brandi58 - 2016-03-05 18:47:55

Even though I've watched many anime as of yet never wrote any reviews due to laziness but this made me express myself...

The show is based on how anime industry works though not in depth, still portrays how it functions. . I felt it was bit fast paced so gotta watching again.

I'm not review this show for its character or sound and all but seems like most of the drivers shown in the anime have learnt to drift from Tokyo Drift or Initial D. Freaking always ready to race...

This concludes. It was fun though if bit slow pace and more depth, i would feel completely satisfied. Ignoring this fact i really enjoyed and hope for another. Gambare Shirobako...

marjolaine.ritchie - 2015-03-30 09:01:16

Shirobako is an anime original story by P.A Works andfollows Aoi Miyamori’s experience at Musashino Animation, a fictional animestudio. The world portrayed in Shirobako israther dramatized and exaggerated, but it comes across as very convincingthrough excellent execution of its story, and endearing characters. 

As a slice of life, Shirobako’s story follows a set of storyarcs, with each arc being about Musashino Animation’s production of a newanime. With the production of each new anime, comes the seemingly never endingissues that must be overcome, such as communication breakdowns or uncooperativeteam members. In fact, these problems are so common that after a point, youstart to expect things to go wrong, and when they do happen, it doesn't reallybecome surprising. The impact of this seemingly major issue with the storystructure is mostly softened by just how well executed the resolutions to theseproblems are. There are enough surprising twists done at just the right moment to stop the story from becoming stale and predictable. 

The show begins with Aoi’s promise to create an anime along withher high school friends, however this part of the story is only very slowlyprogressed in the background and left unresolved at the end of the show. Whilethis obviously leaves room for a second season, those who watched Shirobakojust to see Aoi and her friends progress, may be left unsatisfied at the story’sconclusion.

The pacing of the show is surprisingly well done. Each episode had me satisfied but also left plot related threads open that i wanted to know more about. Compared to other slice of life, Shirobako is very engaging to watch. If you're not a big fan of the pacing of slice of life in general, you will probably find the show quite a bit slower than your typical anime. 

No matter how difficult or seemingly unreachable your dreamsor goals may be, you still have to keep positive and one day you will get there– that is the idea Shirobako strives for. The message is rather optimistic,sometimes overly so, that results in the show glossing over some of issues thattrouble animation studios. For example, this picture is often brought up in regards to the salary of anime staff,

however the effect this has on the characters is hardly brought up, let alone explored. The most that is ever brought up is the odd statement like "If i don't work fast enough, i won't be able to eat." The negative aspects are largely overshadowed by the positive mood, which may not be enjoyed by those looking for a truly realistic view on the anime industry. Personally, i still think an overly positive message is a good message to have. This is because, while this theme may seem clichéd and unoriginal, it is extremely difficult toget right. In other shows, this idea of dreams would feel ham-fisted and corny,simply because of poor execution. In Shirobako, its messages are genuine. 

A fantastic part of Shirobako’s structure is how after theteam overcome a problem that they spent the last episode or two strugglingthrough, Shirobako shows us in animated form, the final product of what theteam achieved. In fact, the OVAs of Shirobako are actually episode lengthversions of the shows that Musashino Animation worked on. It’s all very metaand very interesting. Even if the final product isn't all that visuallyimpressive, it pummels further the amount of effort that goes into producinganime behind-the-scenes.

I find the show’s animation style to be rather interesting. Manywould find that the show’s cutesy and light-hearted anime designs to beunfitting for the “realistic” portrayal of the anime industry. However i find that what the creators of the show were going for was to show that despite the near endless hardships anime staff go through, their love for the medium can pull them through. This is highlighted through the many times the question "Why do you work in the anime industry?" is brought up during the show. 

In terms of animation quality however, it is quite average. There isCG used in some scenes, which stand out like a sore thumb, but they are not usetoo commonly and they are only used for minor things like vehicles. Theanimation quality stays consistent throughout the show (save one episode).Animation flows rather smoothly, but it never really reaches “impressive”standards. The details of the backgrounds and the colors used make the show standout, while the overblown and comedic nature of some scenes ooze with passionand shows that the staff behind Shirobakogenuinely enjoy and love what they do.

