INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION 1985 - 2010
VOL 01 ISSUE 01
OCT
2011
EDITORIAL COVER & PREVIOUS Neon Genesis Evangelion [ End of Eva ] OPPOSITE Macross Plus
THE LIMITLESS INTERFACE A VISUAL GUIDE TO INFORMATION GRAPHICS AND USER INTERFACES FOUND WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION. Having been somewhat inspired to start a career in design after becoming intoxicatingly attracted to Japanese animation, I felt it might be amusing ( and perhaps even quite inspiring ) to provide a rough visual guide of information graphics and graphic user interfaces that can be found within. During the selection process, I felt it somewhat necessary to provide a combination of all-time favorites, modern classics and a few obscure gems so that people of all types could really enjoy. I feel the meticulous detail that has been designed for a simple one second pan must deserve some credit, or at least a mental clap for that designer it was who thought up the layout scheme of complex realism for an utterly fictitious premiss. I stated ‘the limitless interface’ due to the fact that many of the visual systems and interfaces were designed many times within the realm of imagination, unconstrained by the physical world of manufacturing and computer processing power. So to, Japanese animation is well known for its intense visuals, often times saturating the viewer with an orgy of colors and sounds that can bring on almost a heightened state of sensory consciousness ( even seizures, such as the infamous “Pokémon Shock”). New and old series have been provided with remastered movies and OVA’s mostly among the list
04
due to the better animation and attention to detail. I had to leave out a few classic vintage series ( also choosing to include the new Gundam over the original ) so that lesser known titles such as Cyber City Oedo 808 and Megazone 23 could be discovered, making the list a bit clustered with the cyber-punk / mecha genres so If there are other great titles out there that I have truly missed, don’t hesitate to let us know! So with that, hope you enjoy. Engram
EDITORS Edward Dessaso ART DIRECTION & LAYOUT Edward Dessaso CONTACT US hello@engramatics.com © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. IMAGES COPYRIGHTED TO THEIR RESPECTFUL OWNERS.
CONTENTS 06
A.D. POLICE FILES
10
ARMITAGE III
14 18 22 34 36 68 70 76 104 124 168 210 214 228 234
AD ポリス
アミテージ・ザ・サード
BLUE SUBMARINE NO. 6
青の６号
COWBOY BEBOP
カウボーイビバップ
CYBER CITY OEDO 808
サイバーシティ OEDO 808
DRAGONBALL Z
ドラゴンボールＺ
GENOCYBER
ジェノサイバー
GHOST IN THE SHELL
攻殻機動隊
GUNBUSTER
トップをねらえ！
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
新世紀エヴァンゲリオン
MACROSS PLUS
マクロスプラス
MEGAZONE 23
メガゾーン23
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM
機動戦士ガンダム
MOLDIVER
モルダイバー
PATLABOR
機動警察パトレイバー
SILENT MÖBIUS
サイレントメビウス
VIRUS
ウイルス
INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION
TITLE
A.D. POLICE FILES
AD ポリス STUDIO
AIC RELEASE
1990 Although A.D. Police files doesn’t really have any infographics within the actual episodes of sorts, the opening credits could not be ignored. Contemplating between Bubble Gum Crisis and A.D. Police, the OP made the cut. The amount of detail and level of visuals is quite stunning, complete with a retro vibe that evokes memories of the Terminator or Bionic Man. On a side note, both A.D. Police and Bubble Gum Crisis have excellent sound tracks fueled with synthy rock that won’t disappoint. [ SYNOP ] A.D. Police Files is a three-part original video animation produced by Artmic and AIC. Leon is a rookie with Jeena as his partner in the ADPolice, an extremely violent, anti-Boomer police division. The story is set five years before the events of Bubblegum Crisis. [ /SYNOP ] 1
06
07
08
09
INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION
TITLE
ARMITAGE III
アミテージ ザ・サード STUDIO
AIC / PIONEER L.D.C. RELEASE
1995 A classic cyber punk anime from the 90’s, Armitage III focus’ on the future involvement of cybernetics and androids within society and the moral implications that will surely arise. There was somewhat a lack of imagery but I felt it should be included due to its excellent script debating self-worth and the ‘human’ soul. Although there has been recent entries in the Armitage line-up, the OVA’s were chosen as the greatest example. [ SNYOP ] Armitage III is a 1995 cyberpunk anime series centred around Naomi Armitage, a highly advanced “Type-III” android. The series began with the four-part original video animation Armitage III and spawned two movies. [ /SYNOP ] 2
