3-D Adds New Dimension to Japan’s Animation Industry
- 14 years ago
The world's largest anime fair kicked off in Tokyo on Thursday.
Over 200 companies are promoting characters spanning nearly 60 years of Japanese anime history during the week-long event.
Following the success of box office 3-D hits such as "Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland," more and more Japanese animation companies are releasing their latest creations in 3-D.
Toei Animation, one of Japan's largest , showcased its latest 3-D creation based on the "Pretty Cure" series.
[Iriya Azuma, Corporate Strategy Director, Toei Animation]: (Japanese, male)
"In Avatar, the 3-D elements blended in with the actual film. But in the case of Toei Animation -- the two-dimensional characters coming to life through 3-D and jumping around -- I think that is what is attractive about our product."
Converting 2-D to 3-D seems to be the technique of choice these days.
[Iriya Azuma, Corporate Strategy Director, Toei Animation]: (Japanese, male)
"Converting two-dimensional material into 3-D is not as expensive as everyone thinks. Technology is continuing to improve and it's getting cheaper so I think we'll be able to create more 3-D material by continuing to create things as we have been doing and adding creative touches to it and spending a bit more money."
Hollywood is currently leading in 3-D technology.
Resources and funds are pouring in to create more 3-D works, and studios are converting big movie projects from 2-D to 3-D.
But shooting in 3-D is expensive.
Industry observers say the film “Avatar" cost at least 300 million U.S. dollars to produce.
The top-grossing movie of all time was one of the few live-action movies shot completely in 3-D.
It raked in 2.7 billion U.S. dollars at box offices.
Over 200 companies are promoting characters spanning nearly 60 years of Japanese anime history during the week-long event.
Following the success of box office 3-D hits such as "Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland," more and more Japanese animation companies are releasing their latest creations in 3-D.
Toei Animation, one of Japan's largest , showcased its latest 3-D creation based on the "Pretty Cure" series.
[Iriya Azuma, Corporate Strategy Director, Toei Animation]: (Japanese, male)
"In Avatar, the 3-D elements blended in with the actual film. But in the case of Toei Animation -- the two-dimensional characters coming to life through 3-D and jumping around -- I think that is what is attractive about our product."
Converting 2-D to 3-D seems to be the technique of choice these days.
[Iriya Azuma, Corporate Strategy Director, Toei Animation]: (Japanese, male)
"Converting two-dimensional material into 3-D is not as expensive as everyone thinks. Technology is continuing to improve and it's getting cheaper so I think we'll be able to create more 3-D material by continuing to create things as we have been doing and adding creative touches to it and spending a bit more money."
Hollywood is currently leading in 3-D technology.
Resources and funds are pouring in to create more 3-D works, and studios are converting big movie projects from 2-D to 3-D.
But shooting in 3-D is expensive.
Industry observers say the film “Avatar" cost at least 300 million U.S. dollars to produce.
The top-grossing movie of all time was one of the few live-action movies shot completely in 3-D.
It raked in 2.7 billion U.S. dollars at box offices.