The soundtrack of the show is extremely varied, but the showchooses to use only a select few songs during emotional or important scenes inthe show. For example, this song, which i believe portrays the atmosphere of the show rather well. (or as one random youtube comment says, "this is so fucking comfy".)

These songs are simple enough to have stuck in your head, so that bythe time the same song is remixed or used again, its impact is much greater due to theconnection you have with the song.  It’sa simple trick used in quite a few shows to add emotional weight to scenes. Thesongs rarely overpower the scenes, leaving just the right amount of presence intheir respective scenes. In this show, i find that it adds a sense of emotional attachment to the show and more importantly, its characters.

The crew of Musashino are very diverse. You got the wholespectrum of anime characters from professional to just plain weird. It may seemthat none of the characters get enough screen time to develop, and that istrue, but by the end of the show you will have grown attached to every one ofthem regardless. The entire crew’s personalities bounce off each other verywell during the comedic scenes. The entire crew seems like a tightly boundfamily.  Some characters get quite a bitof personal progression as they learn to overcome individual adversities, butthat is about as much development as you are going to get.

While no one character gets too much development, that also means that there is more room for them to grow (hopefully in a second season). Of course, this dosn't mean anything in terms of quality, but it something to keep in mind. 

Furthermore, the characters are all portrayed as good people in one way or another. Even those that were characterized as uncooperative or labelled as "villains" turn out to be good people or had misunderstood intentions. This maintains the "always positive" outlook of the anime industry and may seem like a cop out to some. 

In summary, it can be said that the characters are all flavor but have little meat. But in the end, they served their purpose just fine. They were enjoyable and endearing to watch, and gave us a few good messages to take home, but little else. But honestly, that's all they needed to do.

Shirobako as a whole is quite the impressive show. Some won’tenjoy its slice of life style or its overly positive tone, but for those whodo, it is an interesting, enjoyable and emotional journey that soars above mostother shows. Its themes are genuine and its portrayal of the anime industry isenlightening. It’s one of the most well done shows in 2014/2015 and i suggest everyone at least give it a chance. 

_____________________________________________

Now for some recommendations. A show that no one seems to compare Shirobako with is Aria. They are both "healing" slice of life, but they have quite different stories. The sense of connection between the characters and hopeful and convincing messages and themes prevalent in Aria that beam with endless positivity reminds my of Shirobako. Bakuman is one that is commonly recommended as it is basically thestory of Shirobako but with manga, however aside from the story, there isn't that much in common between the two. 

Story  - Lovely and mostly realistic. Skims over some harsh truths in favor of pursuing a positive tone. 

Animation - Sometimes bland, sometimes enthusiastic and passionate. Consistent quality.

Sound - Catchy, comfy and memorable.

Characters - Enjoyable and well rounded. Some are more developed than others.

Enjoyment - The most enjoyable and comfy show i've seen in many years. The characters, writing, tone and themes all merge to form a genuinely heartwarming and hopeful story.

zhayes - 2015-03-30 08:03:57

Jobs can be hard. That is the gist of it. I doubt there is a single job in the world that involves people just sitting down, drinking a beer, and nothing going wrong ever (outside of reality show actors). You have to wake up early, do something that you may or may not like doing, and also have to struggle with the thought of "Is this something I want to do? Should I go for a higher paying job, or something I love with a passion? Is it even possible for me to have both?" Then we have to go to bed after fixing dinner and repeat the process until we either die, get too sick to work, or get too old. Sometimes getting old doesn't even make a difference, and we still have to get back to work. We all say that we want to do what we love, and that is all that matters, but even then we still have to realize the importance of that green paper. We have to challenge whether or not we make a difference, and if making a difference means anything to us. This is a reality very few wish to admit, and would rather dilly dally in some fantasy land where the mythical "dream job" awaits. Shirobako, on the other hand, stares that reality down, and says, "So what? Isn't there a reason we keep doing what we do? Let's embrace that passion and confusion and make it true!" It basically praises reality, enjoying every nanosecond, parading it like the beautiful mess it is. Now I'm going to explain to you how it does it.

