However none of them have even touched an instrument before. Their band starts off as a bass, another bass, and drums – a unique lineup indeed. The moment they played a note, they are overcome by a sensation like they have never felt before, and are fairly impressed by themselves. The day after they decide on their band name to be Kobujutsu (classical martial arts), they find out that the school already has a folk group named Kobijutsu (classical arts). Their sound and look definitely clash, but they hit it off after seeing each other play. And now they have their eyes set on entering an upcoming rock festival in August.
The original story comes from Hiroyuki Ohashi’s self-published cult manga, “ONGAKU.” This work which was deemed impossible to adapt to the big screen is a one-of-a-kind rock tale which has a strong following among many musicians and creators.
Director Kenji Iwaisawa took on the production of this primitively impulsive manga almost single-handedly. He used a technique called rotoscoping, which entails tracing animation over live footage. This extensive process of no compromise took over 7 years.
Over seven years in the making by one man, more than 40,000 illustrations total, all 71 minutes entirely hand-drawn… The trailer received more than 500,000 views within three days of posting. And the film received the Grand Prize for Feature Animation at the 2019 Ottawa International Animation Festival.
Kenji Iwaisawa was born on 4th of March 1981, in Fussa, Tokyo. After graduating from high school, studies under director Teruo Ishii. Whilst learning production techniques of live action films, begins making animations as well. Completes his first animation piece, “Man in the Tunnel Alley” in 2008. Continues making short films – mainly animations, and in 2012, begins production of feature length animation film “ON-GAKU: Our Sound.”
Filmography
