In 2017, a short anime film called “HYPERSONIC music club” was produced in Japan. It was based on a webcomic I wrote and created in association with Japanese artist MITSUME.

The “HYPERSONIC music club” anime was directed and written by Osamu Kobayashi, a veteran of the industry who sadly passed away in April 2021.

For various reasons, this short anime was never released… until today!

Below, you will find the complete 7-minute short. In the future, I’m planning on posting more animation materials from “HYPERSONIC music club,” including original production art, sketches from Osamu Kobayashi, and my own thoughts and experiences of what it is like going through the anime production process in Japan.

In the meantime, let’s travel to the far, far future where a school full of music-loving young cyborgs collides with interdimensional demons in search of the Mystery Frequency. Enjoy!

And now, let’s take a closer look at the creative staff behind the “HYPERSONIC music club” anime…!

Osamu Kobayashi (1964-2021) was a truly remarkable individual, and I feel fortunate to have spent time with him while he worked on this anime. He was a young-at-heart music fanatic, which made him the perfect choice to adapt “HYPERSONIC” into what it became. His work ethic was also incredible. I vividly recall him showing us the complete storyboards for “HYPERSONIC” that he had completed in one marathon all-night session. The anime industry is much less enjoyable and vibrant now after his passing.

Aside from Osamu Kobayashi, I didn’t have the opportunity to meet the character designer, animation directors, or animators who worked on “HYPERSONIC”. They were fully immersed in their work on this project and others. However, it was a truly humbling experience to witness animation pencil sketches and character models of my characters created by the same talented individuals who had previously worked on anime classics such as “Spirited Away”, “Naruto”, and “Evangelion”.

Hiroyuki Mitsume Takahashi, also known as MITSUME, is one of my all-time favorite artists. His contribution to the original “HYPERSONIC music club” manga served as an excellent starting point for Osamu Kobayashi and his team. I am hopeful that more of MITSUME’s exceptional work will be adapted into anime in the future. In the meantime, I have had the privilege of collaborating with him on several occasions, including my short story titled “THERE’S NO MORE TOMORROW (TODAY)” and the cover design for my upcoming book “MONDO TOKYO.” Working with MITSUME has been a fantastic experience, and I look forward to more creative projects together.

Then there’s me! This pic shows off some of my work as a writer and editor, including my Japanese book “Otaku in USA,” my US book “Japanese Schoolgirl Inferno,” Otaku USA magazine (which I edit), and the PARK: Harajuku Crisis Team! light novel I wrote, which was adapted into the 2017 anime series “URAHARA”… but that is a tale for another time!

I hope you enjoyed the full reveal of the “HYPERSONIC music club” anime! It feels like a big weight off my shoulders knowing it’s finally out in the world!

Before we go, here’s a piece of key art personally drawn by Osamu Kobayashi for the production…