ABSTRACT
A key theoretical term to describe space in Japanese animation is "superflat", coined by fine artist Takashi Murakami in the same-titled exhibition he curated in Tokyo in 2000. Many scholars have adopted the term "superflat" and expanded or refined its meaning with regard to anime. Thomas Lamarre uses "superflat" to describe the depiction of movement with the limited animation techniques favored by anime styles. This technique originated in low-budget TV animation, and over time grew into a distinctive style. Even with the increased use of computer-generated imagery (CGI), many animators have still chosen to explore the aesthetic potential of a radically 2-D picture plane. To understand the various interpretations of superflat, and how anime favors 2-D space, a brief overview of the history of anime is helpful. Movement in anime, even in Miyazaki films, tends to be sideways, relying an iconic rather than mimetic animation style.
