by The TV anime SHIROBAKO will celebrate its 10th anniversary on TV on October 9, 2024. A 10th-anniversary visual by character designer Kanami Sekiguchi has been released to celebrate this. It has also been announced that all TV series episodes commemorating the 10th anniversary will be streamed for free on YouTube starting at 9 p.m. on October 9.
“Shirobako” refers to the white boxes used in the video industry for video tapes and the first deliverable a producer gets when a work is completed. Compared to the colorful sales packages filled with illustrations and photographs, tape in a white box may seem plain. However, it is filled with the creators’ thoughts. PA”SHIROBAKO,” produced as the second installment of the “Working Girls Series” by WORKS, is a group drama that depicts the daily life of the anime industry, focusing on five dream-chasing girls who struggle to complete “Shirobako.”
Focusing on the anime industry, it weaves together events such as daily troubles, conflicts, and setbacks that arise from creative work and unity and conflicts that occur because they are made as a group. It depicts the success story of the five girls’ challenge to achieve their dream together and the hope they find beyond. It was broadcast from October 2014 to March 2015, and the sequel “The Movie ‘SHIROBAKO'” was released in March 2020.
This time, the work is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and a commemorative visual of Aoi and Mimji Roro drawn by character designer Kanami Sekiguchi has been released. In addition, it has been revealed that all 24 episodes of TV series 24 will be available for free on YouTube from 9:00 p.m. on October 9 to commemorate the 10th anniversary. All 24 episodes will be released every Wednesday on the Infinite YouTube channel. Please take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy Musashino Animation’s efforts at the same pace as when they were broadcast.
In addition, before the start of streaming, the opening theme, “COLORFUL BOX,” and the ending theme, “Animetic LoveA non-credited video of “Letter,” is now available. And starting tomorrow, October 9, “SHIROBAKO” x “MUSASHINO” design maintenance holes will be installed in Musashino City, Tokyo, where the film is set. There are three designs, and they will be installed in the Musashisakai area. Before the installation, a production presentation for the design of maintenance holes was held at the Musashino Clean Center Visitor Hall on October 4, where the five cast members unveiled the maintenance holes along with Musashino Mayor Yasuhiro Omino. Kimura Juri, Yoshimura Haruka, Chisuga Haruka, Takano Asami (the “taka” is pronounced “hashing-data”; same below), and Owada Hitomi also made comments.
In addition, the official “SHIROBAKO” X (formerly Twitter) is also planning to give away transparent files to visitors to the special commemorative screening of the movie version of “SHIROBAKO” “Strange Stories, 1st Anniversary Stage Greetings” held on February 29 this year, in commemoration of the 10th anniversary. A total of 10 people will be selected by lottery, so fans are encouraged to apply. Kimura Juri, I am honored to have been chosen as the maintenance hole designer after ten years. Since “SHIROBAKO” is an anime that depicts the anime production industry, I feel like the efforts of everyone who made it have been rewarded, and I am also pleased about that aspect.
The movie version of “SHIROBAKO” was released about five years after the TV anime series, and the directors said that they wanted to “portray the current state of the anime industry,” and I think that it captures the situation at that time. As the cast, we were also moved by the work as if we were involved in the anime production, so I’m curious if they will depict a new scene after ten years. Although “SHIROBAKO” is a work that represents the anime industry, it is based on a work-related anime. Anyone can relate to it; whether they are a student or a newbie, whether they are a mid-career worker or a veteran, some characters and lines will touch their heart and situations like that. Whether you watch it repeatedly or for the first time, it is a beautiful anime with scenes that will touch your heart at each moment, so I would like those who have not seen it yet to watch it.
Before the broadcast, the five of us went to the Ticket Street Shopping District, and even after the broadcast started, we did a narration in collaboration with Musashino City and various events. It was rare to have such an opportunity to hear your thoughts with the mayor of Musashino and everyone helping to liven up Musashino City, so I am pleased to be in my 10th year.
