Japanese animation Studio Kamikaze Douga has created this superb anime promotional video for RIKEN (a Japanese CERN of sorts) to promote a high powered laser acronymed SACLA (SPring-8 Angstrom Compact free electron LAser). Check out the PV below :





Folks who are familiar with anime in the 80s/early 90s will immediately recognize the style parodying some of the most popular visual traits during that time, ie the flashy/glowing opening titles, the signature ensemble pose of the characters near the end of the sequence, etc.

What’s really cool about the PV is that the main character (named Harima SACLA) is almost entirely animated in CG, beautifully emulating the feel of traditional hand drawn anime. One of the animators who worked on the PV is my ex-colleague from Sunrise, the incredibly talented Nakata-san.

I’m a very big fan of PV work by Kamikaze Douga – the folks working there really have a very good grasp of cinematic movement and motion, which is why the cut sequences they create are also infused with rich energy and dynamism. Watch the opening sequence made by them for the 2007 OVA Freedom :





Also be sure to check out Harima SACLA’s fantastic tumblr page full of gorgeous wallpapers and art work here.