Review of "What Color What": Colorful story and charming characters

"What Color What" - A colorful human drama in the depths

■Overview of the work

"What Color What" is an original anime work that was released on Niconico Live Broadcast on May 19, 2018. It depicts a deep human drama in a short 12-minute episode. It was produced by members of the Fantasy Committee, including Miura Ryuichi, who wrote the original story, script, and music, and was directed by Ishibashi Mitsuyuki. The work tells the story of Kanata, an unsuccessful artist, and Haruka, who loves painting, who meet at a small art gallery and support each other, but gradually a rift develops between them.

■ Story

Kanata, an unsuccessful artist, and Haruka, a painting lover, meet at a small gallery. The two awkward people begin living together by chance, and as they support each other, they begin to grasp for hope. But little by little, a gap begins to form between them, and before they know it, that gap becomes irreparable... Is what you see the same as what the people around you see? Or is it different? This story asks us to reexamine whether what we each think is "normal" is really normal.

■Explanation

"What Color is What?" is a project conceived and launched by members of the Fantasy Committee. The story revolves around Kanata, an unsuccessful artist, and Haruka, a woman who loves painting, who meet at a small gallery. The lives of the two begin to drift apart little by little, and before they know it, that gap becomes irreparable. The work offers viewers deep insight by depicting the subtle gaps in human relationships and the differences between how one sees the world and how others see it.

■Cast

・Kanata/Toshiki Masuda ・Haruta/Ruriko Aoki

■ Main staff

・Original work: Ryuichi Miura (Fantasy Committee)
・Screenplay: Ryuichi Miura (Fantasy Committee)
・Music: Kuuso Iinkai ・Director: Ishibashi Mitsuyuki ・Adaptation: Ishibashi Mitsuyuki ・Character design: Nakatomi Ryo ・Animation producer: Nagamine Mariko (studio Magic Zoo)

■ Theme songs and music

・Insert song 1
・Unknown address and redelivery・Lyrics by Ryuichi Miura・Music by Ryuichi Miura・Arrangement by Kuuso Iinkai

・Insert song 2
・My Hero ・Lyrics by Ryuichi Miura ・Music by Ryuichi Miura ・Arrangement by Kuuso Iinkai

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"What Color What" succeeds in depicting a deep human drama in its short run. In particular, the changes in the relationship between Kanata and Haruka and the gap that arises between them are depicted realistically, leaving a strong impression on the viewer. The colorful visuals and music also enhance the appeal of the work.

Masuda Toshiki and Aoki Ruriko's acting is also superb, expressing the feelings of the two characters realistically. In particular, their acting, which conveys Kanata's anguish and Haruka's kindness through their voices, touches the hearts of viewers.

Director Ishibashi Mitsuyuki's direction is excellent, and he moves the story forward effectively in a short time frame, while character designer Nakatomi Ryo's work is superb, bringing the characters of Kanata and Haruka to life.

Music is also an important element in enhancing the atmosphere of the work, and the inserted songs "Unknown Address and Redelivery" and "My Hero" stir emotions as the story unfolds. The lyrics and composition by Ryuichi Miura and the arrangement by the Fantasy Committee further deepen the worldview of the work.

■ Background and production secrets of the work

"What Color is What?" is a project proposed by members of the Fantasy Committee. The Fantasy Committee is a group of creators active in various media, and this work was produced as part of that. In particular, the original story and script by Ryuichi Miura are at the core of the work, and the human drama depicted from his perspective deeply moves viewers.

During the production process, director Ishibashi Mitsuyuki and the staff worked closely together to make sure the story was as complete as possible in the short time it took to make it. Character designer Nakatomi Ryo also spent a lot of time creating realistic portrayals of the characters Kanata and Haruka. Music was also positioned as an important element, with particular focus on the creation of the insert songs.

■ Viewer reactions and ratings

After "What Color is What?" was released on Nico Nico Live Broadcast, it received high praise from many viewers. It was especially praised for its success in depicting a deep human drama in a short amount of time. In addition, the changes in the relationship between Kanata and Haruka and the gap that arises between them were realistically portrayed, which left a strong impression on viewers.

Many viewers commented, "I was amazed that such a deep story could be told in such a short time," "The relationship between Kanata and Haruka was so real that it touched my heart," and "The music was wonderful and enhanced the atmosphere of the work." The acting of Masuda Toshiki and Aoki Ruriko was also highly praised, with comments such as, "Their acting was wonderful and they really conveyed the emotions of their characters," and "You could feel Kanata's anguish through Masuda's voice."

■Recommendations for works and related works

"What Color What" is a work that succeeds in depicting a deep human drama in a short time, and gives the viewer deep insight by depicting the subtle differences in human relationships and the differences between the world as one sees it and the world as seen by others. I would especially recommend this work to those who are interested in human drama and psychological portrayal. It is also recommended for fans of Masuda Toshiki and Aoki Ruriko.

Related works include "Your Lie in April" and "Orange," which also depict human dramas. These works also give viewers deep insight by depicting subtle differences in human relationships and the differences between the world as seen by oneself and others. They also share the common theme of music being an important element.

Conclusion

"What Color What" is a work that succeeds in depicting a deep human drama in a short time, and leaves a strong impression on viewers. In particular, it was highly praised for the realistic portrayal of the changes in the relationship between Kanata and Haruka and the gap that arises between them. Additionally, the acting of Masuda Toshiki and Aoki Ruriko is superb, expressing the feelings of the two characters realistically. The music is also an important element in livening up the atmosphere of the work, and the insert songs "Unknown Address and Redelivery" and "My Hero" stir emotions as the story unfolds. This is a work that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in human drama and psychological portrayals.