Hyouka’s latest episode arrives paired with a commercial clip for “Beyond The Boundary“, Kyoto Animation’s latest project in the works – and one which appears to turn the word “phenomenal” into a mere pittance.
Beyond The Boundary was a second place winner in Kyoto Animation’s Award program under the novel department – and with the debut of a preview video, as well as the launching of an official site, Kyoto Animation seems it could be planning on animating this work, but either way, is clearly quite determined to maximize it to its fullest potential.
Everything about this series is overwhelming, and we’ve still nothing more to taste of it aside from assorted sample imagery – however that, and the fact this series is to come from Kyoto Animation, are alone enough to assure us of its impending success.
First of all, entering the official site, which literally will captivate from the very second upon arrival, one can examine several character profiles – the characters are not merely a world, but many galaxies apart from those oft-seen. Indeed, the characters are the commonly utilized class of citizen known as “highschoolers” – however, they’re nothing in appearance whatsoever to one’s standard crew of seifuku wearing individuals.
More so outstanding however is how each character has their own individualistic style in appearance alone – the characters aren’t singular in ensemble like those of another Kyoto Animation work, Lucky Star, for example. Notice the variance in fashion selection – differing shoes, vests, shirts, and other clothing articles. And of course, even the physical details, such as those of the visage, are very distinctive.
As for the art style of the animation as seen within the PV, it’s experimentally distinguished – vibrant colors appear to blend together like a fruit smoothie, as if made for each other almost, yet the scenes aren’t afraid to turn to completely contrasting achromatic image for contrast of mood. Backgrounds are blurred to provide sole emphasis on the characters, as exhibited in image nine below – and as image 11 shows, the settings also employ perspective, as well as intense exaggerations of elements, such as lighting, to in turn amplify the emotion of the scene.
Most notable in image 12, the visuals appear to have a tendency to shift to something with an appearance of a hand-drawn, almost sketchbook style of art – with streaks of color visible, as if a painting or colored pencil composition.
Noticable overall, the artwork is abstract – and nothing short of revolutionary. And again, with Kyoto Animation being onboard for this, alongside such a monumental first showing, the hype machine has effectively broken down from being incapable of containing all the anxiety of desire. Kyoto Animation has certainly gone “beyond the boundary” with this latest project of theirs.
May 20, 2012 @ 11:52 CDT
Er, it looks the commercial was just to promote the novel. Doesn’t appear KyoAni is animating this.
May 20, 2012 @ 11:58 CDT
I was considering that, however the CM does seem more than merely a typical novel promotion video.
May 20, 2012 @ 12:03 CDT
In any case, fixed – I did originally have “could be animating”, although as mentioned, this struck me as quite beyond one’s average novel CM. I’ve replaced it now however for clearer specification.
On that note, take a look at a CM for Warawanai Neko:
http://seventhstyle.com/2012/03/19/hentai-ouji-to-warawanai-neko-harem-pv/
They’re usually just stop frame slides of characters as you likely already know.
May 20, 2012 @ 12:47 CDT
If it’s made into an anime it might be unique. So far everything seems great.
May 20, 2012 @ 13:10 CDT
It seems quite atmospheric – though on another note, the heroine’s oversized megane is reminiscent of The Paper.
May 20, 2012 @ 15:58 CDT
I like the picture of the rat (?) and the fire combat :)