How much information have you gathered about the original anime series "Ghost Deco," which will begin airing in July 2022? This is a brand new animation by Science SARU, the studio that rose to fame with "Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!", and it's a highly anticipated work. However, since there is no original work, there's still a lot we don't know about the setting and story. So, in this article, we'll be introducing the setting that has been revealed, and above all, the information that has been revealed so far about "Tom Sawyer Island," the setting of the series, as well as the appeal of "Tom Sawyer Island" that can be inferred from that information!
What is Tom Sawyer Island?
So, what exactly is Tom Sawyer Island, the setting of the film "Yurei Deko"? We'll speculate based on currently known information.
Let's start with the setting!
While much remains unknown about Tom Sawyer Island, it's undoubtedly the setting for the story that reveals more information about it than other settings. This is perhaps the most important clue for figuring out the story's plot.
Let's analyze Tom Sawyer Island through the promotional video!
In particular, a great deal of information about Tom Sawyer Island has been released in the PV, allowing anyone to easily experience the atmosphere of the island, the setting of the series. By reading the PV and this article together, you will be able to learn more about Tom Sawyer Island, the setting of the series.
The Origin of Tom Sawyer Island
First of all, what kind of place is Tom Sawyer Island? From here, I would like to explain the origin of Tom Sawyer Island, which appears in this work. Tom Sawyer Island itself is a location that appears in very well-known works, so many readers may have already come across Tom Sawyer Island outside of this work.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
For many readers, the first thing that comes to mind when they hear "Tom Sawyer Island" is the wildly popular American children's book "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." In fact, the "Tom Sawyer" in "Tom Sawyer Island" is named after the protagonist, Tom Sawyer (commonly known as "Tom").
Adventure Story
"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" is such a popular adventure story that it has even been the subject of a Japanese animation. It's a well-known American children's work, rivaling "The Wizard of Oz."
It's even at Disneyland!
If you'd like to experience the atmosphere of "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," check out the "Tom Sawyer Island" at Disneyland, just like the one featured in the film. You'll quickly get a feel for the atmosphere of the original Tom Sawyer Island, the inspiration for the "Tom Sawyer Island" featured in the film.
Digging deeper into the unusual expressions on Tom Sawyer Island!
Now, I'd like to introduce some of the unusual and interesting aspects of Tom Sawyer Island in this work. While this is true for the entire work, the setting of this work, Tom Sawyer Island, is particularly notable for its slightly unusual depictions, so I'd like to take a closer look at it.
Unique Color Scheme
The first thing you'll notice when watching this film is its unique color scheme. The story is set on Tom Sawyer Island, a digital virtual world, and the setting is primarily a cyberspace, not the real world. As a result, the color scheme is somewhat unrealistic, very flashy, and somehow eye-catching.
Similarities with Mamoru Hosoda's "Summer Wars"
The highly contrasting color schemes used in Tom Sawyer Island's cyberspace make this a unique expression. However, depicting cyberspace with a unique touch has actually been attempted for quite some time. Among the many works depicting cyberspace, Mamoru Hosoda's "Summer Wars," released in 2009, is a work that, like this work, depicts the cyberspace with a unique color scheme.
Expressing the Cyber World
Both OZ in "Summer Wars" and Tom Sawyer Island in "Yurei Deko" share a common theme: they challenge themselves to see how far they can visually express an otherworldly world that is vastly different from the real world we live in. The film's Tom Sawyer Island also uses a colorful and mysterious color scheme, aiming for a contrast with the real world.
Exploring the Origins of Tom Sawyer Island
So, where does the unique, three-dimensional, colorful worldview exemplified by "Summer Wars" and "Yurei Deco" come from? From here, I would like to explore the origins of the worldview of Tom Sawyer Island, the setting of this work, even before "Summer Wars."
Works by Takashi Murakami
Takashi Murakami, a world-renowned Japanese artist, is a key figure who has had a major influence on the unique color schemes used in recent anime works, such as Tom Sawyer Island. He has created numerous works of art utilizing unique color schemes, and his artwork has received acclaim overseas.
Turning Japanese Anime into Pop Art
Why is Takashi Murakami's work the key to understanding the color scheme of Tom Sawyer Island? The answer is that Murakami's work is heavily inspired by the color sense of Japanese anime. In other words, his work can be said to be the result of rewriting Japanese anime from a more artistic perspective and then remaking it in a more colorful way.
Japanese Anime as Pop Art
As such, Japanese animation in recent years has come to possess qualities not just of anime but also of art, as was the case with Murakami's works. While we often see news reports of numerous anime works winning international awards, overseas, Japanese anime is also recognized as cutting-edge works of art that are enjoyed not just for their storytelling, but for their color schemes and sense.
The Otherness of the Cyber World and the Color Schemes of Japanese Anime
In recent years, his unique color sense has been re-imported into the anime industry, influencing the color schemes used to depict unrealistic scenes, such as Tom Sawyer Island in this work and OZ in Summer Wars. The colorful and mysterious color schemes of Murakami's works and the detached world of the cyber world are a perfect match, and this Murakami-esque worldview is depicted as the cyber world in many works, including Tom Sawyer Island in this work.
Where did the stereotype that the "cyber world is colorful" come from?
So, where did the stereotype that the "cyberworld" in anime should be colorful come from? I believe this image of the cyberworld originates from the original science fiction work, "Blade Runner."
The Impact of Blade Runner on the World
Blade Runner also depicts a cybernetic near future, but it is depicted in an extremely colorful worldview. Because Blade Runner is a live-action film, it is not possible to use the same kind of hand-drawn effects as in anime. However, by depicting skyscrapers emitting colorful light in puddles, it creates a fantastical worldview. This style of expression was extremely vibrant for its time. Blade Runner's depiction of the near future would later have a major influence on creators around the world.
Blade Runner x Takashi Murakami x Anime
The appeal of this "Ghost Deco" film lies in its skillful blend of the worldview of "Blade Runner," depicting a "colorful, somewhat fantastical near future," and the more pop-artistic palette of Takashi Murakami's work.
The "Blade Runner flavor" can be felt in other works as well.
Tracing its origins, the Tom Sawyer Island-like worldview of this film reveals a strong influence from the classic sci-fi film "Blade Runner." However, this film isn't the only one influenced by "Blade Runner." It has influenced the worldview of sci-fi works from around the world, including the aforementioned "Summer Wars." Truly, "Blade Runner" can be said to be a textbook for all aspects of sci-fi expression.
Tom Sawyer Island and the History of Science Fiction
As you can see, even just looking at Tom Sawyer Island, the setting of this work, we can see the influence of contemporary pop art and famous Hollywood films. This work's depiction of a mysterious and nostalgic future, like Tom Sawyer Island, is a fascinating look into the history of science fiction. It will be exciting to see what new approaches to depicting the near future this work will offer us.
Summary
What did you think? This time, we've explained Tom Sawyer Island, the setting of "Yurei Deko." With the name taken from a famous American children's book and the worldviews of numerous science fiction works woven into each and every depiction, it's safe to say that this is a very thought-provoking setting. Beyond Tom Sawyer Island, the film also hints at many settings that will impress sci-fi fans, so readers who enjoy science fiction should definitely look forward to this work!
