The functional composition of "RD: Undercover Brain Research Room," in which relationships are revealed by the height of the "eye level" (Nostalgic Anime Retrospective No. 49)

Next January 2019, Osamu Tezuka's manga "Dororo" will be animated again. The director is Kazuhiro Furuhashi, known for "Mobile Suit Gundam UC" and other works. The cyber sci-fi anime that Furuhashi directed in 2008 is "RD: The Diving Brain Investigation Room.
The main character is Mari Haru, a young man whose profession is diving. While diving at the request of a friend, he is caught up in a mysterious phenomenon and loses consciousness. 50 years later, he awakens an old man who cannot live without his wheelchair. However, a virtual underwater-like space called "Metal" (Metarial Network) has been constructed, and by diving into Metal, Haru is able to swim comfortably as a young man. Haru becomes an investigator to infiltrate the metal, and he teams up with Minamo Aoi, a young girl who assists him, to tackle a difficult case.

The first and second episodes are back-to-back, with Haru diving into Metal and working in tandem with Minamo to solve a power outage that has struck an artificial island. But the normal Haru is an old man unable to stand up from his wheelchair; there is a height difference between him and the 15-year-old Minamo. How do they interact with each other on screen?

When we become aware of the "eye level," we start to wonder about the positioning of the characters.

The avant title of the first episode depicts how Haru, 50 years ago when she was young, is caught up in a mysterious phenomenon under the sea. When the title reveals itself, it is a man-made island 50 years later. Older Haru is hanging a fishing line at a pier. First a full shot (full body image), followed by a bust shot (from the chest up). In both shots, the camera is positioned at the eye level of Haru, who is seated in a wheelchair. The height of the camera is called "eye level.
If the eye level is low, the camera will "aim" at the subject's feet. If the eye level is high, the camera will take "overhead" shots of people. Depending on the setting of eye level, dramatic effects can be brought about in the composition. The image then becomes rigid, giving a strong impression of Haru's stubbornness as he sits in his wheelchair and refuses intervention from those around him.

Now, then, Minamo appears. At the sound of Minamo's voice calling out, "Um ......," Haru averts her gaze and says, "I don't need you. Can you leave?" Minamo replies curtly, "I don't need you. After all, eye level is at his eye level. In response to Haru's reply, Minamo replies in a loud voice, "Oh no! Minamo replies in a loud voice. Haru turns around, startled by Minamo's loud voice. The camera moves horizontally in front of Haru's face and follows his gaze. There stands Minamo, dressed in a sailor suit. But shocked by Haru's reaction, Minamo sits there. The eye level remains at Haru's eye level, so the composition looks down at Minamo. He says, "I'm sorry ....... And you? Minamo stands up at Haru's call. The camera pans vertically to follow Minamo as she stands up. The camera then reverses the composition, this time looking up at Minamo. Minamo cheerfully begins to introduce herself.

Depressed Minamo→Below eye level→Looking down
Cheerful Minamo → Above eye level → Looking up

By setting the eye level at the eye level of Haru, who is seated in a wheelchair, the composition effectively conveys Minamo's emotions and position.

Why does Minamo "crouch" in front of Haru?

Interestingly enough, the second episode depicts the encounter between Haru and Minamo in the first episode from a different angle as Minamo's recollection scene.
When we see Haru from Minamo's perspective, he is sitting below eye level and looks like a very diminutive old man. Then, when Haru asks, "Will you please leave?" and when Minamo sits down after being rejected, the composition now looks up at Haru.
If we re-set the eye level to Minamo's eye level, the power relationship with Haru shifts from up to down, and we see again that when the 15-year-old girl stands and speaks, she is inevitably looking down at the old man in the wheelchair.

Between the first and second episodes, Minamo runs around the island trying to restore the artificial island after a power outage. Meanwhile, Haru backs up Minamo's actions by diving into the "metal" virtual reality and accessing data.
In other words, Haru and Minamo helped each other to save the artificial island. How did their relationship change after the incident?
On the artificial island at night when the electricity is restored, Minamo is reunited with Haru, who is in a wheelchair. Minamo runs up to Haru, squats down, and holds his hand. The eye level lowers and the composition is Minamo looking up at Haridome. Now that they have worked together to solve the case, have they become equals?　Or has Haru become a little more superior to Minamo?　It is interesting to read and interpret from the composition.


(Text by Keisuke Hirota)
(C) Production I.G, Shirow Masamune/NTV, VAP, IG, DNDP