Get Kids Excited

Anime Supernova!

This time, we're featuring Sato Kodai!

-Isn't the city great?
-Unyan! Keep your hands in the car!

-Don't pull on me!
-Unyan!

What's this? It's big!

Ouch!

-Are you okay?
-What are you doing?

The city is amazing!!!

Sato uses new cutting-edge technology to build heartwarming stories.

Let's find out how his work has reached across generations.

Sato Kodai is an animation director that runs an animation company of five employees.

The company has been releasing original pieces while working on TV anime.

A nostalgic, cel-animation style characterizes much of the work they release.

Sato uses a technique called ‘toon rendering,' which makes 3D renders look like flat illustrations.

Sato created an original program that extracts details like silhouette and color from a 3D model and transfers it onto a flat image.

This gives 3DCG a hand-made feel that usually doesn't exist in the medium.

And if he wants to add extra touches to character expressions, he can draw in wrinkles and shadows by hand.

Changing facial expressions
adds tempo to the visuals.

Even though he's aiming for a hand-drawn feel, there's a reason Sato uses 3DCG.

Even though it's just one character model, I can create a sense of randomness
by adjusting the angle, size, and timing.

I made this scene
by controlling each character in 3D.

Sato's approach is to take advantage of both the user-friendliness of 3D and the emotion of hand-drawn images.

Since it's already 3D,
I can move it by changing the parameters.

But just moving the character
isn't enough to move the audience.

Expressive performances
that don't need dialogue.

Now please enjoy an original work inspired by Japanese toys.

My tower is complete!

Oh no, it broke.

Yamato, look.

This is how you play a drum.

Haruo,
Yamato doesn't plays with me at all.

That's right. I haven't talked to Yamato
in many years either.

-Why?
-It's because he got big.

-When you get big, you can't talk?
-It's not that he can't-- -Himi, you're going to make lots of human friends,

so you should forget about us.

-No! I don't want to!
-Even if you don't want to, that's what happens!

Even if we stop talking,
we will never stop watching over you and Yamato.

I'm a papier-mâche dog.
My job is to watch over kids.

This is no fun!

What's that?

Himi, what's going on with you suddenly?

Where is she going?

Come back.

Himi, where are you?

-Where could she have gone?
-I hope not too far!

We'll look for clues.

Himi.

Ouch!

Monster? Evil spirit? Ghost cat?

I'm not a cat!

I'm a dog!

-You're an ornament from our house!
-Oh no! I moved in front of Yamato.

Haruo, this is no time to be saying that!

Sato first became interested in 3DCG in high school.

I think it was the game "Final Fantasy VII."

A 2D series was suddenly 3D.
I felt so much potential.

He went to a technical school to study 3DCG before joining the anime industry.

After experiencing a variety of work, Sato came across the "FREEDOM" anime project, with character designs by Otomo Katsuhiro.

There, Sato was chosen to be CGI director and manage a team of younger talent.

Sato always wanted to direct something on his own but felt he still had much to learn.

I am rather good at creating a story
if I have the initial setup.

But coming up with something from zero
is not my specialty.

Soon, Sato met his future public and private partner, manga artist Kikawada Tomomi.

Sato fell in love with her work, which was full of the warmth found in everyday life.

My style is completely different from
the CG robot animations he's great at.

But that wasn't his style.

I felt he wanted to focus on
story and character performances.

Five years later, Sato decided to try his hand at an original work.

Getting married and starting a family was the motivation he needed.

Share emotions with my child.

Ant HEOP and the Secret Hideout Next up is their first original work, a cute world with background art by Sato's wife, Kikawada.

Let's go!

Go! Go! Go!

That looks fun!

I wanna ride! Let me on!

I just got on.

Maybe a little later.

Come on! Let me ride it!

No!

Come on!

Ouch!

Oh no! The handle is gone!

It came off.

Why did you do that, Hepo?

Don't break my stuff!

It's your fault because you didn't share.

It's broken!

My poor car!

It's all Hepo's fault!

Who cares.

Hepo?

What's that?

I have one for you, too, Popo!

In 2017, the couple founded an animation production company.

Tsunami! Run!

Kikawada's cute worldview and Sato's technical CG prowess have helped the company land numerous jobs, including work for public facilities.

And right as they were planning their next original piece, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world.

There was a period our child
stopped going to school.

I worried about his ability
to connect with others.

I wanted him to feel comfortable
around other people.

A goal to create original works for children who stay inside instead of playing outside.

They went with a story about a delivery service, a common job since the pandemic started.

We want to create
a peaceful world full of human emotion.

They tried to crowdfund the project and received much more than monetary support.

Comments of support came in from across the world.

It was hard to stay motivated
without those messages.

The exchanges were a part of the work.

Sato put a big focus on the use of light.

He pursued a sense of realism through the way light fills a room and reflects off the floor.

I wanted the city to feel real.

I want the audience to think the main
character could exist in our world.

The world isn't all hardship.

Hey! Welcome.

I'll pack this one for delivery...

I see! You sell cheese!

-What's up, boy?
-Let me do something!

Oh? You want to work for us?

Welcome! This is the cheese store!

-Hey, what are you doing with yourself?
-I'd like to get some of this cheese.

Yes, please wait.

Oh my, so many deliveries to make,
so busy...

Oh yeah.

Cheese delivery?

Yes, I want you to deliver this cheese.

Delivered to...

Look, that red roof is the landmark.

-Just go straight down this road.
-I got it!

-Watch out for cars!
-Take care.

Unyan, where are you?

Si...Silva...

There he is!

-Where are you going? Unyan!
-Let's go after him!

Straight and straight hum, hum, hum...

Hey everyone, new release!

It's a new candy!

Candy!?

Let's take a break.

Here you go.

Hmmm, where did he go...

That! The bag Unyan was carrying!

He's not here...
Let's pick it up.

He always misplaces them.

Oops! This is not the time!

Huh? Huh?

I left it here.

Maybe I lost it.

Oh no...What should I do?

Ah, that!

Wait!

-I will not give you that package!
-What? What is it, you?

It's dangerous!

What are you doing?

Please, give it back!

-Ouch!
-Unyan! Are you okay?

What? That's not it.

-Are you done?
-I'm so sorry...

Just be careful.

Ah, that's it!

It looks like this house.

I've never pushed a bell before!
I'm so excited.

Not home?

You're totally late... Oh, my.

What a cute delivery boy!

Here you go!

You're covered in mud and leaves.
Did you fall down? Are you hurt?

I'm fine!

You did a good job. Thank you.

Oh, yeah! Wait a minute!

I didn't realize you were on the landlord's delivery.

-I was worried.
-Did he not bother you?

No problem, thanks a lot!
The recipient was happy!

I did my delivery right!

What is the appeal of animation?

Once the audience
gets to know my characters, those characters live on
inside of the audience.

Creation that continues
to live on in society.