After a mesmerizing glimpse through the torii gate of the eponymous Garden in Azuki and Dentsu’s Enter the Garden: The Waiting Man, viewers grew more curious about how this collaborative anime project would grow. With incredible names attached like Gorō Taniguchi, acclaimed director of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, One Piece Film: Red, and the Planetes adaptation that recently joined Crunchyroll, millions of viewers were wondering when they’d get their next fix. Episode #2, titled Fractured Reflections, will expand Enter the Garden’s vision as shown by a new press release, including Azuki’s newly-released trailer.
With Taniguchi as the creative producer helming the project, Yukio Takatsu is tapped to direct Fractured Reflections after Junichi Yamamoto’s turn with The Waiting Man. Additionally, Taku Kishimoto will write for the series following his work on Haikyuu!! and Blue Lock, while Samurai Champloo character designer Kazuto Nakazawa will handle the character designs. In the spirit of a fully immersive and creatively unbound project, these impressive talents will work together to create the next storytelling experience in the Enter the Garden anime project.
Fractured Reflections Is the Next Step for Fans Transfixed by The Waiting Man
The Collaborative Project Continues to Grow Its Urban Fantasy Vibes
With the video for The Waiting Man gathering millions of views on YouTube and other streaming platforms, Enter the Garden seems to double down on its urban fantasy vibe, with Fractured Reflections expanding this universe. After introducing viewers to Haru and T.K., Fractured Reflections’ trailerbrings Shao to the Garden from her home in the Alley after her sister, Raizan, disappears. Picking up Raizan’s sword, Shao embarks on a journey to find her sister, instead discovering a torii gate like in The Waiting Man, promising a unifying theme of escapism across the worlds of Enter the Garden.
One of the most enticing elements of this episode of Enter the Garden is Yukio Takatsu’s participation, known for multiple opening animations across Naruto Shippuden but even more prominently for cases like Monogatari. Given the striking animation quality of anime openings as a special draw, this is a fascinating edge for Fractured Reflections and speaks to the horizontal production model, enabling similar levels of freedom across the Enter the Garden staff. But for viewers curious about more of Fractured Reflections, the series gives a passing glimpse at what’s to come.
Kazuto Nakazawa’s Character Designs Help New Enter the Garden Episode Stand Out
Key Visuals Show Striking Glimpse of the Mysterious Shao in the Alley
With previous work on Kill Bill’s The Origin of O-Ren Ishii under his belt, and frequent collaborations with Shinichirō Watanabe across Terror in Resonance and Samurai Champloo, Kazuto Nakazawa’s character designs for Enter the Garden are an enticing addition. While there’s not much shown, with multiple glimpses through the obscure fog, Shao’s character is a moody, mysterious swordfighter whose journey begins when she goes through the gate, much like Haru and T.K. It’s yet another video to captivate viewers’ attention before the inevitable next release.
With Azuki and Dentzu again joined by Qzil.la and IMAGICA Infos to create this follow-up to the Enter the Garden project, subscribers will surely keep their eyes peeled for new releases from the Azuki YouTube channel and beyond. In the interest of innovation through these projects, Azuki fosters a culture of collaborative creativity on all fronts of their projects.
Enter The Garden is produced by Azuki, Dentsu, Qzil.la and IMAGICA Infos.
Sources: Press Release, Azuki on YouTube