This winter, expect to see the Japanese population in online worlds multiply as some of the country's greatest animators collaborate on projects to create virtual Tokyos that combine anime-grade visuals, creative freedom, and virtual real estate.
Here's what we know so far:
Studio 4°C—a collaboration of the genius minds behind classics like My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service—is designing a world called "Cyber Megacity: Tokyo's 0th Ward." The press release promises many surprises ahead as the best animators in the world experiment with new media.
Production I.G. (Ghost in the Shell) and Studio Pierrot (Naruto) are collaborating with gaming companies and news organizations to create "meet me," a metaverse catered specifically toward a Japanese audience. Smart idea—if you know anything about the conception of user-friendly in Japan vs. the US, it's totally different. Plus, with the kinds of creative minds working on this thing, meet-me could just kick Second Life out of cyberspace.
I'll keep you guys posted as I find out more.
Anime News Network (via Jean Snow)
I like this idea. But nothing beats the real Tokyo :)
Posted by: PapiGiulio | June 07, 2007 at 06:14 AM
It sounds like that sony's home project except a lot less advertising.
Posted by: Dragonfang18 | June 07, 2007 at 11:33 AM
I thought that it was Studio Ghibli who made Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service.
x.x
Posted by: Joey_v | June 07, 2007 at 12:47 PM
Hi Joey v,
Yep, some of the peeps that worked on Totoro and Kiki at Ghibli are now at Studio 4C.
Posted by: Lisa | June 08, 2007 at 01:27 AM