'Tudukimi' Event at the Kadokawa Offices
Tudukimi was an event I went to last week where I was forced to watch 52 anime trailers back to back, in an cruel experiment designed to find the breaking point of the human spirit. I actually kind of enjoyed myself.
At the Tudukimi event (a contraction of several Japanese words meaning 'watch the next'), 52 anime trailers were shown in groups of 4, and punctuated by commentary from the lively hosts of the evening, with an occasional industry guest appearance. It was apparently livestreamed to over 20,000 people, and was attended by all sorts of people from the anime world, including bloggers, journalists, and streamers.
It was kind of a long evening, and there's already a bunch of info out there about most of these anime, so here were my thoughts on all 52 trailers shown at the event. See my condition slowly deteriorate over the course of the evening as my notes get less and less informative.
I've noted the special picks by bracketing them; either I decided that i'm definitely picking them up this season, or they drew enough attention/applause/squeals of delight from the Japanese crowd that I decided well, I kind of have to check them out now.
1. [All Out]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JrG5mXMiBg
Sports anime fans, this is the one. Rugby. Lots of male butts. Small - but fast - player seems to feature as the star of the show; Eyeshield 21?
2. Gi(a)rlish Number
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIzD2GWrH4E
About seiyuus. Seems to be part of this emerging genre of anime focusing on the behind the scenes of the anime/manga world.
3. [3-Gatsu no Lion]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppziK5QliYI
People in the crowd were psyched for this one.
4. [Classicaloid]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U2YT9b4QjI
Really nice animation. Music based. They made a big deal out of the seiyuus in this one (Kaji Yuki / Eren Yeager - Attack on Titan & Sugita Tomokazu / [Sakata Gintoki - Gintama).
5. [To Be Hero]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw0LtqwqTG8
Another superhero one. Seems low budget. Stylish dad transforms into an overweight, uglier version of himself so he can save the world. Fans of OPM might want to at least check it out.
6. [Cheating Craft]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt3L7MDQ-vM
What I got from this was that they're basically making an anime out of the Chuunin Exam arc from Naruto where they have to cheat without the examiners noticing. Definitely on board.
7. Bloodivores
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzLfL46YqLM
Something to do with vampires in jail?
8. Sengoku Choujuu Giga
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qdn_RLgjkP8
Very cool art style. Maybe worth checking out for the visuals alone.
9. [Lostorage Incited Wixoss]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zdb_esjp6k
Who doesn't have at least a little bit of nostalgia for Yugioh? I loved that show. This looks like ridiculous fun.
10. Trickster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD4n0XWOmeg
GACKT has a voice role in this!
11. Dream Festival!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDksNqPytsI
Like all those idol anime you've been watching but been too ashamed to tell anyone about - but with dudes.
12. Luger Code 1951
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uuQ9rdkmw8
Werewolves and code-breaking. Yea, maybe.
13. [Natsume Yuujinchou Go]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjD5dSkOEUM
People in the crowd were PSYCHED for this one.
14. Ao Oni
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QGe2tzfCEI
Based on a indie horror game? Cute.
15. Show By Rock!! #
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tPiLCp6tSM
Sequel to an anime where the main character gets sucked into a game world where music controls everything! Seems fun!
16. Idol Memories
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwK3T_rIx0A
Smells like Love Live.
17. [Occultic Nine]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03eSQGttL4E
Frenetic, tense, funny, scary, a little bit of fanservice, great animation. Wow, what a trailer.
18. [Gakuen Handsome]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nL8Y4Bv_20
The producer of the anime turned up for this one. He was funny, chill, and didn't oversell it. This little, low-budget adaptation of a parody BL romance game got the biggest reception of the event. It's 3 minutes long, it features a lot of handsome dudes with magnificent chins, and it's already out on Crunchyroll.
19. WWW.Working!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_45haPIYWs
Here we go again. Fairly consistent series, features a new cast of characters this time.
20. [Keijo!!!!!!!!]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvfs2ou-8-M
What better excuse to feature copious amounts of fan-service than inventing a sport based around bikini clad girls using their boobs and butts to knock each other off a tiny, floating platform. No really, it seems pretty genius. Everyone in the crowd seemed to love it too.
21. [Kubikiri Cycle]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDMmOau0gbU
The animation looks great. Story by the dude that wrote Bakemonogatari? I'm sold.
22. Magic of Stell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW1xXAoZqnk
Cute girl joins the game dev circle at her school. Cute.
23. [Nanbaka]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWyuTZHm1E0
Oh I'm all about this one. A wacky prison-themed anime with bright, crisp animation, directed by the dude that did Danshi Koukousei no Nichijou and Gintama.
