TOEI ANIMATIONS: All the magic candies in one conversation

Daisuke Nishio and Takashi Washio from Toei Productions

Every year at Anibar , we have amazing guests bringing their worldly experiences to Peja for all the curious crowd we are known to attract. And this edition’s invitees are through and through stellar: Daisuke Nishio and Takashi Washio from Toei Productions. Their work in the anime world, as we know, is unparalleled, with working in productions such as Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon and One Piece. 

Before the session started, the conversation in the cinema all reflected the nostalgia one can feel while listening to the opening soundtrack of your favourite animated TV show. All the audience gathered anticipating this conversation, but first we saw “Magic Candies”, a film of Nishio and Washio, following the story of a kid who unravels world exploration and imagination when in front of him a bag of magic candies appears. 

Like in any comforting animated film or project, exploring the soft and calming powers in telling the story for the joy of telling the story. As the kid eats a magic candy, objects and animals start talking offering a whole new worldview through humour and sage advice and curious takes. 

After the screening, we finally got to meet the two esteemed animators who had been collaborating together for years, and who, as they said, find joy in working with people who know and sense the vision at the same beat. Their experience in animation, of course, is undoubtedly related to working with writers and other creators, and for them this relationship is crucial to convey the story with the same heartbeat and nerve. 

During their talk, they explained their working process and their fascinations with worldbuilding and character developments and they find joy even in working with the concept of time passing by, may it be a disappearing cloud or a leaf crackling in the wind. Finding joy in the minimal movements for them is as crucial as creating a character from scratch. 

Did they have any favorite characters? They did not say, but rather left the audience in finding a way to appreciate the moments, the subtlety of animation and finding inspiration even from the most random moments. 

In speaking to their worldwide influence they expressed their gratitude and appreciation that the Kosovar audience has found these creations they have worked on enjoyable while they know the importance of finding solace even at hard times. 

It was an immense pleasure to get to talk with Nishio and Washio, while the invitation is still open to go back to their work and appreciate the power of animation.

Photo Credits: Anibar / Elmedina Arapi