The appeal and evaluation of "Xi AVANT": In-depth review

Comprehensive evaluation and recommendation of "Xi・AVANT - Crossy Avant -"

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

April 9, 2011 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Production IG, T-Joy

■Frequencies

3 mins

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Kenji Kamiyama

■ Director

Kenji Kamiyama (director), Toshiyuki Kono (director)

■ Production

Production: Production IG
Produced by NTT Docomo

■ Story

Kaoru Takamura, a foreign affairs bureaucrat, receives an order to "find a certain man," and heads to Spain, relying on his Xi mobile phone. A mysterious mark is painted on the hideout. What awaits Takamura?

■Explanation

"Xi AVANT" will be screened in 3D at the theaters showing "Ghost in the Shell SAC SSS 3D" from Saturday, April 9th. Director Kenji Kamiyama and Production I.G. The main staff of "Ghost in the Shell SAC", "Guardian of the Spirit", and "Eden of the East" have come together to create the short original animation "Xi Avant".

■Cast

・Takamura Kaoru/Hiroshi Kamiya ・Mysterious girl/Saori Hayami ・Takamura's girlfriend Akane/Kana Ueda ・Xi mobile phone (task)/Sakiko Tamagawa

■ Main staff

・Original story, script, director: Kenji Kamiyama・Character design: Chika Umino・Layout: Naoya Furukawa・Chief animation director: Satoru Nakamura・Art director: Yusuke Takeda・Color design: Yumiko Katayama・3D CGI director: Tomoki Tsukamoto・Music: Kenji Kawai・Producer: Tomohiko Ishii・Creative director: Shoichi Furuta・Produced by: NTT Docomo・Production: Production IG

■ Main Characters

・Takamura Kaoru ・Mysterious girl ・Takamura's lover ・Akane ・Xi mobile phone (task)

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

■ Story and Theme

"Xi・AVANT" is a short animated film directed by Kenji Kamiyama, and while its story is very simple, it contains a profound theme. The setting, in which Kaoru Takamura, a foreign affairs bureaucrat, receives an order to "find a certain man" and heads to Spain, exudes a sense of tension like a spy movie on the surface. However, behind this lies a heavy theme about the relationship between technology and humans, and the meaning of the individual's existence in an information society.

The Xi mobile phone that Kaoru Takamura relies on is a symbol of NTT Docomo's latest technology and plays an important role in the story. The mobile phone is not just a means of communication, but is depicted as a "task" that guides Takamura's actions. This raises the question of how technology controls or frees human behavior.

Additionally, the mysterious mark painted on the hideout in Spain emphasizes the mystery-solving element of the story and is a key point that draws the viewer in. It is speculated that this mark has some connection to the man Takamura is searching for, and its meaning becomes clear as the story progresses. This mystery-solving element leaves a deep impression on the viewer, even though it is just a short animation, and enhances the appeal of the story.

■Characters and Cast

The protagonist of this work, Takamura Kaoru, is voiced by Kamiya Hiroshi. Kamiya Hiroshi's voice skillfully expresses Takamura's calmness and inner conflict, enhancing the character's charm. As a foreign affairs bureaucrat, Takamura always acts calmly and rationally, but as the story progresses, his inner conflict becomes clear. The depth of this character is further emphasized by Kamiya Hiroshi's acting ability.

Saori Hayami, who plays the role of the mysterious girl, brings out the mystique and charm of her character to the fullest. Saori Hayami's voice expresses the girl's innocence and mysterious aura at the same time, making a strong impression on the audience. Her presence further deepens the mystery-solving element of the story and draws the audience's interest.

Kana Ueda, who plays Takamura's girlfriend Akane, plays an important role in bringing out Takamura's humanity. Her voice conveys Akane's kindness and deep love for Takamura, giving the audience a sense of Takamura's human side. Akane's presence clarifies the motivations behind Takamura's actions and deepens the theme of the story.

Sakiko Tamagawa, who plays Xi Mobile (Task), plays the role of a symbol of technology. Her voice has a calm, mechanical tone, but also a warmth as a support character for Takamura. This character symbolizes the relationship between technology and humans, and plays an important role in emphasizing the theme of the story.

■Visual and Production

"Xi・AVANT" is a 3D animation with extremely high quality visuals. The visual beauty, which reflects Director Kenji Kamiyama's attention to detail, has the power to draw the viewer into the world of the story. In particular, the depiction of the Spanish cityscape and hideout feels real thanks to the realistic 3D technology, enhancing the viewer's sense of immersion.

The skills of Furukawa Naoya, who was in charge of layout, smoothed the progression of the story and helped the viewer understand. Animation director Nakamura Satoru drew the characters' expressions and movements with meticulous attention to detail, leaving a strong impression on the viewer. Art director Takeda Yusuke pursued the beauty and realism of the backgrounds, enriching the worldview of the story. Color designer Katayama Yumiko skillfully adjusted the color balance to enhance the viewer's emotions.

3D CGI Director Tsukamoto Michimoto has used the latest 3D technology to maximize the visual impact. In particular, the depiction of the mysterious mark and the action scenes benefit greatly from 3D technology, leaving a strong impression on the viewer. Musician Kawai Kenji plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. Kawai Kenji's music enhances the viewer's emotions and deepens the theme of the story.

■ Background and significance of production

"Xi・AVANT" is a short animation produced to introduce NTT Docomo's latest technology. Director Kenji Kamiyama produced this work at the request of NTT Docomo, and in it he portrayed the theme of the relationship between technology and humans. Director Kenji Kamiyama's works are known for always dealing with social themes, and this work is positioned as part of that.

The main staff of "Ghost in the Shell SAC", "Guardian of the Spirit", and "Eden of the East" have come together to produce this work, and the quality is extremely high. In particular, the designs by Chika Umino, who was in charge of the original character designs, leave a strong impression on viewers and enhance the appeal of the story. Producer Tomohiko Ishii and Creative Director Shoichi Furuta are overseeing the production of this work and are guaranteeing its quality.

This film will be shown in 3D before and at the same time as "Ghost in the Shell SAC SSS 3D," providing a new experience to viewers. This format promotes the spread of 3D technology and has the effect of attracting viewers' interest. In addition, the short animation format has the advantage that viewers can enjoy it easily, and it appeals to many people.

■ Recommendations and ratings

"Xi・AVANT - Crossy Avant -" is a short animated film packed with director Kenji Kamiyama's attention to detail, and its quality is extremely high. The story is simple yet contains deep themes, and has the power to make the viewer think. The appeal of the characters and the acting ability of the cast enhance the appeal of the story and leave a strong impression on the viewer. The visuals and direction are of high quality, making full use of the latest 3D technology, enhancing the viewer's sense of immersion.

The story explores the theme of the relationship between technology and humans, providing viewers with deep insight. In particular, the presence of the Xi mobile phone, which symbolizes NTT Docomo's latest technology, emphasizes the theme of the story and provides viewers with a new perspective. The puzzle-solving element captures the viewer's interest and enhances the story's appeal.

This film is highly recommended not only for fans of director Kenji Kamiyama, but also for those interested in short animations and 3D technology. It is also a must-watch for those interested in the theme of the relationship between technology and humans. "Xi・AVANT" depicts a deep theme in a short time and leaves a strong impression on the viewer, making it a very valuable work.