010
011
ARMITAGE III
012
013
INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION
TITLE
BLUE SUBMARINE NO. 6
青の６号 STUDIO
GONZO RELEASE
1998 - 2000 Blue Submarine No. 6 was originally brought to the attention of American youth through the airing on Cartoon Network’s famous Toonami block in late 2000. Combining 3D computer graphics with traditional animation, it gave a glimpse of the possibilities of what could be achieved in animation. Now such visuals are commonplace, and can at many times be used to allow budget cuts which I feel feel drastically reduces the beauty of the animation, but I digress. Accompanied by a great soundtrack, Blue Submarine’s visual displays on board the ship were of excellent detail for their time with an abundance of florescent hues and minimalist aesthetics that are reminiscent of DNA sequencing gel. [ SYNOP ] Blue Submarine No. 6 is a post-apocalyptic manga series written and illustrated by Satoru Ozawa, first published in 1967, which was subsequently developed into a four-episode original video animation series by Gonzo. The anime adaptation was released in the United States on April 4, 2000. It uses a hybrid approach, combining 3D computer graphics with traditional animation, and is a pioneering example of this technique. The jazzy and atmospheric score was provided by rock n’ roll big band The Thrill. [ /SYNOP ] 3
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015
BLUE SUBMARINE NO. 6
016
017
INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION
TITLE
COWBOY BEBOP
カウボーイ ビバップ STUDIO
SUNRISE RELEASE
1998 - 1999 Cowboy Bebop is a title that can be found at the top of many Top 10 lists, praised for its unparalleled synthesis of atmospheric music, top-notch character design and emotional plot lines. Also a bit lack on visuals, I brought in the movie, Knocking on Heaven’s Door so as to please not only myself, but other more astute anime enthusiasts who believe such a series should not be excluded. Ed being one of the best hackers around, there were a few screens that popped up to my surprised pleasure. [ SYNOP ] Cowboy Bebop is a 1998 Japanese anime series directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, written by Keiko Nobumoto, and produced by Sunrise. Its 26 episodes (“sessions”) comprise a complete storyline: set in 2071, the series follows the adventures, misadventures and tragedies of a group of bounty hunters, or “cowboys”, travelling on their spaceship, the Bebop. The series explores several concepts involving philosophy, including existentialism, loneliness, and existential ennui. The series’ art direction centers on American music and counterculture, especially the beat and jazz movements of the 1940s–60s and the early rock era of the 1950s–70s, which the original soundtrack by Yoko Kanno and The Seatbelts recreates. [ /SYNOP ] 4
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019
COWBOY BEBOP
020
021
INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION
TITLE
CYBER CITY OEDO 808
サイバーシティ OEDO 808 STUDIO
MADHOUSE RELEASE
1990 - 1991 Of of the first major entries in this issue, Cyber City Oedo 808 really helped give strength to the idea that a magazine sized article could be created from visuals that could be found within anime. An excellent cyber-punk anime created by the studio that gave us Ninja Scroll and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust ( also involved in the Animatrix ), their character designs and animation is stunning. If more inclined, I highly recommend checking out the official music video for Nero’s Innocence to see the images in motion, the way they were meant to be seen. [ SYNOP ] Cyber City Oedo 808 is a seminal Cyberpunk anime set in the year 2808 in the megalopolis of Oedo (Tokyo). It was directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. It is the year 2808. Three convicts are recruited as members of the Cyber Police to keep major criminal activity in Oedo (formerly Tokyo) in check. In return, their life sentences will be reduced by a few years for every mission accomplished. However, to ensure that these convicts are doing their job, the police have secured special collars around their necks. If they attempt to remove their collars or fail to meet the time limit of their mission, the collars will self-destruct. [ /SYNOP ] 5
