The Lord of the Rings anime director should make you excited.

Important points

• Kenji Kamiyama, who is known for directing famous anime projects. Leading the story of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
• Kamiyama aims to pay homage to the original trilogy by combining practical effects with CGI in the animated film.
• The decision to focus on Helm's daughter wasn't necessarily as worrying as some had thought. As can be seen from the new picture.

legacy of The Lord of the Rings – and the high standards set by Peter Jackson's award-winning trilogy – cast a large shadow on attempts to tell new stories in that universe. Now that same shadow appeared. War of RohirrimAn animated epic that takes place nearly 200 years before the trilogy, but if there's anything that makes fans… Optimistic is the director of a new film

Kenji Kamiyama is a visionary director with an impressive legacy of his own. Drawing on some of the most iconic Japanese animation projects of the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s, the opportunity to direct an anime based on JRR Tolkien's world was unquestionable. that it was attractive to many directors with comparable skills But for the reasons below, Kamiyama is the ideal choice.

Kenji Kamiyama's career

For those more familiar with Japanese animation Kamiyama's resume speaks for itself. His early career saw him as a background artist on films like TMS Entertainment. Akira or Studio Ghibli Kiki's delivery serviceA classic movie, widely known even among non-anime viewers. In the 90s, he became part of Production IG (Ghost in the Shell– Pat Labor– Psycho-Pass) studio where he would soon flourish as a director.

He continues to hone his skills as an animator. Behind the scenes artist and writer continuously for some time He served as animation director for Hiroyuki Okiura's Jin-Roh: Wolf Corpsand wrote the script for the 2000 cult classic film. Blood: The Last Vampire– In 2002, he made his directorial debut with a series of shorts. Pat Labor A parody episode called Mini Pato– The biggest joke that came from that show was knowing that by the end of that same year He would direct something truly masterful.

When Kamiyama proved himself

In 2002, Kamiyama directed Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complexan expensive and risky sequel to Mamoru Oshii's 1995 classic, it was a gamble worth taking. And Kamiyama's tutelage under Oshii has undoubtedly prepared him for the challenge. Although series creator Shirow Masamune states that there is no definitive version, Ghost in the ShellMany people would consider Stand-alone complex That would be the best in the franchise.

It's a sci-fi drama that's almost scary. Elevated by Kamiyama's clever script. It's a fascinating and curious thing to watch. But it's grounded in deeply human characters that bring richness to an experience that can be mind-bending at times. as director Kamiyama shows great pacing ability. It composes engaging action scenes through an emphasis on building tension.

How to track down a masterpiece

Kamiyama's next project would receive similar praise for its script, characters, and overall aesthetic sensibilities. 2007 Moribito: Guardian of the SoulIt is a fantasy adventure series that follows the mercenary Balsa. When she protected Shakum A prince who is hunted down by the emperor to extinguish the spirit that resides within his body. This adaptation of the novel series by Nahoko Uehashi has been praised for its characters and the story's exploration of cultural themes.

Year 2009 Eden of the EastKamiyama's next sci-fi series follows Saki Morimi, who travels overseas to America. She meets Akira Takizawa, a strange boy suffering from amnesia. She soon finds herself involved in a deadly game with the fate of the world at the center of everything. Fans of this series hold this story similarly. Stand-alone complex In terms of writing quality

Kamiyama continues to write and direct for Netflix to this day. ultraman Series for the revival of Stand-alone complexBoth were animated by Production IG and Sola Digital Arts. He also directed. Blade Runner: Black Lotus for Toonami, but one of his most impressive works in recent years has to be his. Star Wars: Visions– in his episode “The Ninth Jedi” is a gripping short that capitalizes on the franchise's rich lore. ​​Both normal and non-standard To present something fresh and exciting.

Why should fans believe in Kamiyama?

Impressive work as it may be, but Tolkien fans unfamiliar with anime may need more convincing. and boring marketing for War of Rohirrim Didn't help

It's natural to be skeptical of an anime's ability to capture the magic of such a storied cinematic adventure, even with Peter Jackson involved as producer. Luckily, Kamiyama understands. To this doubt both as fans and as an experienced storyteller

“When I saw the live-action trilogy 25 years ago, I was struck by how incredible it was. And I felt the need to protect that impression. (with this movie) at all costs.”

At the press conference about the new film He spoke about his connection to the original trilogy. He said that some of the special effects were so well done that “You can't tell it's CG, like Gollum and the fight scenes.” The decision to animate War of Rohirrim Primarily in 2D, it stems from Kamiyama's desire to honor the rich mix of practicality and CGI seen in the original. He wanted to capture the power of the original by translating that mix.

He certainly doesn't lack the resources to do so. WETA's workshop fully cooperates with production. It even allows access to props for reference. Not to mention the involvement of many producers and writers who worked on the original trilogy, such as Philippa Boyens, who co-wrote the original film.

A little taste of what's to come.

On December 3, an 8-minute extended trailer was released for the film. This compares to previous marketing that focused on well-known clips from the original film. This preview is much more of a tease of the narrative. Once again, Kamiyama's control of tension is outstanding, although some obvious edits were made to avoid spoilers. Just as Cate Blanchett told the original trilogy, Miranda Otto's response as Éowyn tells the tale magically captivates the audience with this fantasy.

A commonly cited concern that some people have about the film is how it will expand on the source material. Most of which are not necessary. and the quality of the original narrative. Moreover, the choice to focus on Helm's daughter rather than Helm himself is a matter of debate. But as the example above shows. That may be more of a blessing than a curse.

In the trilogy, Helm is the one who feels the existence of memories. Helm's Deep is a title associated with one of the greatest battles ever filmed, in a way, making his daughter the protagonist. It's almost a safe act. By maintaining the respect that the audience has for him by viewing him through the eyes of the person he loves. At the same time, it is allowed War of Rohirrim To do what this movie always does well. That is, it tells the story of many characters.

The horn will sound again.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim It will be released in theaters in North America next week. And it's going to be a pretty special day. Not only for this franchise but also for general anime distribution. It's refreshing to see a hand-drawn animated film that is widely distributed and treated like any other film in marketing. (Even if it's not the best marketing) Feels surreal. And if successful It will create great things for the future of media.

Source: Oricon News