UlasanAnime.com – As a child, I was the inquisitive type, always wanting to understand the “why” behind things. The thrill of discovery and comprehending how things worked was a profound feeling for me. While not particularly handy, I also enjoyed reverse-engineering objects. This habit, I believe, I inherited from my father, who did the same. My approach differed from simply taking things apart; I aimed to model the inner workings in my mind and internalize them. For me, writing things down was symbolic, a way to create a physical representation of what was in my head. In this regard, I haven’t changed much over the decades.
Shirobako, the new anime from PA Works that delves into the operations of a fictional animation studio, resonated with me deeply, reinforcing my feelings about anime. It’s difficult to articulate, hence the preamble about my childhood self. When I read a book, watch an anime, or engage with similar media, my inner reverse-engineer operates in much the same way. My reaction to the abrupt and grim conclusion of Aldnoah.Zero’s first cour, for instance, wasn’t purely emotional; I found myself questioning the narrative choices. After decades of asking “why,” as a dedicated anime viewer, my chain of questions inevitably extends beyond the work itself, reaching into its creation. I paid attention early on to who was making the content I consumed. This is partly why I became a seiyuu otaku.
What struck me most from the first episode of Shirobako was the passion of the production staff for making anime. This isn’t about pretty girls making pacts over doughnuts as they graduate, but rather the profound impact of animation itself, independent of the story, acting, music, or scenario. Shirobako illustrates the diverse range of individuals within an animation studio, each with distinct tasks, experience levels, and skills. This complexity is challenging to convey through words or even actions, and that’s what makes Shirobako so artful to me from episode one – its ability to communicate this passion.
However, I must ask: why the cool car chase? A realistic portrayal of the Japanese animation process might not be inherently exciting, unless one finds joy in juggling resources to meet deadlines, where LOEs and time estimates are more like loose guidelines than firm commitments. For me, that sounds more like work than play, and perhaps that’s true for Shirobako’s intended audience. So, perhaps that’s the reason for the car chase. Or maybe a bicycle chase would have been more fitting? I’m unfamiliar with the role of production assistants or the last time an anime about making anime was released, such as Animation Runner Kuromi. It’s unsurprising, given the nature of a runner’s job and how an assistant touches many facets of the animation process, that this role serves as a natural focal point for the narrative.
I eagerly anticipate seeing what the line producer is like, LOL. This is distinct from the President:
In that context, I felt Shirobako E1 truly focused on the animators and how they communicate with us through their animation—not to be confused with the script, plot, designs, or other elements. While those are important, they work in conjunction with the actual animation. It’s akin to when the director and runners collaborate to find someone with the appropriate skills and experience to cover missing cuts.
Allow me to offer some annotation using the ED. It prominently features the individuals who worked on episode one, which is incredibly fitting. And by “prominently features,” I mean it quite literally.
In a sense, anime transforms ideas into reality. It is also a form of representation. But, like most things, it all begins on paper.
Observe the sequence of credits. Note that the credit scroll is presented quite directly. It’s highly appropriate.
Wait, this guy was watching anime in his car? What a legend. Is that even legal in Japan, LOL. That said, listening to seiyuu radio featuring your high school buddy as a guest, on the show you’re working on, probably signifies something important. I truly appreciate this detail because it illustrates that these individuals share a common passion, even as rivals.
Motion capture using optical markers is quite standard. But why baseball? I hope someone can explain that. I mean, moe anime, right? Dancing, right? Baseball? This isn’t Sunrise.
Sunset, huh.
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Why does PA Works continue to produce anime that deeply resonate with me? Sigh.
