Subscribe to the ANN Newsletter • Wake up every Sunday to a curated list of ANN's most interesting posts of the week.
read more
This Week in Anime
Traversing the Emotional Themes in Naoko Yamada's Works
by Christoper Farris & Steve Jones,
The Kyoto Animation alumni Naoko Yamada continues to grow as an artist and director. Steve and Chris look at her latest film, The Colors Within, and how it expands her favorite themes of the emotions and lives of teenage girls.
Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network. Spoiler Warning for discussion of the series ahead.
Steve
Chris, I need to know something. I don't expect you to have the answer, but I need to ask it anyway.
What, precisely, are Naoko Yamada's thoughts on the ceiling baby scene from Trainspotting?
Chris
She either appreciates the scene's surrealist intensity or constantly ponders how she would have framed it to feature the baby's legs more prominently.
I shouldn't be surprised a movie buff who makes movies like Yamada knows her way around the Criterion closet.
It's where she belongs! And that's partially why she's our topic of choice this week. Her latest film, The Colors Within, just had its stateside theatrical run, and GKIDS paired it with a mini press tour. They took her to the aforementioned Criterion closet.
Thank you to Criterion for inviting Naoko Yamada to raid the closet! 💖✨
Yamada's new film, THE COLORS WITHIN, is now playing in theatres.
brnw.ch/21wPc1x
She's giving her top 4s to Letterboxd.
Like I said, this is where she belongs. GKIDS are smart. She's a strong director with a distinctive voice outside the Hollywood system. It's no wonder film nerds (myself included) love her.
She can bring people together, and general anime fans understandably love her. She came up animating at fan-favorite studio Kyoto Animation, and since growing into a directorial role, has helmed many works that are, without hyperbole, legendary in the community.
Hence, The Colors Within is one of those non-franchise anime movies that can net a U.S. theatrical release. Her name is a draw!
She's come quite a long way. It's worthwhile to take a look back at where she came from. While I think you were trying to put this tactfully, I'll say that we, anime nerds, had her first. You, Letterboxd Larries, better put some respect on that.
Paying respects to how Yamada came into the directing gig through animating is crucial. But it's also a little funny, given how the story goes, that she was always allegedly more of a film nerd herself than someone focused on animation, joining KyoAni on something of a whim.
It's impressive that after only a few years of drawing frames for series like Air and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, she was getting mentored up to direct episodes of Clannad and its sequel Clannad: After Story.
Super impressive. The work speaks for itself, but if my math is correct, she got her full series directorial debut at only 24 years old. That's bonkers. And that series was, of course, K-ON!
I've grown enough to admit that I didn't give K-ON! a fair shake back in the day, arguably projecting general frustration with the litany of similar cute-girls-doing-cute-things series that sprung up around it. K-ON!, even in its first season, where Yamada is still figuring out how hard she can indulge her style, is far richer in its presentation than those other also-rans.
Even after all this time, it's easy to see how this caught on.
It's funny to think about how the consensus has shifted on it. I, too, remember the days when K-ON! was considered the vanguard of the moe onslaught, with Yamada leading its sickeningly saccharine charge. I think it helps that we have bigger and more nefarious fish to fry now (i.e. isekai), but I also believe an earnest, retrospective look at K-ON! quickly reveals its strengths. It's bouncy and cartoonish in an authentic and grounded way. It only took me a few episodes to see that "spark" Yamada brings to her works.
It's funny, I said Yamada felt like she was more constrained at this early stage, but even in the premiere episode she directed for K-ON!, the instant the music scene kicks in, you're like, "Oh, there she is."
Just an impeccable sense for mise-en-scène. One of the best to ever do it. It's time we can similarly push back against the perception of K-ON! as slight slice-of-life fare. The film, for example, took the Light Music Club to one of the scariest and most primitive places on Earth. That's drama incarnate.
Jokes aside, there was always the sense that Yamada was working to infuse K-ON! with more earnest emotions than other CGDGT chaff. Much of it is rooted in evoking some raw high school nostalgia, a recurring vibe in her work. She pushed that harder with more episodes and material in the second season. I love how right from the start of K-On!! part deux, you can tell she's 200% more on her bullshit. It's great.
Yamada was barely out of high school at the time, so it makes sense that she could readily tap into the exuberance and wistfulness of those years. If you have a director who can ground herself in that emotional core, you'll get something special, no matter the external trappings.
The only thing I know about Tamako Market is the ridiculous talking borb. But the way I hear some people talk about both the series and the movie, it sounds like one of the most powerful and heartfelt ruminations on youth and romance. With Yamada at the helm, I believe them! It's still on my backlog.
