Year 2021

SHAREDOL

SHAREDOL is a fusion of two ideas selected from about 15 proposals made by young producers from Toei Animation and Sotsu. The Toei team's proposal is about an ordinary young man of today who timeleaps into a world where Edo and the near future are fused together and creates his own destiny... and the Sotsu team's proposal is about an idol who travels back in time to the Edo period. As a result, a pilot film on the theme of "Edo" and "Idol" was produced. The story of SHAREDOL is set in the Edo period, the Kansei era (1789-1800), a time when entertainment was strictly restricted. Based on the idea of "What if we used the knowledge of modern idols to produce Edo girls?" it depicts idol activities of girls living with their own problems. The protagonist produces six girls - a teahouse girl, a samurai girl, a Dutch trading house girl, a merchant girl, an oiran (high-ranking courtesan), and a kunoichi (female ninja), who have lived a different life. (Source: Crunchyroll, edited)

KAIJU DECODE

The catastrophe "Skyfall" was brought by the collapsed orbital space colony crashed into the Earth. Inside the crater at the crash site now inhabit Kaiju born by gene mutation. Ray, an avatar..

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion Z

The second Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion television anime series based on Takara Tomy's toy line.

Natsume Yuujinchou × Kumamoto-ken: Hitoyoshi Kuma de no Yasashii Jikan

Takashi Natsume and his loyal feline protector Madara take a trip to Hitoyoshi Kuma, a peaceful area in Kumamoto. From admiring the Kaname Falls to relaxing at the Tsurukame hot spring, the duo unwind and take in the beautiful scenery throughout the eventful day. (Source: MAL Rewrite)

Meijou

One day, a beautiful girl at school, Otsuki Roonue (17), was attacked by two thugs while on a date with her boyfriend, Hoshikai Singhai (17). Her resistance is in vain and Hoshikai, who tried to protect Otsuki, is stabbed and falls into the sea of blood. When the remaining Otsuki is about to be raped, the school principal's son, Oborozuki (16), appears. With his help, Otsuki's chastity is protected, and Hoshikai's life is saved. However, Oborozuki did not intend to help them for free. Instead, he threatened Otsuki on the condition of "being his woman for a week", and Otsuki had no choice but to agree to him. After school, with Hoshikai in the hospital, Otsuki is called to meet with Oborozuki. She begs to release her from the agreement, but discovers how eager he is to take over her body. (Source: Official site, translated & edited)

MAZICA PARTY

The franchise's story centers on wizards who gather mazica in order to save the world. Junior high school student Kezuru wakes up after a strange dream featuring himself as a wizard, a creature called "mazin," and a mysterious girl. The next day, his friend Kuracchi proudly shows off the newly launched Mazica Party card game. To Kezuru's shock, all the characters drawn in the game's cards are just like the ones in his dream. Meanwhile, Kezuru receives a notification for an event at the major international company Mazica. Intrigued, Kezuru goes to the Mazica Store as directed, only to meet the Mazica CEO himself, Jeff Johns. Johns says, "I have great expectations for you," and hands Kezuru Mazica Gear. On his way back home, Kezuru is attacked by an airship-like creature. Just when he thinks, "this is it!" to himself, his Mazica Gear erupts and a magic book appears. When he scratches a card, he seals a contract with Barunya, a "mazin" creature that is an odd remixed fusion between an airship and a cat. The mysterious girl Anya says Kezuru and those of his ilk will be "the true wizards who save the world." Amid all these mysterious revelations, Kezuru enrolls in the Mazica Academy and engages in Mazica Party card battles alongside his partner mazin.

URVAN

URVAN is a collaborative anime between Toei Animation x Nagasaki International University. It is a cyberpunk-esque short in which shows the sights of Sasebo, a city in the Nagasaki prefecture. "URVAN" refers to the ancient Avestan word "urvan (spirit)" from the seventh century B.C., which is said to be the origin of the Japanese word "Obon" or "Urabone", a Japanese custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors in the middle of August. Set in Sasebo-city, Nagasaki Prefecture, this anime is a mystical and nostalgic cyberpunk action based on the motif of Obon, the festival of welcoming and sending off spirits, where the "extraordinary" and the "ordinary" intersect. The real landscape of Sasebo is transformed into a cyberpunk world, and a mysterious man and woman run through the mysterious city. (Source: Crunchyroll)

Atelier Ryza: Animated Shorts

Short films made with RiBLA Studio, the VR tool that lets anybody make their own anime.

Ichiban Kuji Natsume Yuujinchou: Nyanko-sensei to Hana Shirabe

Kogitsune tells Nyanko-sensei the meanings of different flowers and assembles a bouquet as a gift for Natsume. Note: This ONA was a promotional video made for a Bandai Spirits Ichiban Kuji event which ran from March 19, 2021 at FamilyMart, Ministop, and other convenience stores, bookstores, hobby shops, and game centers. The theme is "The Language of Flowers". It had a lineup of stuffed animals, stoles, tote bags, brooches, stationery, handkerchiefs, and acrylic charms. Last drawn prize was a clover cushion.

