The appeal and reviews of Anikuri 15: The world of anime you can't miss

Anikuri 15 - Anikuri 15 - Reviews and Recommendations

Overview

Anikuri 15 is a short anime series that was broadcast on NHK in 2007. It is an omnibus-style anime work in which various creators depicted their own unique worldviews in the short one-minute episodes. It was broadcast from May 7 to December 26, 2007 on NHK's General TV, Educational TV, Satellite TV 1 (BS1), Satellite TV 2 (BS2), and Digital Satellite Hi-Vision (BShi). This series was produced by famous anime production companies such as Gonzo, Gainax, STUDIO 4℃, Madhouse, Production IG, CoMix Wave Film, and Satelight, and each episode was produced by a different director and staff.

■ Story

AniKuri 15 is an anthology anime that consists of 15 different short stories. Below is a summary of each story.

● Kimura Shinji "Attack of Higashimachi 2-chome"

Aliens come to invade the Earth. However, the budget for the invasion is drastically cut, leading to an unexpected turn of events. The alien is played by Odagiri Sen, and the announcer and housewife are played by Kanda Aika. The film is directed by Kimura Shinji and produced by STUDIO 4℃. This story humorously depicts the real-life problem of budget cuts, providing laughs for the audience.

● Osamu Kobayashi "Sancha Blues"

This documentary anime depicts a day in the life of a record store in Sangenjaya. The role of the store owner is played by Okite Porsche, the high school girls are played by Yamakawa Kotomi, Enapou, and Hibi Aiko, the visual guy is played by Ueno Yuma, the cabaret club girl is played by Saiki Miho, the mohawk guy is played by Ohata Shintaro, and the punk guy is played by Nara Toru. The director is Kobayashi Osamu and the production is Madhouse. The story depicts everyday scenes realistically, evoking sympathy from the viewer.

●Yasufumi Soejima "Hyottoko"

A fantasy tale of hunters and strange beasts inspired by the Jomon culture. Jouji Nakata plays the role of the fire man. Directed by Yasufumi Soejima and produced by Gonzo. The story blends ancient culture with a modern perspective to create a unique atmosphere.

●Shojiro Nishimi "Alien Invasion: Hiroshi's Case"

The story is about an animator named Hiroshi who is slacking off at work, and the evil hand of an alien is closing in on him. Hiroshi is played by Yuki Chiba. The director is Shojiro Nishimi, and the production is by STUDIO 4℃. This story combines the everyday life of an animator with the extraordinary, allowing you to enjoy both humor and thrills at the same time.

●Akemi Hayashi "Beyond the Tears"

A heartwarming story told through heartbreaking images and songs. Directed by Akemi Hayashi and produced by Gainax, this story carefully depicts the subtleties of emotion and will touch the hearts of viewers.

● Mamoru Oshii "PROJECT_MERMAID"

A mermaid princess story set in the digital age, depicting the fate of a mermaid born in the ocean of information. Mako Hyodo plays the role of the mermaid. The film is directed by Mamoru Oshii and produced by Production IG. The story portrays mermaids as a symbol of the digital society and deals with profound themes.

●Oda Tobira & Shimizu Yasuyuki "Sports Colonel Episode 18: The Assassin Has Come to Hunt the Mountains!!"

This is the first animated version of "Colonel Sports," which depicts the crisis that befalls a wounded colonel. Narration is provided by Michio Usami. The directors are Tobira Oda and Yasuyuki Shimizu, and the production is by STUDIO 4℃. The story combines action and humor to keep viewers hooked.

●Atsushi Takeuchi "Wondaba Kiss"

This is a small, great adventure of a child samurai robot, depicting what awaits in a chain of mechanisms. Directed by Atsushi Takeuchi and produced by Production IG. Although this is a story for children, it contains deep themes and can be enjoyed by a wide range of people.

● Kazuto Nakazawa "Yulululu" ~Daily Life~"

A unique story that humorously depicts the "daily life" of an animator at work. Directed by Kazuto Nakazawa and produced by STUDIO 4℃. This story humorously depicts the daily life of an animator and gives a glimpse into the inner workings of the industry.

●Renji Murata & Tatsuya Yabuta "Gyropter"

The story is about a girl who travels through a submerged world after a catastrophe. Directed by Range Murata and Tatsuya Yabuta, and produced by Gonzo, the story draws viewers in with its sci-fi worldview and beautiful visuals.

Shoji Kawamori "Project Omega"

The story depicts an emergency that suddenly occurs during a regular TV broadcast. The second-in-command is played by Tenjin Hidetaka, the heroine is played by Hikasayama Ami, and the announcer is played by Kanda Aika. The director is Kawamori Shoji and the production is by Satelight. This story depicts the boundary between the ordinary and the extraordinary, providing viewers with a new perspective.

