Anime: From Concept to Reality

Director of Understanding Chaos, an original anime for the web, filmmaker Terence Walker's Anime: From Concept to Reality asks the question "Is it possible for one person to create anime?" The answer is a qualified "yes," but you will need some serious computer hardware and software to create the look of hand-drawn anime. In addition to Understanding Chaos and another Walker short called Shadowskin, the DVD features a "Creating Anime" segment with chapters on animation techniques, sound, and music. Noting that anime artists must have an above average knowledge of physics as well as solid familiarity with the principles of animation, Walker unfortunately speaks too quickly, uses too many acronyms, and doesn't really provide much in the way of hands-on instruction here. DVD extras include bonus featurettes. Very affordable, but likely to frustrate more than instruct novice viewers expecting a real "how-to," this is not a necessary purchase. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Halsall)