Tackling the mundane and sometimes, frantic workplace struggle, Shirobako still manages to be entertaining thanks to its snappy pacing which makes even the small indulgences that Shirobako gives itself in the form of explaining every tiny detail about a process, (which some may find unimportant) to not feel too wearisome on the viewer. Many of the workplace conflicts in the show revolve around the idea of meeting a deadline and the levels of drama or angst are never overblown, instead staying grounded to reality. There is also no shortage of charming side stories along the way and we even get a glimpse into the happenings of the old Musashino Animation way back when. The occasional over-exaggerated comedy routine or magical moments with those talking dolls also helps in adding some flavor to the narrative, making the series even more enjoyable.
Shirobako does a great job of utilizing the topical premise of 'making an Anime' to demonstrate its concepts and is actually rather informative for someone looking to get some detailed insight into the process of making an Anime. Nearly all of the aspects that go into making an Anime ranging from the creation of key frames to the voice selection process and even field research, are covered extensively. We are also offered a look into the everyday lives of the animators, production staff and many others in the industry.
Throughout the first few episodes, you may feel a little overwhelmed by Shirobako's huge cast of characters as many of the staff members of Musashino Animation are quickly introduced. Some of them (particularly the new recruits introduced towards the end) gave the impression that their development arcs were cut short but none of them felt completely unimportant or irrelevant to the story. For the duration of the show, a considerable portion of the cast get a certain degree of characterization and ultimately development through the struggles they encounter. As they go about their hectic work lives, you start to learn more about their personality quirks and flaws and hey, you might even end up empathizing with a few of them, cheering for them to succeed whenever they encounter any obstacles along the way.
It was also a welcome sight to see no traces of fan service in the form of beach visits, shower scenes or any other sorts of contrived events, even with the main cast being all females. That really allows us to appreciate the characters more so on their personalities rather than something trivial like how their bodies look.
Perhaps the greatest strength of Shirobako are its solid and ubiquitous themes about dreams and ambitions. Especially for those working in creative industries, some of the troubles the characters face throughout the show may hit close to home. Shirobako also manages to apply those themes to nearly every member of the cast, with each of them having or working towards dreams of their own, some examples being Shizuka's aspirations of being a voice actress, Honda's desire to run a bakery and the list goes on.
Now, I can't deny that Shirobako's portrayal of the industry is somewhat idealized and definitely should not be taken as an entirely accurate representation of reality. However, a second glance may reveal that there is still an air of despondency looming in the background, with characters struggling with their self-worth and motivations. Even more so with Hiraoka, who is already feeling jaded and cynical after his experience in the industry. So, while you shouldn't expect Shirobako to be some sort of a pessimistic exposé of the dark sides of the industry, it does not completely sugarcoat the experience of working in it either.
With the art and animation being provided by P.A. Works, expect to see many beautiful and detailed backgrounds. The colors were vibrant but not too overbearing. Many of the characters display some lovely and humorous expressions from time to time and the use of CGI is kept to a minimum. The soundtrack, although not having any exceptional pieces which stood out, still fits nicely to the wide range of atmospheres present in the show.
Shirobako is a love letter towards the industry itself. A passionate piece of work made by creators who want to showcase what they love. It manages to remain grounded with a tinge of over-the-top moments and fantasy elements thrown in to add to the amusement. With a huge cast filled with endearing characters, it executes its central themes splendidly while managing to provide a great deal of insight into the intricate process of making an Anime. If you're someone who has any sort of interest in how an Anime is actually made or are just simply looking for a nice piece of infotainment, Shirobako is certainly something you should consider checking out.
