The TV anime "Snowball Earth," based on the manga by Yuichiro Tsuji, serialized in "Monthly Spirits" (Shogakukan), has been airing on Nippon Television's anime block "FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT (FuraAni)" since April. "Snowball Earth" is a unique anime. Although it is produced using 3DCG, it looks like it is hand-drawn (2D), and some viewers have said they didn't realize it was 3DCG. While inheriting the traditions of Japanese animation, it successfully combines dynamic action and camerawork unique to 3D. We spoke to director Munehisa Sakai of Studio KAI, which is in charge of the animation, about the production process.
◇Try to challenge yourself in 3D as much as possible
Director Sakai previously worked at Toei Animation and MAPPA, and is currently affiliated with Studio KAI. He is known for his work on the "ONE PIECE" series, the "Zombie Land Saga" series, and "Dance Dance Danseur," but says that "this is the first time I've made something entirely in 3D," making "Snowball Earth" a new challenge. He seems relieved to hear people say that it "doesn't look 3D," saying, "That makes me happy."
"Basically, this is a 3D-focused production, but due to various circumstances, there are scenes that we have no choice but to do in 2D, and scenes that can only be expressed in 2D, so we decided from the beginning to make it a hybrid. However, in order for viewers to purely enjoy the story, if they are conscious of the 3D aspect, it becomes noise. We have to eliminate that noise. To do that, we need to make the 3D aspects closer to 2D. The 3D staff have cultivated unique ways of creating and animating 3D screens through various works so far, but I'm sorry to say, but I thought we should tone it down this time."
Japanese hand-drawn animation has a history of unique evolution, and has also incorporated 3D technology. There is a technique called cel-look that gives 3D a texture similar to Japanese hand-drawn animation, but "Snowball Earth" aimed for an even more advanced expression.
"There are certain characteristic movements and acting styles typical of 3D animation, but we decided to eliminate those for now and explore the question, 'How would we animate this if it were hand-drawn?' as we created the movements. One of the guiding principles for this project was to challenge ourselves to do as much as possible in 3D, even in scenes that would normally be done in 2D. For example, the awakening scene of the 'Human Land' in episode 4 is in 2D, and only after it turns into flames is it in 3D."
One might think, "If you're going to make 3D look like 2D, wouldn't it be better to just make it in 2D from the start?" But Director Sakai, with an eye to the future, deliberately chose to produce it in 3D.
"When I think about what I'll be creating going forward, I wondered if I could do something different by using a hybrid approach with 3D, and I tried to identify the challenges. I think it would be interesting to deepen this method in the future and broaden the range of expression. What I'm doing is the same as with traditional hand-drawn animation, but 3D and 2D have developed from different cultures, so it's not exactly the same. Looking ahead, I thought it would be interesting to combine 3D with a bit of 2D culture and bring them closer together."
3D animation in Japanese animation is still in its developmental stages, and "Snowball Earth" can be seen as an attempt to demonstrate its current state. Director Sakai explored new forms of expression through close discussions with the staff and painstaking work. He was also assisted by staff members, including assistant director Takeshi Iwata, who has strong skills in CG.
"At first, I struggled with how to communicate effectively, and it took a lot of time. Sometimes 2D jargon doesn't get across, and vice versa. I was experiencing so many things for the first time, so I really appreciated Mr. Iwata's help. Even when I said, 'Is this going to be difficult?', he would say, 'No, that's fine.' I'm usually more suited to working meticulously, but it took longer than I expected. However, since the theme this time was to take on a challenge, there were times when I created the video by adjusting it frame by frame."
◇ Show the robot's decisive move
"Snowball Earth" is a sci-fi x monster x robot action story set on Snowball Earth, an Earth covered in snow and ice. Ten years after the final battle for the survival of humanity, Tetsuo, a shy boy, and his giant robot partner Yukio return to an Earth that has been frozen solid...
"After reading the original manga, I wanted to create a classic shonen manga. It has exciting elements like robots and monsters, and the thrill of unpredictable plot developments, but within that, there's a solid human drama that keeps it grounded. The story has depth, and that's what makes it interesting. We're going to animate it, and we'll be doing a good job with the acting and action, but I was thinking about how we could create an animation that wouldn't lose the energy of the still images in the original manga."
In the original work, the still images of the robot Yukio striking cool poses are particularly memorable. The robot's unique gimmicks are also a major draw.
"Although Yukio is a robot, he needs to express emotions clearly, and his action sequences are also cool, so we're making sure there's a good sense of contrast. To make the 'decisive' moments impactful, we're consciously building up the action before and after them to create a strong sense of climax. For example, in episode 3, when Yukio goes to rescue Tetsuo, we've added a gimmick that wasn't in the original manga. His arms pop out, his leg jets open, and his eyes pop open. We show the coolness of the robotic gimmicks in close-up, and then finish with a powerful shot of Yukio standing tall. We tried to maintain that sense of tempo."
◇A continuous series of discoveries through trial and error
Director Sakai also commented, "The wide variety of monsters is another interesting point." Various monsters appear, including a bird-like scorching monster called "Human Land" and "Hercules," a half-human, half-horse monster. Each monster has its own distinctive movements, and the sense of weight and power of the monsters is clearly conveyed.
"Each monster has its own unique characteristics, such as walking like a turtle, moving like a snake, or flying like a bat, so we had to express their movements. We tried to take advantage of the strengths of 3D, which allows us to create detailed movements. We also constantly emphasized 'don't make them look light' and 'be mindful of their size and weight.' Since the monsters are heavy, we expressed a sense of rhythm by having them pause before making a big move. We tried to show their movements by making fine adjustments frame by frame, such as 'removing one frame here and adding one here.'"
The world of "Snowball Earth" is covered in snow and ice. While buildings and caves appear, the setting is a world of pure white.
"When creating storyboards, I try to avoid having the same image of snow-covered mountains or snowfields when switching shots. I used to work on projects where there were often long stretches of just sky and sea, so I feel like I've naturally developed that technique (laughs). I learned how to roll and change the camera, so it might have come naturally to me."
Director Sakai paid meticulous attention to every detail so that viewers could enjoy the anime without even realizing it was in 3D.
"It was a huge challenge. We were constantly experimenting to figure out how to eliminate the CG look, and it was a continuous process of discovery. Those discoveries are gradually accumulating. I want to improve it so much that when people look at 'Snowball Earth' in 5 or 10 years, they'll be able to laugh and say, 'We still have a long way to go...'"
Achieving unprecedented visual expression is no easy feat. It was only possible thanks to the tireless efforts of director Sakai and the rest of the staff. However, the true value of "Snowball Earth" lies in the fact that it can be enjoyed without even realizing it's in 3D. This challenge, where tradition and innovation intertwine, has only just begun. (Manami Anima/MANTANWEB)
