Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Rain Town, A work by Ishida Hiroyasu. What became of this graduate??


Watch this short animation and then tell me if you felt the wonder.
                                            

On my persistent search for the best and easy to use animation I embarked on last year as my interest in animation grew. I stumbled on this marvelous video after finally finding the acclaimed animation programmed that was indeed used to make this (it's TVPaint if you wondered...you're welcome). I knew that there is a certain amount of satisfaction and feel of self-reward when you find something you so desperately searched for, but I never knew karma could be this generous.

Rainy Town is a work by the kyoto Seika University  graduate Hiroyasu "Tete" Ishida that was released in march 2011. The work at hand was his graduation project, so it's safe to assume he passed with ease (excluding the hard work on the project of course). Yes, this short film that received a countless amount of positive reception by both the YouTube community and the few members of My Anime List.



Hiroyasu Ishida



11 months and one blog later I find myself puzzled about the fact that all my search for his name on Google ended in vein. While that may have been acceptable last year, it raises some question right now concerning the fact that there are no more new project of this man. I tried his Twitter but that was not an option ( Japanese? Translator please...). I searched the few fan sites and blogs I could find and found only the picture at your left... Seriously the enigma of this 21 year old artist (possibly 22 year old now) whereabouts and current projects is haunting the corners of my mind every time I see this  beautiful shot film and it's short yet rich in content 



       In this town, since who knows when, rain has never stopped.
"rain town."
People's memories are now deeply submerged.
But into this forgotten rainy town
sometimes, someone wanders.
Residents moved out to suburbs and high ground around

That smart bit of text made me interested even before I knew what this was. So did the soundtrack let's not forget that one. 

Source: Click here

Also I thank This blog for confirmation that this was indeed made with TV Paint. Click on it they have the pictures proving it!
Now I'm going to leave with a strong note... Well not really,I'm just going to add that one artist such as Hiroyasu Ishida should not be forgotten. If you can captivate an audience with inspiring animation made by one mind, then lord knows what he'll pull out of his sleeves with enough funding and a devoted team. Think about it, and feel free to comment.


M.


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Sunday, February 26, 2012

Princess Mononoke (1997), reason why Hayao Miyazaki is awesome #1.

Seriously how did you not see this ?
Directed & Written by: Hayao Miyazaki and Produced by Ghibli Studios (Also known as the people who made My Neighbor Totoro

Awards

  • Best Picture; The 21st Japanese Academy Awards
  • Best Japanese Movie, Best Animation, and Japanese Movie Fans' Choice; The 52nd Mainichi Film Award
  • Best Japanese Movie and Readers' Choice; Asahi Best Ten Film Festival
  • Excellent Movie Award; The Agency for Cultural Affairs
  • Grand Prize in Animation Division; 1st Japan Media Arts Festival (by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Ministry of Education)
  • Best Director; Takasaki Film Festival
  • Best Japanese Movie; The Association of Movie Viewing Groups
  • Movie Award; The 39th Mainichi Art Award
  • Best Director; Tokyo Sports Movie Award
  • Nihon Keizai Shinbun Award for Excellency; Nikkei Awards for Excellent Products/Service (details)
  • Theater Division Award; Asahi Digital Entertainment Award
  • MMCA Special Award; Multimedia Grand Prix 1997
  • Best Director and Yujiro Ishihara Award; Nikkan Sports Film Award
  • Special Achievement Award; The Movie's Day
  • Special Award; Hochi Film Award
  • Special AwardBlue Ribbon Awards
  • Special Award; Osaka Film Festival
  • Special Award; Elandore Award
  • Cultural Award; Fumiko Yamaji Award
  • Grand Prize and Special Achievement Award; Golden Gross Award
  • First Place, best films of the year; The 26th "Pia Ten"
  • First Place; Japan Movie Pen Club, 1997 Best 5 Japanese Movies
  • First Place; 1997 Kinema Junpo Japanese Movies Best 10 (Readers' Choice)
  • Second Place; 1997 Kinema Junpo Japanese Movies Best 10 (Critics' Choice)
  • Best Director; 1997 Kinema Junpo Japanese Movies (Readers' Choice)
  • First Place; Best Comicker's Award
  • First Place; CineFront Readers' Choice
  • Nagaharu Yodogawa Award; RoadShow
  • Best Composer and Best Album Production; 39th Japan Record Award
  • Excellent Award; Yomiuri Award for Film/Theater Advertisement
source: wikipedia

You see the above ? That's called national success ! The well received Japanese animated movie 'Princess Mononoke'  is known by some as one of the greatest Japanese animated movies acknowledging Hayao Miyazaki as one of the greatest-if not THE greatest- animation director of his generation and was also one of the first to use 3D rendered effects (some where so obvious that i wondered who could POSSIBLY think that that looked real.). Admire a spectacular and magical story that took Hayao Miyazaki 16 long  years to fulfill.

Hayao Miyazaki
Yes, the man that has over 45 years of experience and still active at the age of 71 continue's to make master pieces such as , Spirited away, Ponyo, Arriety the borrower . For anyone who saw this HAND DRAWN movie you'll know that the diversity in animals and folklore outweighs the human protagonists focusing on a folkloric tale seen by a young man traveling from east to west to cure a curse that is growing from his right hand granting him strength surpassing human standard; some good, some ridiculously strong (like the time he couldn't control his strength and shot a head off using one arrow which is physically impossible if I may add.).

Princess Mononoke and Moro

The Antagonist is a young boy with skills beyond his age hinted to be the heir of a small tribe in the east (it's never actually told were) cursed after fighting a  Boar-like demon to protect his village (and a girl who tripped...classic). The initial plan quickly sidetracks to make place for explanation and character development ultimately revealing where that boar came from, the situation that caused it and if he should side with the humans or preserve the forest at the side of princess Mononoke, daughter of the wolf Moro (huuuuge wolf o.O) and the gathering tribes of animals. This Epic tail is a mix of Japanese mythology and  folklore unveiling more than actually lead to believe after reading the title and the synopsis of this fine animation.



Rating:
***** Watch-tastic! Shut up and take my money!
A movie that is worth ALL of it's praises and awards, I can only wish that I could of had the opportunity to watch this as a kid, just like I enjoyed Spirited Away on TV and a more Action-racing and vulgar oriented movie Redline which I watched recently. Enjoy and thank me later as you gaze at a animated master piece  :)

Do comment about the greatness of this movie.



M.


     


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    Yo....

    Welcome!
    New beginning and blogs...I guess .
    Let me introduce the purpose of the posts to come. Osarunime (yes that name was made in the spur of the moment) is a review and news blog of Oriental animation acknowledged national and in numerous festivals (so back off fanboys/girls...) stay tuned for more as I unveal more


    M.