Retro Nostalgic Animation

Anime Supernova!

This time, we're introducing you to Tasoyamaro, known for her smartphone animations.

She specializes in nostalgic designs and gentle movement.

We set our focus on a creator from the new generation who specializes in super short animated works.

Tasoyamaro has been gaining attention thanks to 10-second animations she uploads to the popular online video platform TikTok.

Some of the videos have more than 48 million views, with most of those views coming from outside of Japan.

I get so many comments
from all over the world.

And so many different languages.
Some that can't be translated.

But I'm still so happy to see them.
Even the ones I can't understand.

Her popularity has even led to the creation of merchandise based on characters from her work.

On TikTok, each video is viewed
as its own creation.

Video recommendations have nothing to do
with follower count.

It's great to know even non-followers
will get a chance to see it.

If the work is good,
you always have a chance.

First off, let's dive into Tasoyamaro's retro worldview.

While she's employed as a web designer, Tasoyamaro remains active as an independent creator.

And outside of TikTok, she also works on music videos.

Her studio is located in a corner of her home, surrounded by her favorite retro merchandise.

This is a figurine of Betty Boop.

I love how she has both a sexy
and a cute side.

I don't think a lot of people know
she's an animated character.

The animation was produced
from around 1930 to 1950.

I use this as a printer cover.

It's a handkerchief my mother gave me.

The expressions are so cute.

Their creepy-looking eyes
add to the retro feel.

Creepy and cute.

In Tasoyamaro's work, these two styles coexist.

When coming up with design ideas, she often uses old Japanese matchboxes for inspiration.

They're deformed and flat designs
that use minimal colors.

Great for reference.

I often use dull primary colors.

I use around eight colors,
but it ends up looking like two or three.

Tasoyamaro recreates the nostalgic feel of classic cel animation while keeping the details and design as simple as possible.

Surprisingly, it can feel quite novel.

But at the same time, the simplicity
of the image gives it a nostalgic feel.

Create nostalgia from an unknown era.

Tasoyamaro's retro tastes can also be seen in the works she made during university.

Ever since she was a child, Tasoyamaro has preferred drawing inside over playing outside.

Using her father's computer, she began drawing at the young age of five.

I don't think I ever consciously
separated digital and analog creation.

In elementary school, Tasoyamaro began posting her original work on internet image forums.

Whenever I shared art with friends,
I would draw something with them in mind.

Something I think they would like.

But for pieces aimed at general audiences,
I get to focus on drawing what I like.

If you release what you like, people with
similar tastes will gravitate to it.

It's so different from reality.

That form of communication fits me.
And it continues to this day.

Tasoyamaro went on to study at an art university.

That was when she created her first animation.

The things in my imagination
suddenly existed in real life.

It's similar to an illustration,
but animation makes it feel more alive.

Works by Masaoka Kenzo, a creator known as the father of Japanese animation, influenced Tasoyamaro.

Back then, it was exciting enough
just to see a moving animated image.

I get the feeling that many works used
exaggerated movements pleasing to the eye.

She came to the realization that she, too, wanted to focus on the joy of movement.

She chose music that felt somewhat nostalgic and expanded the animation from there.

I wanted to draw movement,
not a specific story.

Captivate with movement
synchronized to music.

In her third year of university, Tasoyamaro created a short animation about a dancing cat disguised as a girl.

After graduating, she joined a company as a web designer since creating short animations would not be enough to make a living.

When she got used to working at the company after two or three years, a friendly request got Tasoyamaro back into creating animation.

At the time, TikTok had emerged as the place to post short videos.

After someone posts a video, users can
take the audio and make their own videos.

The more videos made with that audio,
the more popular it becomes.

A cover of a nostalgic Japanese song was trending on the platform.

That was actually a song that Tasoyamaro wanted to create an animation about someday.

She started working on the animation during her free time after work.

This was filmed to make the most of the limited time available.

She used still images of each frame as guides for the animation.

In the video, it looks like
my waist is lined up straight.

But in the animation, I made it
into the shape of an S.

I wanted the character to shake her behind,
but I couldn't do it when I danced.

I adapted it to make it look
like my butt was sticking out.

This helps me grasp the position of
the hands and legs when timed to the music.

It makes animation quite a bit easier.

Tasoyamaro adds excitement to the movements to fit the music.

The video quickly went viral after being posted on TikTok, reaching over 3 million views.

I was just so happy to create visuals
for a song I always wanted to work on.

My focus was on synchronizing
movement with the music.

I watched the finished work on loop
over and over.

Tasoyamaro's next work was an animation for the world's first song performed by a computer back in 1961.

The video passed 13 million views, with comments from all over the globe.

A lot of international viewers
left interesting comments.

Some said they felt the work represented
social issues related to child marriage.

I found that fascinating because
I had no intention of adding that message.

Her popularity on TikTok has led to numerous offers to create music videos.

I have always wanted to create
short-form animation.

It feels like I finally have a place
where I can present that work.

The dream of creating only what I want
has come true.

"You're so cute, my black cat
That red ribbon looks good on you" "But sometimes, you take out your claws
And worry my soul"

"The black cat tango, tango, tango" "My lover is a black cat"

"The black cat tango, tango, tango" "As fickle as a cat's eye"

I would like to open
an exhibition someday.

I want to take my work from a smartphone
and put it on a big screen.

I want the audience to truly connect
with the work.