Keiichiro Saito, director of the anime Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, has expressed his desire to break away from the emerging standards in the preferences of Western anime fans. He believes that these trends could limit creativity by pushing creators to follow a specific formula. During the Global Anime Challenge, Saito and Takafumi Nakame, producer on Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, shared their thoughts on the current state of Japanese animation. They emphasized the need to explore new horizons, collaborate with foreign companies, and enhance the promotion of anime outside of Japan.
Saito mentioned his experience at international conventions, where he observed a tendency among foreign fans to gravitate towards certain trends in anime. He expressed concerns about the potential disconnect between creators and the audience when catering too much to these popular trends. Saito and Nakame both agreed that while following trends is important for the success of a project, it is equally crucial to preserve the diverse appeal of anime.
The discussion touched upon the dominance of isekai anime and RPG-inspired fantasy in the current anime landscape. The pressure to conform to these genres for global recognition could stifle creativity and limit the variety of Japanese animation. Saito and Nakame advocated for a more diverse and open-minded approach to anime creation, encouraging creators to explore a wider range of themes and styles.
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