Review of "Earth Watching": A moving story about an encounter with the Earth

"Encounter with Earth": An animation depicting the mysteries of the Earth and life

"Encounter with Earth" is a 24-minute short animated film that was released on December 7, 2012. This work depicts life on Earth and the scientific mechanisms behind it with beautiful visuals and music. Below, we will introduce the detailed content of this work, its production background, staff, and its appeal in detail.

Overview

"Encounter with Earth" is an animation that was released in theaters, and the original story is an anime original. The release date was from December 7, 2012 to January 1, 2013, and it is a one-episode work. It was directed by Masamitsu Funaoka, and produced in cooperation with Anime Innovation Tokyo Ltd., Miraikan, the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Nippon Animation Co., Ltd., and Starlight Studio LLC.

Main Staff

The main staff of this work are as follows:

• Character design: Yoshiharu Sato
• Poetry (original idea): Wakako Sato
• Supervisor: Masamitsu Funaoka (Professor, Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University)
• Visual Effects Supervision: Tetsuro Ogi (Professor at the Graduate School of System Design and Management, Keio University)
• Production Producer: Toru Maeda (Anime Innovation Tokyo Ltd.)
• Animation Director: Takeyuki Sadowara
• Production cooperation: Nippon Animation Co., Ltd., Starlight Studio LLC
• Planning cooperation: Science Dome Hachioji (Hachioji Children's Science Museum), Roadside Station Fujikawa Rakuza, Tokushima Prefectural ASUTAMULAND
• Produced by Anime Innovation Tokyo Ltd.
• Planning, production, and copyright: Miraikan (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation)

Main Robot Items

In this work, carbon atoms called "Z atoms" play an important role, as explained in detail below.

"Z atom = carbon atom" was born in the universe

The aliens in the show refer to carbon atoms as "Z atoms." The aliens come to Earth in pursuit of "carbon atoms" that were born in space. At first, only a few types of atoms were born at the beginning of the universe (the Big Bang). However, when stars were formed from these atoms and began to shine, various types of atoms were created within those stars. "Carbon atoms" are one of the atoms that were created in this way. When stars exploded at the end of their lives, "carbon atoms" were scattered into space and became the material that created the next generation of stars, planets, and life.

The "carbon atom" continues its journey on Earth

What role does the "carbon atom" play on Earth? The aliens send a probe camera to Earth to investigate. They mark one of the "carbon atoms" and the probe camera continues to follow it. They discover a surprising truth. The "carbon atoms" floating in the air are taken up by plants and become the leaves and stems of those plants. The plants are eaten by animals, which in turn become food for other animals, and the "carbon atoms" are repeatedly used as part of the bodies of various living things. Finally, they leave the bodies of the living things and return to the air. In this way, the "carbon atoms" break down and float in the air, but are taken up by plants again and then embark on a journey to be used by various living things again. Living things on Earth, and we humans, exist in this constant flow of "carbon atoms."

All living things play a key role

In the program, an orchestra made up of various living creatures appears and plays music. Beautiful music cannot be created unless everyone works in sync. All living things on Earth are connected by these "carbon atoms." With each living thing fulfilling its own role in the ecosystem, the transfer of "carbon atoms" is smooth, and the harmony of the entire Earth system is maintained.

Appeal and evaluation of the work

"Encounter with Earth" is a work that exquisitely combines beautiful visuals, music, and scientific content. Below, we will discuss its appeal and evaluation in detail.

Visual beauty

The visuals of this work bring out the beauty of the nature and life on Earth to the fullest. In the scenes looking at the Earth from space, the blue and white of the Earth stand out, making you feel the presence of life. In the scenes following the journey of a carbon atom, the activity of life is depicted at a microscopic level, and you will be astonished by its beauty and precision. The animation techniques have been highly praised, making this a work that leaves a strong visual impact.

The appeal of music

Music is also an important element of this work. The music, performed by an orchestra made up of various creatures, symbolizes the harmony of life on Earth. The music adds excitement to the story and, combined with the visual beauty, deeply moves the audience. Wakako Sato's poem also delves deeply into the theme of the work, enhancing its emotional impact.

Scientific content

This work depicts scientific content in an easy-to-understand way, and has great educational value. Through the journey of the carbon atom, one can understand the connections between life on Earth and the importance of ecosystems. Also, by depicting everything from the origin of the universe to life on Earth, one can feel the mystery of the Earth and life from a scientific perspective. Utilizing the expertise of supervisors Masamitsu Funaoka and Tetsuro Ogi, the work balances scientific accuracy with ease of understanding.

Background and significance of the production

"Encounter with Earth" was produced as part of a project by Miraikan, the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. Miraikan is a facility that aims to promote and educate people on science and technology, and this work was produced as part of that effort. It was thought that by expressing scientific content in the form of animation, it would be possible to convey the appeal of science to a wider audience. In addition, by depicting the connection between the Earth and life, it provides an opportunity to think about environmental issues and the importance of ecosystems.

Recommendations and how to watch

"Encounter with Earth" is recommended for those who are interested in science, those who want to feel the beauty of nature and life, and those who enjoy the visuals and music of animation. After its theatrical release, this work has been screened at the Miraikan National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation and is also available on DVD and online. Please take the time to watch this work and experience the mystery of the earth and life.

summary

"Encounter with Earth" is an animated film that depicts the mysteries of the Earth and life with beautiful visuals and music. It presents scientific content in an easy-to-understand way, providing an opportunity to understand the connections between life on Earth and the importance of the ecosystem. It also makes use of the production background and the expertise of the staff, making it a film of high educational value. Please enjoy this film and experience the beauty and mystery of the Earth and life.