Same. It doesn't help that the movie Tamako Love Story, in all its fully-boarded-by-Yamada-herself glory, seems currently absent from streaming options. Check out the beginning of Tamako Market you can see a director coming from a successful adaptation and now getting to flex on an original work.
Or drawing a funny little girl. I still think about the stories coming out of her key-animating and directing a few episodes of Free! about her focusing too much on Gou in what was, ostensibly, supposed to be an anime about hot guys.
In her defense, Gou was excellent, and I can always respect an artist who knows what she wants to focus on. Plus, it's interesting to put a pin in since Yamada's prioritization of gals versus guys would come up notably in one of her future works.
And we might as well dig into one of those future works because my personal Yamada radar didn't get calibrated until I experienced Sound! Euphonium. Speaking of funny girls...
Big same. Like I said, I blew off K-ON! at the time, but Sound! Euphonium made me a believer. The production paired with Yamada coming into her directorial style, which matched it perfectly, felt like it was operating on another level compared to other anime I'd seen around then.
It's still probably my favorite anime series to come out of KyoAni. It's an ideal marriage of the studio's talents with Yamada's, applied to an earnest and compelling character drama about the many kinds of weirdos who take up high school concert band. I was in the concert orchestra in the bass section, so I viscerally felt so much of this show. And that's where I came to appreciate Yamada's knack for evocative staging and pacing.
I know I made a crack early on, but we would be remiss if we didn't properly mention Yamada's predilection for focusing on characters' legs. It's one of her most (in)famous directorial trademarks! After decades of watching her stuff, and especially going back and reviewing for this column, I think I understand the idea of it as a way to hone in on body language that's not necessarily always the first part we consider, but innately understand.
If it works, it works! It's consistent with Yamada's perspective of herself as a director of photography more so than an animator (per this interview). In the most literal sense, she often utilizes effects and techniques that evoke photorealism. She also approaches her characters holistically and uses that focus on a particular part of body language to communicate the whole of their personality and dialogue.
It speaks to the movie buff side of her. Sound! Euphonium, to me, is one of those series that feels cinematic even as a TV anime and made even more clear what a natural Yamada was for also handling its movie versions, as well as the movies for the aforementioned Tamako Market and K-ON!. Probably why she would do even more films as her career carried on.
That emphasis on body language and youthful wistfulness also made her a natural fit for the subject matter of her breakout hit, the film adaptation of A Silent Voice. I'm the kind of contrarian snob who thinks this is one of Yamada's lesser works (i.e. merely good instead of brilliant), but that's just me. Regardless, it still made me cry.
This is the one I was talking about where Yamada expressed uncertainty about her ability to handle an adaptation with a male lead compared to all her preceding ladies. It probably didn't make it easier that Shoya himself is a character with a lot of nuances and complexities to explore. She did a good job inhabiting many of them for what it's worth. For one, she gets how much he cares about his kickass mom.
I can see the arguments some critics had that Yamada's direction in the film somewhat sensationalizes and overdramatizes what had felt more grounded in manga form. Still, that means a stunning direction is on display. I didn't take over a thousand screencaps while watching the movie for this column for nothing.
It's a gorgeous movie. I believe it was also Yamada's first collaboration with composer kensuke ushio, a creative partnership that's been regularly going on for about a decade. Musicality is another indelible part of her style, even in works like A Silent Voice that aren't directly related to music. Ushio's delicate and deliberate soundscapes perfectly complement her voice.
That audiovisual relationship was honed to its finest point in her next movie, too. Liz and the Blue Bird is a practically synesthetic experience of undiluted sapphic pining.
A Silent Voice was an interesting fit, but it's amazing how at home she feels back in the Euphonium-verse. It's just pure uncut Yamada, especially with Ushio's score backing it in a way where you swear this has always been the sound of Yamada's work.
On a different level, it's cool to consider her taste for high school musicality and track her style from the band girls of K-ON! to the lovingly held emotional intensity of Liz and the Blue Bird over about nine years.
It's a straight line that goes all the way to The Colors Within! There's just something about kids communicating through music that Yamada comprehends on a fundamental level. In Liz, huge chunks of Mizore's interactions with Nozomi are exclusively musical. Some feelings are just too big for words.
It's another reason I think Yamada is a natural fit for the film. Movie runtimes give her so much more breathing room to indulge in those stretches of musical communication. Sound! Euphonium TV already pushed at that, and this bluebird just let her fully spread her wings.
And Yamada's been spreading her wings in other ways as well. After parting with KyoAni (and you couldn't ask for a better swan song than Liz in that regard), she partnered up with Science SARU to deliver The Heike Story. On the surface, a historical drama adapting one of the most important literary works in the Japanese canon is a project that bears no resemblance to any of the stuff we've been discussing. This, too, immediately feels right at home in Yamada's hands.
