Inochi no Kioku

Inochi no Kioku was produced by the creative studio qmotri, led by director Koji Yamamura, to serve as the official animated music video for the theme song of the 2013 film The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. The project was commissioned to complement the film's distinct aesthetic, which departed from the traditional Studio Ghibli house style in favor of a textured, hand-drawn watercolor look that mirrored the storytelling of classical Japanese emaki scrolls.

The animation was crafted to evoke a sense of fleeting memory and the cyclical nature of life, utilizing fluid, minimalist character designs that emphasize emotion over realism. Yamamura’s approach was lauded for its ability to distill the film's existential themes into a concise visual narrative. Upon its release, it was widely received as a poignant companion piece that deepened the atmospheric resonance of the feature film, further cementing the artistic reputation of qmotri in the experimental animation scene.