022
023
CYBER CITY OEDO 808
024
CYBER CITY OEDO 808
026
027
CYBER CITY OEDO 808
028
029
CYBER CITY OEDO 808
030
031
CYBER CITY OEDO 808
032
033
INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION
TITLE
DRAGON BALL Z
ドラゴンボールＺ STUDIO
TOIE ANIMATION RELEASE
1989 - 1996 One of the most well known animations of all time, Drangonball Z had to be included no matter how little it contained involving infographics. As a little inside joke to those who are in the know, the power scouter was the immediate choice. Now if only this could be put on page 9000... [ SYNOP ] Dragon Ball is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. The 42 tankōbon have been adapted into two anime series produced by Toei Animation: Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, which together were broadcast in Japan from 1986 to 1996. Since its release, Dragon Ball has become one of the most successful manga and anime series of all time. The manga’s 42 volumes have sold over 152 million copies in Japan and more than 200 million copies worldwide. Reviewers have praised the art, characterization, and humor of the story. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest manga series ever made, with many manga artists citing Dragon Ball as a source of inspiration for their own now popular works. The anime, particularly Dragon Ball Z, is also highly popular in various countries and was arguably one of the most influential in greatly boosting the popularity of Japanese animation in Western culture. [ /SYNOP ] 6
034
035
INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION
TITLE
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
新世紀エヴァン ゲリオン STUDIO
GAINAX RELEASE
1995 - 2012 This is another title that helped bring this publication to life, and I feel is the defining entry due to the excellent attention to detail and visual scope. I can honestly say Neon Genesis Evangelion helped shaped my basis of information aesthetics, and was instrumental in pushing me out into the world of design. Unlike many other shows where it is merely to provide some eye candy, the visual systems play a key role in Evangelion’s psychological markup and in some instances move the story line solely based on their visual intensity. Flowing colors and impeccable typography, both the original motion picture entries and their recent ( as of 2010 ) rebuilds have been included to show both the similarities and modifications made to many of the iconic designs. [ SYNOP ] The central ( and original ) works of Neon Genesis Evangelion feature an apocalyptic mecha action story which revolves around the efforts by the paramilitary organization Nerv to fight hostile beings called Angels. Nerv’s primary weapon against the Angels are giant humanoids called Evangelions which are piloted by select teenagers, one of whom, Shinji Ikari, is the primary protagonist. On September 9, 2006, Gainax confirmed a new animated film series called Rebuild of Evangelion, consisting of four movies to be released in 2007 and 2008 originally. The first three movies will be an alternate retelling of the TV series (including new scenes, settings, backgrounds, characters), and the fourth movie will be a completely new conclusion to the story. [ /SYNOP ] 7 036
037
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
038
[ END OF EVA ]
039
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
040
[ END OF EVA ]
041
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
042
[ END OF EVA ]
043
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
044
[ END OF EVA ]
045
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
046
[ END OF EVA ]
047
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
048
[ END OF EVA ]
049
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
050
[ REBUILD ]
051
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
052
[ REBUILD ]
053
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
054
[ REBUILD ]
055
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
056
[ REBUILD ]
057
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
058
[ REBUILD ]
059
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
