On Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, Studio 4°C, the renowned Japanese animation house behind Tekkonkinkreet and Children of the Sea, released their long-lost animated short film, Noiseman Sound Insect, on their YouTube channel. This 15-minute gem, featuring the talents of some of the most prolific anime creators of our time, has been unavailable in the West for over two decades. Whether you’re a seasoned anime fan or new to the genre, this is a must-watch for its uniqueness and artistic brilliance.

A Trippy and Ambitious Anime Short

Released in Japan in 1997, Noiseman Sound Insect takes place in a futuristic metropolis where a group of rebellious teens called “bikers” fight against the mind control of “Noiseman.” This synthetic life-form, created by a disgruntled scientist, can devour sound waves and transform them into crystals. The short stands out with its hybrid 2D-CGI animation style, which was cutting-edge at the time. After being unavailable outside of Japan for years, 4°C finally made it accessible to a global audience on their YouTube channel in HD.

However, the previous release lacked English subtitles, making it difficult for non-Japanese speakers to fully appreciate the dialogue and storyline. This time, 4°C has added English closed-captioned subtitles, allowing English-speaking audiences worldwide to experience and enjoy this rare short film without any language barrier.

An Iconic Collaboration of Anime Masters

Noiseman Sound Insect brings together some of the most iconic creators in modern anime, many of them before their breakthrough moments. Masaaki Yuasa, known for his work on Crayon Shin-chan and for directing acclaimed anime such as Devilman Crybaby and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken, contributed character designs and key animation for this short. Yoko Kanno, famous for composing the unforgettable jazz and rock-inspired score for Cowboy Bebop, crafted a surreal electronic breakbeat-inspired music score that is unlike anything else she’s known for.

The director of Noiseman Sound Insect is Koji Morimoto, the co-founder of Studio 4°C and an animation veteran. Morimoto’s previous works include key animation for the sci-fi epic Akira and directing the cult classic anime short “Magnetic Rose” in the anthology Memories. Morimoto’s avant-garde animation style, coupled with dark dystopian settings and psychedelic cyberpunk visuals, make this short film a true representation of his unique and defining qualities as a creator.

You can draw parallels between Noiseman Sound Insect and Morimoto’s later works, such as the anime short film “Beyond” in The Animatrix and the music video for Japanese DJ Ken Ishii’s single “Extra.” Morimoto’s creativity knows no bounds, and his boundary-pushing style shines through in this art piece.

An Injection of Pure Creativity

Watching Noiseman Sound Insect is like injecting pure, unadulterated creativity into your veins. It showcases the level of artistry and experimental spirit that reminds us why we fell in love with anime in the first place. It is the missing link in Studio 4°C’s filmography, foreshadowing the surreal, idiosyncratic, and genre-pushing animation that the studio would later be known for in Mind Game and Tekkonkinkreet.

Noiseman Sound Insect is available to stream on Studio 4°C’s YouTube channel until March 17. Whether you’re a fan of Tekkonkinkreet, Akira, or simply appreciate exceptional animation, don’t miss out on this mind-bending experience. Embrace the nostalgia and indulge your senses in this masterpiece of Japanese animation.

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