● Satoshi Kon "Good Morning"

The story begins with the sound of her alarm clock as she gets ready for work. Directed by Satoshi Kon and produced by Madhouse, the story beautifully depicts the small moments of everyday life and warms the hearts of viewers.

Makoto Shinkai's "Cat Gathering"

The story is about Chobi, a cat who is frustrated by the insensitive behavior of humans. Yuka Terasaki plays the daughter and Chobi, Rei Nakagawa plays the mother, Tsuyoshi Maeda plays the father, and Shizuka Okodaira plays the grandmother. The film is directed by Makoto Shinkai and produced by CoMix Wave Film. The story satirizes human society from a cat's perspective, providing humor and deep insight.

Michael Arias "The Chase"

A fantastical one-minute film featuring green fields and iron giants. Directed by Michael Arias and produced by STUDIO 4℃, this story captivates viewers with its beautiful visuals and music.

●Maeda Masahiro "Onmitsu☆Hime"

The story follows the Shogun's daughter who transforms into Princess Onmitsu and engages in some high-speed action. Princess Onmitsu and Tamahime are played by Masu Nozomu, Admiral Perori is played by Nishino Masato, Chigomaru is played by Yako Mirei, Kamuro A is played by Fujiya Minami, Kamuro B is played by Shimizu Ikuko, Evil Ninja A is played by Seki Koji, Evil Ninja B is played by Yamamoto Takeshi, Evil Ninja C is played by Kumada Hironari, Evil Ninja D is played by Souma Koichi, Tako is played by Katayama Rie, and the narrator and old man are played by Watanabe Toshio. The film is directed by Maeda Masahiro and produced by Gonzo. The story combines action and humor to entertain the audience.

■Production background and staff

Anikuri 15 was produced with the assumption that it would be broadcast in NHK's spot slot, so each episode had to wrap up its story in the short time of just one minute. This was a big challenge for the creators, and tested how much they could draw in the audience in the limited time. Different directors and staff members participated in each episode, making it a work that brings together diverse perspectives and techniques.

For example, "Hyottoko" was created, designed, and directed by Yasufumi Soejima, and produced by Gonzo. To depict a fantastical worldview inspired by the Jomon culture, experts in various fields, such as modeling direction, art, and music, collaborated to create the work. "PROJECT_MERMAID" was created, directed, and storyboarded by Mamoru Oshii, and produced by Production IG. To depict the mermaid princess story in the digital age, the latest technology, such as CGI and music, was combined with artistry.

■ Evaluation and recommendation

AniCry 15 is an omnibus-style anime series in which various creators have depicted their own unique worldviews in the short one-minute episodes. Different directors and staff members have participated in each episode, making it a work that brings together diverse perspectives and techniques. Viewers can experience laughter, emotion, surprise and amazement in the short one-minute time frame.

This work is recommended not only for anime fans but also for general viewers. Each episode has a different story and visuals, so you can enjoy watching it without getting bored. Also, different directors and staff members are involved in each episode, so you can feel the diversity and creativity of the anime industry.

In particular, humorous stories such as "Attack of Higashimachi 2-chome," "Sancha Blues," and "Alien Invasion: Hiroshi's Case" provide laughter to viewers. Also, stories that depict a fantastical worldview such as "Hyotoko," "Gyroscope," and "PROJECT_MERMAID" move and surprise viewers. Stories that carefully depict the subtleties of emotions such as "Beyond the Tears," "Ohayou," and "Cat Gathering" move viewers' hearts.

AniCry 15 was broadcast in a spot on NHK, making it an easy viewing environment. Also, different directors and staff members participated in each episode, so viewers can experience a variety of perspectives and techniques. Please watch this work and experience the diversity and creativity of anime.

■ Related works

AniCry 15 has a second and third season. These seasons are also an omnibus-style anime series in which various creators have created their own unique worldviews in short episodes of just one minute each. Viewers can enjoy these seasons after watching AniCry 15.

In addition, each episode of Anikuri 15 features the participation of various anime production companies, allowing viewers to feel the characteristics and techniques of each company. For example, by watching other works produced by these companies, such as Gonzo, Gainax, STUDIO 4℃, Madhouse, Production IG, CoMix Wave Film, and Satelight, viewers can gain a deeper understanding of the diversity and creativity of the anime industry.

Conclusion

AniCry 15 is an omnibus-style anime series in which various creators have depicted their own unique worldviews in the short time frame of one minute for each episode. A different director and staff member participated in each episode, making it a work that brings together diverse perspectives and techniques. Viewers can experience laughter, emotion, surprise and amazement in the short time of one minute. This work is recommended not only for anime fans, but also for general viewers. Please watch this work and experience the diversity and creativity of anime.