Certain anime studios—and even certain creators—have signature moves. Hallmarks or calling cards, if you will. Let’s have a look!
On Twitter (via Togetter), people were talking about famous poses and stylistic techniques in anime (and manga).
This article was originally published on June 5, 2015.
“Gainax Stance”
「礼号作戦」を実行せよ！セガプライズ鎮守府より、駆逐艦「清霜」が出撃!! #艦これ #kancolle #セガプライズ https://t.co/xAPn2rA5RR
完全にガイナ立ちじゃねえか！！！！(カッチョイイ！！！！！) pic.twitter.com/hFXe7VkwEK
— 長月次男坊 (@GCKmegane) July 12, 2017
Qの時にアスカのガイナ立ちイラストあったのは感動した記憶 pic.twitter.com/UfeOD5kL5i
— しょご@REALIZING HOPPER (@10shougo10) May 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/embed/status/859303753995833344
ルル子もそうだったけどガイナ立ちのチョイ見せは何なのww #LWA_jp pic.twitter.com/QQUqF7xkpL
— 平出工業-Danchi- (@type_43) May 7, 2017
In Japanese, this is “Gaina Dachi” (ガイナ立ち), and it refers to a pose that often appears in Gainax anime. In the Gainax Stance, the character stands with folded arms. It first appeared in Gainax’s 1988 anime Gunbuster, which was Hideaki Anno’s directorial debut. Anno would go on to create Neon Genesis Evangelion andpredict the death of anime.
“Shaft Angle”
シャフ度というのか pic.twitter.com/u6xdf2G9Ab
— あるみかん (@arumika_n) June 2, 2015
— Brian Ashcraft (@Brian_Ashcraft) June 16, 2017
In Japanese, this is “Shafuto Kakudo” (シャフト角度), which literally means “Shaft Angle.” But it’s also called other names like “Shafu do” (シャフ度) or “Shaf degree” (as in the degree of an angle). Many of the anime created by the studio Shaft feature characters tilting their heads in a similar angle.
“Dezaki Direction Style”
念願の「あしたのジョー２」を視聴開始📺
ジョーが美形！葉子が棒！西がだるま二郎！
いきなり出崎演出が炸裂してて色々新鮮で楽しめました😄 pic.twitter.com/gw3CQUvZTy— Eine＊9/27極彩パビリオン (@EineBlume70s) April 26, 2017
出崎演出かな？ #ガンプラビルドファイターズ pic.twitter.com/L74v5BuLf7
— だーびー (@DOWNBEAT217) November 11, 2013
https://twitter.com/embed/status/795632616028282880
Osamu Dezaki made his name directing the boxing anime Ashita no Joe. His signature style was using washed-out frames with light often streaming in that he called “postcard memories.” Newer anime continue to pay homage with this technique.
“The Minagawa Fade”
皆川フェード pic.twitter.com/55RkJwQK46
— めいでい (@ss_mayday) December 7, 2015
アリさんのこの写真、皆川フェードっぽいんだよなぁ… pic.twitter.com/NEq3cFfOmH
— 珍☆スポ太郎 (@tnsptru) July 9, 2017
皆川フェードする未来さん pic.twitter.com/PHTEMCyY44
— 村上ヒサシ (@M_hisashi) July 15, 2017
This is a stylistic technique of manga artist Ryoji Minagawa, which uses a film-style double processing shot (or multiple exposure). It’s very common in movies, and Minagawa’s use of it in manga is famous. Because of that, some fans even refer to its use in anime as a “Minagawa Fade.”
“Itano Circus”
Anime director Ichiro Itano is famous for his elaborate battle sequences, which unload a massive number of missiles in what fans call an “Itano Circus.”
“Yamada Mask”
"出崎演出"や"板野サーカス"等、演出家の名前から取った名称は様々あるが
京アニ山田尚子の手で口元を覆い隠す得意な演出を「山田マスク」と命名したい pic.twitter.com/DDEqlG30Bs— ( ｢・(ｪ)・)｢ (@rensou_hou) June 1, 2015
Kyoto Animation director Naoko Yamada often features characters covering their mouths.
“Yamada Hands”
"シャフ度"や"サンライズ立ち"等 製作会社によって色んな演出名称があるが
京アニ山田尚子の得意な演出を「山田パー」と命名したい#anime_eupho #響けユーフォニアム pic.twitter.com/uGgELE8VYX— ( ｢・(ｪ)・)｢ (@rensou_hou) May 27, 2015
This is another common visual trope Yamada uses in her anime. In Japanese, this is now being called “Yamada paa” (山田パー), with “paa” referring to “open hands.” In Rock-paper-scissors, “paa” (パー) is the gesture for “paper.”
“Sunrise Stance”
Sunrise, of course, is famous for the Mobile Suit Gundam anime. The “Sunrise Stance” might be one of anime’s most famous trademark poses and has been copied (or parodied) by many other anime studios. Click on the corner of the above image to expand to full size.
“Seed Pose”
種ポーズ入れとけばどうにかなったんや(暴論 pic.twitter.com/TJyxUvobJq
— 葡萄鯵 (@budouazi) June 20, 2017
轟雷で種ポーズ的な何か。武器はリボルテック ソルティックH8 ラウンドフェンサー コーチマSPからリニアガンを借りてきました #キューポッシュ pic.twitter.com/nGIimAFYiN
— ぬがー (@satoutsubo) April 25, 2017
いやー、しかしハイブロウは色も相まって種ポーズがよく似合うw pic.twitter.com/TGQOVv32fA
— MKstsk (@MKstsk) November 26, 2016
In Japanese, this is called “tane pose” (種ポーズ or tane poozu), with “tane” literally meaning “seed.” Many of the poses in Gundam have names (some are named after mecha designers, for example). This one is popular among Gundam model fans and figure collectors.
Feel free to add more in the comments below!
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