Veteran Anime Director Goro Taniguchi Issues Dire Warning: Original Stories Are Drying Up!

In a candid interview with Kyodo News, legendary anime director Goro Taniguchi, best known for directing the hit series Code Geass, has issued a stark warning about the future of Japanese anime. The veteran creator expressed serious concerns about the industry’s growing dependence on adaptations, suggesting that this trend could eventually lead to the demise of authentic Japanese animation if left unchecked.

“In recent years, it’s become mainstream because it’s naturally easier to secure profits from adaptations,” Taniguchi explained. “But I think if it becomes just adaptations, Japanese anime will be finished.” The director drew an interesting comparison between adaptation work and music arrangement, suggesting that creators focused solely on adapting existing works are more like arrangers than true songwriters. “To prevent that from happening, I think the animation industry needs dreams,” Taniguchi emphasized. “The ability to give shape to our own expression, our own unique ideas.”

The seasoned filmmaker also weighed in on current anime trends, noting how genres rise and fall over time. He pointed to the recent surge in isekai (reincarnation fantasy) stories as just another wave in anime’s ever-evolving landscape, similar to previous trends like science fiction, school-life series, and magical girl shows. “It’s like a wave,” Taniguchi observed. “This work contains something that transcends time. I would be happy if people could see it in a different light than the current trends.” This comes as exciting news for fans, with a new Code Geass anime recently announced for the franchise’s 20th anniversary, promising fresh original content from the very director now championing creative independence.