Few anime directors are as prominent asFrieren: Beyond Journey’s End’s Keiichiro Saito. WithFrierenandBocchi the Rock!, Saito has quickly earned worldwide acclaim for his creative style and exceptional fluidity, and despite the relative recency of his work, anything he directs will likely be considered high-profile for years to come.
Even with how mainstream Keiichiro Saito’s work has become, that doesn’t mean he necessarily agrees with everything going on in the industry. To the point, Saito recently had some very choice words about anime trends and the anime industry, as a whole, and overall, it’s hard to disagree with his criticisms.
Why Frieren’s Director Has A Problem With Modern Anime Trends
Keiichiro Saito’s Big Criticisms Of Modern Anime Explained
In Keiichiro Saito’s interview with Global Anime Challenge,Keiichiro Saito spoke out against the tendency of overseas fans to care only about specific parts of an anime. He didn’t say which parts, specifically, he had a problem with, but he noted that those attitudes force animators to emphasize only specific trends when they should be working on making things diverse.
I have had the opportunity to attend overseas conventions and interact with overseas fans, and I have a vague feeling that the Japanese anime that overseas fans go crazy about may be a little biased. Popular things are, as to be expected, popular, but a large current (wave) forms. For those on the creative side, I think this is also a situation where a disconnect could be born [between us and the audience].
Because the current is so strong, if we focus too much on it, only that aspect becomes emphasized as anime’s defining characteristic. Before it gets to that point, I feel it’s important to share anime’s diverse appeal with the world. I have a desire to create works that can draw the world’s attention through a variety of approaches.
Considering how Saito is famous for working ontheFrierenanimeandBocchi the Rock!, the popular trends he’s speaking of are likely anime with flashy and creative visuals. Nowadays, anime are often written off as terrible just for having average animation, regardless of their stories, and that emphasis on high-quality visuals can certainly be seen as a problem.
Saito’s comments are hardly unique within the industry, of course.Ghost in the Shell: Arisedirector Kazuchika Kise, for example, said thatisekai’s popularity left little room for more grounded anime, and Studio Ghibli key animator Shigeo Akahori criticized the emphasis on strictly faithful adaptations, so Saito is just the latest creative speaking out against the industry.
Why Frieren’s Director Is Right To Criticize Modern Anime Trends
What Makes The Modern Anime Industry So Problematic
As harsh as Keiichiro Saito’s criticisms might be, it’s hard to argue with them. The visual and narrative growth the anime industry has gone through is amazing, but it’s to the point that fans are quick to write off anything that doesn’t resemble the best possible work as terrible, even when there isn’t anything inherently wrong about what they’re watching.
All of that puts incredible pressure on those already dealing withthe problematic anime industry. Not only does everyone in the production have to be worried about being scrutinized over the smallest mistakes, but with how often animators have to jeopardize their health to produce that high-quality work with little compensation, it creates a truly unhealthy cycle in every regard.
The answer isn’t for anime to take a dip in quality, but fans need to give creators room to express themselves beyond flashy visuals and adhering to specific trends. That can do wonders to helpFrieren: Beyond Journey’s Endand other anime like it grow to be better than ever, and hopefully, it won’t be long before it’s realized.
