Any science
fiction fan knows the monumental impact that Akira's film had
on pop culture worldwide. After several years away from the spotlight,
legendary mangaka and director Katsuhiro Otomo is ready to
regain absolute control of his creative vision. He has just officially opened
his own animation studio in Tokyo, baptized as Oval Gear, with the
firm purpose of producing feature films that can compete on a global scale and
dazzle new audiences.
A school
for the new generation
The goal of
this new production house is not simply to release films to generate massive
revenue. Otomo founded the company with the genuine intention of inheriting his
unusual working methods and peculiar storytelling style to a new
generation of artists. In fact, the studio confirmed in a statement that
their first animated feature film is already in the production phase, which is
why they are actively looking for talent, hiring animators and creative staff
to join their ranks and learn directly from the master.
The
mystery of the lost work
What really
has the community coming up with hundreds of theories is the identity of this
first film. If we remember a little, back in 2019, the director announced an
ambitious science fiction film entitled Orbital Era in
collaboration with Sunrise. The story promised to show the lives of a group of
young people surviving in a space colony over four seasons. However, the
project completely disappeared from the public radar without a trace.
Interestingly,
eagle-eyed fans noticed that the official Oval Gear logo bears
an undeniable similarity to the concept art of that lost film. Although the
company remains in total secrecy and has not confirmed if they managed to
rescue the space survival script or if they are developing a completely
unpublished story, the excitement to see the return of this genius is total.
Knowing the
very high level of demand and visual quality that this director permeates in
all his masterpieces.
