Based on the hit manga by Satoru Nii, Wind Breaker has stormed the anime world, surpassing all the expectations surrounding it. CloverWorks proved itself a masterful team, as they weaved action, drama, and suspense to unparalleled heights in this adaptation. However, in a surprising revelation, the producers of this anime disclosed a surprising influence behind its adaptation.
In a recent interview, they mentioned that works like Sailor Moon and Your Lie in April have heavily influenced the adaptation and direction of Wind Breaker. But how can shows like these, completely different from the targetted genre in Wind Breaker, help in this particular adaptation?
Anime Like Akebi’s Sailor Uniform & Your Lie In April Helped in The Creative Process of Wind Breaker
The creative brains behind the anime series Wind Breaker, including Yuichi Fukushima, Taishi Kawakami, and Toshikazu Tsuji from Studio CloverWorks, were interviewed at Anime Expo 2024. The interview gave some insight into the creative visions behind the anime, shedding light on how some of the most popular anime projects influenced the making of this adaptation.
Yuichi Fukushima, executive officer and animation producer at CloverWorks, revealed an interesting fact when asked whether his past projects had affected the Wind Breaker adaptation. He said he worked with Taishi Kawakami on Akebi’s Sailor Uniform, which really showcased Kawakami’s talent in designing unique characters. This landed him the character designer job for Wind Breaker.
I had previously worked together with Kawakami-san on Akebi’s Sailor Uniform. Through that experience, I was able to affirm that Kawakami-san could do so much, and I offered him the role of character designer for WIND BREAKER.
Fukushima further credits sound director Jin Aketagawa, whom he got to know while working on Your Lie in April. During that time, Aketagawa proved efficient in providing high-quality music even in a short period of time. Thus, he got the job of becoming the Sound Director in Wind Breaker.
Before, when I had worked on Your Lie in April, there were a lot of performance scenes and I didn’t know what I was going to do with them. That’s when I called Aketagawa-san, who would swoop in and bring it to completion.
By reconnecting with trusted companions and utilizing their individual strengths, the team successfully brought Wind Breaker to life. This unexpected approach by Studio Cloverworks underlined their industry experience and strategic teamwork. The interview offered a fascinating look at the behind-the-scenes dynamics that shaped this new Action-Shonen series.
Why Did CloverWorks Take on This Specific Project, Deviating from Their Usual Approach?
During the same interview, Fukushima explained how his team was initially drawn to this project, promising a possible crossing over from general streams of demographics. Since he had already worked on anime series with female protagonists, he was particularly interested in doing a project that was as exclusive as possible.
I didn’t want to go into WIND BREAKER by just saying, “This is an anime for boys!”
Fukushima clearly mentioned that he did not want Wind Breaker to be only “boys’ anime.” He wanted the story to connect with everyone. If the animation team could make the characters look relatable, they would be able to capture a much more extensive fan base, especially their existing female fans. This approach does highlight CloverWorks’ devotion toward blurring the lines of the genre and experimenting with various storytelling methods that will appeal better.
Wind Breaker season 1 is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
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