Forget me not / Myxa This song was created under the name Myxa by Ota Satoshi, who works as a painter and illustrator and is the creator of Shirokuma Jimo. ◉About the artist name. Myxa is a Russian word meaning “fly.” Laika, the dog aboard the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2 and the first animal to orbit the Earth, is widely known. However, in addition to Laika, three dogs—Albina, and Muha (Муха)—had been selected as training dogs. Albina had flight experience at the test stage, and at first she was supposed to be put on Sputnik, but it is said that Laika was ultimately chosen because Albina had just given birth and was beloved by everyone. Albina was Laika’s backup, and Muha was used to test the instruments and life-support system. There is also a theory that she died in a later Sputnik mission. In contrast to the widely known Laika and Albina, I sometimes imagine how Muha, whose record remains almost nonexistent, might have felt. The dog that is always with Shirokuma Jimo is also named Muha.

Children just beginning to play with their friends, still unable to balance what they want to do with what their friends want to do, their hearts all tangled up. Wanting to portray Satoko Shibata’s gentle music and the vivid, shifting expressions of the children, I created an uncut animation from start to finish.