Apr. 02, 2020|Japan|4 Min.|R
Genre: Action;Adventure;Animation;Drama;Fantasy;K-Drama;Kids;Science;Fiction
Description: I waited a long time for the hype around this project, but it turned out to be just a 3-minute short animation. In my opinion, dedicating so much effort to a project of such short length is a waste of time, especially since it doesn’t seem profitable at this stage. Additionally, a significant portion of the anime community doesn’t own 4K TVs, making the focus on high-resolution animation feel unnecessary. While innovation is important, creating something like this feels like a misuse of resources when there are better opportunities to pursue.
Sol Levante was enjoyable yet disappointing. I appreciated the visuals, but I was left wanting more. The short lacked a proper story, and the characters were underdeveloped, which limited my engagement. Nonetheless, this project highlights the potential of digital animation. Historically, animation was a time-consuming, hand-drawn process that could take years to complete. With the advent of digital technology, studios like Studio Ghibli have been able to produce works more efficiently.
However, the current trend in both Japan and the West seems to prioritize quantity over quality. Sol Levante demonstrates what could be achieved by combining traditional industry standards with modern technology. Yet, it raises the question: Does the audience prefer a movie that takes years to create, or one that is quickly produced with the help of computers? This short film showcases the level of detail possible, but it also makes us reflect on whether the animation industry is progressing in the right direction globally.
Cast director: Akira Saitoh
Original name: ソル・レヴァンテ