060
[ REBUILD ]
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
062
[ REBUILD ]
063
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
064
[ REBUILD ]
065
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
066
[ REBUILD ]
067
INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION
TITLE
GENOCYBER
ジェノサイバー STUDIO
ARTMIC STUDIOS BANDAI VISUAL RELEASE
1993 - 1994 Mainly celebrated for its extreme graphic violence, Genocyber is a classic cyber-punk entry that was released in the mid 90’s along with A.D. Police and Cyber City. Although there were very little scenes that could be used, what was found was deemed worthy enough to be incorporated. [ SYNOP ] Genocyber is a cyberpunk Manga by Tony Takezaki. One volume of the manga was published and the story remains unfinished. It was adapted into a 5-part Anime OVA series from 1993 to 1994. The plot of the anime differs significantly from the manga. Both are notable for their extreme graphic violence. The OVA was produced by Bandai Visual and released in North America by U.S. Manga Corps. Genocyber was also released by Manga Entertainment’s UK and Australian Divisions in The Cyberpunk Collection but only episodes 1-3 were released in these regions, said collection also included two other cyberpunk OVA’s Cyber City Oedo 808 and A.D. Police. [ /SYNOP ] 8
068
069
INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION
TITLE
GHOST IN THE SHELL
攻殻機動隊 STUDIO
PRODUCTION I.G. RELEASE
1995 Along with Ninja Scroll, Ghost In The Shell was one of the first major animated titles to breakthrough into western culture. Directed by one of my favorites, Mamoru Oshii and originally conceived by celebrated futurist Masamune Shirow, it’s complicated plot and hyper realism emblazoned a vision of the future many had not thought possibly imaginable. To say it was an influence on many is an understatement, with the Wachowski brothers ‘first describ[ing] their intentions for The Matrix by showing [ producer Joel Silver ] that anime and saying, “We wanna do that for real”’A. Although Ghost in The Shell can be called outdated due to the heavy use of computer aided animation in some scenes, its portrayal of base and computer code demonstrates Masamune Shirow’s formidable perception of what truly makes technology tick into the future. GUI’s themselves are simply a graphical representation of such code, and to know its ‘genetic markup’ so to speak, is the real to the power of technology. Both innocence and completely remastered original were left out so as to provide the original sources of inspiration. [ SNYOP ] Ghost in the Shell is a 1995 anime film directed by Mamoru Oshii; an adaptation of the manga Ghost in the Shell by Masamune Shirow, produced by Production I.G, and written by Kazunori Ito. The year is 2029. The world has become intensively information oriented and humans are well-connected to the network. Crime has developed into a sophisticated stage by hacking into the interactive network. To prevent this, Section 9 is formed. These are cyborgs with incredible strengths and abilities that can access any network on Earth. The film adaptation presents the story’s themes in a more serious, atmospheric and slow-paced manner than the manga. [ / SYNOP ] 9 Joel Silver, interviewed in “Scrolls to Screen: A Brief History of Anime” featurette on The Animatrix DVD. A
070
071
GHOST IN THE SHELL
072
073
GHOST IN THE SHELL
074
075
INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION
TITLE
GUNBUSTER
トップをねらえ！ STUDIO
GAINAX STUDIO FANTASIA RELEASE
1990 Coming from the same visionary mind as Neon Genesis Evangelion, it was the directorial debut for Hideaki Anno and helped bring the studio Gainax, for which Hideko helped form, on the animation studios map. Although I would tend to agree that the story line is a little sap driven at times, its focus on the implications of relativistic time dilation and the genuine emotion portrayed is highly acclaimed. The amount of attention spent of the multitude of visual systems that are portrayed within the series is breath taking. During a time when computers were almost nonexistent within the realm of animation, only meagerly displaying competent visuals themselves, the designers had to look within their imagination for inspiration. One can see a strong emphasis on realism, with many HUD’s