Digital Juice

Title:Digital Juice
デジタルジュース
Overall:Watch
Keywords: , , , , , , ,
Notables: Animation - Studio 4°C
Six artists active in the areas of animation, commercials, comic books, video games, and cinema were invited to serve as directors of this collection of short animated films. This omnibus DVD contains an unadulterated “100% condensed juice,” incorporating the most innovative technology and an edgy sensibility.

KEIKAKU (2:08min) Directed by Hidekazu Ohara.
Hidekazu Ohara is known for his unique animations in commercials for products such as CC Lemon and Qoo bottled water. The intense action of this film takes place in a town in the Muromachi era. The beauty of his style, from the timing of the action to the patterns on the costumes (Kimono), is worthy of note.

Chicken's insurance (3:24min) Directed by Hiroaki Ando.
This original work by Hiroaki Ando, a major production of Studio 4℃, makes use of CGI direction. This con゙dent use of computer graphics breaks through existing frameworks of animation in a variety of ways, and presents animation supposedly produced by chickens.

TOJIN KIT (2:09min) Directed by Tatsuyuki Tanaka.
This is the preview footage for the first original work by Tatsuyuki Tanaka, who has been involved in original drawing, continuity, story boards, and character design for a number of animated films. The unique world portrayed in the comic book version of this story comes to life in animated form.

In the evening of a moonlight night (2:35min) Directed by Kazuyoshi Yaginuma.
This is the first original work by Kazuyoshi Yaginuma, who has been in charge of countless original drawings for animated films and who has also worked as a computer graphics animator. Superb color and sound effects add much to this tale of a girl and two boys

Table & Fishman (5:18min) Directed by Osamu Kobayashi.
The moment they encounter an infinity symbol, the two characters, Jack and Stefany, find themselves racing rapidly into the infinite in this love story by Osamu Kobayashi, who has worked in illustration and design in areas such as commercials, video games, and animated films.

The Saloon in the Air (4:26min) Directed by Koji Morimoto.
These are experimental images that Koji Morimoto created in 3D using live action footage. The setting is a saloon that floats in the sky. The events that unfold one evening as bizarre characters gather in the saloon are recounted from the point of view of the main character, Wine-chan.
OverallArtAnimationCharacter Design MusicSeries StoryEpisode StoryReviewer
Watch Ggultra2764 [series:2144#1552]
Another set of avant-garde shorts from Studio 4C? Goodie.

Actually, I seen Digital Juice years ago. But due to my lack of recollection on the content of the shorts, I had put off on reviewing it until I seen the OVA just now. As Jan-Chan covers, some of the shorts in Digital Juice appear to be pilots for manga titles or animated projects that never off the ground in the form of Keikaku and Tojin Kit. The two shorts feature some unique animated stills, but are rather forgettable since they are mainly in this for promotional purposes. The four remaining shorts, on the other hand, have value in discussion:

  1. Chicken's Insurance- A shady chicken insurance salesman trying to talk two street-wise chicks into buying his insurance. Animated entirely in CGI animation with nicely animated renders of the anthropomorphic animals and a decent quick comedic romp with the chicken's exaggerated claims on how his insurance will help the chicks out.
  2. In the Evening of a Moonlit Night- Made in the style of a music video focused on a girl and two boys she appears to have romantic interest in. Makes use of a pastel-like animation style that gives the characters a sketch-like appearance with the video entering a dream-like sequence of random fantasy/ sci-fi elements.
  3. Table and Fishman- A couple recount their tale of how their overconfidence in criminal activity led them to be cursed by becoming a fishman and living table. The CG renders of the couple at the start and ending of the short are quite bizarre to look at, though the designs of their escapades before being cursed are a bit rough in their details despite the fluid animation.
  4. The Saloon in the Air- A regular night at a floating saloon from the perspective of an anthropomorphic wine bottle literally getting drunk on wine. Some touchy topics such as teenage sex and abortion are discussed with the saloon regulars as Wine-chan slips in and out of consciousness. Like Table and Fishman, this baby employs a rather bizarre animation style with anthropomorphic objects rendered in CG animation and live-action facial shots imposed onto them.
Those used to watching anime with a plot or having conventional styles of animation aren't too likely to enjoy this. But if you appreciate the medium of animation as a whole, these shorts may be worth a look for you to check out.

Last updated Sunday, July 21 2013. Created Sunday, July 21 2013.
Watch Jan-Chan [series:2144#967]
What can one say? More weirdness from those Studio 4°C people!! This collection of shorts seem to be developmental pilots for proposed series or longer stories.

KEIKAKU (2:08min) - Nothing much here. Just some very good images flashing about. Tis a shame that this story was not developed into a full length story.

Chicken's insurance (3:24min) - A cute comedic tale.

TOJIN KIT (2:09min) - A pilot for a story that was released in the anthology Genius Party Beyond

In the evening of a moonlight night (2:35min) - A music video (or AMV) for a very tranquil Japanese song.

Table & Fishman (5:18min) - A strange comedic tale.

The Saloon in the Air (4:26min) - This is the strangest and most bizarre tale in this collection.

Last updated Thursday, December 10 2009. Created Sunday, June 14 2009.

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