However, the development is gradually decreasing since it was a work from 10 years ago. Still, thanks to Musashino City’s planning, we can take the stage as members of “SHIROBAKO” again, so I am thrilled. As Mr. Kimura said earlier, it is work that people from various industries can enjoy.
My father had never seen anime before, but he said that it relates to his work and makes him cry, laugh, and have a lot of fun. So, I would like people interested in anime and those who have not seen much anime yet to see it.
Haruka Chisuga 10 years ago, I held a meet-and-greet event for fans in the Musashino area, and as Mr. Yoshimura said, I came here as a collaboration. Recently, I have heard many more stories about people who were fans of the work at that time entering the industry or about my position changing at work. And my position in society has changed a lot. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to talk about these feelings again at the installation of the maintenance hole at the milestone of the 10th anniversary.
One of the topics in the work is the issue of intergenerational relationships. This design maintenance hole will be a point of contact between more people and the work and an opportunity for an even wider audience to see it. Asami Takano: It’s been ten years since “SHIROBAKO” began, and it’s been a little while since the dubbing, but in those ten years, even after the broadcast of “SHIROBAKO” ended, there was another movie version, and even after the movie version ended, we were able to do a stage greeting this year that we couldn’t do at the time of the movie’s release due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so we have had the opportunity to touch the work once every few years.
I’m also thrilled that “SHIROBAKO” has increased the number of things that remain as maintenance holes. I’m delighted to feel that this is because so many people love “SHIROBAKO.” For those who have never seen “SHIROBAKO” before, I think they are missing out on life (laughs), so I would like them to watch it on streaming services. Hitomi Owada, I have watched it several times regularly.
Every time I watch it, I realize I used to ignore this scene, but now this casual scene hits me, and I notice something different every time. Different words touch my heart depending on my current situation, and it has been with me for ten years, so it is vital work. When you go to a place, the scenery looks completely different if you have thoughts, knowledge, memories, or anything like that. I am thrilled that the installation of the maintenance hole in Musashino City will be a trigger for remembering “SHIROBAKO.” Musashino City is where many scenes from the world of “SHIROBAKO” are scattered, so I want you to feel that this is where the characters of “SHIROBAKO” were.
Even now, many people say that “SHIROBAKO” is interesting, and I can confidently recommend it. I recommend this to people who don’t know much about TV anime or how they’re made. This will change the way you see anime, as you’ll learn about the passion with which it’s made, so I recommend you watch it.
Free YouTube distribution of the TV anime “SHIROBAKO” Distribution channel: Infinite YouTube channel [Distribution schedule] Wednesday, October 9, 2024 21:0000~: Episode 1, Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 21:00~: Episode 2, Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 21:00~: Episode 3, Wednesday, October 30, 2024, 21 :00~: Episode 4, Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 21:00~: Episode 5, Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 21:00~: Episode 6, Wednesday, November 20, 2024 twenty one: 00~: Episode 7, Wednesday, November 27, 2024, 21:00~: Episode 8, Wednesday, December 4, 2024, 21:00~: Episode 9, Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 21 :00~: Episode 10, Wednesday, December 18, 2024, 21:00~: Episode 11, Wednesday, December 25, 2024, 21:00~: Episode 12, Wednesday, January 8, 2025 twenty one :00~: Episode 13, Wednesday, January 15, 2025, 21:00~: Episode 14, Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 21:00~: Episode 15, Wednesday, January 29, 2025 21:00~: Episode 16, Wednesday, February 5, 2025, 21:00~: Episode 17, Wednesday, February 12, 2025, 21:00~: Episode 18, Wednesday, February 19, 2025 )twenty one :00～: Episode 19Wednesday, February 26, 202521:00～: Episode 20Wednesday, March 5, 202521:00～: Episode 21Wednesday, March 12, 2025 Episode 22: 21:00~ Wednesday, March 19, 2025 Episode 23: 21:00~ Wednesday, March 26, 2025 Episode 24: *URLs will be released sequentially. *Each video will be archived for approximately one month. Please check the YouTube video page for detailed archive dates and times. (C) “SHIROBAKO” Production Committee (C) 2020 “SHIROBAKO” Movie Production Committee