and graphic displays sharing similarities to avionics and the then current space exploration vehicles. I can honestly say that if Tag Heuer came out with a Gunbuster watch, I would be first in line. [ SYNOP ] Noriko Takaya’s dream is to become a space pilot like her father, Admiral Yuzo Takaya. He died after being attacked by alien forces in deep space. After entering Okinawa Girls Space Pilot High School, Noriko is handpicked by instructor Kouichiro Ohta as someone with great potential. She must then persuade everyone, especially herself, that she can indeed fulfill her goal and become an accomplished pilot despite being just an ordinary girl. [ /SYNOP ] 10
076
077
GUNBUSTER
078
079
081
GUNBUSTER
082
083
GUNBUSTER
084
085
GUNBUSTER
087
088
089
GUNBUSTER
090
091
GUNBUSTER
092
093
GUNBUSTER
094
095
GUNBUSTER
096
097
GUNBUSTER
098
GUNBUSTER
0100
0101
GUNBUSTER
0102
INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION
TITLE
MACROSS PLUS
マクロスプラス STUDIO
TRIANGLE STAFF RELEASE
1995 Even if you’re not an enthusiast of aviation, Macross Plus is a treat to watch - with its ground breaking computer aided animation and spectacular action sequences accompanied by one of the most celebrated composers of anime soundtracks of all time, Yokko Kanno It can’t be denied that this combination of OVA’s and motion picture is at the top of many lists for those sole reasons. The visual systems that are found within are spectacularly unrestrained, and there can be seen a heavy influence of mid 90’s aesthetics within the design community. There is somewhat a focus on the extreme, at many times portraying a dizzying amount of information to the viewer that can only be completely viewed in this fashion. Hopefully you the reader will enjoy the selection as much as I do. [ SYNOP ] Macross Plus is a four-episode anime OVA and theatrical movie in the Macross series. It was the first sequel to the original Macross television series that took place in the official timeline. Plus was a groundbreaking combination of traditional cel and computer-generated animation at the time of its release, paving the way for the incorporation of more computer-generated imagery in Japanese Animation. To realistically depict the intense flight scenes in the anime, Kawamori - along with action choreographer Ichiro Itano and other staff members - traveled to Edwards Air Force Base (which was the basis for New Edwards Air Force Base on planet Eden in the series) in Edwards, California, for a few training sessions with dogfighting school Air Combat USA. The Advanced Tactical Fighter program of the 1980s was the basis of the Project Supernova contest between the YF-19 and YF-21. Consequently, the YF-21’s design was heavily influenced by the Northrop YF-23. [ /SYNOP ] 11
0104
0105
MACROSS PLUS
0106
0107
MACROSS PLUS
0108
0109
MACROSS PLUS
0110
0111
MACROSS PLUS
0112
0113
MACROSS PLUS
0114
0115
MACROSS PLUS
0116
0117
MACROSS PLUS
0118
0119
MACROSS PLUS
0120
0121
MACROSS PLUS
0122
0123
INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION
TITLE
MEGAZONE 23
メガゾーン23 STUDIO
AIC / ARTMIC RELEASE
1985 - 1989 Megazone 23 is a classic cyber-punk that is completely void of computer aided animation, yet jam packed full of hand drawn visuals that take up a large part of this guide. Although through the use of modern computers, the attention to displays and information within anime has become ever so increasingly complex ( see the Gundam entry ), titles such as Megazone 23 and Cyber City Oedo 808 highlight the effort made buy the animators to hand render what is intended to be a computer rendered screen; an enjoyable juxtaposition. At times Megazone 23’s imagery shows similarities with works from the architecture group Archigram, with minimalist lines and mega-sized structural diagrams. [ SYNOP ] Megazone 23 is a four-part original video animation created by AIC, written by Hiroyuki Hoshiyama, and directed by Noboru Ishiguro, Ichiro Itano, Kenichi Yatagai and Shinji Aramaki. The series was originally titled Omega Zone 23 but the title was changed just before release. The events take place in a post-apocalyptic future, where Tokyo only exists as a simulated reality. The story follows Shogo Yahagi, a delinquent motorcyclist whose possession of a government prototype bike leads him to discover the truth about the city.
