Is your dad doing okay?
Things seem to have settled down a bit.
Are you doing okay, Myamori?
Yano-san, please be the production desk instead of me.
Why?
A newbie like me should never
have been the production desk.
Everything that's gone wrong is my fault.
It's because I didn't have the ability to deal with it.
Myamori, go home for the day.
Huh? But nothing's been solved yet.
Nothing's going to come of you trying to tough it out tonight.
More importantly, you look awful.
Huh?!
You haven't been sleeping lately, have you?
Here. A gift.
Listen. Just take care of the emergency contacts, then go home and sleep properly.
Then come back to the office tomorrow morning, full of energy.
That's an order from your senpai.
Okay...
It smells so good.
You can't sleep! You need to think of a counterplan!
But Senpai said to sleep...
Nope! They say don't drink and drive, and don't sleep after eating.
That makes no sense, Mimuji...
Did You Catch Any?
All right.
Good morning!
Morning, Myamori.
Yano-san, did you spend the night?
No, I went home.
I contacted all of the episode directors I could think of,
but they're all busy.
Right now, there aren't very many episode directors we can find
who we can trust to do a good job.
Yes, I figured that'd be the case...
There are still a lot of people I haven't contacted, so I'll keep at it.
Thank you very much!
Um...
Did the candle work?
Yes! I slept very well.
Yano-san, who has been on leave, will be resuming work as of today.
It's a pleasure to work with all of you again.
Do your best.
Her teams will be selected and contacted later.
And that's everything that happened up until yesterday.
Hmm... Looks like you've got a lot of problems.
Well, I'll do something about the sound.
If you can't get a hold of Ookura-san
after chasing him through the week, we'll rethink things.
Right.
Um, are we the ones who
have to do something about Titanic?
As long as they have accepted this job, I think it's only natural,
as professionals, that they finish it.
Hmm...
Miyamori, what's the schedule we asked Titanic to follow?
In our original agreement, the key animation should have
started for episode five at the end of June.
As it stands, we're about a month behind.
But that was due to the author asking for corrections.
Our company should not be held responsible.
That's actually our own problem,
and it doesn't matter in the big picture.
It actually just ends up seeming like we're
forcing a ridiculous schedule on the other companies.
But...
From Titanic's point of view, the work didn't come in when they had scheduled it,
but was pushed in at a harder time.
You understand, don't you, Miyamori?
Yes. I'm sorry.
This is where you say you ran out of ideas, right?
Takanashi-san, you never say anything useful, do you?
You know it.
Should I step in as help for episode five and go to Titanic?
Yeah, that's probably what's best for now.
I'll go talk to the president of Titanic about the issue.
I'm counting on you, Yano.
Right.
Fried chicken...
Ah, Director!
Oh, Yano-san! Long time, no see!
Did you gain weight, Director?
I lost 200 grams! Look harder!
There's no way I could notice 200 grams.
So, Director, in regards to the episode director who ran away from episode five...
Hm?
I'm thinking about asking him to take his place.
Him?
The Bearded Hermit.
What? Really? I mean, if he'll do it, it'd be great,
but I doubt you'll catch him.
I'm going to catch him.
Hiraoka-san!
I don't know where Titanic is, so will you come with me?
What? Don't you have a map?
You're the one who introduced them to us, right?
Oh, then I'll—
You're the production desk, Myamori.
You're called that because you're at a desk.
Right, Hiraoka-san?
Well, I was headed that way anyway, so all right.
Thanks! That'll help me out a lot.
What? Is there something going on with those two?
Aria A very sour face
A sour face Make it realistic, but somewhat comical. But make sure you include beauty, moe, and cuteness.
S-Sour!
Long time, no see. How many offices now, counting ours?
Five.
I never thought you'd actually come here.
Well? Are you comfortable?
Not really.
Of course not.
Didn't you think something terrible would happen by introducing to Titanic to us?
I'm not in charge.
It's because of that attitude that you butt heads with everyone.
That's why you quit the last place, isn't it?
Enough about me. I swear...
You came back earlier than I expected.
Well, yeah.
Working with anime is truly mysterious.
The longer you're away from it, the more you want to come back.
