Kyoto Animation Releases Animated Commercial for Reiko Yoshida’s Sogen no Kagayaki Novel

Kyoto Animation has released a new animated commercial for Sogen no Kagayaki, a novel written by Reiko Yoshida and illustrated by Yukiko Horiguchi. The book was originally released under Kyoto Animation’s KA Esuma Bunko label on November 22, 2023.

The commercial was storyboarded and directed by Uno Nakata, with Tomomi Sato serving as animation director. Nakata and Sato also handled the key animation. The main production credits include:

• Storyboard, Director: Uno Nakata
• Animation Director: Tomomi Sato
• Key Animation: Uno Nakata, Tomomi Sato
• In-Between Animation Checker: Sayaka Nishiya
• Color Design: Kana Miyata
• Art Director: Mayu Harashima
• Art Direction Advisor: Shiori Yamasaki
• Director of Photography: Kazuki Ueno

Sogen no Kagayaki follows Tao, a boy who struggles to adjust to his new family following his mother’s remarriage. He enrolls at a public school, hoping to escape his home situation, but he continues to feel isolated from those around him.

Tao eventually plants a colchicum bulb in an abandoned area of the school grounds, where it grows unnoticed until another student discovers it. The story follows the boys and their personal growth.

The animated commercial’s release is accompanied by a promo campaign for the novel. Kyoto Animation has also temporarily expanded the parts available to read for free in Japan.

Reiko Yoshida is credited as the novel’s author, while Yukiko Horiguchi provided the illustrations. Yoshida is known for writing scripts for many popular anime movies and TV shows, including K-On!, A Silent Voice, and Studio Ghibli’s The Cat Returns.

Source: Kyoto Animation / KA Esuma Bunko, Kyoto Animation YouTube Channel
©Reiko Yoshida/Kyoto Animation