Brief Summary
This video explores the influence and impact of Mamoru Hosoda's Digimon films, particularly "Our War Game," on the anime industry and beyond. It covers Hosoda's early work, his brief stint at Studio Ghibli, and how his Digimon creations inspired later works like "Summer Wars" and "Belle," as well as influencing figures in high fashion.
- "Our War Game" was groundbreaking for its depiction of the internet and influenced later works.
- Hosoda's work on Digimon caught the attention of major figures like Takashi Murakami and Hayao Miyazaki.
- Despite initial success, Hosoda's time at Studio Ghibli was short-lived due to creative differences.
- Hosoda's Digimon themes of youth empowerment and the internet's potential continue to resonate in his later films.
Intro
The video introduces "Our War Game," a Digimon film from 2000, highlighting its significant influence on both Digimon fans and the broader anime industry. The film's director, Mamoru Hosoda, is praised for his groundbreaking animation, which attracted attention from Studio Ghibli and Louis Vuitton. The video aims to explore Hosoda's thoughts on his Digimon work, drawing from Charles Solomon's biography, "The Man Who Leapt Through Film," which discusses the connections between "Our War Game" and Hosoda's subsequent films like "Summer Wars" and "Belle."
The 1999 Short Film
Mamoru Hosoda's early career at Toei Animation involved directing television series like "GeGeGe no Kitaro" before he was asked to direct a Digimon movie. Initially unfamiliar with Digimon, Hosoda likened it to Pokémon, but the distributors wanted a monster movie in the style of Godzilla. To meet this request, Hosoda altered the designs of Greymon and Agumon for the film. Despite exceeding the budgeted number of drawings by 50%, the film was completed on time and was well-received, positioning Hosoda and his crew at the forefront of the Japanese animation industry.
Our War Game
"Our War Game," a 40-minute film released in 2000, is celebrated for its depiction of the internet world, characterized by a white backdrop, bursts of color, and virtual monsters outlined in red. This iconic look was revisited in later Digimon iterations and Hosoda's other films, such as "Summer Wars." The film's unique visual style caught the attention of Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami, influential figures in art and fashion.
Louis Vuitton?!
In 2002, Takashi Murakami approached Toei Animation to create a promotional video for Louis Vuitton. Hosoda noted that Louis Vuitton was specifically interested in the digital world aesthetic he created in "Our War Game," characterized by a clean white slate with bursts of color. This collaboration highlights the significant impact of "Our War Game" beyond the Digimon franchise, influencing high fashion.
Howl's Moving Castle?!
Shortly after the release of "Our War Game," Hosoda was approached by Studio Ghibli to direct "Howl's Moving Castle." At 33, Hosoda saw this as an opportunity to direct his first feature-length film and was excited to work at the renowned studio. However, due to creative differences and being perceived as an outsider, Hosoda was fired from Studio Ghibli in 2002. Hayao Miyazaki ultimately directed the released version of "Howl's Moving Castle." After being fired, Hosoda returned to Toei Animation before founding Studio Chizu.
Summer Wars
In 2009, Hosoda and Studio Chizu released "Summer Wars," which shares similarities with "Our War Game," including a utopian internet world and a rogue digital monster initiating a cyber attack. "Summer Wars" expanded on these concepts into a full feature film without the constraints of the Digimon IP. Hosoda has addressed comparisons between "Summer Wars" and Digimon, noting that while there are similarities, they are distinct environments and movies.
Belle
Studio Chizu released "Belle" in 2021, a social media-themed take on "Beauty and the Beast" and the third film in Hosoda's internet trilogy. Unlike the optimistic digital worlds of Digimon and "Summer Wars," the world of "Belle" is bleaker, reflecting the shift in how the internet is perceived. Hosoda notes that the internet, once seen as a place of hope, has become a space where people can harm others anonymously. The design of "Belle's" cyber world, created by Eric Wong, reflects this coldness and anonymity, contrasting with the optimistic cyber world of "Our War Game." Despite this darker portrayal, Hosoda maintains a theme of hope, believing that future generations will find new and better ways to use the internet.
Conclusions
The video concludes by emphasizing the lasting impact of Hosoda's Digimon films and their influence on his subsequent works and the broader animation industry. Hosoda's Digimon films caught the attention of influential figures like Takashi Murakami, Louis Vuitton, and Hayao Miyazaki, and inspired future creators like Eric Wong. The video encourages viewers to share their thoughts on Hosoda's Digimon films and highlights the book "The Man Who Leapt Through Film" as a valuable resource for understanding Hosoda's career and creative process.
