“The things that I like are different”: Naoko Yamada Has a Cardinal Rule for Her Works That She Will Never Break to Push the Envelope of Anime

SUMMARY

• Yamada avoids drawing inspiration from anime to maintain originality in her work.
• Rather than anime, music and photography play a major role in her creative process.
• Yamada applies live-action techniques to her anime for added realism.

Renowned anime director Naoko Yamada is seen as a hegemon in the anime scene and has captivated audiences with films like A Silent Voice, Liz and the Blue Bird, and the K-ON! Her distinct style and emotional storytelling set her apart in the anime industry and won the praise of fans of all genres.

A Silent Voice | Credit: Kyoto Animation

Recently, Yamada shared insights into her creative process during an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on Reddit to promote her upcoming film, The Colors Within. During the AMA session, she answered many questions and even explained that while she admires and loves many classic anime, her works intentionally avoid drawing inspiration from them.

Yamada said instead of being inspired by tropes from anime, she relies more on music, photography, and live-action techniques to shape her artistic style anime. This approach ensures her films stand out as deeply personal and unique creations and feel like individual pieces of art.

The strategy of avoiding anime influences

Yamada’s AMA response made it clear that her creative process prioritizes originality over imitation. She highlighted that her favorite anime series—such as Akira and Tokyo Godfathers, don’t influence her direction when it comes to creation.

A still from The Colors Within. Credits: Science Saru

Unlike many directors who adapt popular styles and take inspiration from trending tropes or settings, Yamada deliberately separates her preferences as an anime fan from her work as a creator and director.

The things that I like are different from the things that I make.

This decision allows her to push the boundaries of anime storytelling without being limited by the existing formulas and being different from the mainstream works.

So, if not other anime, then what does this renowned film director use for inspiration? Where does she get that spark from? Unlike others, the prominent part of Yamada’s creative method is her use of music. Her latest film, The Colors Within uses Yamada’s personal experience as a pianist plays a major role in how she approaches the depiction.

Yamada said that music acts as the foundation for her visuals, transforming the illusory into the realistic and tangible. It helps her capture feelings of bliss and serenity.

Naoko Yamada has a unique artistic identity

Yamada is very much focused on realism. This part of her stems from her love of photography. She often collects photo references to design characters and settings; this helps her create lifelike and hyper-realistic works that capture the essence that she wishes to convey.

A still from The Colors Within | Credits: Science Saru

Yamada herself holds a camera, treating animated characters like real actors. This technique helps create seemingly real scenes that feel ‘alive.’ Despite avoiding anime influences, Yamada has earned admiration from industry legends like Makoto Shinkai, who once expressed envy at her talent.

Yamada’s personal favorites are anime like Doraemon, Akira, and Tokyo Godfathers; they reveal her appreciation for imaginative and character-driven stories.

The Colors Within can be streamed on Netflix and Prime Video.

Written by Chandra Shekhar

Articles Published: 85

Chandra Shekhar, also known as Dan, is a voracious reader with an insatiable hunger for fantasy and fiction. Having devoured countless books, explored manga worlds, and delved deep into anime realms, Dan lives and breathes stories. As a creative mind who rambles on about books and anime all day long, Dan fits right in at FandomWire.