Japanese Independent Animation 03/03

Kiryukan hired veteran technicians who had been forced to change jobs or had forgotten their dreams of animation,
and also brought in young people who could not find work in animation elsewhere, building an independent animation system like a "cottage industry" where they could utilize their passion.

"Shojo Tsubaki" is the culmination of four years of work in this "free-for-all" animation production system. *1

In addition, the volunteer-produced animation that Kiryukan cooperates in producing speaks to today's children, who are now surrounded by video games. The purpose is to help children rediscover the charm of communication with living things.



"Horizon Blue" (Produced by Kiryukan/Original comic by Yoko Kondo)

This film is an adaptation of the manga of the same name (published by Seirindō). *2

The theme of the film is the issue that psychological trauma suffered during infancy and adolescence causes suffering throughout a person's life.

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Synopsis...

Since childhood, Haruko has always been compared to her beautiful and cheerful younger sister, Akimi. Haruko is an introverted and timid woman.

She feels ugly and unattractive, but a younger man, Keisuke, approaches her. They get married and give birth.

Haruko loves her child at first, but gradually she realizes that she is no longer able to love child.

Haruko falls into depression. She eventually becomes violent towards her child. She sees a doctor, but her situation does not improve. The world brands her as a "failed mother."

However, a psychiatrist explains that the cause of Haruko's illness is "family relationships." Especially from her mother.

Haruko learns that many people in Japan suffer from the same psychological trauma (intrafamilial post-traumatic stress disorder) as her.

She then finds the courage to face her past and resolve to recover from this trauma.

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This subject did not attract the interest of other productions or the anime industry.
However, Harada had a desire to use the anime to convey a sense of solidarity with people who suffer from the same problems as the heroine of the story.

"What we want to do is to create works that deal with themes that big companies don't want to cover.
I hope that independent groups like ours will continue in the future," said Harada.

(*The original text by Tsunami Editorial Team was translated by a Japanese French translator, and then translated into English by Kiyubaru.)

END

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*1 To be exact, it's five years.

*2 Seirindo, famous for Garo, changed its president and transformed into a far-right discriminatory company. Its editors and cartoonists moved to "Seirin Kogeisha."