Shopping Guide
A promotional video for Shirobako, an original TV anime that will begin broadcasting this October, was released on Aug. 18 on the official site. The PV was also shown at the Warner booth at Comic Market 86 from Aug. 15-17. Now that Comic Market is over, the PV has been widely released. The video is roughly 2 minutes long and has quite a few highlights. The characters, who work in the anime industry, are vividly depicted.
Those who watch the PV will understand that the anime is unique in that it depicts the anime industry. The genre given to the anime is “anime industry drama,” and there doesn’t seem to be any other theme. This theme is also expressed in the title, “Shirobako.” Shirobako refers to the video tapes held in white boxes that are used in the industry. They take on a completely new form when the video is finished. They differ from the flashy packaging used for selling purposes and are named “shirobako” solely for being placed in a white box.
Shirobako focuses on five struggling girls and puts a spotlight on the anime industry. Even among anime fans, a topic of constant popularity is the inner workings of the anime industry, and it seems this anime will show a portion of what the industry is really like.
In addition to the release of the PV, the staff and cast have also been revealed. Also announced are the artists in charge of the opening and ending themes as well as the songs themselves.
On the staff side, there is a lineup of hitmakers that includes Tsutomu Mizushima as director, Michiko Yokote as the series composer, Ponkan8 as the character designer, and Kanami Sekiguchi as the animation character designer. The animation is being produced by P.A. Works.
The opening theme is “Colorful Box” sung by Yōko Ishida. This title also has an anime industry feel to it. The ending theme is sung by Juri Kimura, Haruka Yoshimura, and Haruka Chisuga as their respective characters (Aoi Miyamori, Emma Yasuhara, and Shizuka Sakaki). A CD including both these songs will release on Nov. 26.
[Staff]
Director: Tsutomu Mizushima
Series Composer: Michiko Yokote
Original Character Designer: Ponkan8
Animation Character Designer: Kanami Sekiguchi
Production: Infinite
Animation Production: P.A. Works
[Cast]
Aoi Miyamori: Juri Kimura
Emma Yasuhara: Haruka Yoshimura
Shizuka Sakaki: Haruka Chisuga
Misa Tōdō: Asami Takano
Midori Imai: Hitomi Owada
Source: animeanime
