The Dragon Dentist

The Dragon Dentist originated as the inaugural project for the Japan Anima(tor)’s Exhibition, a collaborative initiative led by Hideaki Anno’s Studio Khara and Dwango to provide a platform for creative experimentation among animators. Originally released as a short film in 2014, the story was later expanded into a two-part television special in 2017. The narrative centers on a fantasy world where a dragon serves as a guardian deity, requiring a team of dentists to protect its teeth from decay, a premise that functions as a rich allegory for the burden of duty and the cycle of life.

Directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki, the production is noted for its distinctive visual style, which blends traditional cel-shaded aesthetics with complex, sprawling world-building. Tsurumaki sought to evoke a sense of grand scale, juxtaposing the intimacy of the dental procedures against the backdrop of a larger, ongoing conflict between nations. Upon its release, the special was well-received for its imaginative world-building and the emotional maturity of its lead characters, solidifying it as a significant work within the post-Evangelion era of Studio Khara.