Ani*Kuri15

This series demonstrating the work of fifteen animators and directors is simultaneously a compact overview of the style of the studios for which they work and, unfortunately, a summary of the state of the anime industry at the time the series was made. There are a handful of very distinctive artists here who have a bold style of their own, especially in terms of atmosphere, themes and drawing – Makoto Shinkai (cats), Michael Arias (children with a robot), Shoji Kawamori (alien attack on NHK) and Satoshi Kon (good morning). Then there is Mamoru Oshia (mermaid), who does her own thing and does not look back at anything or anyone. Besides them, there are a few artists – especially Shinji Kimura (low-budget alien invasion), Kazuto Nakazawa (a day in the life of an animator) – who captivate with their works, from which, however, it is also possible to see that even though animators and designers are sought-after specialists, it is difficult to expect from them as directors or creative artists anything more than one-off gags. (2016.09.28)