Taku Kishimoto and The Art of Writing for Anime

Taku Kishimoto and The Art of Writing for Anime.

This week in Tokyo we were introduced by writer Taku Kishimoto to The Art of Writing for Anime.

What is the job of a writer for anime and manga? Japanese screenwriters write original stories, working with the director and producer to come up with new material.

Anime stories have a certain structure; successful writers for anime learn to follow this structure, but at the same time they must find originality and invention within this framework.

Kazuyoshi Takeuchi and The Art of Character Design

Kazuyoshi Takeuchi

Today in Tokyo Japanese animator and character designer Kazuyoshi Takeuchi introduced students to the art of Japanese character design, exploring manga, anime and Japanese design techniques. 

Kazuyoshi Takeuchi has over 75 animation credits to his name, including the legendary "Akira", which was the foundational moment of his career.  He described it as "a great honour" to work with Akira director Katsuhiro Otomo. 

Hikaru Yajima and The Art of Manga

Manga artist Hikaru Yajima and Baton no Hoshi

Today in Tokyo manga artist  Hikaru Yajima introduced the art of manga, an art form she adopted after leaving her corporate career. 

Manga forms much of the source material for Japanese anime, part of what gives Japanese animation its unique character and flavour.  

In today's workshop students had the opportunity to draw their own manga panels, with a theme set by Hikaru Yajima. 

Shirotomo Aizawa: Japanese Art, History & Culture

Shirotomo Aizawa on Japanese Art

Today in Tokyo the composer and multimedia creator Shirotomo Aizawa introduced his audience of animators to Japanese history, art and culture.  

Shirotomo Aizawa explained that Japanese culture was historically influenced by China, but grew and developed to have its own unique cultural identity. 

The origins of manga and anime can be found in Japan's unique cultural history and identity. 

Keisuke Mori and The Art of Voice Over for Anime

Japanese anime voice actor Keisuke Mori

Japanese anime voice actor Keisuke Mori gave a talk  in Tokyo this morning about his career performing voice overs for Japanese anime.  His credits include the 2018 film Mirai.

Voice actors have to have to be able to perform a wide range of voices in order to do multiple characters. Vocal range is the key, the ability to perform in multiple different voices and styles.

Keisuke Mori explained that his voice is an instrument, one that he has learned to play over many years of practice working in anime. 

Mitsunori Murata, "Akira" and Japanese Animation

Mitsunori Murata 

Today in Tokyo we learned from master animator Mitsunori Murata about the process of making animated films in Japan. 

Mitsunori Murata has worked over 50 Japanese animation films including the legendary "Akira", released in 1988, and Ghost in The Shell. 

How are animated films made in Japan? The answer is that the process is fundamentally very similar to how things are done in the west, but with some unique Japanese features.