Jane Wu took a live action approach to planning the animated sequences in Blue Eye Samurai, resulting in visually captivating scenes.
Blue Eye Samurai combines Western and Eastern influences, blending a hybrid style that sets it apart from traditional anime.
Deep dives
Blue Eye Samurai: A Unique Animated Series
Blue Eye Samurai is a captivating animated series set in 17th century Japan. Mizu, the main character, is a samurai with blue eyes, born of mixed race. Mizu embarks on a quest to seek revenge on the four white men who had a hand in her creation. However, her motivations are complex and driven by self-hatred and internalized racism. Mizu faces additional challenges, including masquerading as a man in a society that restricts women's roles. The show's animation is stunning, resembling a painting come to life. It utilizes the latest technology to bring dynamic camera movements to the screen. Blue Eye Samurai was created by an American couple, Amber Noizumi and Michael Green, and was produced in France.
Director Jane Wu: Bridging Live Action and Animation
Jane Wu, the director of Blue Eye Samurai, brings a unique background to the show. With experience as both a fashion designer and a comic book store owner, she later transitioned into animation and live action storyboarding. She worked on high-profile projects like The Avengers and Game of Thrones, where she learned the importance of character-driven storytelling. Wu applies her cinematic knowledge to animation, using virtual cameras and lensing techniques to create visually captivating scenes. The characters in Blue Eye Samurai are stylized through 2.5D animation, resembling traditional hand-drawn animation. Wu emphasizes the importance of character diversity and accurate representations of Japanese culture in the show's design.
Choreography and Fight Sequences Grounded in Character
The fight scenes in Blue Eye Samurai are choreographed by Sunny, a skilled martial artist and fight choreographer. Jane Wu prioritizes character and story when crafting the fight sequences, ensuring that each action aligns with the emotional journey of the characters. Choreographing both large-scale and intimate battles, the team worked closely with stunt performers and martial artists to bring authenticity to the action. The show approaches violence and sex scenes with sensitivity, considering artist comfort and maintaining a purposeful point of view to avoid gratuitousness.
Blue Eye Samurai's Unique Approach to Animation
Blue Eye Samurai sets itself apart from traditional anime by embracing a hybrid style that blends Western and Eastern influences. The show's French animation studio lends a realistic yet fluid quality to the visuals. The character designs draw inspiration from Bunraku puppets, capturing their haunting movements and creating a stylized look. Attention to detail in costumes, historical accuracy, and character authenticity is a top priority. Blue Eye Samurai's focus on crafting a sophisticated story and delivering nuanced drama sets it apart in the animated landscape.
I was blown away by the Netflix animated series Blue Eye Samurai. I’m not alone, it has 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I was pleasantly surprised to discover the supervising director and producer of the show, Jane Wu, began her career as an animation storyboard artist. In fact, we were working at different animation studios at the same time in L.A. We talk about why she took a live action approach to planning animated sequences in Blue Eye Samurai, and how she wanted to represent Japanese culture in a way that’s never been done in Western animation. Jane also discusses how her background in martial arts and how her personal history helped her understand the main character Mizu, a woman with dual identities on a quest for revenge 17th century Japan.
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