iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

In the vein of Rilakkuma, Pan Dorobou is one of those kids-oriented shows with more luxurious staff than most megahits. Takahiko Kyougoku leading, Chieko Nakamura as the art director, main animators like Shingo Takenaka... Seihantai's designer Mako Miyako already snapped animating episode #01

16026

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

The sequence around Guyuk is also a great addition on a character level, plus unexpectedly the best bit of animation over the last few weeks. Emotional acting that precedes Sitara proclaiming how important Töregene is to her & always welcome fun movement. Absolutely bamboozled him with a feint

1408

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Victoria of Many Faces has followed characters with unconventional backgrounds as they sought normal happiness, been elevated by unconventional directors (Yamauchi finale!) along the way, and now wraps up in an unconventional number of episodes. So flavorful & charming despite its dodgy production

22810

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Jaadugar's commitment to depicting cultures with care means not only animating their material aspects, but also attempting to capture their beliefs. Kotaro Matsunaga, who'd already overseen the stunning ceremony in episode #06, was a perfect choice to direct/board the highly spiritual ninth episode

29539

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Jaadugar rules. Some of the more ambitious sequences this week were rather rough, but it's enough of a miracle that an episode with warzone-looking cleanup credits looks this good. Still a couple of genuine banger episodes left too!

0377

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

KyoAni reached out to two key figures from their past like Reiko Yoshida and Yukiko Horiguchi, and now their work is animated by their most promising present & future. Gorgeous Sougen no Kagayaki CM led by rookie director/boarder Uno Nakata, supervisor Tomomi Sato, and art director Mayu Harashima

310332

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

buildknuckle @buildknuckle.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Yayoi is on a journey...

1525

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Pressed the Shigeyasu Yamauchi-shaped button just one week later. Thank you Kimura, do Hatakeyama next

2305

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

1207

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Sayonara Lara #04 follows the show's trend of shattering the protagonist's belief in embellished Traditional Romance (with the roles that implies) as the sole form of true love, but I like that it doesn't negate the validity of those emotions. It's unrequited this time, but beautiful all the same

111137

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Sparks of Tomorrow poses electricity as a dazzling revolution to blast away the grit & stagnancy embodied by a steampunk Kyoto. Minoru Ota's wild imagery and choices of material do a great job of conveying the thrill, while the more traditional acting captures how this resonates with the characters

27325

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

SPiNDLE @spindlesong.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

submerged

15588591944

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

ZNote @znotetaku.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

"Sparks of Tomorrow" references both the literal sparks of electricity that drive the story and the sparks of an idea that has consumed someone, a charge shooting through their body like electricity. How these characters respond to that charge may likely be what drives the story forward.

061

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

ZNote @znotetaku.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Between Kihachi’s devotion to his brother’s idea, Inako’s believing in it sincerely, and Yousuke wanting to use it for his own ends, we also see a theme of selfishness against altruism as a foundation of invention. When you stumble upon a great discovery, who is it for? For what will it be used?

181

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

ZNote @znotetaku.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Inako referencing "Paradise" and prayer is a reminder that this stuff can seem like magic or otherworldly. But belief in an idea is just as much what makes an invention become reality as building it because belief guides each step along the way, including mistakes, but being sure that it's worth it.

182

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

ZNote @znotetaku.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Part of what makes "Sparks of Tomorrow's" first episode compelling is that it's about chasing and believing in an idea that seems almost too fanciful to be real. It’s easy to sit here in 2026 and take electricity for granted, something that has revolutionized the world in incalculable ways.

1126

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Also worth noting that the art director overseeing this is also a rookie - Mao Takayama, who fully embraced this bold approach. The up-and-coming talent at the studio's art department is incredible

1238

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

The second episode is especially heavy, but with Yamada's storyboard & co-direction this time around, you also get a physical tenderness and intimacy that are necessary if we want to filter these historical events through Sitara as a person

24516

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

14315

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

The defining trait of Jaadugar is its patterning: it's the most visually arresting aspect, a useful tool to get across the texture of each culture, and time and time again it holds thematic significance as well. The anime uses them to immediately establish a thriving, rich civilization

15426

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

You can notice as much in Kenichi Yoshida's adaptation of the character designs, which preserve the simple silhouettes but can be imbued with volume whenever a scene benefits from adding presence to its characters. Drawings in the first episode, directly under his supervision, are particularly good

15220

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

But making the setting 3D and real wasn't the answer they wanted. Yamada talked about valuing the original's simple 2D appeal, akin to Islamic miniatures. This causes the anime to go back and forth between very literal, spacious locations and deliberate, flat irreality. There's charm to the duality

16422

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

The staff agreeing about the importance of showing How People Live demands emphasis on the physical depiction of the setting, because there's no mundanity and culture without a place that hosts them. Right off the bat, we're lost in the architecture of Tus

17030

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Stunning premiere for Jaadugar. The level of cultural research and respect is on display, but Tomato Soup & the team led by Abel Gongora and Naoko Yamada make it clear they don't want a detached historical retelling with affecting, highly subjective storytelling. As unique as it is high quality

7297121

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

柊坂葵（ひいらぎざかあおい）🍣 @loveddr.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Xシャドウバン中のため、しばらくこちらにいます。

03512

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Shouko Nakamura's appearances have been sporadic for years, but all it took was another great BL series to get her back on track. Perfect representation of Nakamura-kun's adaptation angle, taking ideas from the charming yet disconnected comic and imbuing the whole thing with much more pathos

111140

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Tried watching Geoff Keighley's videogame buffoonery and it gave me the immediate ick, but I came back and they'd shown Fumito Ueda's cool new project so it's all worth it! Feels Big, evocative, bewitchingly alien, and it doesn't run all that well. We might be extremely back

37811

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Published a new set of Patreon notes, this time KyoAni-focused. Countless production materials exclusive to the studio's latest event, the state of their productions & staff allocation, and how those creatives approached the likes of Denmoku / RuriDragon / End Roll www.patreon.com/posts/secret...

