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Synopsis
In "Crayon Angel," Tanaami reflects on his youth during the chaos of World War II in Japan. The animation blends archival war footage, personal photographs, and elements from popular culture, often arranged in fusuma-style panels that break the imagery into pieces and keep viewers at a remove. The soundtrack features unsettling heartbeats, air raid sirens, and vocalizations by Robert Plant. The film's title comes from a confectionery company's promotion that asked children to use crayons to depict its brand mascot—an angel—which left a deep emotional mark on Tanaami as a child.