The appeal and reviews of "Ikimono-san": A soothing anime depicting the beauty of nature

"Ikimono-san" - A new appeal of short animation

"Ikimono-san," which aired on the TBS network in the summer of 2023, is an animated work that provides viewers with new excitement and laughter in just five minutes. The work is based on the game "My Exercise" and was produced by New Deer and Toei Animation under the direction of Jun Wada. The broadcast period was from July 8 to September 30, 2023, with a total of 12 episodes, and was broadcast at the end of the late-night "Super Animeism" slot.

Story and Characters

"Ikimono-san" is a story told from the perspective of small creatures found in our daily lives. The main characters are various creatures who live in parks, gardens, and around our homes, and the humorous and heartwarming stories they tell are depicted. For example, one episode shows a small garden frog enjoying a rainy day, making viewers feel the beauty of nature and the purity of creatures. Another episode shows birds working together to build a nest, teaching the importance of teamwork.

Each character has their own unique personality and has been loved by viewers. In particular, the main character, the frog "Kero-chan," is charming with his curious and adventurous personality, and is popular with a wide range of people, from children to adults. Meanwhile, the bird "Piyo-chan" is kind and caring, providing healing to viewers. The story woven by these characters has the power to bring smiles and emotions to viewers, and to help them rediscover the small joys of everyday life.

Animation and Music

The animation of "Ikimono-san" was created by New Deer and features beautiful visuals with attention to detail. The movements of the creatures are realistic, yet humorous and cute, drawing the viewer in. The depiction of the backgrounds also brings out the beauty of nature to the fullest, making the viewer feel a love for nature.

Music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of this work. It was composed by Kentaro Tanaka, a composer who has worked on many popular anime. The music he creates skillfully expresses the emotions of the creatures and touches the hearts of viewers. In particular, the theme song "Song of the Creatures" has a memorable bright and lively melody, making it a song that will stay in the viewers' hearts.

Director and production staff

Jun Wada, the director of "Ikimono-san," is an experienced creator who has worked on a number of popular anime. His unique perspective and sensibility bring a new charm to this work. In an interview, Director Wada said, "I want viewers to feel the small joys that can be found in everyday life through this work," and this feeling is reflected throughout the work.

New Deer, the studio in charge of animation, is renowned for producing short animated films, providing beautiful visuals with attention to detail. Toei Animation, the studio in charge of production, also utilized their many years of experience and technology in animation production to lead this work to success. Thanks to the cooperation of both studios, "Ikimono-san" was highly praised for both its visuals and content.

Viewer reactions and ratings

"Ikimono-san" was highly praised by viewers immediately after it began airing. In particular, many comments were seen on social media, such as "It's soothing," "It makes me smile," and "I've rediscovered the beauty of nature," and it has become a work that is deeply loved by viewers. It is also supported by a wide range of people, from children to adults, and is highly regarded as an anime that the whole family can enjoy.

It has also been highly praised by experts, with anime critic Yamada Taro praising it, saying, "Ikimono-san is a rare work that provides viewers with deep emotion and laughter in a short time. This work, which combines Director Wada's unique perspective with New Dear's beautiful visuals, has the power to make viewers rediscover the small joys of everyday life." The anime magazine Animage also ran a special feature on the work, analyzing its appeal in detail.

Recommendations and related works

For viewers who enjoyed "Ikimono-san," we also recommend the following works:

• "Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day" - A moving story about friendship and growth. A work where the beauty of nature intertwines with human drama.
• Your Lie in April - A work with themes of music and youth. Beautiful visuals and a moving story.
• "Natsume's Book of Friends" - A fantasy work depicting the coexistence of monsters and humans. You can feel the beauty of nature and living things.

We also recommend the original game "My Exercise" based on "Ikimono-san". In this game, players enjoy exercising with creatures, and it is full of tips for living a healthy life. The characters that appear in the game are as unique and charming as in the anime, and will bring smiles and energy to players.

summary

"Ikimono-san" is an animated film that will deeply move viewers and make them laugh in just five minutes. This work, which combines director Jun Wada's unique perspective with New Deer's beautiful visuals, has the power to make viewers rediscover the small joys we can find in our daily lives. It has received high praise from viewers and rave reviews from experts, and is also considered an anime that the whole family can enjoy. Please enjoy this work and experience the beauty of nature and the purity of living creatures.