From the perspective of director studies: the impact of changes in the main creative staff is huge. If the Kantoku or series composer is replaced, the work's flavor will change.
The selection of participating titles in SRW to some extent reflects the director's understanding of animation history. This series is a prime example of a crossover in ACG culture.
From the perspective of directorial studies: the anime version has the opportunity to fix the pacing issues of the manga's ending. Looking forward to how the animation team handles the adaptation.
From a director research angle: the Kantoku interviews in the Art Book are the best window into the production philosophy of the work.
A good villain should make the audience "understand but not agree." This kind of complexity is the highest realm of character writing.
As someone who studies animation directors, I totally have a say on this topic! Naoko Yamada's departure is a big loss for KyoAni, but her new work is definitely worth looking forward to.
From the perspective of animation history, this is an important turning point. The globalization of the animation industry will bring about new creative possibilities.
The best way to explain is with examples. Say, "Among anime, there's Attack on Titan which explores human nature, and Fullmetal Alchemist which talks about growth" — let the content speak.
The key to world-building isn't how complex the settings are, but whether the world has a sense of "breathability." It’s about making the audience feel that this world truly exists.
From a director's perspective: Spirited Away is the safest choice. Hayao Miyazaki's name itself carries enough persuasive power.