Shirobako:
Collection 1 (2014/Sentai Blu-ray)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: C Episodes: B+
Ever
since high school Aoi and her friend Shizuka, Ema, Misa and Midori
dreamed on working in the Anime industry together. Two years later,
Aoi works for a small anime company as a production manager. As she
learns how to make anime, she learns how to balance the work, manage
the artists and (somehow) make their deadlines. Her friends also
work in similar fields, through the good times and the bad they still
keep in touch with each other and hope in the future they can all
work together in creating an anime of their own in Shirobako:
Collection 1 (2014).
Aoi is an anime production manager,
she keeps watch of the schedules, materials, she helps make sure each
anime episode is completed on time between all the staff (basically
she does all the director's work and he takes all the credit). And
while she gets to meet the artists, animators, voice actors, she also
has to unfortunately deal with fixing the director's problems,
mistakes, and sudden changes. Also, she has to manage all the staff
when they don't meet their deadlines (mainly because Taro's doesn't
do his job and procrastinates). Her friends also face challenges in
the anime industry. Shizuka is an aspiring voice actor who works on a
part time job to get by. Ema is a young budding anime artist who
isn't confidence with her skills. Misa is stuck in a CGI company
that doesn't do any anime CGI and Midori is working to become a main
stream screen writer.
There is something ironic when watching
an anime about making anime, but Shirobako gives a sense of
what does it take to make an anime. Making anime is a lot of hard
work, specially if you want it to be good. It shows the world of
anime companies and artists, what they have to deal with. In the
end, it depends on how passionate are your dreams, the things (and
people) you are willing to put up with in order to make your dreams
come true.
The
1080p 1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image and lossless DTS-HD MA
(Master Audio) 2.0 Japanese Stereo with Pro Logic-like surrounds if
you wish, is not Sentai's best, but it is all very solid and
consistent throughout. Extras include include clean opening
and closing anime and trailers.
Episodes
include...
Exodus
Towards Tomorrow! - 2 years later Aoi works for an anime company
and air their first anime.
Arupin is Here! - Segawa-san
collapses from overwork because Taro missed his deadline and Director
wants to completely remake one of the characters.
I'm Sick
of Recap Episodes - Everything is behind schedule since they have
to remake everything.
I Totally Messed Up - Aoi meets
up with her friends to see how they are doing on her day off. Taro
causes trouble and causes Endo to quit and halts the anime.
Those
Who Blame Others Should Just Quit! - Taro continues to make
excuses for his mistakes instead of trying to get Endo to come
back.
Idepon Miyamori Be Invoked - Endo is reminded by
Shimoyanagi why he first drawing and rejoins.
Retake By Cat
- Aoi's sister comes over for a visit. Ema worries that she can't
draw cats.
I'm Not Criticizing You, Okay? - Aoi goes
shopping with her sister. Yumi gives Ema advice and helps her
motivate her to continue to find her own way of drawing.
What
Do You Think I Was Trying to Say? - Misa want to do CGI anime but
her company only does CGI cars and Misa begins to believe she is
working in the wrong company.
Just One More Glass, Okay?
- Aoi gets placed in charge of the last episode. Honda announces he
is planing to leave after it's done and the Director gets too drunk
to work.
The Little Key Animation Girl - As Aoi works
on the last episode, Aoi also look and hire for new animators to fill
in for the company.
Exodus Christmas - Aoi seeks a high
profile animator to help them complete the last scene for the last
episode, and he recommends Sugie. But will they finish in time?
-
Ricky Chiang
