Katsuhiro Otomo, a notable figure in the anime and comic realms as the mastermind behind Akira and director of the legendary 1988 film, has introduced a new anime production label: Oval Gear Animation Studio. Located in Tokyo’s Musashino district, the studio aims to advance traditional animation techniques in collaboration with emerging artists.
The Oval Gear website outlines:
“The studio was founded for two purposes: to pass on to the new generation the filmmaking methods and authorial sensibility Katsuhiro Otomo has cultivated over decades, and to produce new animated works for global release.”
The site also mentions that the studio is already developing its first project, presumed to be Otomo’s adaptation of his 2001 manga, Orbital Era — strongly suggested as the website’s homepage features the skateboard-riding cosmonaut from the film’s initial teaser. This project marks Otomo’s third feature film following Akira and Steamboy, which was revealed at L.A.’s Anime Expo in 2019 by Otomo, alongside Sunrise, Inc.’s President Masakoto Asanuma and Yasumasa Tsuchiya.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- George Trombley (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 376 Pages - 08/22/2014 (Publication Date) - Learn From Zero (Publisher)
Orbital Era is a near-future action-adventure, creatively led by Otomo as writer, director, and designer. Set within a space colony still under construction, it narrates the story of a group of young boys navigating fate in an unfamiliar world. “The reality found in mankind’s future will be depicted through [the boys’] perspective,” Otomo explained during the announcement.
A new Akira anime series in collaboration with Sunrise was announced simultaneously, and some reports about the inception of Oval Gear indicate it could serve as the project’s base. (This is not confirmed on the studio’s website or official announcement.) The original manga still had two years to go before completion when the film was released, so it remains to be seen whether this new animated interpretation of the dystopian story concerning psychic experiments gone awry will present a complete adaptation, extend the narrative of the film, or explore a unique storyline within the same universe.
Nonetheless, it is certain that the studio is engaged in its first feature film endeavor, whether it is Orbital Era or another project. The Oval Gear website clearly indicates the studio is seeking animators (including inbetweeners and assistant inbetween checkers) and production personnel for the project, welcoming candidates at any stage of their professional journey as long as they are “serious about animation.” The job listing seeks individuals with fundamental drawing skills, with experience in 2D animation software considered advantageous, prior industry exposure preferred but not mandatory, and applicants should possess Japanese language skills at least at a conversational level.
Discover more at oval-gear.com.
[Sources: Oval Gear, SoraNews24]
- Used Book in Good Condition
- George Trombley (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 376 Pages - 08/22/2014 (Publication Date) - Learn From Zero (Publisher)
