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CoMix Wave Films (Cwf), the animation studio behind such films as Your Name. (2016) and Suzume (2022), produced the short anime movie Hatsukoi no Nioi ( The Smell of First Love ), directed by up-and-coming animator Maho Takagi . Takagi has participated in many popular anime works, including Weathering With You (2019), Ssss.Dynazenon (2020), Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021), and Suzume . Hatsukoi no Nioi is her directorial debut work. The sweet, but bitter tale of first love reminded by the smell of a scarf, featuring a newly-written song of the same name by singer-songwriter Sakura Fujiwara , is now streaming on her official YouTube channel . The project started with using animation to express the coquettish charm of women as portrayed by Director Takagi. Since a life-size song to accompany the girl was essential to the story, Takagi offered Sakura Fujiwara to create the song as her ideal singing voice. Takagi had always been a big fan of Fujiwara.

Tokyo, Japan – Comics Wave Film (Cwf), the acclaimed animation studio behind hits like “Your Name” and “Suzume no Tojimari,” proudly announces the release of “First Love’s Fragrance,” a short animation directed by the up-and-coming animator Asaho Takagi. This film, set to premiere on May 20th, features an original song by renowned singer-songwriter Sakura Fujiwara.

A New Talent Emerges

Asaho Takagi, known for her work on popular animations, steps into the director’s chair for the first time with “First Love’s Fragrance.” The story, woven around the bittersweet memories evoked by the scent of a scarf, is brought to life through Takagi’s unique artistic vision. The animation promises to capture the coquettish charm of its female protagonist, a theme central to Takagi’s creative direction.

A Collaboration of Visuals and Melody

The creation of “First Love’s Fragrance” was a collaborative effort between Takagi and Fujiwara, whose music...

by Sophia Ng

“Though handsome and successful, Satoru Mukai suddenly realises he's been single for ten whole years and has no idea how to initiate a new relationship,” reads the series synopsis on Netflix. While the premise doesn't sound particularly compelling, Eiji Akaso as the leading man is reason enough to give it a chance. Coming fresh off recent shows like TBS's “Pending Train”, and “Ishiko and Haneo: You're Suing Me?”, Akaso brings his signature boyish good looks and endearing awkward tics to the character of Satoru Mukai, an office worker whose impending 33rd birthday forces him to face the harsh reality that his decade-long hiatus from the dating scene has cost him the happy married life and adorable children the rest of his peers all seem to have.

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