Todoroki Kawaii

One of the biggest differences between Japanese and American animation is that in Japan, voices are recorded after the animation is completed and the Japanese actors do their best to fit the animator's work.   The traditional "Disney-way" of animation records the voice performance of the actor first and the animators animate following the energy given by the professional voice actors. The result is an acting performance which is arguably more convincing.  The animator has the freedom to animate characters actually articulate what the character is expressing or emoting thusly creating a greater sense of believability.  There are few Japanese animation directors who animate in this style, "Akira"'s Katsuhiro Otomo being one of them. When Disney films come to Japan they are often retitled.  "Tangled" retitled (?)  to simply "The Tower of Rapunzel" ( とうのうえのラプンツェル )   and "Frozen" was retitled to "Anna and the Snow Queen" (...

Watched the animated anthology film, "Short Peace" featuring two short films by Katsuhiro Ootomo:  Hinoyoujin ( 火要鎮 /  ひのようじん)   (not translated but entitled in the USA as "Combustible") and Bukiyosaraba ( 武器よさらば /   ぶきよさらば) .  (Translated as Farewell to Weapons) 4 short films in total, each story using a combination of handrawn animation and computer animation.  In the past, there were reservations about how these handrawn/ CG fusions were done as both mediums clashed against each other battling for attention.    In most cases it worked, especially Tsukomo ( 九十九)  which arguably stole the show.  Ootomo's films were great and particularly thoughtful towards Japanese culture of the past and future. They didn't exactly have the the great acting animated performances that Ootomo's "Akira" had but it they still delivered compelling visuals.  The timing for Farewell To Weapons / Bukiyosaraba ( 武器よさらば /   ぶきよさらば)  is intere...