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Macross Creator Shoji Kawamori Thinks Recent Anime Are Too Similar
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
Electronic and mobile commerce company DeNA, advertising agency and sponsor Sotsu Co., Ltd., and radio station Nippon Cultural Broadcasting announced in Tokyo on Wednesday that they are collaborating for Project Anima, a project to make three original television anime for 2020. Anime creator Shōji Kawamori (Macross, Escaflowne, Aquarion) appeared at the event and commented on the state of the industry in Japan.
Kawamori said that too many anime use templates or overused tropes such as magic academy. He added, "Sometimes I think, 'Why are they this similar?'"
Speaking of Macross, Kawamori said, "I tried to make something that was absolutely not Gundam. I thought of the GERWALK (an intermediary form between humanoid and aircraft) that doesn't have a humanoid shape. I kept getting told that it wouldn't sell if it wasn't humanoid and airplanes wouldn't sell. We made a prototype, and we made it transform before our eyes." He continued, "I love Gundam. I love it, but I absolutely won't rehash it. The [Macross] idols were hated by Gundam fans. They always said singing in war was imprudent."
It appears that Project Anima is aiming to emphasize originality its three television anime projects. DeNA's MangaBox, Everystar, and similar user-submitted content platforms are accepting story submissions from the general public for the project. Project Anima will accept submissions for the first category, science fiction and robot anime, from February 1 to April 15. Satelight (Macross, Aquarion, Symphogear) will animate the winning submission in that category, and Kawamori will participate in the production.
Project Anima's other two works will be an isekai (alternate world) or fantasy anime produced by J.C. Staff (A Certain Magical Index, Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, Children of the Whales) and a work produced by Doga Kobo (Majestic Prince) with an unannounced theme.
Kawamori unveiled his Jūshinki Pandora (Heavy Divine Unit Pandora) anime in October. The anime will star as Kana Hanazawa as Queenie Yō, a beautiful bounty hunter who lost everything.
Source: The Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web via Hachima Kikō
