LogInThis may be the finest example of rotoscoping you'll ever see.
Based on Takashi Imashiro's manga of the same name, Ghost Cat Anzu is a 2D animated film directed by Yōko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita that debuted successfully at the Cannes Film Festival in May.
The animated feature was shot with the rotoscope technique, which involves animators drawing over live-action footage. If what you see in the videos seems different from what you expected of rotoscoping, that's understandable, as the technique is often misunderstood and has never been a uniform method.
Animator Jordan Bayes, who contributed to One Piece and Vinland Saga and worked on 22 seconds of the film, also commented on its rotoscoping, noting that it was different from simply drawing from a reference:
Have a look at some more comparisons shared by TOHO Animation and Catsuka:
Ghost Cat Anzu follows the story of Karin, a young girl who meets Anzu, a cat who walks and talks like a human. As Karin and Anzu form a close bond, they embark on a journey to Tokyo, searching for Karin's father.
With the film premiering in French cinemas today, let's hope for more overseas releases to follow soon. Also, join our 80 Level Talent platform and our Telegram channel, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Reddit, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.