#anime background art

Sometimes these action scenes require me to make some crazy backgrounds which only show up for about half a second in the film.

Even battle-shounen series can do it if they try. Here’s some backgrounds from One piece episodes 686-689. Really nice episodes.

Legendary art director Shinji Kimura did what he could for Kekkai Sensen, but the collapse inside Bones resulted in the horrible conclusion of episode 12 airing 3,5 months after it was supposed to air.

Anyway here are some backgrounds from the last episode. Background art from studio Kusanagi and Studio Easter as well as Kimura’s own team.

Anime: Yuru Yuri San Hai! (3rd season), Episode 1

Yuru Yuri season 3 started out as strong as the last two seasons were. Art Director Shibata Chikako hasn’t changed much and backgrounds studio Kanon’s replacement for Studio Fuuga hasn’t brought too much change either.

First timer art director Okazaki Erica made many wise choices regarding the overall visual look, but her inexperience showed if we think about the overall quality of BG’s in Akagami no Shirayukihime. I was a little disappointed in the adaptation since I really lowed the manga and I had high expectations for the adaptations especially since it was directed by no other than Ando Masashiro.

Luckily the 2nd season is already confirmed!

Mouryou no Hako (Box of Goblins) directed by Nakamura Ryousuke (Aiura, Nerawareta Gakuen) uses very vibrant and visually appealing backgrounds and digital effects. Everything is surprising from coloring to amount of detail put to each and every shot.

Atelier BWCA and BG-studio inside the studio Madhouse were responsible for the high quality backgrounds which gave life to the story set in the Showa-period Japan.

Art Director Kaneko Hidetoshi (Trigun, Terror in Resonance etc.)  has worked previously alongside with Nakamura in works such as Aoi Bungaku Series (episodes 9-10), Nerawareta Gakuen and Aiura. Known for his good understanding in use of lightning Kaneko delivers another spectacle.

Yamato 2199 movie. Backgrounds by Bihou Inc. -studio. Great collaboration between BG artist, digital team and department of photography (which is the department responsible for special effects and matching BG’s, 2D&3D animation as well as digital effects together) made this beautiful movie possible.

Some backgrounds from the episode 8. It was marvelous. Thanks to Art Director Higashiji Kazuki we can see this great story against a scenery it deserves.

Studio Moonflower did an amazing job with this one. Mizutani Toshiharu is one of the active and oldest art directors still working. His past works such as Akira and Rose of Versailles (interiors) have been awesome - this one is too. Art style in Danmachi is splendid.

Direction in both in the Dazai’s Ningen Shikkaku and in the Hell Chapter parts of the Aoi Bungaku Series is outstanding. Use of colours, contrast and light really brings life and emotion to the scenes.

To be honest many of these pictures aren’t strictly speaking backgrounds, but stuff made by animators, composition and coloring teams. That said, the backgrounds did stand out in all of the works in the series - there was really great set of art directors selected for each part of the show.

You can see in the first three pictures how the work of art director Shimizu Tomoyuki (Chihayafuru, Rainbow, Ushio to Tora) in the Ningen Shikkaku-part (episodes 1-4) shows signs of the atmosphere which he did in his other major work Rainbow - Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin.

Anime: Non non Biyori Repeat (episode 5)
Backgrounds: Kusanagi

Art Director Higashiji Kazuki and P.A Works continue their prosperous partnership. It’s such a joy to watch these series with so beautiful background art. Not to diminish the efforts of Art Setting and other background team.

naterrivers:

Spirited Away wallpapers [720x1280]

Art boards by Ghibli’s legendary background artists Kazuo Oga and Takeshige Youji.

 Backgrounds: Studio Bamboo

I’m not sure if Yamakan saved anime with Lucky Star spinoff Miyakawa-ke no Kuufuku, but it sure had beautiful background art.

Art Director Takenori Tanaka used to work in Ogurakobo where most backgrounds are still pencil drawn. Mixture of digital, photograph and hand drawn backgrounds was an interesting combination in Miyakawa-ke no Kuufuku. Light colors and slim border lines gave the series a warm overall atmosphere.

Last episode of Battery.
Backgrounds: Art Team Convoy
Art Director: Sakae Toshiyuki

Visually Battery was very appealing, digital backgrounds worked well in the series and were remarkably well made for a tv-production. Especially the digital designs for buildings worked very well. Usually houses are clumsy looking blocks, but with correct shading, polishing and lighting you can make them look good.

Today, I watched the latest episode of 91 Days as well as few episodes of Nijuu Mensou no Musume (2008). Both have the same art director Hiromasa Ogura who is best known for his work with numerous Mamoru Oshii productions.

While I can’t prove that I am right, I believe Ogura himself drew the first, third and the last picture or atleast produced an imageboard for them.

Ogura was a student of the legendary Shichiro Kobayashi and is now running the Ogura Kobo which still produces some high quality hand drawn backgrounds but have steadily started to move to digital age. Hiromasa Ogura is one of the few legendary Art Directors that are rather well known amongst anime community.

Love Live movie backgrounds. Art Director Okazaki Erika has worked also in Akagami no Shirayukihime anime and the similarity in style is obvious to anyone. Her style in digital backgrounds is visible troughout the movie.

Here are some of her BG’s from Akagami
http://animebackgroundart.tumblr.com/post/139706698661/backgrounds-studio-easter-art-director-okazaki
http://animebackgroundart.tumblr.com/post/139707060391/as-much-as-id-love-to-highlight-how-good