Thescreescore – The upcoming sci-fi drama Anima promises a deeply emotional and uniquely crafted cinematic experience, with its lead stars, Sydney Chandler and Takehiro Hira, revealing that the production involved "a lot of experimentation" on set. Making its world premiere at SXSW, director Brian Tetsuro Ivie’s narrative feature debut delves into profound human themes against a near-future backdrop, a journey that both actors found to be as challenging as it was rewarding. This innovative approach to filmmaking, reminiscent of documentary techniques, allowed for an organic evolution of the story and its characters, creating a truly distinctive entry into the science fiction genre.
Sydney Chandler, a rising star in the sci-fi landscape with roles in Don’t Worry Darling, Apple TV’s Sugar, and the anticipated Alien: Earth, takes on the complex role of Beck. A young engineer grappling with professional setbacks and personal grief after her musician father’s death, Beck is recruited by a mysterious corporation offering post-mortem consciousness preservation. Her task: transport Paul, a terminally ill client, to the facility. Chandler, a self-professed sci-fi enthusiast who writes and reads extensively in the genre, articulated her passion to thescreescore.com, stating, "It’s my favorite genre because it’s, in my opinion, so human. There’s some of the best human lessons in sci-fi." She found Anima‘s premise particularly compelling, noting the layers involved in exploring how consciousness upload would affect both her and her character. Intriguingly, Chandler expressed a desire to tackle horror next, yearning for roles that involve "being covered in blood or carrying an ax or screaming."
Takehiro Hira, celebrated for his Emmy-nominated performance in FX’s Shogun and recent genre forays like The Swarm and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, portrays Paul. Paul, a solitary button manufacturer, insists on a meandering road trip in his classic Nissan 300ZX, using the detours to mend fractured family ties before his final procedure. Hira reflected on the unconventional filming process with Ivie, admitting to thescreescore.com that "a lot of experimentation on set" occurred, with varying degrees of success. He emphasized the importance of immersing himself in "the feelings [and] the emotion on set," rather than overthinking, a philosophy that ultimately shaped his nuanced portrayal. Despite initial concerns from Ivie about Hira’s reaction to a young, often fresh-out-of-film-school crew, the actor embraced the environment, finding passion in the collaborative, "very handmade" approach.
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Brian Tetsuro Ivie, making his directorial debut in narrative features, drew inspiration from diverse sources for Anima. He cited "The Parable Of The Rich Fool" – a tale of a farmer whose soul is "required of him" the night he builds bigger barns for his possessions – and an MIT Review article about a company promising post-mortem consciousness upload. This blend of ancient wisdom and cutting-edge speculation forms the philosophical backbone of the film. Ivie aimed for a "lo-fi sci-fi" aesthetic, a deliberate choice reflected in the film’s soundtrack, which features deep-cut Japanese folk music and alternative ’90s tracks, designed to evoke the feeling of "the CD found in your parents’ attic." He even sent physical CDs and players to his lead actors to immerse them in this retro-futuristic world. Ivie hopes the film’s intentionally slow pace will encourage audiences to "slow down and consider what really matters, who really matters, and how we might live, even in a future that’s not necessarily helping us maintain our community."
Chandler lauded Ivie’s background in documentary filmmaking, where the story is often "found while you’re filming," and appreciated how he applied this to Anima. She recalled delaying her start due to personal family matters, a situation Ivie graciously accommodated, telling her, "We’ll find her while we film." This flexibility fostered a "safe filming process" for exploring Beck’s internal journey. The on-screen chemistry between Chandler and Hira, despite their contrasting personalities – Chandler describing herself as "Chatty Kathy" and Hira as "quiet, stoic, calm, very funny" – was immediate. Hira noted they intentionally didn’t meet until their characters’ first scene, allowing their real-life rapport to mirror the developing friendship between Beck and Paul. Chandler praised Hira’s ability to infuse even stoic characters with a compelling heart, making him endearing to audiences.
Anima made its global debut at SXSW, a particularly special occasion for Texas native Sydney Chandler, who celebrated premiering the film in her home city at her favorite movie theater. Director Ivie revealed plans for a "trilogy of near-future films," with Anima focusing on the "soul" and his next project exploring the "brain," hinting at a loosely connected universe of thought-provoking sci-fi. As Anima seeks wider distribution, it stands as a testament to the power of experimental, character-driven storytelling in a genre often dominated by spectacle, inviting audiences to ponder profound questions about life, death, and human connection in an increasingly technological world.
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