Food Animation | Japanese-Style 2D Animation | Making Of

Food Animation | Japanese-Style 2D Animation | Making Of

Anime　｜　2024

CompositingSound EffectEditing

Invited by Taiwanese illustrator Aliyo (艾莉柚), Late Studio took part in producing this 2D food animation short. The short was made using the production workflow of the Japanese anime industry, and it was also the very first project Late Studio took on after it was founded.

Late Studio mainly assisted with the post-production of the animation, including compositing, sound effects and editing.

Planning, Key Animation & Background: Aliyo (艾莉柚)
CUT1 Animation: 蕭偉呈
CUT2 Animation: 陳昇孟
CUT3 Animation: 黃翔麟
Compositing: Late Studio

Searing beef in a frying pan.
Searing beef in a frying pan.
Chopping green onions on a cutting board with a kitchen knife.
Chopping green onions on a cutting board with a kitchen knife.
Finally, an egg yolk goes on top to complete a delicious beef bowl!
Finally, an egg yolk goes on top to complete a delicious beef bowl!

Japanese Animation Production Process

From concept to completion, this Japanese-style animated short followed the production workflow of the Japanese anime industry. Let’s take a look at the process behind this food animation.

A 2D animation production flowchart, divided from top to bottom into pre-production, production and post-production.
A 2D animation production flowchart, divided from top to bottom into pre-production, production and post-production.

One part of pre-production is the storyboard. Below is the storyboard for this short, recording the composition, action and timing of each shot.

Food Animation | Japanese-Style 2D Animation | Making Of
Food Animation | Japanese-Style 2D Animation | Making Of

The following four images are the time sheets used during the production stage of this Japanese-style 2D animation. They record the drawing timing, the layering order of materials, compositing requirements and other information. Each shot has its own time sheet.

Food Animation | Japanese-Style 2D Animation | Making Of
Food Animation | Japanese-Style 2D Animation | Making Of
Food Animation | Japanese-Style 2D Animation | Making Of
Food Animation | Japanese-Style 2D Animation | Making Of

Post-Production of the Food Animation

Now for the final stage of the animation: post-production. Compositing brings together all the elements each shot needs and enhances the overall look. Late Studio also handled the sound effects for this project.

Effects are added where needed. In this shot, a layer of smoke was overlaid to enrich the cooking atmosphere.
Effects are added where needed. In this shot, a layer of smoke was overlaid to enrich the cooking atmosphere.
Japanese animation layer breakdown: searing beef.
Japanese animation layer breakdown: searing beef.
Compositing for the onion-chopping shot balanced the colors, added lighting and adjusted the depth between objects.
Compositing for the onion-chopping shot balanced the colors, added lighting and adjusted the depth between objects.
Japanese animation layer breakdown: chopping green onions.
Japanese animation layer breakdown: chopping green onions.
The final scene adds a zooming camera move, adjusts the colors and lighting, and gives the beef bowl a steaming-hot smoke effect.
The final scene adds a zooming camera move, adjusts the colors and lighting, and gives the beef bowl a steaming-hot smoke effect.
Japanese animation layer breakdown: adding the egg yolk.
Japanese animation layer breakdown: adding the egg yolk.
Food Animation | Japanese-Style 2D Animation | Making Of
Food Animation | Japanese-Style 2D Animation | Making Of

A Late Studio Production

Food Animation | Japanese-Style 2D Animation | Making Of

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