Summary
TheYouTube channel for Uji Cityin Japan released a full version ofUji ni wa Monogatari ga Aru(“Tales Exist in Uji”),which the venerableKyoto Animationproduced. It was originally seen as a 30-second commercial earlier this year. Now, viewers can see the full six-minute animation showingKyoto Animation’s familiar quality animationin a short, Jazzy adventure.
While anime studios are often associated with seasonal TV productions,Ujiis a reminder that these studios just as often turn their talents towards promotion and marketing. Thankfully, Uji City has provided a rare glimpse into the rest of the studio’s portfolio, which otherwise would have remained a matter of mystery and hearsay.
Despite its brevity and tourism angle,Ujiis still an entertaining piece of media that tells a whole story with visuals and music, and shouldn’t be ignored by fans of the studio.
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Short Animation Directed by Takuya Yamamura
Uji ni wa Monogatari ga Aru’splot follows a young woman, who, in classic fairy tale fashion, finds her phone stolen by a mysterious white rabbit, leading to a chase that has her conveniently visit Uji City’s various landmarks, see its history with some mysterious time travel, and try out its celebrated Matcha products. The video has no script or sound effects, instead relying on Jazz music to accompany its visuals. The original video was edited into a short commercial that Uji City’s YouTube channel posted online back in March, giving fans a quick sample of Kyoto Animation’s latest work.
The short movie is proof of why Kyoto Animation isone of the best anime studios. Even its last project for TV has been another season forSound! Euphonium, which revolves around the members of a school’s concert band. While the project exists to promote tourism, Kyoto still provides some impressive and inventive visuals that make even an animated tour of Uji City an entertaining one, aided in part by its dreamlike imagery. If anything, this movie ought to be seen soon before it fades from the memory of all but the most die-hard anime aficionados.
Uji ni wa Monogatari ga Aruwill not be the first or last time a studio agrees to do promotional work.In recent years, the business conglomerate Lotte has also commissioned both BONES and Trigger on different occasions to producemusic videos celebrating its chocolate business. Regardless, these are still fascinating videos that will likely be doomed to obscurity. Before then, anyone with six minutes to spare will not have it wasted by watchingUji ni wa Monogatari ga Aru,which shows Kyoto’s talents in formats anime fans will rarely see or recall when sprawling, season-long shows are the norm.
