“Gacha Life” Available on the short drama app [FANY:D]. [Synopsis] Sachiko Yamanoura (27), who works in the HR department of an IT company, has spent her days with a string of the world’s worst luck—stepping on gum, catching her boyfriend cheating, and more—until she finally died in a ninth freak accident, without a second thought. But in the afterlife, “Gacha Life,” a salvation awaits: she can spin a gacha and choose her next-life partner. As one after another of the men appear—dependable superiors, dangerous entrepreneurs, vanished fiancés, and other anything-but-straightforward types—Sachiko faces her own “luck” and searches for what true happiness really is. A fresh kind of fantastical romantic comedy, woven together from a fantastical setting and comedic developments. Before long, Sachiko finds herself forced to “interview” a colorful cast of men, including an ex she wants to break up with, an influencer, and a missing fiancé. Are the choices really nothing but duds, or is there a winner in the mix? Who, in the end, will she choose as her “partner in the next life”—? [Project Concept] “Gacha Life” is a work that explores the fundamental question, “Is life determined by luck?” by intertwining black comedy with serious human drama. At the heart of the story is the journey of the protagonist, Sachiko Yamanoura, as she reexamines the choices in her life through a system of chance called “gacha.” At the foundation of the story lies the theme, “Can fate really be changed?” Sachiko has long believed that she is “unlucky,” but is her misfortune truly due to luck? Or have her own choices and actions been drawing those outcomes to her? This work poses such questions to the audience. [Direction Policy] For this work, I wanted to depict fantasy and real emotions in exquisite balance. By contrasting the realism of the world we know with the abstract afterlife world of “Gacha Life,” the story gains greater depth. Gacha Life (the afterlife) is designed as a simple, symbolic space, with visuals that allow the audience to intuitively understand, “What’s going to happen here?” By incorporating lighting and game-like UI (user interface) elements, we emphasize the feeling of “being made to choose one’s fate.” Depictions of the real world use handheld camerawork and natural lighting to create a realistic, intimate atmosphere. This emphasizes the tangible feel of Sachiko’s life and makes it easier for the audience to empathize with her choices. Balance of humor Not too serious, but not too light either. Since the very premise of “gacha” is humorous, the characters’ reactions are portrayed realistically. Rather than making the audience feel, “This is something that happens only in fiction,” we want them to think, “Maybe something like this could actually happen?”

We wanted to portray the vlog camera ZV-E1 not just as a high-spec Vlogcam, but as one that lets you express yourself in a more compelling way. Because it is a high-spec Vlogcam, it can sensitively capture the atmosphere a person projects. That makes a person’s identity, emotions, and character feel closer and more immediate. It allows you to express your own world more creatively and emotionally. That was the kind of visual expression we aimed for.

2022 Director's SHOWREEL Ryosuke HAYAZAKA | Ryosuke Hayazaka