ANIMATION & SOUND

The animation of this show is some of P.A. Works' best. The shots are crisp and clear, highlighting every area. The lighting is great, and knows when to make a scene dramatic or cheerful. There are moments of pause, and they just let the shot or the animation to cary the emotion. The faces that the characters make can range from subtle to over-the-top, enabling moments of great comedy and even greater moments of self realization. It can even be lively and energetic to the point that just the movements (and one special little dance) can make you laugh. I don't remember many hiccups in the animation, and was considerably pleased throughout. The voice acting is great, and every actor/actress fit their roll perfectly. It was clear they all adored their roles and placed every last bit of effort into them. The openings and endings were catchy and enjoyable, and I never skipped them. The music fits each and every scene perfectly, and complements the mood without being to glaring or obtrusive.

PLOT
Shirobako is an anime about the making of anime and the people who make it. That's what it boils down to. It goes into every minute detail of the production, from the animation, the use of CG, the act of choosing the voice actor/actress, to even making the bloody schedule. It is a show grounded in reality. I've seen it be called a slice of life, and I'm not to sure if that is fitting. This show challenges life itself. What it means to be needed, is enjoyment required with work and how do they mix, the prospect of surviving in a job, should you follow the path that will benefit you the most or the one that you enjoy the most, how to deal with stress, etcetera. It is not afraid to get into the crevices of reality and root itself there permanently, and it is unafraid to show you the rank and rotten parts. It is much more of a drama than a slice of life. I mean, they released a chart about the annual income for those who work in the industry. I'm gonna post it, and believe me, it's brutal.
I will admit, at times I started to loathe the anime industry for all the work they placed on the people just so that they can make their life work. It's not as if the show was very gloomy and cynical, it's just that I've always had issues with the anime work force, and seeing it in a medium I'm connected to really helped me understand it more. I'm still watching anime, so I don't hate the industry enough for me to stop watching. The plot gripped me from the first episode, mostly because of my curiosity into the industry. I started interested, and became engrossed. At times, the terminology used in the show will be confusing, but they do explain what they mean, so luckily it is understandable. And anyone who dares to describe this show as "supah-kawaii-moe girls" making anime is dead wrong. They clearly didn't see it so their opinion is moot, and they should probably re-watch the show.

CHARACTERS

I really wish I could talk about a few characters. I really do. It would make this part oh-so-much easier. But I can't. This is because their are over 40 character and all of them are memorable! This is very good, because as before, I said this was a drama, and even more so, it is a character driven drama. The drama happens not because Mars is crashing into Earth, but because to characters have different ideologies or agendas that clash. The characters all go through their own series of trial and tribulations, forced to fight with reality, or to be a benefit to another. I was nervous at the beginning, because in the first episode you see an entire range of characters, and I thought to myself, "Oh God, how am I going to remember them all?" It was amazing when I realized I didn't just remember them, but I became attached to them. I cared about them, and I felt every emotion they felt. And the show keeps adding more and more, and you think the same thing again, but then you like them again! It's unbelievable! It's fantastic! It's what must be done in a character drama. They all have their own distinct personalities, and none of them blend together. You will laugh with some, sympathize with others, be excited at their presence, and start to dig a grave for those that you feel deserve to die. They are people, and you enjoy every moment of them. The moment when you realize that you may never see these characters again and you become sad is something that not many forms of art, let alone shows, can do. I just wish I was better at recognizing names than I am faces and voices.

REITERATION
This is a fantastic show. It is perfectly paced, brilliantly written, and beautifully animated. It is a show that comes out once every blue moon, and should be seen by all. I'm serious when I say this. If you a creator, be it a writer or animator or director, watch this and connect with the people. If you are just a fan of the medium, watch it, and have a greater appreciation for it. If you are on the fence, just watch it for enjoyment, and maybe you will see why people like these silly little "Chinese cartoons." It is now one of my favorite shows, and even if it comes out with a second season, I'm perfectly fine with it ending here. I believe that is the best complement a show can be given, and Shirobako definitely deserves it.

hilario77 - 2015-03-29 09:57:06

You know, when I first began watching Shirobako, I loved it, but I had no idea I’d end up loving it the way I did. I thought it’d just be an anime about anime, and that’s it. But Shirobako defied my expectations.

