TOHO Animation turned 10 years old in 2022, and throughout March 2023, the label’s YouTube channel celebrated with TOHO Animation Music Films, a series of 5 music videos. It’s a collaborative effort between various directors, studios, and musical artists, with some fairly big names attached, making these films something that you do not want to miss.
Toho has been a titan of Japanese film distribution since 1932, back when it was still called the Tokyo-Takarazuka Theatre Company, but TOHO Animation has only been around since 2012. In the time since, however, they’ve nonetheless become associated with some of the biggest anime on television, from Psycho-Pass to My Hero Academia to Spy x Family.
“COLORs” by Tetsuro Araki & SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]
Hiroyuki Sawano is one of the most beloved composers in modern anime, known for his distinctive mix of genres and the high-intensity energy of his work that so easily hypes up audiences. His new song, “COLORs,” leans a bit more into an electronic, poppy sound that some more familiar with his soundtracks may find refreshing. But if Sawano’s touch feels new, then that of the video’s director is a blast from the past.
Tetsuro Araki and Hiroyuki Sawano work very well together, and if their collaborations on Attack on Titan and Kabaneri weren’t evidence enough, COLORs shows that they can make any idea exciting. The short follows a high school girl who becomes convinced that the girl she’s enamored with and the new boy in her class are the same people.
This story is easy to pick up on thanks to good visual direction even if it is a bit strongarmed by some admittedly on-the-nose visual storytelling. Nevertheless, those visuals are gorgeous. For instance, the lighting dances off the characters’ eyes and clothes in such an alluring fashion, consistent with the way the main character gazes at the pink-haired girl with distinct admiration.
COLORs is a fascinating suggestion of a story where one can easily see the skeleton of what could be a full series in just over three minutes, especially when it takes a very dramatic turn. A girl who moonlights as an idol singer but is really a secret agent of some kind and has to go undercover as a boy, getting the attention of a girl who sees through the disguise. Frankly, it could make for a great TV series.
“Stargazing” by loundraw & BUMP OF CHICKEN
BUMP OF CHICKEN is a rock group whose sound has helped propel many anime openings and music videos, from Rie Matsumoto’s Pokémon music videoGOTCHA!, to the opening of Spy x Family. In fact, “Stargazing” is their third single from 2001, making this music video quite a throwback for the band. They are a great band that - together with a good director - can create some captivating art.
The director in question, loundraw, is quite fascinating. An illustrator, animator, and founder of Flat Studio - which animated this short, he is a young and talented artist with a distinct style. It’s one defined by character designs, depth of field, detailed backgrounds, and the use of color, like how sunlight has a way of washing out the colors, giving it a distinct hue. He also directed 2021’s Summer Ghost.
He is quite the powerhouse as well, credited as the director, chief animation director, writer, storyboarder, and character designer on this and several of his projects, making it feel truly like his vision. Stargazer is also distinct in that it’s one of the few of these videos that feature dialog throughout, making a short film as much as it is a music video.
“Nana’s Secret Garden” by Namiko Ishidate & Ryokoushouku Shakai
Namiko Ishidate served as the animation director for Hiroyasu Ishida’s 2018 film, Penguin Highway, at Studio Colorido. Her music video for TOHO tells the story of a young girl whose magical journey reveals the strained relationship between her, her mother, and her grandmother in a surprisingly heavy short film.
The song used is “White Rabbit” by Ryokoushoku Shakai, and the in contrast to the heavier subject matter, the style is rather cutesy and reminiscent of a children’s book. The colorful painted look and simple but thick line art give it the look of a child’s imagination come to life, which is very much the point of the piece. Yet, as the story leans into its more adult themes, the artwork looks more sketchy and pencil-drawn.
“Neko to Wakaise na” by Mizuki Itou & Hentai Shinshi Club
Neko to Wakaise na is a peculiar one. Like Stargazing before it, it features dialog, but far more heavily and to the point that it can drown out the music at times, making it far less of a typical music video and more of an experimental short film. It should be noted that all the shorts discussed in this post didn’t provide English subtitles, which might not matter in the case of something like COLORs but certainly affects this short.
The gist of the story is that a young man named Yuuki goes out searching for his lost cat and meanwhile reminisces about when he similarly looked for his cat with his friend Mao when he was younger. Both stories happen simultaneously, as Yuuki remembers the fight he had with Mao, leading to an opportunity for reconciliation. “Wakaise” translates to “reconciliation” in Japanese.
While the story might be lost on some without translation, it’s hard to deny that it is pretty. The backgrounds are detailed, and the shots have a nice variety of depth to them, demonstrating a great command of space when animating characters moving. And the animation is full of life, making what some might consider “rough” to be vibrant and expressive.
Director Mizuki Itou is definitely a figure worth keeping an eye on in the future. Their only other work credited on MyAnimeList is an award-winning short film called Takano Intersection, which has a very similar, down-to-earth feel. Both projects feel simple but tackle complicated emotions wonderfully through their visuals.
“Melodrama in a Random World” by China & CreepHyp
This one will be a big hit with anyone fond of retro aesthetics, as its director, known as “China,” is fond of creating music videos with a 4:3 aspect ratio, giving it a nostalgic retro anime look. They are an accomplished animator, with cuts in last year’s Heike Monogatari, Sonny Boy, Mob Psycho 100, Fate/Grand Order Camelot, and much more. They also directed the music video “Just Call It Love” for Mafumafu.
Melodrama in a Random World is animated in-house by TOHO Animation and feels very reminiscent of Revolutionary Girl Utena. The sapphic overtones, its theatrical and often fairytale imagery, and its grand, obtuse backgrounds are nigh uncanny. Combined with CreepHyp’s energetic song “Rinto,” the nearly 4-minute music video has the soul of a much larger story condensed into a neat package that makes you want more.
TOHO Animation Music Films was very much a celebration of how far the brand has come, but frankly, all of these short films and music videos have potential as full projects. Some are simply begging to be expanded upon more than others. Perhaps one of these shorts might get enough traction to spawn a full film or series.