Through a lively conversation with Shino, who talks about characters and works, I gained very deep insights into the role of animators in the animation production process.
I learned a lot about how Shino meticulously depicts the movements and emotions of characters. Shino can be said to play the role of an "actor" rather than just being an animator.
In many parts of the animation industry, there is a technical division of labor, with each animator specializing in specific skills or actions. However, in Shino's case, there is an emphasis on telling stories through the psychology and emotions of characters. This is very close to the idea of "animator = actor" seen in North America. Each movement in Shino's work has meaning, and there is a deep background to "why this movement".
The expression "actor-like animation" that Shino mentioned during the recording captures animation as something beyond just moving characters, opening up the potential for it to be a rich artistic form of emotional expression. I feel that how much we respect and utilize the creativity and individuality of animators in animation production will greatly contribute to the future development of the animation industry.
What Shino particularly emphasizes is the instantaneous interaction between characters and situations, showing more interest in how to capture and express each moment rather than the long-term movements of the mind. This approach seems to draw out a new charm of animation (though new, it is actually a primitive charm) and suggests the possibility of providing viewers with a new experience. Can it make a significant impact on the current story-driven anime?
In conclusion, I feel once again that animation is not just a means of entertainment, but a powerful medium that enables emotional resonance and artistic expression. When animators pour their hearts into every gesture of the characters, their works gain depth and become unforgettable for the audience.
Through this recording, I was able to reaffirm the importance of the creative process in animation production and how crucial the expressiveness of each animator is.
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(Written by: Yuki Sakoda)