The whole show is just so beautiful and devastating. Yamada pays particular attention to the women of the Taira clan and the many ways they suffer throughout this tragedy. It's a smart and compassionate recontextualization of a classic tale that makes this show one of the most indispensable of the decade.
It also (kind of) ties in with Science SARU's INU-OH, if you're looking for more fantastic anime films about the power of music. Yamada had always been strong on adaptation since K-ON!, so it shouldn't be surprising that she was able to adapt to working with a new studio adapting a true classic of epic literature. I think about how it feels like she naturally brings so much of the KyoAni approach to a series like The Heike Story, even as the art style is necessarily different, and that's probably because of how ingrained she was in the studio, and vice-versa. She was instrumental in mentoring KyoAni members who continued following her departure.
Legacy is also something I think she's starting to consciously consider in her art. The Colors Within focuses on the kids and their budding band, but there's also an adult character who sees some of her past self in their youthful struggles and victories. It's tempting to consider Yamada projecting her feelings into that situation. It'd be a natural evolution, too, as she becomes a more sophisticated director, yet more temporally removed from her youth. I can relate to that.
You can see that in other ways she's branched out since departing KyoAni, like directing an animated Modern Love Tokyo episode. If you can believe it, it is a nostalgia-tinged story of high school students connecting over music. It's also framed by the main character's POV as an adult, who is a mood and a half.
I'm also praying that GKIDS attaches Garden of Remembrance to their physical release of The Colors Within. It's a short film that sees her branching out into a more abstract avenue. She approaches its narrative like a music video, emphasizing mood and texture, and it's another perfect fit for her strengths.
And yes, I need more Yamada protagonists who cozy up to a bottle of whisky.
As has been established, that's my kind of cozy. I won't say it feels like I've grown alongside Yamada since I have not developed the ridiculous talents she has during her time in the industry. I've enjoyed watching her grow, and my appreciation for her work is growing. The Colors Within got a pretty short run where I'm at, so I can't wait for it to get a wider video release so more people can experience it and see how far she's come (they should include Garden of Remembrance).
I already said as much on Bluesky, but I'd rank The Colors Within just a smidge beneath Liz and the Blue Bird. It might be the warmest film Yamada has ever done. I had a smile plastered on my face throughout the entire concert scene. My mom also gave it her seal of approval, and she went to an all-girls Catholic school, so that's the most legitimate endorsement you can get.
It's almost certainly the best music anime starring kids in a Catholic school since D4DJ. It makes me glad to see that Yamada can continue to thrive in original works as well as she does in adaptation. I am excited to see what she'll do next as she continues with Science SARU. Who knows, maybe she'll even get to do an anime adaptation of Trainspotting!
Stranger things have happened. Whatever's in store, Yamada is my goat. I'll follow her wherever, even if it's into the depths of drug-addled Scottish hell. It can't be that far a cry from birds with laser eyes.
This is the most fun I've ever had playing Like a Dragon, and that is saying something given the series' pedigree.― God bless Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. It has been an incredibly wild ride this past decade to watch the mad lads from RGG take their cult franchise of weird little crime adventure games to the upper echelons of gaming's most respected institutions. I remember when I first discovered these ga...
Takeo Ōtsuka, Saku Mizuno star in Sunrise anime― Wright Film announced on Tuesday that Matsuri Akai's My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's (Assassin de Aru Ore no Status ga Yūsha Yori mo Akiraka ni Tsuyoi Nodaga) light novel series will get a television anime adaptation, which will premiere in October. The company also revealed the anime's teaser trailer, teaser visual, main staff, ...
From classic Toonami ads to the Catholic Church, Lucas and Steve take a look at the relationship between anime and advertisements over the years.― From classic Toonami ads to the Catholic Church, Lucas and Steve take a look at the relationship between anime and advertisements over the years. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime ...
Now, you can relive the unpredictability and suspense of the training camp arc yourself in Haikyu!! Fly High, a brand new mobile RPG from Garena.―
One of the most memorable parts of the dynamic high school volleyball show Haikyu!! is the training camp arc. Set in early season two, it's a rare moment in the story for all of the characters to mix and mingle regardless of which school they attend or w...
This past weekend, a select group of fans from across the world, myself included, got the chance to participate in the Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test. Here's what I learned.―
This past weekend, a select group of fans from across the world, myself included, got the chance to participate in the Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test. Over 18 hours, we experienced a game that takes Elden Ring and mixe...
Director launches Tokyo-based studio in collaboration with Asmik Ace, Aniplex, CoMix Wave Films― Production company Asmik Ace announced on Tuesday that anime director and Science SARU studio co-founder Masaaki Yuasa is establishing a new Tokyo-based anime studio named ame pippin. Yuasa is launching the studio in collaboration with Asmik Ace, Aniplex, and CoMix Wave Films. The studio's website lists ...