0124
0125
MEGAZONE 23
0126
MEGAZONE 23
0128
0129
MEGAZONE 23
0130
0131
0132
0133
MEGAZONE 23
0134
0135
MEGAZONE 23
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0137
MEGAZONE 23
0138
0139
MEGAZONE 23
0140
0141
MEGAZONE 23
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MEGAZONE 23
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MEGAZONE 23
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MEGAZONE 23
0148
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MEGAZONE 23
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MEGAZONE 23
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MEGAZONE 23
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MEGAZONE 23
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MEGAZONE 23
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MEGAZONE 23
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MEGAZONE 23
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MEGAZONE 23
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0165
MEGAZONE 23
0166
0167
INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION
TITLE
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
機動戦士ガンダム STUDIO
SUNRISE RELEASE
2010 This being the latest offering from the Gundam franchise, it simply is a choice over visual prowess. Megazone 23 and Cyber City both easily make up for early era entries and with Sunrise’s new motion picture, they have put a lot of effort into the finer details. Colors and sharp and bold, with crisp lines and massive displays of information. Although not strong plot wise, there is a strong focus on aesthetics and and a whole-hearted visual treat. [ SYNOP ] Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A wakening of the Trailblazer is an animated film set two years after the second season of Mobile Suit Gundam 00, as the film sees Celestial Being against a group of hostile aliens known as ELS. It is the first Gundam series to have included aliens in any of its franchises. [ /SYNOP ] 13
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0169
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
0170
0171
0172
0173
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
0174
0175
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
0176
0177
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
0178
0179
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
0180
0181
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
0182
0183
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
0184
0185
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
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0187
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
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0189
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
0190
0191
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
0192
0193
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
0194
0195
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
0196
0197
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
0198
0199
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
0200
0201
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
0202
0203
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
0204
0205
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
0206
0207
MOBILE SUITE GUNDAM Ø Ø
0208
INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION
TITLE
MOLDIVER
モルダイバー STUDIO
AIC RELEASE
1993 A short entry, Moldiver is a great anime to watch when your tired of watching anime. Each episode is full of satire towards the cookie cutter plots that many studios rely upon when creating new titles, and it works. There weren’t many images that made the cut, but they’re interesting non-the-less. [ SYNOP ] Moldiver is a 6-episode 1993 OVA anime series. It is a parody of magical girl and superhero anime series. Hiroshi Ozora invents the Mol Unit, a device that makes its user invincible. His plans of becoming a super hero are short lived however when his sister, Mirai, accidently modifies the suit configuration. Now she is forced to save Tokyo by herself from the evil Machinegal and his gang of all-female androids. [ /SYNOP ] 14
0210
0211
MOLDIVER
0212
0213
INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION
TITLE
PATLABOR
モルダイバー STUDIO
PRODUCTION I.G. STUDIO DEEN RELEASE
1989 - 1993 Patlabor is a mecha show that appears to focus on a more realistic absurdity to why and how society would incorporate the use of large robotic power suits for police action. The three motion pictures that have been released were all grouped together for this entry, and can be distinguished by the numbers provided to the right of the title up-top. Both the first and second films were spearheaded by Ghost in The Shell director, Mamoru Oshii, so they won’t disappoint. There also appears to be a resemblance between the two separate films in graphic systems, with a large percentage of ‘Matrix’ green apparent and the rough contrast on images that are computer projections. Makes me think... [ SYNOP ] In the future, rapidly advancing technology gives birth to giant robots known as “Labors,” so named for their usefulness in heavy industry. However, this also gives rise to “Labor crimes,” resulting the the need for a new branch of law enforcement equiped with and dedicated to the policing of Labors. When Izumi Noa, a female police officer, becomes the newest recruit of Special Vechicals Devision 2, she and her top of the line “Patrol Labor” (or “Patlabor”) Alphonse are swept into a series of adventures featuring crazed construction workers, eco-terrorists, and sea monsters. [ /SYNOP ] 15
0214
0215
PATLABOR
0216
1
0217
PATLABOR
0218
1
0219
PATLABOR
0220
2
0221
PATLABOR
0222
2
0223
PATLABOR
0224
2
0225
PATLABOR
0226
3
0227
INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION
TITLE
SILENT MÖBIUS
サイレント メビウス STUDIO
AIC RELEASE
