(L+CR) Shirobako (Mizushima Tsutomu and PA Works)

[SQA]

Originally Posted by Peanutbutter

Looks like the change was justified after all. Now I'm pretty sure I seen that kind of emotional expression in some other series. Anyone kind enough to give me an example?

The way things get cut too close churns my stomach though, because I'm reminded of my workplace issues...

They used the hyper-expressive face on Hanekawa during the opening of ep 15 of Bakemonogatari. It's where I remember something similar. I've seen it pop up a few other places. It does work really well though, in the right place.

Though, sometimes, dropping that good of animation randomly in an episode can be a bit shocking of an adjustment.

[Flower]

Ep 03

Count me in as someone who also enjoyed this ep, but also as someone who would like to see more character development. The production process is interesting enough and all; while thus far the series is mildly interesting and engaging, the characters are kinda nondescript to me - the few that stand out have quirky exteriors (i.e. "send them to the goth-loli" ).

OP seems okay, but still feely awkward in places. The ED is eminently forgettable for me. *cough cough*

[aohige]

I'm impressed with the main character's actress, Kimura Juli.
She's a fresh newcomer to the seiyuu industry yet her acting is veteran level.
All her emotions are expressed pretty naturally.

Most newbie seiyuus just sound stiff and "bou-engi"

[Pellissier]

I also enjoyed ep. 3, and as mini arc this "episode 4 production" is appreciable, but after three frantic episodes I feel that this anime can't go ahead like this every week.

As mentioned in this thread, it feels a lot like a documentary more than a normal series. But the thing with documentaries is that they're usually slow and give you detailed and well explained informations, while this one throws you so many notions at light speed, that I'd find it difficult to enjoy in the long ride if it stays like this, unless you're one inside that business or in a similar one.

So a bit more focus on the characters' lives, some events unrelated to episodes' production, I'd appreciate that. Not to mention, we were introduced to 5 main characters in the first episode, but for the moment just one shines. I still find the show brilliant in what it's doing / trying to do, I just hope it will expand its boundaries.

[Haak]

To be honest, I'm actually hoping it sticks to this docudrama formula simply because it gives so much insight into something I enjoy and I highly doubt I'll see anything like this anytime soon. It may hurt the development of the characters and make them feel flat, but right now I feel like I can get character drama elsewhere and don't need it here.

[Peanutbutter]

I actually like the series so far, though we dun get much character insight and story so far.

For character insight, I am thinking that we are done with Miyamori's "arc", and we will move to the next one, the new seiyuu girl in the next one. So essentially, if this is to last two cours, we basically will go through all the main 5 girls and their work, plus or minus a few.

The rest of the cast are essentially support characters, and we will only get to know bits and parts of them. (No story on goth loli-sama then. )

For story, this is a slice-of-life about anime production, and I'm more interested to know how everything works behind the scenes and how everyone plays their roles. If I get that instead of character development, I'm fine.

The production values of this series is pretty good imo. Just look at the faces of Miyamori here. And to be honest, I've been watching every episode a few times, just to see if there's anything I missed.

Maybe this is a breath of fresh air to me, seeing more working slice of life series, rather than school slice of life with either fuwa fuwa/emo kids.

[Kazu-kun]

This isn't slice of life though, it's a drama. You know, how ER or House are medical drama. Well, this is like that but with anime production instead of medical procedures. In a medical drama, every episode is about solving a medical problem. In this series every episode is about solving a problem in the production of an anime series. It's the same thing.

[Guardian Enzo]

Actually, the tone for me quite often crosses into the mockumentary category - i.e. Christopher Guest's films and the one he learned it from, Spinal Tap. At those moments Shirobako plays like a Waiting for Guffman for the anime industry.

[Archon_Wing]

Episode 3: PA Works steals my next episode's gag title and I am not sure what to do now!



That's amazing. I wonder when they're gonna put Arcanu Flyer into this anime.

With a bout of inspiration, the team thrusts ahead to making the changes. However the perils of the internet and bad luck prove to be quite the stressors. No wonder everyone eats so much.

