Satoru Utsunomiya

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One of the most influential figures of the generation after Takashi Nakamura.

In Gosenzo-sama Banbanzai! Utsunomiya created a joint-based animation style that was very influential in the early ‘90s. He developed this further in the extremely fluid and active full animation of Tobe! Kujira no Peek. Gosenzo was the first anime to place shadows accurately according to light source and to use blurring during fast action. His way of animating arms hanging loosely was often imitated in the ‘90s. Utsunomiya draws movement from memory without external references, whereas animators like Oohira and Hashimoto often filmed themselves acting out material for reference. Kinetic accuracy is the goal but drawings are highly simplified and clean.

Simplified style of animation and detailed action makes his scenes stand out in stark contrast in certain films such as Battle Royal High School. Able to breathe a miraculous amount of life into the simplest of actions such as simply talking while seated. Reportedly storyboarded the third episode of The Hakkenden: Shin Shou in widescreen format on his own initiative. Able to create dynamic action at lower frame rates like 3 frames/cel. His more current work focuses on the subtle, unconscious movements of everyday actions, omitted as superfluous in supposedly 'realistic' animation.

(Source: Pelleas)