:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Japan Anima(tor)'s Exhibition

© nihon animator mihonichi, LLP
(Picture Source: Edited from Official Site (banner image))

Japan Anima(tor)'s Exhibition

Official Site: Japanese/English
Video (Free {Streaming}): Japanese with English Subtitles

For a while, I have been searching around for a short anime (particularly an independant) to spotlight for Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month. I really couldn't settle on anything in particular, so the idea fell onto the backburner. Thankfully, the arrival of the "Japan Anima(tor)'s Exhibition" fulfilled what I was looking for, and more.

A collaboration between Hideaki Anno's Studio Khara and niconico's parent company, Dwango, the short film project aims to feature a (very) broad range of animated work forms, from promotional videos to music videos to short form work—not being bound to any particular genre, style, or much content restraint. Contributing towards its insight into the future of anime production are many veterans hailing the annals of Anno's catalog, including the likes of Kazuya Tsurumaki, Mahiro Maeda, Hiroyuki Imaishi, and Anno himself (plus many more well-known artists, including two familiar Ghibli names…).

The current tally of titles is nine, with the first four being a PV and three versions of the opener starring the Anno-created mascot "(TOR) kun". They are comprised of little bits of animation done by different animators back at Khara, but the Dwango version was complied by amateurs at the non-anime-making company, who turn in a hilarious effort. But what made me smile, besides the humor, was seeing the creativity and warmth for the medium in the creations. As an admirer of animation, seeing a project like this, especially with the names attached and the behind-the-scenes and production materials posted on the website, is a real treat (there is also a contest being held for fan-created renditions of the OP). It is also reminiscent of the old OVA anthologies and recent, similar efforts such as Anime Mirai.

This digital distro venture is being streamed free, with an Japanese/English toggle for the site and an English subtitles option for the videos. A heads-up, though: while the PV, OPs, and some of the fuller features are safe-for-work, works like "ME!ME!ME!" (definitely) and "Carnage" are very much not. The content in the videos may not be suitable to everyone's taste, either, but so goes the territory. Still, hopefully you will find something enjoyable in this and what one can do in the world of animation—not just anime.