Although the title of Takeru Shinozuka’s animated short, Foxing Kitsuné-Tsuki, seems deceptive, that’s because this creature can be deceptively sinister or be a true trickster at heart. But that depends on which cultural lens this member of the canine family is viewed from. For this animator turned first-time director, the story he tells about life at an animation studio looks authentic; from being told what to do despite objection to having creative burnout, these pressures are real!
That’s what this work really focuses on. By the time Shinano (Wataya Miho) comes home, she can’t do anything without repeating sensei’s wax-on, wax-off training. The muscle memory is there, but not the spark. Koyami (uncredited online) is the trickster spirit who keeps saying, “Draw me instead. I need more expression.” But for this woman, she’s ready to call it quits! And her story about thinking she’s been possessed by a fox spirit is not traditionally recognized.
In traditional lore, they are either trickster or protective spirits. It’s an either-or situation. Here, what’s being goaded on is concern for this protagonist’s well-being. Whether this entity is a product of the artist’s imagination is unknown. Although slightly cruel, she’s no Fox Demon from the White Snake movies, designed from a Chinese cultural view rather than a Japanese one.
As Shinano gets overwhelmed by the world, she slips into depression and believes nobody can help. As the characters she designed literally come alive around her, nobody sees it! Those creations are a wonder to behold, and if they ever become part of some future anime, I wanna see it!
From happy Hello Kitty sketches to rather dark monsters, Shinozuka charts the feelings that the fictional self must be experiencing. The symbolism is there. The question of how the character is dealing with her depression is deep, and as for whether she’s willing to draw, I suspect she can. She really wants to, hence having a pen with her at all times.
As for whether that’s a stylus or a proper illustration tool can be subject to debate. I had to smile at how Shinozuka wants to edit nearly everything she sees, and if I understand this emotional discourse right, there are days when I wish for a do-over too!
The key takeaway here is accepting the flaws and knowing criticism must go hand in hand with that acceptance. As for what the Fox Spirit represents, it depends on whether the folklore really matters. here, it seems to lean on the why the Kitsune is a protective force more so than anything else. Without it, the idea of casting away masks doesn’t really land as well. And when the little spirit seems powerless without that, she’s just as helpless as the protagonist.
As a result, I have more respect for each person in the production chain who helps make an animated film or television series come alive. It’s about the effort made to ensure each character is as lively as Koyami. In the end, we can cheer, and that’s enough to show even sadness can be defeated.
4 Stars out of 5
Foxing Kitsuné-Tsuki Trailer