Pretty All Friends Selection

Mirai and KiracCHU introduce the activities of Pretty All Friends through history and support sparkling dreams. (Source: Official Twitter, translated)

Hachimitsu Suicide Machine

Note: One of the four short movies that showed in Animenotane 2021.

Funbari Onsen Hanjouki

Mini animations featuring characters from the SHAMAN KING (2021)</I> anime posted on the KING AMUSEMENT CREATIVE YouTube account.

Dinosaur Biyori

The story follows the lives of three modern day dinosaurs as they share a room in the Dino-Shou ("Dino Manor") apartment building complex.

Natsu ga Hajimaru.

A CalorieMate web movie directed by Takumi Shiga featuring the song "Surges" by Orangestar, with vocals by Kase and Loin. The video carries an eclectic animation style, as the story follows high school students from various clubs pouring their effort into sports in the second year of the coronavirus pandemic. (Source: Anime News Network, edited) Note: Initially published on the Otsuka Pharmaceutical Official YouTube channel in July 2021, it was later reuploaded on Orangestar's YouTube channel under the song title "Surges", republished on August 12, 2021.

Himote House: Dai Panic! Minna de Gokiburi Taiji

OVA project crowdfunded through Green Funding. It's an extra episode of Himote House which was originally planned to air during the series' TV broadcast, but couldn't due to production difficulties.

Taiban!

Mizuki Haruno, who has been spending her days feeling blue, was taken to a live concert by her childhood friend, Nozomi. She caught a glimpse of the "exciting world there." "Nozomi...I want to play in a girls' band!" The story of Mizuki who became a high-school student begins now! This is a rockin' youth story woven by the four individual girls from the music band at Hakumai High School in a town in Hokkaido! (Source: Taiban! Official YouTube channel, edited)

Battle Spirits: Mirage

DUEL MASTERS King!

Blue Reflection Ray!

A spin-off of the TV anime, depicting characters from Blue Reflection Ray in chibified form and exhibits their daily life that unfolds behind the main story. The series is posted on their official Twitter, and as well the DMM Picture YouTube Channel.

Sumikkogurashi: The Little Wizard in the Blue Moonlight

One autumn day, the Sumikkogurashi go out to camp. They look up at the sky and see a big blue moon shining as bright as ever. According to a legend, "On the night of the big blue full moon that appears once in five years, the wizards will come to town and make one's wishes come true." Then surprisingly enough, five sibling wizards fly into Sumikkogurashi's town! The park, the supermarket, the forest... the wizards put a spell on all these places and turn the town into glittery party venues. Before long, the fun night comes to an end and the wizards return to the moon. But how can it be? Tapioca is among them. Has Tapioca been mistaken for the wizard Five and gone with them? (Source: Encore Films)

Monogatari wo kimi e. #2 - Fukakai 2 Q2 Ending Animation

An anime short that was shown at the end of virtual singer KAF's 2nd ONE-MAN LIVE Fukakai 2 Q2 online concert.

100 Years of Work in Japan

It's been almost 100 years since the "salaryman" type of office worker first appeared in Japan back in the 1920s. As our society faces a major turning point, SmartHR decided to create a brand film to reflect upon how work styles have changed with time over the past century. We hope that by looking back on history, we inspire people to think about how they want to work going forward. (Source: Official YouTube channel)

Chocomatsu-san: Valentine's Day-hen

A series of Valentine's Day-themed Osomatsu-san shorts published as a dTV exclusive.

Fudanshi Shoukan: Isekai de Shinjuu ni Hameraremashita Mini Anime 2nd Season

The second season of Fudanshi Shoukan: Isekai de Shinjuu ni Hameraremashita.

GUNMACHAN

An anime series based on the Gunma prefecture mascot character, Gunma-chan. This is Hiragana Gunma--a strange place that exists somewhere in the world. While it may be strange, it's also a place of kindness and warmth. Just as there are many different people around you, we see many kinds of strange residents here as well. What might Gunma-chan be up to here in Hiragana Gunma? (Source: Crunchyroll)

Okashi na Sabaku no Suna to Manu

The story centers on the everyday life of the cats Suna and Manu, who live in a desert -- a desert made of sugar instead of sand. (Source: Anime News Network)

Hisui Kobanashi

Stop-motion shorts featuring Hisui-form Biriridama, made to promote the upcoming release of the Pokémon LEGENDS Arceus game.

Takano Kousaten

In a certain city, for just a moment in time, the lives of three strangers intersect. (Source: YouTube)

2.43 Mini Anime: inside story

Mini anime where Kuroba introduces Mondai Town to Haijima, who has returned to Fukui for the first time in a long time, released on the 2.43 Twitter.

2.43 Mini Anime: Fukui-ben Kouza

Mini anime about the Fukui dialect, released on the 2.43 Twitter.