Images

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

As a side note, that Taro guy (is it a coincidence that he shares a name with Jiromaru) is so shit. Typical PA male >.>

This was a pretty good episode. It didn't really push through too many points but I like how it captured the characters stresses that make every moment seem like an eternity. Really promising series, even if they do have twice the time to fuck it up this time, though I feel a lot more confident. Yea, I've said that before a lot too.

[jeroz]

This is how a master does it. Simple and elegant.

[Crossheart]

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

This isn't slice of life though, it's a drama.

Isn't more like a "Slice of work" ?

[Peanutbutter]

Originally Posted by jeroz

This is how a master does it. Simple and elegant.

Can any artist give me a simple layman explanation of the significance of what she did?

[Kazu-kun]

Originally Posted by Crossheart

Isn't more like a "Slice of work" ?

If I had to classify it, I'd say this series is a "anime production dramedy."

[SQA]

Originally Posted by Peanutbutter

Can any artist give me a simple layman explanation of the significance of what she did?

The chin wasn't properly defined, so it blended lower, changing the facial structure of the cut.

It's literally working off the exact same visual cue they used within the gif there. Which was actually pretty clever.

A lot of character & art design is about things like "shade color" and "line thickness". Though it wasn't *that* big of a difference, within that cut. It was a bit overly dramatic.

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by Peanutbutter

Can any artist give me a simple layman explanation of the significance of what she did?

I'm not an artist, but I can offer my own opinion - Good, clear, solid lines are often useful for adding a sense of depth and simple professionalism to character designs.

In this specific case, it helps to ensure that the character's face doesn't appear overly flat or ethereal. It makes the character's face feel solid, and give a sense of depth (which can aid viewer immersion when you're dealing with a 2D visual medium).

[Pocari_Sweat]

Talking about chins, no pointy chins time for PA . Migrated to FSN to Rin's design.

[desrtsku]

Originally Posted by Haak

To be honest, I'm actually hoping it sticks to this docudrama formula simply because it gives so much insight into something I enjoy and I highly doubt I'll see anything like this anytime soon. It may hurt the development of the characters and make them feel flat, but right now I feel like I can get character drama elsewhere and don't need it here.

I essentially agree with this. I'm watching this because I've always wanted to see in motion picture what's going on inside my favourite studios, especially the scheduling issues. I have little to no interest in what they do outside of their work.

Originally Posted by Peanutbutter

For character insight, I am thinking that we are done with Miyamori's "arc", and we will move to the next one, the new seiyuu girl in the next one. So essentially, if this is to last two cours, we basically will go through all the main 5 girls and their work, plus or minus a few.

The rest of the cast are essentially support characters, and we will only get to know bits and parts of them. (No story on goth loli-sama then. )

Assuming this is correct, Ema is a rookie key animator in Miyamori's studio, isn't she? So, I firmly believe we'll get more of Ogasawara and probably Erika too in the future. That much is enough to sustain me in the cute girls department.

[SamCurt]

I suppose these are completely technical.

1. In episodes 2 and 3 there was a bit character, Goutaro Katsushiro, that is listed by both CR and Cthuko as "Maker Producer." The "maker" in the title actually refers to the the company producing the BD/DVDs--I would translate it "Publisher," but it's grammatically awkward.
2. While I'm sure any episode of anime that is send to the broadcaster can safely fit on a BD (or even a DVD), I wonder, these days, will they just transfer it over the network? This would leave "Shiro bako" a very figurative term.

[Triple_R]

I'd welcome a slower-paced "filler episode" at some point just to flesh out the main cast more (this is one show where I might like to see a beach/hot springs episode ). But aside from that, I agree with Haak on the docudrama formula. It's probably best if the show sticks to that for the vast majority of its episodes.

[tsunade666]

I just watched all 3 episode and I love it. its a fresh show to me because it shows insight on how animation was produced it also show how hard it is to create an anime with all the different group or production in work and all them working together. its just marvelous but WHY OH WHY!!! when I'm watching this I kept remember how bad log hora and dai toshokan's animation is. Why can't they put the same effort there or does it have the same effort? I don't know. But I'm really loving this show.