Cencoroll

Cencoroll is an independent Japanese animated short film series created by Atsuya Uki. Uki wrote, directed, designed, and animated nearly the entire first film himself.

The first film, simply titled Cencoroll, premiered at Canada's Fantasia International Film Festival in 2009. It tells the story of Tetsu, a high school student who controls a shape-shifting creature called Cenco. Yuki, another student, becomes involved when she witnesses Cenco fighting another strange monster.

A sequel, Cencoroll 2, was originally announced for a 2014 release but faced delays. It was eventually released in 2019 as Cencoroll Connect, a compilation film combining the original Cencoroll with the sequel into a single feature.

The Cencoroll series is known for its unique and fluid animation style, as well as its intriguing mystery and character dynamics. Uki's independent approach to production has given the series a distinct visual identity that sets it apart from more mainstream anime productions. The narrative focuses on the evolving relationships between the characters and the enigmatic nature of the creatures they encounter, leaving many questions unanswered and open to interpretation.