Harada famously animated almost the entire film by himself, utilizing a painstaking technique of tracing thousands of individual cels by hand. The art style mirrors Maruo’s manga perfectly: lush, detailed, and filled with Taisho-era romanticism. The flowers are vibrant. The eyes of the characters are enormous and expressive.
The character development in "Midori Shoujo Tsubaki" is noteworthy, with each character bringing depth to the narrative. The relationships between Tsubaki, her friends, and her family add a relatable and humanizing element to the fantastical storyline. midori shoujo tsubaki anime
Harada served as the director, writer, and primary animator. Harada famously animated almost the entire film by
The tone of the series is generally lighthearted and humorous, with a touch of fantasy and adventure. The eyes of the characters are enormous and expressive
Midori Shoujo Tsubaki is aimed at a young adult audience, particularly those interested in magical girl anime and environmentalism.
Modern audiences often find themselves torn. On one hand, the animation is impressive given its DIY origins, and the soundtrack is effectively eerie. On the other hand, the content is so distressing that it is difficult to recommend to a general audience. It sits alongside works like Belladonna of Sadness or Angel’s Egg as an example of anime as high art, albeit a very dark one.
: A mysterious witch from another world who appoints Tsubaki as the magical girl Midori. Her motives and backstory are explored as the series progresses.