Souta Ueno is one of the most radical rising figures not just in anime, but commercial animation altogether. With his latest work Shiboyugi, his unorthodox influences ranging from French impressionism to modern avant-garde film are all in service of depicting the psychology of one disenfranchised girl and the deranged world she inhabits.
To complement our write-up about Shiboyugi, we bring you the translation of an interview where its one-of-a-kind director Souta Ueno chats with sound director Noriyoshi Konuma about their unique thought processes and creative methods.
Once again, we’ve gathered animators, directors, producers, designers, and people passionate about art to share the works that resonated with them the most last year. It’s time for the 2025 Sakugabooru Animation Awards, our very own Sakugabowl!
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc isn’t only a blast to watch. It’s not just a hit. It’s the film that best embodies the current methodology of making high-profile anime, taken to ridiculous extremes. It has been, in many ways, the movie of the moment.
Apocalypse Hotel made the bumpy road of its creation into a virtue, by confidently mixing different styles, viewpoints, and moods accumulated during its lengthy production process. The result is a capital o Original anime that can excel at anything between outrageous comedy and contemplative nostalgia.
Shoushimin’s eccentric main characters begin their stories seeking normalcy. The contrast between their wishes and nature matches the way that the show’s framing, hellbent on appearing neutral, becomes unnerving even before it occasionally unleashes some outlandish stylization. A fascinating approach, best appreciated alongside its sibling series Hyouka.
Hyakuemu / 100 Meters is the collaboration of two charismatic lead creators emerging in the fields of manga and animated filmmaking. Uoto and Kenji Iwaisawa are different artists, brought together by the illogical, mesmerizing, deeply human passion that fuels this story.
The Summer Hikaru Died / HikaNatsu‘s anime was conceptualized around Ryohei Takeshita’s adventurous direction, but without losing sight of the author’s core ideas. With a sequel on the horizon, it’s time to learn more about a fascinating production.
My Dress-Up Darling / Kisekoi was always charming, but it has reached a new level with a sequel that’s more wildly creative, thematically tighter, and in that process, more diverse in the subcultures it explores. Let’s dig into the production changes that paid off so extraordinarily well!
CITY: The Animation ended with yet another explosion of exuberant animation, design, and music to capture Keiichi Arawi’s sensibilities and its joyful themes. Let’s take one last look at this all-timer production… and what’s next for KyoAni as well, while we’re at it.
