News

Khara's Japan Animator Expo's 8th Short is 'Tomorrow from there' by Akemi Hayashi

Japan Animator Expo, the project of weekly anime shorts from Hideaki Anno's Studio Khara and the media company Dwango, announced that theeighth short is titled "Tomorrow from there." It will stream on the official website on January 9.

Akemi Hayashi (Fruits Basket chief animation director) will direct the short with storyboards by Hiroki Shinagawa (Medaka Box), and music by the band Avaivartika.

The previous seven shorts in the project include Otaro Maijo and Kazuya Tsurumaki's "The Dragon Dentist," Azuma Tani's "Hill Climb Girl," a music video titled "ME!ME!ME!" featuring the musician Teddyloid (Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt) and rapper daoko, Akira Honma's "Carnage," Yoshikazu Yasuhiko & Ichirō Itano's "Collection of Key Animation Films" from Mobile Suit Gundam, Takeshi Honda and Mahiro Maeda's "20min Walk From Nishi-Ogikubo Station, 2 Bedrooms, Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, 2mos Deposit, No Pets Allowed," and Tadashi Hiramatsu's until You come to me."

Anno himself is serving as executive producer of the initiative with Dwango President Nobuo Kawakami, and he also designed the image character mascot "(Tor)-kun." Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki created the title logo, and fellow Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki colored it. The shorts, animated at Studio Khara, feature the voice talent of Ranma ½ and Cowboy Bebop co-stars Kouichi Yamadera and Megumi Hayashibara.

One new short will stream every week for a planned total of 30 shorts, ranging from original projects and spinoffs to promotional videos and music videos. The episodes will be streamed for free via a dedicated iOS/Android app and on the web. There are no plans for a commercial release at this stage.