Instead of just being about anime, it was also a Slice of Life about actual working adults, some of them were newbies, and some were veterans. Some were dreaming big, and some were already exhausted by reality. Life may not always work out as smoothly as you want it to, as you may not be able to
work in something you truly love. You might even lose your passion for the work you love. Shirobako depicted this quite well. But it also depicted optimism. Keep on trying, for things could eventually work out.
Of course, it won’t always work out, but it’s better to have a positive outlook on life. It’s ok to chase your dreams, even if you lose your passion for them along the way, you can still regain it. Well, at least that’s the
impression I got out of the show.

Seeing how the characters had so many doubts about themselves and problems of their own, and even not knowing what they wanted to do in the long run was very relatable and even realistic. Seeing them grow as the show went on was satisfying. As a university student about to graduate (at the time of writing this review) and have adult responsibilities, all of this was incredibly relatable. 

And of course, let’s not forget the anime aspect. Seeing how anime is made and the amount of work put into it is quite interesting. Also, the references to many different anime and studios were a very cool touch, along with getting real life anime staff to have cameo appearances. The comedy was also pretty great, and had me laughing my head off or at least chuckling. Also, most of the characters are easily attachable, and I felt happy for them when they’d succeed in what they’re doing. I can’t even count the number of heartwarming moments here and there.

So, overall, Shirobako is definitely a wonderful adult Slice of Life which I really loved. I highly suggest you check it out, especially if you’re a university student or in that age group. It was such a great show to watch, and I had so much fun watching it.

stokes.caroline - 2015-03-28 17:54:10

Shirobako shows us what it is like to be in anime production. From the production assistants to the animators and all other parts of making an anime. All the characters have wonderfully realistic personalities and all have their own hopes and dreams for what they want to accomplish. Much of the show has a common theme of how it takes actual effort and hard work to achieve your dreams. Anime itself is just the setting through which this theme is presented. The actual animation of the show is top tier throughout. The music is enjoyable and used to accent many scenes. The OP and ED for both cours are nice to listen to as well. Overall it is a very touching story about girls struggling through the production of the medium they love and finding how hard it can be to do what you dream of doing.

vreynolds - 2015-03-23 22:05:27

There are many ideas the average viewer thinks about when they are asked what makes an anime work for them. Is it the driving narrative that help to construct the pieces of the story? Is it the lovable cast of characters that help drive the story to its own path? Is it the breathless, but invigorating and vibrant animation that help to bring it to life? Is it the overall palatable visual design that help to give the show its identity? Is it the mesmerizing voice acting and sound direction that help to make it memorable?

But what if it's a little more personal than that, taking in account with the people who help make it and how the overall production goes? With so little information, it's hard to know what exactly goes on behind the scenes. Shirobako helps to alleviate this problem by providing the audience with a personal tale that focuses on the industry and the people behind it.

Shirobako follows the story of five girls and the struggles they experience following their dream in the anime industry. Their dream stems from their own little experiences of managing an animation club in high school, their hopes and aspirations held up high in regards to their future of wanting to work in the anime industry, not knowing the hardships and struggles that they will face in the near future. Although each have their own set of motivations and paths they set on, the show mostly focuses on Aoi, an amateur production assistant working at Musashino Animation and her experiences working in the industry she sought after.

Through her we see the basic setup to Shirobako, in that it's an anime about making anime with all the nooks and crannies that come along with it. From the writing processes, to general animating, to sound production, to editing, and so forth. It shows what goes on in the production with in depth and precise detail, never trying to dumb down its explanations nor barraging the audience with information. Instead, it flows with the backdrop of the story and helps to build and give flavor to the world it's set in.

Along with its details on the industry itself, it also gives attention to the people who work to produce it. The cast is immensely large and it shows, as each staff member have their own unique personalities, role, motivations, and backstory that help tie the story together in its attempt to show off the inner workings of the industry. Granted, it does comes off as overwhelming, but each character never particularly feels wasteful or comes across as flat, as they each bring an intoxicating and down to earth atmosphere and overall entertaining dynamic with their interactions. The cast always aim to provide differing viewpoints and details of the anime industry that helps build upon the subject matter and themes that it lays its foundation on.

