Hirosaki's animation production company "Egernest" (Joto, Hirosaki City) celebrated its 30th anniversary on September 1.

The only animation production company in Aomori Prefecture, Katsuhiko Shirato from the company's table is from Ajigasawa, and with the cooperation of Ikko Matsuzaka of Toei Animation, "Studio OM Aomori Works" was established in 1986 as a local studio of Studio OM. Launched. Mr. Shirato recalls, "It was a group like a club activity at the beginning when all the friends gathered together."

During the animation production process, I was mainly in charge of a part called "finishing" that paints the color specified on the cel picture, and in the 1990s, in addition to TV animations such as "Rurouni Kenshin" and "Fushigi Yugi", "Slam Dunk" and "Beauty". Engaged in theater productions such as "Shoujo Senshi Sailor Moon R". In the 2000s, the animation industry was digitized, and I was in charge of digital finishing of coloring with a personal computer.

In the industry, cell finishing has a well-established reputation, and in the TV animation "Fushigi no Umi Nadia" that was broadcast on NHK in 1990, he was in charge of finishing a part of the opening and bonus video "Bonus Theater", It is said that Hideaki Anno, who is well-known for his works in "Neon Genesis Evangelion" and "Shin Godzilla", received high praise for "Is there a company that does such polite work?"

Mr. Shirato, who celebrated his 30th year, recalls, "80% was a challenge, but it was instant." In 2012, he suffered from cerebral hemorrhage, and for about two months, he could not work. "During the rehabilitation, the nurse consulted with me about making a simple anime using the hospital's original character, and he suggested that I make it myself, and that was the driving force behind my return to work."

Mr. Shirato wants to work on creating a job in Aomori, a local area, and creating an environment in Aomori where he gives up because he cannot give up because he has to go to Tokyo. "I can only return my experience to the local community in the field of video. I want to create a place for work with video through animation and special effects," he said.