What will happen to Blu-ray prices when one of the largest production factories is in Mexico? What about collectible anime goods produced in China? Jerome shares the stark effects the tariffs can have on collectors and consumers.― The news asks: Will the recent U.S. tariffs affect home video and collectible prices? You are correct. On February 1st the new US administration announced its intention t...
In the first installment of a three-part feature, Kurt Yoder chronicles Haim Saban's beginnings in music to his early cartoon career with Inspector Gadget, Mysterious Cities of Gold and Macron 1.― Introduction Adapting Japanese media has taken many forms over the past 60 years, from rewriting stories and editing content to creating new music scores. While the practice has mostly fallen out of favor ...
Manga about college student's encounters with married women launched in 2021― An official X/Twitter account opened on Monday to announce the anime adaptation of writer Chinjao Musume and artist Tama Nogami's Hitozuma no Kuchibiru wa Kan Chūhai no Aji ga Shite (A Married Woman's Lips Taste Like Canned Chūhai) manga, which will premiere this year. Nogami drew an illustration to commemorate the anime a...
Isekai series are having a good week, with Solo Leveling and Zenshu taking the first 2 spots and propelling themselves in the cumulative. Check out our weekly user rankings!― Let's have a look at what ANN readers consider the best (and worst) of the season,
based on the polls you can find in our Daily Streaming Reviews
and on the Your Score page with the latest simulcasts. Keep in mind that these r...
Harunadon's romance illustrated by raemz― The "Dengeki Bunko Winter Festival 2025" announced on Sunday that Harunadon's Even a Replica Can Fall in Love (Replica Datte, Koi o Suru or Even a Replica Falls in Love) novel series has a television anime in the works. The artist raemz, who illustrates both Even a Replica Can Fall in Love and Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle novel series, drew a illustration...
Mikako Komatsu, Junichi Suwabe star in anime from Blade― Kadokawa announced on Sunday that Toru Shirogane's The Kept Man of the Princess Knight (Himekishi-sama no Himo) light novel series will receive an anime adaptation. The announcement trailer previews the voices of Arwin and Matthew. The series stars Mikako Komatsu as the princess knight Arwin (left below) and Junichi Suwabe (right) as her kept ...
Say what you like about Macross 7, it sticks to its guns from beginning to end with a consistency of tone and intention that’s admirable.― Compared to watching modern anime's shorter single-season lengths, completing a watch-through of Macross 7's fifty-two episodes feels like a real achievement. Forty-nine of those were broadcast on TV weekly, without a break, from October 2004 until September 2005...
Ami Koshimizu, Aya Suzaki, Maaya Uchida, Chinatsu Akasaki star in series― The YouTube channel for the franchise based on Kazuma Kamachi's A Certain Magical Index light novel series announced in a teaser video on Sunday Toaru Anbu no ITEM (A Certain ITEM of the Dark Side; "ITEM" formed from "Shōjo Kyōsei" or coexisting girls), the latest novel series in the franchise, will get an anime adaptation. Th...
Tatsuyuki Nagai returns to direct at J.C. Staff― The YouTube channel for the franchise based on Kazuma Kamachi's A Certain Magical Index light novel series announced in a teaser video on Sunday that A Certain Scientific Railgun anime will get a fourth season "soon." Returning cast members include:
Rina Satō as Mikoto Misaka
Satomi Arai as Kuroko Shirai
Aki Toyosaki as Kazari Uiharu
Kanae Itō as Ruik...
Your Forma’s first three volumes are, on the whole, excellent. A perfect blend of science fiction and mystery, the stories deal with strong plots and characters that are constantly growing.― Mystery as a genre doesn't always intersect well with speculative areas of fiction like fantasy or sci-fi. Most people will tell you that's because mystery is rooted in logic and fact-finding, things that can be...
Nihon SF Taishō also honor manga creator Kazuo Umezu, translator Haruya Sumiya, novelist Hiroshi Yamamoto, Kenrei Miyanishi's short stories― The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of Japan (SFWJ) announced on Saturday that Haruko Ichikawa's Land of the Lustrous manga has won the grand prize in the group's 45th Nihon SF Taishō Awards. In addition, Kenrei Miyanishi won the special prize for the short s...
Yūsuke Yamamoto helms season at Cloverworks with returning writer Erika Yoshida― The "Kessoku Band Tour 'We will B'" announced with a teaser video on Saturday that production on the second Bocchi the Rock! anime season has been green-lit. The video reveals the new season's main staff. Yūsuke Yamamoto (Bocchi the Rock! assistant director, episode director) replaces Keiichirō Saitō as the director of ...