CREEK & RIVER Co., Ltd.(hereafter referred to as C&R), an anime scenario agency that produces 3D and 2D animation (anime), has been using a system that combines the online storage service Dropbox (Dropbox, Inc., USA) with their proprietary production process management system "Task Visualizer" [Web browser process management chart] since spring 2017. This has not only streamlined work with external animators, but has also succeeded in reducing overtime hours by approximately 30% per year for some of the company's animation production teams.

At the site of animation production, there are many works based on paper production, such as hand-drawn production and handing over of manuscripts. Even in progress management work, progress data is often manually input and shared with the entire production team, which is said to be one of the reasons for long working hours because it takes time and effort.

In order to improve this situation, our animation scenario agency has been promoting the digitization of animation drawings since 2014. At the same time, we also started digitizing progress management, and our uniquely developed system is "Dropbox" + "Task Visualizer" [Web browser process management table].

On Saturday, February 10, 2018, at the "Animation Creative Technology Forum (ACTF) 2018", we gave a presentation titled "Short Animation Production and Efficient Data Linkage Using Tools" to introduce the system. Manabu Ishikawa, Producer of our Animation Scenario Team, and Seigo Yamashita, Director, gave a lecture on utilization.

In this system, folders are created by taking advantage of the strengths of Dropbox, which allows you to refer to the status of the latest files online (cloud) as if they were files on your own computer. A single project is divided into three layers: "work name folder", "scene folder" for each scene, and "cut data" for each image, and managed and updated with serial numbers. "Task Visualizer" [Web Browser Process Management Table] is a tool that reads the information in the Dropbox folder programmatically and manages it on the Web.

When one process is finished and the worker checks it, the data in Dropbox is synchronized and the current process is saved. At the same time, it is automatically copied to the folder for the next process. It is a digital reproduction of the "cut bag" envelope for progress management that has been used for many years in the anime industry. Not only does this eliminate the need for progress managers to input data into the management table, but it also eliminates the waiting time for receipt of manuscripts, loss of manuscripts, travel time for people, and the risk of traffic accidents.

In addition, by thoroughly enforcing operational rules such as overwriting, erasing, and renaming (changing file/folder names) of data, the work efficiency of the animation/scenario team has improved, and some teams have been able to leave work on time. I'm here.

This system is an inexpensive and simple system that utilizes Dropbox's standard mechanism and general spreadsheet software, so it is a useful mechanism especially for small and medium-sized animation production companies. We will strive to create an environment where animators can concentrate on their creative work, aiming to build an anime production site that everyone wants to work in, and to contribute to the development of the Japanese animation industry.

Established in 2014 as a team that creates game scenarios and 2D/3D animations by networking scenario writers, animators, and production companies. In addition to having an animation production studio that specializes in digital production, it also holds “Scenario Cram School” and “Anime Cram School” as a place for training, and a digital drawing course “YOANI” in collaboration with Yoyogi Animation. Since 2015, the company has also begun full-fledged rights management, namely the management and distribution of its own IP (intellectual property).

In the animation field, gumi Inc. Inc.'s "Dolls Order" opening animation, Mobile Factory Co., Ltd.'s "Eki Memo Anime Project", and TV commercials using animations of famous companies have a track record.

●C&R Scenario・Anime・Agency <Twitter>

● Digital Drawing Academy <Facebook>