Animating Nothing

How 'Invisible' (from 'Modest Heroes') discovered life after Ghibli.

Invisible

Welcome, new and returning members! We’re back with another issue of the Animation Obsessive newsletter. Sunday’s issue was a big hit — we’re still reeling from it. We’ll be writing more about its success soon.

Right now, though, we’re looking at a hidden anime gem from 2018. Called Invisible, it’s part of Studio Ponoc’s Modest Heroes anthology. The short’s director, Akihiko Yamashita, was one of Ghibli’s ace animators on projects like Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and Arrietty. But this is by no means a Ghibli film.

Invisible began with a question: how do you move, and bring life to, a character you can’t see? Yamashita’s answer was like nothing else. This film is mind-bending, adventurous and a little dark. It’s a technical tour de force — and a statement about the future of Japanese animation itself.

Enjoy!

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