Musashino Animation
Everyone who's come back seems to say the same thing.
What do you think about Myamori?
Total newbie. She doesn't know what she's doing. Way too serious.
Well, she's only been with the company a year and a half.
She's still dreaming about this job.
Yeah.
I woke up from that dream after less than a year in the field.
They pop up every now and then.
People who don't wake up from the dream even after tens of years.
Yeah, incorrigbly.
I love people like that.
I hate them.
I'm sure you do.
Good morning!
Huh? Hiraoka-chan and... who?
I'm Yano from Musani! I've come to help out with episode five, starting today.
Are there any empty desks?
Oh. How about right here?
Is this computer plugged in?
Wait! Why is someone from Musani here, Hiraoka-chan?!
Apparently, because you're useless, Mimura-kun.
Seriously?!
Just kidding.
We talked to your president, and it was decided that we'd help out with episode five.
I didn't hear anything about that!
How do I log in to the office's Internet?
Ah, wait! I'll do it!
Well, I've got my own plans, so...
Ah, Hiraoka-chan!
Hiraoka-kun.
Hm?
Look after Myamori for me.
So, give me a situation report on episode five.
What? We didn't make one.
Well, then, I'll make one.
What a pain.
Iketani Hiroshi Episode Director
Did you catch any?
Not at all.
I'm starting to think there aren't any fish here.
It's been a while.
How'd you know I'd be here?
I had a hunch.
Not sure if I like that hunch.
Before I entered this business,
I thought it was only natural for adults to work properly.
There are a lot of different kinds of people in this world.
I couldn't believe there were so many adults
running away from their jobs.
People don't live for their jobs.
Are you making enough of a living?
Nope.
I have a job for you.
I don't feel like it.
Then what do you feel like?
I want to take a trip, but I don't have any money. So I'm doing this.
Then please work. We need you, Iketani-san.
Director Kinoshita said hello.
Iketani-sama "Third Aerial Girls Squad" storyboards and setting Musashino Animation Yano
I'll set up a meeting tonight.
Huh?
Ah...
We don't even know when episode five is going to be done?
I'm sorry. We always trouble you so much.
Well, I can see an end in sight with the character work,
so as long as things keep moving, I can figure it out.
Yes! I'll bring them to you as soon as they're done.
I'll do my best not to bring too many at once.
Ah, Miyamori-san.
There's somewhere I'd like you to go with me.
Me?
Yes, please.
But right now, Satou-san's the only—
Satou-san, you can handle the phone, can't you?
It'll just be about an hour.
Understood.
All right, it's settled. Will you bring around the car?
Musashino Pictures
It's a bit run-down, isn't it? I wanted to look for something here.
What does this place have to do with our office?
Kodaira Film Developing
Musashino Pictures went bankrupt years ago.
We're currently running it to use it as storage.
Let's Win It Base Up!
I see...
After Musashino Pictures went bankrupt,
many of the staff members went off on their own and made their own companies.
Ours would be one of them.
I thought it was a completely separate company.
Most of the staff back then came to our company,
and I was one of them.
It's just like how it used to be.
The cut bag is so heavy!
It's full of cels.
Musashino Pictures
Oh, you're right!
Back then, all anime was done by
painting colors onto cels.
Hey! It's Huge Melon Story.
Huh?
Is this...
What is this?
That's Chucky.
What?! Chucky?
Andes Chucky was made by Musashino Pictures?
That's right.
You're right! It's Chucky and Poppy!
After a long period of time, the carbon can start to fade.
Paint and background surprisingly seem to keep for quite a while.
However, the cut bag is heavy,
and paint needs time to dry.
If you don't handle them carefully, they get scratches,
which causes halation' while filming.
We've really come a long way since then.
Have we actually come a long way?
Hm?
Are we actually able to make really interesting anime right now?
Rather than making something interesting and fun,
the only things on my mind are the troubles right in front of me.
I can't think of a single idea to make a good story.
I can't help but think that those days,
when you were able to properly make a classic, were better.
It's not like everything went well when we were working on Chucky, either.
There was always trouble, and we never had time.
No, maybe I should say that we caused trouble ourselves...
