Ultraviolet: Code 044

Akio Sugino is hailed as one of the most prominent animation directors and character designers in the industry, known in Japan as one half of anime's "golden combo" alongside Osamu Dezaki. Their frequent collaborations led to many of the early defining works in the medium, and are iconic masterpieces that have significantly held up over time. Sugino's output was integral to legitimizing anime as an art form and turning itself more distinct from Western animation, evolving and reimagining his Mushi Pro, Tezuka-inspired roots.

Sugino's character art replicates Greek sculptures of the old, appropriating its design philosophy to Japanese animation by paying heed to anatomical correctness. Sugino's characters have imposing presences that are accentuated by their long limbs, broad shoulders, and chiseled facial features. Upon seeing a Sugino-designed character you are immediately given the impression of a walking legend, an almost mythical feeling to their appearance on the screen.

This interest stack tracks down his iconic career and features a selection of his most valuable contributions as a character designer. Works are in chronological order.

Additional Sugino sources:
A 6-part interview that focuses on his career: https://karageko.com/2019/07/14/the-other-half-of-the-golden-combo-akio-sugino-interview-mushi-production-era-part-1/
A shorter interview that also talks about Dezaki: https://karageko.com/2022/02/16/akio-suginos-brief-reflections-on-a-long-career/

Series that utilize philosophical approach when it comes to their portrayal of society. Usually featuring "outsider" perspective as a main vehicle for the exploration of the "society" and the philosophy.

Essentially a character that acts outside of the "society", that is at focus of the series, as far as the philosophy of the character goes when it comes to approaching the society. This role can also be called as the "observer". A role that acts as a tool for the audience to be able to gain understanding of the contrast of the philosophies of the "observer" and the supposed "society".

This approach enables that the audience is able to experience the contrast of these two philosophical approaches when it comes to the society and is able to experience often both sides the "observer" and the supposed "society" that is approached through the eyes of the "observer".

These series often also propose an alternative approach to the philosophy that is in contrast with the approach of the "observer" and present us an alternative way of seeing the "observer" through the eyes of the supposed "society"

Osamu Dezaki was a Japanese anime director.

Dezaki started out as a manga artist while still in high school. In 1963 he joined Mushi Production, which was founded by manga and anime pioneer Osamu Tezuka. He made his debut as a director in 1970 with Ashita no Joe.

Dezaki was known for his distinct visual style, which makes use of split screen, stark lighting, extensive use of dutch angle, and pastel freeze frames that he called "postcard memories", which may be his most famous trademark. They feature a process whereby the screen fades into a detailed "painting" of the simpler original animation. Many of his techniques became popular and came to be seen as special techniques of Japanese animation. He particularly influenced Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Yoshiyuki Tomino, Ryūtarō Nakamura, Kunihiko Ikuhara, Akiyuki Shinbo, and Yutaka Yamamoto.

Collection of series that focus on a professional on their field doing their work.

A stint of anime which aired briefly on IFC, Fuse, TechTV, G4, and Chiller. Ordered alphabetically by their English titles; the channels which aired them are also noted.