Studio
Crunchyroll / DeltaRocket
At a timewhen animation is reaching a level of global appreciationnever before seen, one animation studio is being celebrated for its contributions to the medium over this quarter-century.Bones 25: Dreaming Forward, a documentary covering the history of Studio Bones (Fullmetal Alchemist,My Hero Academia,Mob Psycho 100, and more) has hit Crunchyroll this week.
This documentary series - a collaboration between the popular streaming service and Lyon-based production company DetlaRocket - began streaming on Tuesday, February 13. This comesjust a month after the premiere ofMetallic Rouge, a new action series by director Motonobu Hori that is similarly meant to commemorate the studio’s illustrious career.
How This Documentary Puts Bones Into Context
As of the time of writing, two of the four episodes ofDreaming Forwardhave been released; the first offers an overview of the studio’s history while the second focuses on their original projects. We at Game Rant have written about Bones in the past,between rankings of their best showsand even discussing the very history that this documentary delves into.
However, it’s one thing to look at their body of work and deduce such inspirations and another thing entirely to hear this history described so extensively by the artists themselves. Regardless of one’s knowledge of the studio before going into this piece, therearenew insights to glean, and it paints perhapsthemost comprehensive portrait of Bones to date.
More Than Just A Robot Show
As is customary of any chronicling of the studio, it delves into its origins at Studio Sunrise through the production ofCowboy Bebopand a desire to create original anime that wasn’t so commercialized. What’s fascinating, though, is the decision to specifically frame Bones' creativity through its robot shows. It’s not a genre that they are exclusively known for, but with so much of their identity tracingback to their mecha roots at Sunrise, it’s a fitting focus.
Through the documentary’s storytelling, an argument is made that the qualities that make Bones special are found in the unique ways in which they create robot shows. There’s an endearing section where Kazuki Akane describesEscaflowneas an effort to create a mecha series that could appeal strongly to women. As the documentary goes on, this becomes the start of a trend wherein the studio ismore ambitious about how to make robot showsand who to make them for.
With this in mind, even popular shows likeEureka Sevenstart to stand out more for how conceptually strange they are, both in their influences and the mixing of disparate elements. Yet, against the odds, it was a hit because of the skilled artists and the passion behind the project. Bones set out to create anime that they never would have been allowed to make in a creative space that prioritized merchandising.
The Importance of Trusting Creators
Not many studios create as many original projects as Bones has, and the reasoning is pretty simple; it’s hard to bank on something new versus an adaptation of an established work. Episode 2strays from the mecha throughlineand hones in on the trust the studio puts in its creators to produce original anime worth taking gambles on. The most common phrase describing the studio is something to the effect of “a place where creators could create freely.”
Lending to this idea about the inherent risks,Dreaming Forwardmakes a habit of pointing out the oddities within each of Bones' original projects. 2014’sSpace Dandy, in particular, is framed as a project that was made in response to the state of the anime industry at the time, which the creators weren’t too pleased with.While Shinichiro Watanabe might contest Dandy’s success, its fans in the West will surely agree that it was an adventure worth taking.
Praise from Peers in the Industry
This focus on the studio’s original projects and the significance therein carries a lot more weight when it’s accompanied by testimonials from the leadership of other animation studios in Japan. Yuji Matsukura of JC Staff (DanMachi) comments on Bones' wealth of original projects, as does Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, CEO ofProduction I.G (Ghost in the Shell,Psycho-Pass). Even MAPPA’s CEO, Manabu Otsuka, is featured in the first episode, praising Bones for its reputation.
The Man at the Center
All the while, the first two episodes - perhaps not entirely intentionally - frequently point to Masahiko Minami as one of the key factors in Bones' virtuosity. Minami is only one of the founders of Bones, next to legendary character designer/animator Toshihiro Kawamoto and the late animator Hiroshi Osaka. All three have irrevocably shaped both the studio and the industry.
Yet, as a producer, Minami holds appreciable responsibility as the one who helped foster Bones' creative freedom by signing off on many of these projects. Even when Minami reflects on the occasional confusion he hadtowards certain projects likeStar Driver, there is never a sense while watching the documentary that the creators were allotted less freedom because of it.
Dreaming Forward is an Utter Delight
There are still two more episodes to be released, but as it stands,Dreaming Forwarddemands to be seen by anyone with a love of anime or the people who make it possible. Bones is responsible for so many shows and films that frequently top fans' lists of all-time favorite anime. This documentary oozes an enthusiasm for their work that feels like a loud, long-overdue validation of the praise that has been stated in passing among fans for so long.
It culminates in a lovely metaphor that speaks to the meaning behind the studio’s name. Much like the skeleton in a human body, the artists of this acclaimed production house serve as the bones around which great art is constructed. WhenDreaming Forwardcontinues,it will cover the studio’s adapted works, including even more beloved works. Until then, the first two episodes are the perfect way to celebrate Bones' anniversary.
