by The attention to detail in the production shows the love for the original work.
The spring anime season began in early April 2025 and is already approaching the middle stage. I’m sure many people have narrowed down the titles they will watch this season. In addition to the story’s charm, some works have beautiful drawings and skillful direction that will make you sigh, and many fans look forward to the weekly broadcasts.
“Anne Shirley,” the modern anime, a timeless masterpiece loved worldwide (original work: Lucy Maud Montgomery / translated by Muraoka Hanako), has been airing since April 5. Set on the beautiful Canadian island of Prince Edward Island, the show depicts the daily life and growth of Anne Shirley (CV: Inoue Honoka ), a girl who was adopted as an orphan. The film draws viewers in with its carefully drawn animation, including the lively expressions of the characters, the innocent Anne, the scenery of cherry blossoms falling, and the sparkling lake.
The backgrounds have a texture reminiscent of impressionist paintings. They have been met with admiration, with comments such as “The images are beautiful, and seem to link with Anne’s rich imagination,” and “The scenery itself is soothing and immersive. ” Furthermore, the opening and ending videos, which were released for the episode aired on April 19, were storyboarded and directed by animator Yamada Naoko, and the direction, which harmonizes with the story and music, has been a hot topic. This work has been selected and officially entered in the “TV Films” category of the “Annecy International Animated Film Festival Official Competition” scheduled to start on June 8. It is an anime that is sure to be well-received overseas.
“Uma Musume Cinderella Gray” “Uma Musume Cinderella Gray” (original: Cygames / manga: Kusumi Taiyo / script: Sugiura Masashi / planning and composition: Ito Junnosuke ), which has been airing since April 6, is an anime series based on the “Uma Musume” project, which has been expanded into various media such as games, manga, and music. It depicts the story of Uma Musume, “Oguri Cap (CV: Takayanagi Tomohata),” who enrolled in the local “Kasamatsu Training Center Academy,” and her journey to becoming a legend.
The first episode’s character design and lighting expression are hot topics. The race scene between Oguri and rival “Fujimasa Machi (CV: Ise Mariya)” depicted in the second episode has many viewers overwhelmed by its power and depth, saying, “It gave me goosebumps,” and “It was like a movie version.”
Furthermore, in the third episode, the scene where Oguri performs “Kasamatsu Ondo” became a trending topic on social media, attracting much attention. People said, “The smooth animation and music make it twice as fun.” The story is still in its early stages, but the effective use of serious and comical tempos has attracted many viewers.
“Witch Watch” The anime “Witch Watch,” which also began airing on April 6, depicts the cohabitation and slapstick comedy of high school student “Otogi Morihito (CV: Suzuki Ryota )” who has the power of a demon and his childhood friend “Wakatsuki Nico (CV: Kawaguchi Rina )” who is training to be a witch. The original work is a manga by Shinohara Kenta, known for “SKET DANCE” and “Astra Lost in Space,” and is popular for its meticulous drawing skills and well-paced gags.
The TV anime has drawn detailed illustrations of the innocent Nico, from her expressive expressions to the texture of her clothes, with comments such as “Nico was already cute enough in the manga, but she’s twice as attractive in the anime.” The colorful and cute magic scenes have also been highly praised for creating a comical worldview that blends reality and fantasy.
The unique style highly praised in the original work has been faithfully reproduced, and every corner of the footage has been stylishly presented. This has drawn praise such as “You can feel the production team’s love for the original” and “I find myself watching the opening repeatedly.”