1992 Little more than a handful of images, Silent Mobius was only chosen after glacing at a few screens that popped up early within the animation. The show follows a familiar plot of danger and abduction, spirits and leveling up so as to kind of keep you interested. I enjoyed the manga and would recommend that more, but hey, at least some nice visuals were spotted. [ SYNOP ] Silent Möbius is a twelve-volume manga, a 26-episode anime series, and a pair of motion pictures, created by manga artist Kia Asamiya. Both anime versions have been licensed by Bandai Entertainment. It is heavily influenced by the film Blade Runner and is centered on the lives of the Attacked Mystification Police Force (AMP), a dedicated group of all-female police officers with varying talents and personalities protecting Tokyo from an invasion of extra-dimensional creatures called Lucifer Hawks. [ /SYNOP ] 16
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0229
SILENT MÖBIUS
0230
0231
SILENT MÖBIUS
0232
0233
INFOGRAPHICS WITHIN JAPANESE ANIMATION
TITLE
VIRUS
ウイルス STUDIO
AIC RELEASE
1997 As with all titles directed by the infamous Masami Obari, you either love it or you hate it. The plot again wasn’t really great to begin with, but the visual systems and GUI design are stellar for such a shoe-string budget. Hand rendered and full of flair, it looks more like a video game than any animated show and I wouldn’t put it past if that was half the intention. [ SYNOP ] Virus Buster Serge is a Japanese anime television series that premiered in 1997 and directed by Masami ŌO bari (known for his many video game anime adaptations and fan service). In the year 2097 in the city of Neo Hong Kong, man and machine have melded nicely and the city has been blooming with technological advances. However, an entity that takes over the machines called the Virus is becoming a problem. For this problem, there exists the organization STAND equipped with their Gears (machine suits) led by the mysterious Raven. The latest member of the team is Serge, a man who cannot remember his past and thought joining STAND and confronting Raven would help him better understand. Little does he know how important he will become to the whole Virus conflict. [ /SYNOP ] 17
0234
0235
VIRUS
0236
0237
VIRUS
0238
VIRUS
0240
0241
VIRUS
0242
0243
VIRUS
0244
0245
VIRUS
0246
0247
VIRUS
0248
0249
VIRUS
0250
0251
VIRUS
0252
0253
VIRUS
0254
0255
VIRUS
0256
0257
VIRUS
0258
0259
VIRUS
0260
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REFERENCE
©REDITS SORTED BY INSTANCE OF USE DISCLAIMER : This publication has been created out of the enthusiasm for both design and Japanese animation. In no way has the attempt been made to generate monetary compensation for it, and as such it is highly encouraged to please spread this digital document to whomever you see fit. If there is anyone who may feel their rights have been dastardly encroached upon or have been left out of the credits then please do not hesitate to contact our e-mail at hello_at_engramatics.com 1.
Wikipedia contributors. “A.D. Police Files.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 25 Jul. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.
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Wikipedia contributors. “Armitage III.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 17 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.
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Wikipedia contributors. “Blue Submarine No. 6.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 24 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.
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Wikipedia contributors. “Cowboy Bebop.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 25 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.
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Wikipedia contributors. “Cyber City Oedo 808.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 20 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.
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Wikipedia contributors. “Dragon Ball.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 23 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.
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Wikipedia contributors. “Neon Genesis Evangelion.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 17 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.
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Wikipedia contributors. “Genocyber.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 9 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.
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Wikipedia contributors. “Ghost in the Shell (film).” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 25 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.
15. N / A. “Patlabor The Mobile Police (OAV).” Anime News Network. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. 16. Wikipedia contributors. “Silent Möbius.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 2 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. 17. Wikipedia contributors. “Virus Buster Serge.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 12 Jun. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.
10. N / A. “Gunbuster (OAV).” Anime News Network. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. 11. Wikipedia contributors. “Macross Plus.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 25 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. 12. Wikipedia contributors. “Megazone 23.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 10 Sep. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. 13. Wikipedia contributors. “Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 20 Oct. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. 14. Wikipedia contributors. “Moldiver.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 11 Aug. 2011. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.
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BONUS The images provided after the credits are ones that that I are still great visuals aesthetically but did not tie into the publications stated purpose of information graphics and graphic user interfaces. OPPOSITE Armitage III NEXT SPREAD Macross Plus
NOV 2011