Aesthetics / Art Direction
Anime
These pieces have a harmony, uniqueness or just an x-factor to their overall aesthetic presence, to include music/sound design.
This is not to be confused with animation though. While the two intersect, if something is interesting only for its animation quality, hopefully it's not here.
Feel free to message me if you think I should check something out that could be here. And if you disagree or think there is a better representative of something, let's talk.
This is not to be confused with animation though. While the two intersect, if something is interesting only for its animation quality, hopefully it's not here.
Feel free to message me if you think I should check something out that could be here. And if you disagree or think there is a better representative of something, let's talk.
Kanashimi no Belladonna
Belladonna of Sadness
Movie, 1973,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
trigger warning.
the most visually arresting anime from the 70s, water coloring used to disturb
the most visually arresting anime from the 70s, water coloring used to disturb
Tenshi no Tamago
Angel's Egg
OVA, 1985,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
visceral and haunting, Yoshitaka Amano's influence courses through its veins.
Palme no Ki
A Tree of Palme
Movie, 2002,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:4
a muted Moebius 70s sci-fi aesthetic, some Nausicaa vibes, throw in a little Akira (because the animation director is the same). It's amazing (aesthetically speaking).
TV, 2008,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:6
arguably Yuasa's most distinct looking work, and that's saying something
Kaguya-hime no Monogatari
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya
Movie, 2013,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:10
water color Ghibli, enjoy
TV, 2016,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:10
because Mob was directly translated from ONE's (the creator's) webcomic, Mob has a fluidity and freedom to it that even OPM S1 doesn't have. It's my favorite contemporary aesthetic.
Vampire Hunter D (2000)
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Movie, 2000,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
clean and quiet. Yoshitaka Amano provided D's design and then the team worked around that.
Inaka Isha
Franz Kafka's A Country Doctor
Movie, 2007,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
nightmare fuel. pure and simple.
Movie, 2004,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:10
interesting because this film looks different during the different arcs within it. And that's just the tip of Yuasa's acid trip of a movie.
Fuujin Monogatari
Windy Tales
TV, 2004,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:7
like actually cute and quirky. Prayin for a bluray of this one day.
TV, 1998,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:-
90s static. It's really good (aesthetically).
TV, 2014,
11 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Yuasa's aesthetic molds perfectly with the offbeat emotional and kinetic story of Ping Pong. The manga paneling used is unique and works very well.
Movie, 2013,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
clean character designs that pop with a bright color palette and brought to life with masterful animation. Check the second movie and show as well.
TV, 1998,
26 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Western, sci-fi, noir, jazz, cinematography and vibes. Timeless.
Kotonoha no Niwa
The Garden of Words
Movie, 2013,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
Still Shinkai's magnum opus in terms of aesthetic believability. Rotoscoping used here is insane. (Weathering With You, could be watched as well)
Movie, 2001,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
Some of the best backgrounds in the business. There's a great sense of verticality to this film.
Additionally 3D here looks incredibly intriguing despite being made in 2001.
Additionally 3D here looks incredibly intriguing despite being made in 2001.
Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Movie, 1984,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:10
personally my favorite aesthetic from Miyazaki. It feels sharp, timeless, quiet, grand and imaginative. "Dune" has been cited to be a partial inspiration.
Fun fact: Anno animated a particular laser beam scene during the finale, you'll know when you see it.
Fun fact: Anno animated a particular laser beam scene during the finale, you'll know when you see it.
Bai Niao Gu
Valley of White Birds
Movie, 2017,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
literally one of the most gorgeous spellbinding shorts I've ever seen.
Movie, 2004,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
Imaishi unchained. Got a feeling deep down he really likes Uzis.
Koukaku Kidoutai
Ghost in the Shell
Movie, 1995,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
crisp, clean and dreary, cyberpunk world building through atmosphere at its finest.
Shinseiki Evangelion Movie: Air/Magokoro wo, Kimi ni
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
Movie, 1997,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:4
a visceral experience. The show too should be seen from an aesthetic standpoint.
Arete Hime
Princess Arete
Movie, 2001,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:6
Absolutely classic aesthetic to this 2001 movie.
Tonari no Yamada-kun
My Neighbors the Yamadas
Movie, 1999,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
absolutely wholesome and delightfully understated. Something about the the yamadas clean, uncluttered, focused frames really adds to the whimsy and poignancy of moments.
And some of the backgrounds are shockingly insightful in their abstraction.
And some of the backgrounds are shockingly insightful in their abstraction.
Movie, 2006,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
Without a doubt, one of the most french looking anime's out there with a 10/10 OST by Plaid. Treasure Town is textured and alive.
Movie, 2019,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
This movie is just colors and speed. Kind of hard to describe but I really liked it. Almost feels like they said hey, let the 'blue anime popsicle' be our aesthetic guideline.
Heike Monogatari
The Heike Story
TV, 2022,
11 eps
Me:-
Author:6
Genuinely beautiful and absolutely consistent. Maybe my favorite contemporary work, aesthetically speaking.
Aru Nihon no Ekaki Shounen
A Japanese Boy Who Draws
Movie, 2019,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:9
artwork changes as the short progresses, very good experiment
Movie, 1999,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:6
Yoshitaka Amano's designs come to life. His influence is greatest felt here.
OVA, 2000,
6 eps
Me:-
Author:7
style like this doesn't come around every day. Imaishi, the pillows, Gainax, too good.
Majo no Takkyuubin
Kiki's Delivery Service
Movie, 1989,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
It's really just too cozy, in a somber way. The town of Koriko is perfect.
TV, 2021,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
this is how you make a contemporary show look. A kaleidoscope of imagination, but more so than that just good 2d digital art.
Movie, 2009,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
Literal crack. I love how crunchy and visceral everything is. There's a short called "Trava: Fist Planet" that was the precursor to Redline, check it out if you want a quieter version of this crunch.
Kaijuu no Kodomo
Children of the Sea
Movie, 2019,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:-
retains its manga DNA giving a unique vibe, additionally the end gets very exploratory
Houseki no Kuni
Land of the Lustrous
TV, 2017,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:6
3D done right. You can literally jus watch this for the hair. Goes to show you how much it matters in a design.
Movie, 2007,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:7
Basically a music video, animated with a ball point pen, yes please.
Kara no Kyoukai Movie 1: Fukan Fuukei
The Garden of Sinners Chapter 1: Overlooking View
Movie, 2007,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:6
something from ufotable had to be here as their aesthetic has become the benchmark in contemporary anime. Garden of Sinners has got the most atmosphere from what I've seen by them.
Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
TV, 2011,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
aesthetic dissonance used well here.
Jin-Rou
Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade
Movie, 2000,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:6
everything feels heavy. Like imagine if Berserk looked like this.
i know, i'm sorry.
i know, i'm sorry.
Space☆Dandy
Space Dandy
TV, 2014,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Animation and style are incredible, most episodes are aesthetically different. Almost like an anthology with a continued story.
(S2 is more of the same if not better)
(S2 is more of the same if not better)
Movie, 2003,
1 ep
Me:-
Author:8
a music video album set to Daft Punk's "Discovery" album, it's great.
ACCA: 13-ku Kansatsu-ka
ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept.
TV, 2017,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
light and airy, just like its pastries