28231

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

buildknuckle @buildknuckle.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Can't believe I'm seeing BBC Two production materials, this is amazing.

1245

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Magic cop beefs with infant for no particular reason, makes it everyone else's problem

6542186

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

In fact, it was SO movie, that it's also about making movies

210420

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

Amicus_19 @amicus19.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

i could just stare at these bgs for days

a tree and other assorted foliage from ep 2 of maya the bee

a leaf with water drops from ep 6 of maya the bee

061

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

Amicus_19 @amicus19.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

maya the bee is low-key one of the prettiest cartoons ever

willy laying down, from ep 6 of maya the bee

maya peeking out of a flower, from ep 6 of maya the bee

flip the grasshopper from ep 3 of maya the bee

2102

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

ZNote @znotetaku.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

There is a lot of misinformation being spread about what happened at ButaPro (including ridiculous statements about how they were responsible for Bocchi "censorship"). Here is a statement from the members who left to form a new studio. Fuck FAR and everything they did.

01912

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

Ponbleu @ponbleu.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Public statement from the former staff of Buta Productions.

We, the former staff of Buta Productions (ButaPro),
have separated and reorganized ourselves under a new name and without the involvement of Federico Antonio Russo, also known as FAR.

We stand with the victim of their alleged abuse and
unequivocally condemn the actions of the accused.
Likewise, ButaPro’s statements to the media do not reflect our thoughts and opinions on this matter.

Currently, we are exclusively operating as an informal entity in order to fulfill prior obligations with clients.
We have no updates on any announced projects at the time.

— Ponbleu

Clients and Production Staff who were actively working with ButaPro as of the end of April are encouraged to email us at ponbleuworks@gmail.com if we have yet to contact you.

0186125

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

Good Haro @goodharo.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Reposting the former ButaPro staff statement for Bsky since a shitty article's going around that might be giving people the wrong impression about them: x.com/ponbleu/stat...

13717

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Kamiina Botan wears its influences on its sleeves, and even more so this week. The third episode transports you into the realm of storyboarder/supervisor/everything ginsan, with unique linework, blatant SHAFT vibes, and a weaponization of his personal style to evoke someone's love for analog art

317768

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Excellent episode of Awajima this week. A story about inherited trauma through vignettes that span multiple generations, threaded together by an idiosyncratic lead artist who gives them both thematic continuity and pointed stylistic diversity. Worth watching on its own, even better in context

29532

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

The Ribbon Hero might be the wake up call that gets people to notice the emerging talent at OUTLINE, like Takopi did for Enishiya. Exciting team (Yuki Igarashi leading! Mochizuki Kei + Yonema designs! Issei Arakaki adapting them! Cedric Herole concept artist!) with a fresh reimagination of Tezuka

112143

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

The Auteur Club @auteurclubpod.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Thanks for your patience. Here's the rest of our discussion on things we liked from 2025! creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/...

creators.spotify.com

EX 1.2: 2025 Recap Part 2 by The Auteur Club

Wrapping up our discussion of things we liked in 2025.

048

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

maki @makimaki0.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

finally finished ikoku nikki. it’s a good show! definitely got emotional here and there. i liked some of the structural playfulness that i assume is unique to the anime adaptation, though i’m a bit sad at some things getting cut that i’ll need to read the manga to see. also, adult emiri is beautiful

031

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Gorgeous start for A Hundred Scenes of Awajima. Takako Shimura's collection of vignettes emphasizes the ripples of relationships across multiple generations at a Takarazuka-like school, jumping back & forth as it pleases. Even without covering everything, the anime could assemble a beautiful puzzle

211340

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Kirio Fanclub's opening is a very cool collage, on multiple levels. A fun collection that embraces the idea of character cels as assets to simulate the combination of physical materials, a mix of ideas that connect to a teenage crush... and also a number of hints at *another* love story

66019

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

After watching it: yeah it looks nice. You can find parts of certain shots where it doesn't work super well, but the lineweight is coherent with the overall style and they're working off drawings that already are conscious of these aspects (you can see some disconnected lines in sakkan corrections)

031

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Ideas like that add to the cohesion, but Ota's challenge to the cel anime paradigm doesn't aim at seamlessness as CITY did. Instead, you have shots happy to contrast layers, mobs painted as animated BG assets rather than animated, etc. Nothing should surprise people after his fifth CITY episode tbh

1227

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Not that grit can resist whatever the hell he's got going on

1216

Reposted by @sakugasmear.bsky.social

Sparks of Tomorrow @sparks-of-tmr.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Sparks of Tomorrow PV Vol.2 and Music Information release! 🎶 "Eureka Evrika” as the opening theme song by Luna Goami, while the ending theme will be performed by Ginger Root. You can also listen to the opening theme in PV Vol.2! 📹 www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Obi... #sparks_of_tomorrow #二十世紀電氣目録

youtube.com

TVアニメ『二十世紀電氣目録-ユーレカ・エヴリカ-』PV第2弾｜2026年7月5日TV放送＆配信開始！

YouTube video by 京アニチャンネル

12312