The Golden Age of anime has to be my favorite. Not only because that was when the boom of anime occurred with works like Akira, Dragonball, and Mobile Suite Gundam but that also was the time when there seemed to be more focus on vibrant colors and shading. Not to say that anime released today falls away from that, too far anyways. This era of anime also produced all the anime that would introduce me to such a wonderful world of cartoons. Thinking back, I spent countless hours watching shows and movies that would transport me to different worlds and I could escape my turbulent childhood for a spell. The Golden Age didn't reach the states until the mid to late 90s in my opinion with the release of Dragonball Z, Ghost in the Shell and the re-release of Mobile Suit Gundam. I believe that Cartoon Network and AdultSwim had the most to do with that, ramping up what they played into the 2000s. Especially when Toonami started playing on Saturday, starting at midnight.
I came across a one-man band named Paul "OtaKing" Johnson, who is an animator that is bringing back that luster of the Golden Age that made it so great. Vibrant colors and detailed shading that captures the eye and begs you not to look away. One of his most recent works is of a TIE Fighter fight battle in the Star Wars universe. Not only is it visually captivating, it is fast paced and detailed. If you'd like to see his live streams that he does of his work, check out his YouTube page.
Work in Progress of Street Fight - OtaKing
His other works look just as great! It’s hard to believe that just one animator can make some wonderful art that takes me back to when I was a pup watching movies like Ninja Scroll and Fist of the North Star. With the use of more and more CGI, it’s humbling to know that this animation style isn’t lost to the history books. The feels and nostalgia that I get when watching his works reminds me why I even watch anime.