24. Flip Flappers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHGz8tMZWSc
Silly name...silly premise. Maybe a great anime.
25. Iron Blooded Orphans 2nd Season
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVrkwa2D4PY
Gundam is massive in Japan, and people seemed hyped for another season.
26. Brave Witches
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLUqd-jEBuE
A spinoff of Strike Witches. The producer(?) of the show walked onto the stage with a powerpoint presentation before showing the trailer. He was dressed like he was cosplaying as an extra from Top Gun. If the anime turns out to be half as great as that guy was, we might have the MVP ecchi anime of Fall 2016 on our hands.
27. Magic-Kyun! Renaissance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU8bT2wQuNc
Standard reverse-harem.
28. Soul Buster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saYzI_hxpzU
Time travelling samurais.
29. Shakunetsu no Takkyuu Musume
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RxwvfXlRoM
I love table tennis. They don't make enough table tennis themed anime. I'll take what I can get.
30. [Nobunaga no Shinobi]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBy6kqvGr4s
Don't underestimate this one based on the art. We were shown an extended clip from the anime, and it was funny, cute, suspenseful, action packed - if you want something easy to watch, but with just enough substance and style, you might want to check this out.
31. Soushin Shoujo Matoi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcrYyDM5U6Q
I don't really know what this one's about, but I kind of want to watch it.
32. [Yuri on Ice]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh-Olq7caGU
I mean just watch the trailer. Then watch the second trailer. Then try your best to contain your excitement till the first episode debuts on the 6th of October.
33. [Shuumatsu no Izetta]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63K4gVO8uBo
One of the few (only?) mature, historical themed trailer to be shown at the event. It looked good.
34. Bubuki Buranki: Hoshi no Kyojin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUKR2SmuqQI
If you're one of the few that considered this to be your underrated little gem of the Winter 2016 season, congratulations it's back for another season!
35. Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDf3Zuzt_ic
Sexy samurais.
36. [Watashi ga Motete Dousunda]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9G0kyxl5VM
Reverse harem series where an overweight, unattractive Fujoshi rapidly loses weight due to the shock of a favored anime character dying and turns into a skinny, beautiful princess that's fawned over by all the attractive guys at her school that she'd prefer to see kiss each other than herself. I'm watching it.
37. [Hibike! Euphonium 2]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKJ21mgG13E
The second one. People in the crowd murmured excitedly.
38. Kaijuu Girls: Ultra Kaijuu Gijinka Keikaku
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdtaRT9qlyI
The director came out and gave an amazing slide show presentation. He had jokes, he was doing crowd work, it was great - then he came out with this trailer. It wasn't the best. But still, could be cute.
39. 3-Nen D-Gumi Glass no Kamen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FgUKK4gfVY
A CG chibi style anime with a trailer that features a lot of...walking. I think it's some kind of spin-off of an anime based on a manga about acting.
40. Bernard-jou Iwaku.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAu_hpi_rKc
Seems like a cute little inconsequential gag anime based in a library. Episodes are really short too, might be worth a look at.
41. Hagane Orchestra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5Wu2AzGrww
I'm not really sure...
42. Okusama ga Seitokaichou!+!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pybjVpEd1y8
If you're a die hard fan of the first one (who is?), you're probably going to love this one too.
43. Girlfriend (Note)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-GEguVa-NA
Yea...
44. Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikaku
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRC9_qbrqAk
RPG anime style wish fulfillment, but with the magical girl genre instead.
45. Kagerou Daze: In a Day's
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94edH5crrBA
Does this have something to do with Mekakucity Actors?
46. [Bungou Stray Dogs 2nd Season]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeX94e7V0_w
It's back.
47. Heybot!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R90oMw8Ptb8
For your kids.
48. Long Riders!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN2ftJb3Un4
Liked Over Drive? Loved Yowamushi Pedal? Go crazy for all female casts? Long Riders! premiers 8th October.
49. Bishoujo Yuugi Unit Crane Game Girls Galaxy
Sequel to an interesting little short anime series that just debuted last spring.
50. Nazotokine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB02s6Zi-H0
I got absolutely nothing from this trailer.
51. [Fune wo Amu]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOiIHHxMqE4
Seems like a whimsical little drama imbued with enough fantasy elements to give it a nice edge. Probably going to watch it.
52. Kiitarou Shounen no Youkai Enikki
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7j0WT8Ib2w
Full disclosure, I somehow managed to miss this one during the event. Seems like a less chill Natsume Yuujinchou.
Over and out.