But it was a lot of fun.
Hey, Desk! What are you doing?
Coming!
Huh? Huh?
Hey, Production Desk. What happened with tomorrow's meeting?
I'll check on it right now.
Tomorrow's first filming will be at 5:00 PM.
Got it!
Here's the retake on this.
All right, I'll switch them out now.
I'm heading off to filming now!
Oh, I just finished the in-betweens check, so could you deliver this to coloring?
This cel doesn't have the proper backing for the light.
That's your own fault!
I'm busy, too! Do it yourself!
Okay...
I think it's about done...
Marukawa Masato Production Desk
Sorry to keep you waiting. We've got some udon for a midnight snack.
Oh, is it that time already?
Morimiya Saburou Sugie Shigeru Director Character Design
All right, everyone. Let's eat.
It smells great.
So good!
Really calms me down.
Sorry you've had to stay overnight the last few nights.
Yeah, Marukawa isn't great at planning as the desk.
Sagamori Kouji Momose Isamu Art Director Color Coordination
You said it.
You guys are harsh.
Well, at least he makes good food.
That's even harsher, Director.
Here, Masato. I fixed Chucky's mom.
Oh, right.
This is it, Sugie-san! It's just how pictured it!
Well, I drew it just like you asked.
You're a production desk who'll complain to the character designer, huh, Masato?
When I read the scenario, the image came to my head.
I couldn't help but say what I thought.
Sugie was pretty mad at first,
but then that one girl from in-betweens mentioned something, so he changed his mind.
That's not true. I changed it because I thought the same.
Actually, about the same episode with the blizzard...
What now? The finishing? The backgrounds?
The backgrounds. For the blizzard scene...
How about something like this?
Oh? What's this? An art board?
Those colors...
I've never seen a blizzard colored like that.
Who painted this?
I did.
Stop lying! You can't draw.
Who drew this without permission?
It's colored totally differently from episode 38's blizzard!
I'm sorry. I drew it.
Ookura Masashiro Art
It's my fault. I asked him to do it.
For crying out loud. You always do such selfish things!
I've never heard of a production desk complaining to the art department.
He does complain about the character designs, too.
You're Ookura, who just started, right?
Yes.
Why'd you draw something like this?
Marukawa-san showed me the scenario,
and this blizzard scene just hit me,
so an image came to me.
Before I came here, I traveled around since I didn't have a job—
I don't want to hear about your life!
I'm sorry, but please listen to the end.
After eating ramen in Asahikawa, I almost died in this insane blizzard.
That was the blizzard that came to mind when I drew this.
You're being selfish.
So, let's put aside selfishness and pride.
What do you think, Sagamori?
That face again.
I'm sure you're all excited.
Yeah.
It makes me think we may have been too concerned
about fixed concepts, since it's a kids' show...
I wonder what kinds of characters we should add?
They can't be normal. I wonder which way it'll go.
So, what do you think?
Don't give me that! Your selfishness is
giving me more work to do. Damn it!
Wait! Does that mean...
Masato, we're going to redo it to match this scene that you brought us.
Hey, Ookura. Want some udon?
Yes, please.
All right. We're going to redo
the whole blizzard scene, starting right now.
Sugie-chan, Momose, you're staying behind with me. Sagamori, you, too.
Yeah, I know. Ookura!
You're staying until morning, too.
Right.
Masato, more udon.
Sure! One hot bowl coming up!
We can't keep going. Let's go into that cave.
That blizzard is intense. I don't think we'll be able to go outside.
I guess we'll have to wait until the blizzard stops.
If we wait until it stops, Musashino Pictures might go bankrupt.
Yeah. Everyone knows business isn't going well for them.
When it goes bankrupt, I might go back to Komoro.
Are you planning to quit making anime?
My mom's not doing well.
I just hope I'll be able to find a job out there.
As long as you don't give up, I'm sure you'll find one.
Yeah, I'll do my best.
I just want to make anime backgrounds
that are more than usual backgrounds.
Something that'll shake the viewers' hearts.
Same here! Please make me your student.
Not happening.
Even if Musashino Pictures disappears,
I still want to continue making anime with everyone here.
