Ani*Kuri15
Synopsis
15 one-minute shorts created by various people from Japan's animation industry. The title of the collection, Ani*Kuri15, is abbreviated from the words "anime" and "creators". Season One Shinji Kimura (Studio 4°C; Art Director, Steamboy) - title: Attack of Higashimachi Ni Chome/Attack of Higashimachi 2nd Burough Shōjirō Nishimi (Studio 4°C; Character Designer, Tekkonkinkreet) - Uchujin Raikou Hiroshi no Baai/Invasion from Space - Hiroshi's Case Akemi Hayashi (Gainax; Character Designer, Fruits Basket) - Namida no Mukou/From the Other Side of the Tears Osamu Kobayashi (Madhouse; Art/Mecha Desgin, Gungrave) - Sancha Blues/The Aromatic Tea Blues Yasufumi Soejima (Gonzo; 3D/CG Director, Last Exile) - Hyotoko/Blaze Man Season Two Atsushi Takeuchi (Production I.G; Mecha Design, Ghost in the Shell) - Wandaba Kiss Mamoru Oshii (Production I.G; Director, Ghost in the Shell) - Project Mermaid Kazuto Nakazawa (Studio 4°C; First Unit Director, Kill Bill Chapter 3: The Origin of O-Ren from Kill Bill: Volume 1) - "yurururu" ~Nichijou Hen~ Ranji Murata (Gonzo; Character Design, Blue Submarine No. 6) and Tatsuya Yabuta (Gonzo; Story Design, Final Fantasy VII) - Gyrosopter Tobira Oda (Original Manga, Danchi Tomō) and Yasuyuki Shimizu (Key Animation, Naruto (movies)) (Studio 4°C) - Supaatsu Taisa/Colonel Sports Season Three Michael Arias (Studio 4°C; Director, Tekkonkinkreet) - Okkakekko Makoto Shinkai (Comix Wave Film; Director, The Place Promised in Our Early Days) - Neko no Shuukai/A Gathering of Cats Shōji Kawamori (Satelight; Director, The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?) - Project Omega Mahiro Maeda (Gonzo; Director, Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo) - Onmitsu Hime/Princess Onmitsu Satoshi Kon (Madhouse; Director, Paprika) - Ohayō/Good Morning
Audience Consensus
Ani*Kuri15 is generally appreciated for its experimental nature and diverse animation styles, offering a quick glimpse into the minds of various talented animators. While some shorts stand out more than others, the overall experience is a mixed bag due to the constraints of the one-minute format. The anthology is best suited for animation enthusiasts who appreciate creative concepts over cohesive narratives.
Strengths
- Diverse animation styles and techniques showcased.
- Creative and memorable concepts within a short timeframe.
- Features renowned animators, offering a glimpse into their creativity.
Weaknesses
- Uneven quality across shorts, with some episodes displaying dated CGI or weak narratives.
- Limited character development and story depth due to the one-minute format.
- Some shorts are too abstract or weird, hindering broader audience appeal.