staff, there are still works among them that are very high in quality. Let’s take a look at a few.
]Tete’s Fumiko’s Confession, for example, depicts such detailed environments, one wouldn’t think that it is an independent work. Another is Okada Takuya’s work titled Children, a satire on Japan’s current school system, which doesn’t respect individuality. It is a splendid work colored with many important messages.
Many other independent artists have uploaded their works that span many genres onto YouTube for viewers to watch at their leisure, including May by Shiori Abe, Cutie Angel by Cavach, Miyako by Rabbit Machine, Naka Naka Nakanaori by the hand-drawn anime production group Braun Tube, Chiisana Koneko by s0000000blind, and more.
Due to animation production software, it has become possible for anyone to make a short two or three minute anime in roughly no time at all. However, even in such a short work, it is difficult for creators to include their personalities and the themes they want to get across. Moreover, in cases where the anime will be officially debuted to an audience, music and a sense of direction are also needed. Those who can produce such independent anime can surely be declared people blessed with talent. It can be said that all the names mentioned about are creators who fall into this category. We look forward to see who from among them will rise up and lead the future generation of anime.
■ Tete
YouTube Page
■ Shiori Abe aka Hanadi
YouTube Page
Personal Site
■ Cavach
YouTube Page
■ Okada Takuya
YouTube Page
■ Rabbit Machine
YouTube Page
Personal Site
■ Braun Tube
YouTube Page
■ s0000000blind
YouTube Page
^1^ Kamishibai is a form of storytelling using paper drawings that originated in ancient Japan.
