Rintaro, a direct disciple of Osamu Tezuka and co-founder of Madhouse, is a key figure between classic and modern animation. His baroque, dark, and visually dense style, influenced by expressionism and European science fiction, defines works such as Metropolis, Galaxy Express 999, and Captain Harlock.
The technique of baroque animation: dense, dark, and analog 🎨
Rintaro builds his worlds with layers of shadows and compositions reminiscent of German expressionist cinema. In Metropolis, traditional animation achieves a visual density that demands detailed shots and precise use of contrast. His method prioritizes dramatic lighting and intricate backgrounds, creating oppressive atmospheres without resorting to digital effects. It is an approach that requires time and patience, where each frame is a work of art in itself.
When the master tells you to draw more slowly 🚀
Imagine being Tezuka's disciple and your greatest virtue being making everything seem slower and gloomier. Rintaro managed to make a spaceship look like a moving Goya painting. While other animators rushed, he took his time to paint every shadow. The result: works that seem to say speed is overrated, better enjoy this twilight. And it works wonderfully.