But there's also a more personal story to take away from Shirobako. It isn't just some animated documentary on the anime industry, but rather a compelling character drama that focuses on the hardships of adult life and the struggle of a career in the fine arts. Some characters struggle to make ends meet, some have their aspirations crushed, some never get the break they deserve, some get stuck in the frenetic and tiring productions and lose purpose, some have their own vision compromised, and some just give it all up. While it's not afraid to show the reality of the world, it still maintains a nice, lightheartened tone through its humor and exaggeration. This helps give the series a positive, optimistic and genuine feel to it as it never leaves a certain comfort zone of its subjects to make sure it doesn't get too dark. However, it still manages to give the viewer a general idea of the hectic work they deal with while also driving their own development. It's all there to reinforce the central themes of the series, and feels absolutely relatable and believable in its manner.

The animation, art, and sound in general are good, if not great. PA Works once again has the usual efficiency in producing stunning backgrounds, and aims to provide a realistic look to reinforce the backdrop of the show. Animation isn't particularly groundbreaking, but always feels consistent and fluid, never exceeding more than it wants to convey. The overall character design have a rather charming and vibrant feel to them, trying to balance out a memorable and colorful design while adhering to a realistic tone. Soundtrack is simple, catchy, and never feels out of place as it skillfully matches a certain tone it sets in. And finally, the outstanding VA cast comprised of newcomers and professionals help bring their performances to life with a believable and exhilirating spirit to the characters.

Shirobako feels like a love letter to the anime industry and it shows. From the bustling and frenetic take on what goes on production, the feelings and dreams of the people who work in it, and the love and care for such a niche industry despite the madness that comes with it. Thus, Shirobako's beauty resides in the nature of the industry, not only because of its heartfelt subject matter, but also because of how genuine and relatable it is.

katrina.gutkowski - 2015-03-22 03:44:53

This series surprised me i thought it was going to be bad, but it was way better than i expected, If you want a slice of life without high school scenery and if u r interested in how anime is made then this series is for u. My advice give this series a chance up till episode five then form your opinion. I definitely recommend this series, it gets better and better each episode.

trutherford - 2015-03-20 22:59:33

I was not expecting this series to be this enjoyable. 
The story is about real work in an animation industry and all sorts of realistic problems happen that affect the five main girls. 

The series does not just focus on the five girls, but on other many characters involved in the industry. Apparently, the real industry is much busier and harsher than it is shown in the anime, which is shocking.

gudrun49 - 2015-01-06 16:54:10

I have found this show to be well put together and so far enjoyable at the halfway point as I feel have established a real, personal connection with it.I'm not sure if it's the realistic setting and story or if it just emulates my own personal struggle to progress further in life towards a professional goal or lack of one thereof.

While there are many characters within the show, I feel that most of them have been given a pretty good back story and fleshed out to where there are few (if any at all) that "hang in the shadows," so to speak. I really feel a connection and identify with both Aoi and Misa in their struggles to develop and identify a skill or endpoint to which to they wish to arrive at. The character are very real, IMO and the viewer sees all of their struggles as well as triumphs when it comes to dealing with intense production schedules as well as the high barrier for entry of other facets in the animation industry.

The show's setting is very based in reality and quite frankly, could have been done as a live-action show as there is not many elements that require that it be done in the anime medium. Though, I'm glad it is as it looks great and the whole "producing an anime about an anime production company" has a nice fourth wall kind of feel. The series also has a few good self-aware moments as well as references or cameos from real life anime icons and personalities.

Looking forward to the second season and seeing how the cast furthers themselves.

fritsch.cassandre - 2014-11-10 02:23:12

While I can't say that I'm a huge fan of this show, it has a different premise than most of the stuff I usually see. I would really only recommend this if you're curious about what it's like to work in the animation industry (and even that is more than likely an exaggeration). It does a good job conveying the stress of working on a time crunch as well as making seemingly relatable and realistic co-workers, but again I can't help but think this would only be enjoyed by a niche audience.