#REVIEW | The Plight of the Artist (Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken)

    In just the span of twelve episodes, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken propelled itself to the top of my list of favorite animes. The premise of the show is simple enough, three girls form their own club and create animation. However, its execution elevates the plot into a profound commentary about what it's like to be an artist and content creator.

At first glance

    I first encountered Eizouken through its trailer back in January. The unique character designs already caught my eye, especially Kanamori's (more on her later)! From visuals alone, so much about the main trio's personalities were already shown. Combined with the voice acting, Eizouken set itself apart from other animes in the high school genre. But, it's important to note that Eizouken does not coast off uniqueness alone.

Walking the tightrope

    As a whole, Eizouken shows that animation (and art as a career in general) is a balancing act. The show opens with Asakusa watching Future Boy Conan, which catalyzes her love for creating art and fictional worlds. It’s a familiar backstory, every content creator has a specific material that pushed them towards their chosen medium. The first few episodes follow through with the sincere wonder in the eyes of young Asakusa. Along with fellow artist Mizusaki and money-oriented Kanamori, the trio decide to form an animation production club. In the beginning, the excitement towards the prospect of creating anime is palpable, especially in the two artists. There are initial obstacles at first, such as the substandard club room. It doesn’t put a damper on their mood though, and they even go as far to make a logo. 

    However, when the club starts producing their first short film, reality kicks in. Time constraints force the girls to take shortcuts. This naturally upsets Asakusa and Mizusaki, both girls wanting to take time to create a good output. But, the logistics aren’t in their favor, and Kanamori makes that clear to them. The physical toll of working under a tight deadline shows, right up to the sleeping in the workplace. Following the idealistic opening episodes, this sequence was harsh but necessary. It’s a direct metaphor to Japan’s animation industry, notorious for undercompensating its workers. The girls constantly have to compromise between indulging in one’s creative desires and the need for a decent output by a certain time.

    Despite this, the show never takes an overtly cynical tone and we see why in the premiere of their short film. There is so much dynamic and energy in the film, to the point that it seems to integrate into real life. It’s hard to explain just how good it is through words alone, but it’s obvious how much the film moved the audience. During episodes 3 and 4, we find ourselves asking “why would they willingly work in conditions like these?”. The student council meeting presents their answers. Whether its in the sense of accomplishment, or the emotions one is able to incite in its audience, the genuine passion one feels for creation fuels them. 

    As we progress through the show, the trio still encounter logistical obstacles. We also get a discussion regarding properly compensating artists. This happens when the school doesn’t allow the trio to profit from an original short film, a metaphor for artists only being granted “exposure” instead of material payment. 

    It’s clear that Eizouken is a reflection of what its own creators go through, as said by Eunyong Choi. And it makes it all the more endearing to see what really is at the core of Eizouken, which is genuine love and passion for what they do. 

Why it’s worth the watch

    All in all, Eizouken is a love letter to animation. It shows the experiences animators go through, good and bad, and what drives them. A lot of information about the medium is also presented, which makes you appreciate and understand the effort they put into their craft.

    That said, Eizouken isn’t for animation fanatics alone. As a writer (and someone who’s been struggling with a slump), watching Eizouken was akin to revisiting an old friend. The show reminds you what it’s like to look at the world through wonder-infused eyes. Asakusa creating fictional worlds from even the most of mundane things reminds me of how I used to be when I was a kid. As we grow older and take on more responsibilities, there’s an increasing struggle to indulge in our imagination and creative side. Eizouken allows itself to take this idealist and optimistic point of view by balancing it out with the obstacles the characters face.