The dog that walks also hits an animated cartoon. COCOLORS" is a fascinating experimental live animation that is a real problem!

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On February 17 and 18, 2017, there was a performance of "COCOLORS," an original animation work by Kamikaze Animation, at Shinjuku Wald 9 in Tokyo.

This is a very unique work in which all music and voice acting are performed on the spot, becoming one with the visuals at the venue. Because of the form of the performance, the event was billed as a "Special Collaboration LIVE.

The first performance was held on October 9, 2016, at the Machi★Asobi Vol. 17 event in Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture. It was performed outdoors on the stage at the top of Mount Bizan in Tokushima Prefecture.

It was produced by Kamikaze Animation, which has gained popularity for the opening images of the "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" animated series from Part 1 to Part 3. Intrigued by the "Kamikaze Animation original animation work" and the unprecedented staging method, the author, who saw the first performance on the evening of the 17th, reports on the joys of this new experience.

Experimental performance full of "fumbling

Seats and microphones for the seven performers and six voice actors were set up in front of a large screen. This is a sight not usually seen at film screenings.

In his greeting before the opening, he said, "I hope you will enjoy the hands-on feeling. The organizers could tell that this was the first Tokyo performance and they were not sure how it would be received. It was a real sense that we were watching an animation that was about to be completed, with no voices or music.

The performers and voice actors enter and take their seats. Silence filled the hall. The tension was high. It was as if the entire venue had been turned into an postrecording booth. Everyone was waiting for something to start.

Soon after the video started, I noticed that the sound effects (SE) were recorded. The live music and the voice actors' performances were added on top of it. The music is combined with the video images, but there is no discrepancy between the two.

After the show was over, the voice acting, the content of the piece, and the quality of the video were all very good. Although the eccentric performance tends to attract attention, the potential and quality of the original work is very high. The worldview, storyline, characters, and artwork were all full of unique charm, and I felt it was a very well-crafted work.

The voices and music were added live on the spot. I don't know why they use such an unusual method of performance (in a good way).

The live performance of the cast was amazing!

The most remarkable thing about this performance, however, is the live performance of the cast.

Before seeing the show, I had thought lightly that the characters' facial expressions would not be visible because it would be difficult to match the lip-synchronization in a live performance.

However, when I actually saw the performance, I found that although there was no lip-synching, the movements and cutscenes were so detailed that there seemed to be no easy timing at all. The only sound effects that are not live are also included with great precision.

In other words, it is an animation that is completely normal in terms of visuals. The voice actors who did the voices for this animation must have had a difficult time.

However, the six voice actors lined up in front of the audience were able to do their voices to this animation with ease (or at least it seemed that way). The audience was able to immerse themselves comfortably in the work without any tension or anxiety.

This is an amazing thing.

Professional voice actors are professionals in timing as well as acting. Fans rarely have the opportunity to witness this. There are a few opportunities to see live postrecordings at events, but I doubt that many of them are as long as this one, just to reproduce famous lines or scenes.

It just keeps going on and on right in front of your eyes. It was as natural as flowing water, yet it was full of emotion, expressing joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.

At the climax, Aki's emotions erupt. How much control does one have over the crying and screaming that are the result of the actor's vocal efforts?　The audience witnesses such craftsmanship.

Characters with hidden faces are surprisingly cute!

The characters in the play are covered by protective clothing that obscures their faces. How can we enjoy the stories of such characters?　Before watching the film, I was concerned that I would have to keep my head in the game to keep up with the fun.

However, once the film began, such fears were drowned out. The characters in protective suits are children. Their movements are clumsy and cute. I couldn't help but smile. The fact that I could not see their faces made me wonder what kind of children they were, and this tugged at my heartstrings. As you watch them, you don't care that you can't see their expressions.

It is interesting that the fact that the characters do not have faces is not a disadvantage. It would be wild to say that animation does not need facial expressions ....... However, the detailed movements, pauses, and voice acting convey both personality and emotion.

This feeling is similar to that of puppet theater or clay animation. The viewer does not necessarily react to the raising and lowering of the eyebrows or the position of the corners of the mouths of the characters on the screen.

Emotional expressions are also restrained. The main character, Fuyu, hardly speaks at all.
The characters are animated in 3DCG, but the lines have a strong and weak hand-drawn texture, as do the backgrounds, giving the images a roughness and warmth. After watching the film, you can't help but feel that the characters in their protective suits are cute.

The official illustrations circulating on Twitter are also irresistibly cute, and I highly recommend those interested to follow them.

Dense artwork that makes you want to look at it forever

The world in which the film takes place is a dystopia. If you are familiar with subcultures, it is easy to imagine that the world has been destroyed once.

Although there are no age-restrictive expressions, I felt that the content of the film is suitable for adults. The dialogue is not excessive and the explanations are minimal. The story is told through pictures, and the direction continues to make the viewer realize the story without explanation. Children may find it a little difficult to understand.

Overall, there is a combination of restrained expression that may be lacking if you are trying to take it easy, and a dense amount of information that will come in if you lean back a little and open your eyes and ears.

The density of the background art is terribly dense. The space is filled with curves so dense that one could look at them for hours and never get tired of them. It has an ethnic and abandoned atmosphere.

The faceless protective suits look like native festival costumes with masks, connecting people who cannot leave the underground as a community of destiny. For better or worse, the people living in this world must cooperate with each other to survive.

The world covered in white ashes is like a city covered with clean snow. Underground, darkness reigns. The story is set in a world without color.

Huyu paints pictures using printmaking techniques and puts "color" on them. In the inorganic, dimly lit underground world, there is light in the paintings, and color is born.

When I returned home, I opened the special gift envelope I received at the exhibition and was surprised to find that it was a hand-printed print. It was a hand-printed print. It was as if it were a gift from the world of the film. What a chic sense of style! The fusion of the digital and analog worlds was also present here.

Very attractive. That's why it bothers me!

So, this work, which was interesting from every corner, was also a very troubling work.

While I didn't want to miss a single gesture of the characters, the art and backgrounds were so deep and dense that I was also interested in them.

The density of the visuals was so dense that I could not help but notice the live and passionate performances of the cast, which I could rarely see anywhere else.

And the band members, standing on the same stage as the cast, create a work of art with their gently high and low music, using rare instruments never seen anywhere else.

Where exactly is this to be seen at ......?

It's extravagant, but I think that's the most troubling problem with this piece.

...... No, well, you don't need to be troubled.

In other words, the next time it is staged, we can all go to the venue again to have this troubling experience.

The Beginning of the "Everyone Experience" Animation

In 2016, with the boom of "Pokémon GO," the game became an outdoor communication tool. The popularity of "What's Your Name?" and "In This Corner of the World" were huge hits, and more people than ever talked about anime.

In this new trend where the value is placed on the "purchase of an experience" rather than on the cost of goods or time, animation is also exploring new avenues. COCOLORS" may be one of them.

COCOLORS" is a very high-quality, exciting, and maniacal medium-length animated film that will make even the most dedicated anime fans sit up and take notice.

On the other hand, the worldview and themes are as deep and broad as a picture book that captures the hearts and minds of adults and attracts even those who are not normally interested in anime.

The amazing craftsmanship of the voice actors is sure to surprise not only anime fans, but also the general public who are unfamiliar with voice actors.

Will the hands-on live animation experience expand in the future?　If it does, I have a feeling that it will open up a whole new world of fun and possibilities for anime. It's all very exciting.

If you want to see the future, there is only one thing you need to do now. If you want to see the future, there is only one thing for you to do now: share your impressions with those around you, saying, "I liked 'COCOLORS.

(Text by YAMAYU)
(C) kamikazedouga