Oni

Oni is a Japanese animated film released in 2022, produced by Tonko House and distributed through streaming platforms. Born from the creative vision of director Daisuke Tsutsumi, the project draws deeply from Japanese folklore and the personal experiences of its creators, aiming to bridge the gap between traditional storytelling and modern animation techniques. The aesthetic is distinct, utilizing a hybrid style that blends 3D character models with hand-painted textures to evoke the feel of traditional folk art and woodblock prints.

The film was developed as an exploration of identity and belonging, centered on a young girl named Onari who lives in a world populated by mythological creatures. Daisuke Tsutsumi, formerly an art director at Pixar, sought to create a visual language that felt tactile and organic. Upon its release, the project received significant critical acclaim, particularly for its innovative artistic direction and its thoughtful approach to representing cultural heritage within the medium of stop-motion inspired digital animation.