And I'll make an anime that's even more amazing than the one we're making now.
As long as you're in, I'll follow you wherever you go.
I think I'll join you, too.
Sounds fun. Call me anytime.
Let's make a feature length anime someday.
Great idea! I'm going to hold you to that.
You betcha!
Yeah. Someday, the blizzard will stop,
and we'll be able to see the blue sky.
Hey, everyone!
It's Besobeso.
Everyone, the blizzard stopped!
Hey, everyone!
Besobeso!
Chucky!
All right, let's head back to our village.
Yeah!
Sorry to keep you waiting, Miyamori-san.
Ah, that picture...
It's a commemorative photo.
President Momose from Komoro Studio said
he and his wife would be coming by,
so it was decided that we should get the gang together again.
Then I remembered there was a picture.
There are so many amazing people in this picture.
Not really.
They all just kept doing
what they wanted to do, no matter what.
And then before we knew it, we were this age.
That's all.
It's really amazing.
I don't know if I should say I'm envious, or that it looked fun...
Say, Miyamori-san...
Yes?
How do you feel now?
Now...
I'm having fun.
Good.
I won't come in second to those old days.
I'm going to make an even more amazing anime
than the ones from that era.
Now that's the usual, cheerful Miyamori-san.
So sour!
One more time.
What? Seriously?
I'll die...
One more time!
Can we have plum bonito instead?!
Ema-senpai?
Huh? We've seen this before, haven't we?
Besobeso?
I'm sorry I tried to run away,
but my stomach really hurts. Can I go home for a bit?
What are you even saying at a time like this?
This is Iketani Hiroshi-san, who has agreed
to help out as episode five's episode director.
Pleasure.
It's been a while, Iketani-san.
How are you doing, Kinoshita-kun?
I'm getting by. You seem to be doing well, Iketani-san.
Hm?
Well, I mean, you actually showed up on time for a meeting.
8:30 PM was exactly on time?
Yes.
Ah.... Right.
Well then, let's begin.
Iketani
Third Aerial Girls Squad
I told him an hour earlier.
That's brilliant!
These are the main characters. These are episode five's characters.
These are the props. These are the art settings.
Here are some photo samples of the props,
and I went ahead and printed out all of the pictures from the location hunts.
Yes, this is Musani... Thanks for all your hard work.
Ookura-san came back?!
Ookura Studios
Pardon me.
Hey, been a while. Wait just one second.
Okay...
Ah! Were you out researching?
Yeah. There are some ruins
of an old factory a bit past Asahikawa.
It was perfect.
You went all the way to Asahikawa?!
I went other places, too. I hadn't gone in person for a while.
You did the blizzard scene in Andes Chucky, didn't you, Ookura-san?
Yeah. I'm surprised you know that.
I heard from the president.
In truth, it was mostly fixed by the art director, Sagamori-san,
and barely two thirds of what I did is left.
But since then, I became Sagamori-san's student.
He was truly amazing.
So you've been
doing this job for forty years...
I was just trying my hardest to do whatever was in front of me that looked fun.
I originally wanted to draw posters for movies.
But that didn't happen,
and before I knew it, I was working on anime.
Then, anime backgrounds became a lot of fun.
After I left Sagamori-san and became free,
that's when I was offered Neighborhood.
Have you heard of Neighborhood? Neighborhood Space Squad.
Yes, of course!
And before I knew it, forty years passed.
Life is truly strange.
You're just pressing forward, and yet you have so many encounters,
and after each one, you see a new world.
It's not like I knew where I was headed to begin with.
Before I knew it, I was standing right here. That's all.
Right...
Yeah...
I think I'm done.
What do you think?
It's amazing. So this is Aria's homeland...
I feel like I might start crying.
Go ahead and cry, Aoi-chan.
I'll let you borrow my shoulder.
No need.
Mountain Porcupine Andes Chucky
Hello. This is Ochiai of Studio Canaan.
Oh, it's you, Tarou.
Not happening. It's like the Battle of the Bulge over here.
I'll Do My Best, Mustang!
Next time on Shirobako: "I'll Do My Best, Mustang!"