July Sakuga Highlights: Best Fight and Movement Animation Picks

This month’s animation spotlight looks at standout sakuga moments from the year’s seasonal releases—highlighting specific episodes and the key animators credited for the sequences. The list also includes a pair of short-form titles, rounding out the focus on fight and movement animation that fans tend to chase when they’re looking for technical craft.

Key takeaways

• Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender features credited key animation from Eunchoi, with the spotlight tied to the listed episode entry.
• The World is Dancing highlights key animation by Odashi (Episode 4) and Fukuroup (Episode 4 entry).
• Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia includes key animator Heise for Episode 1, with animator direction credited to Kenichi Yoshida.
• Goodbye, Lara lists Hideiko Sawada as key animator for Episode 3.
• The Ghost in the Shell points to key animation by Azoura and Masashi Yamada for Episode 3.
• Among the shorts, False Memory Opening is directed by Jiali Tan for 22F Studio.

Seasonal sakuga picks and credited animators

The spotlight begins with Avatar Aang: L’ultimo dominatore dell’aria, naming Eunchoi as key animator for the featured entry.

The World is Dancing is represented by multiple episode credits, including Odashi and Fukuroup as key animators, with the page listing an Episode 2 and an Episode 4 entry tied to those names.

Jaadugar: a Witch in Mongolia is called out with Heise as key animator for Episode 1, while the production also credits Kenichi Yoshida as animator director.

Goodbye, Lara is highlighted via Hideiko Sawada as key animator for Episode 3.

Sparks of Tomorrow is listed for Episode 4 in the same roundup.

The Ghost in the Shell appears for Episode 3, with key animation credited to Azoura and Masashi Yamada.

The Elusive Samurai is included with a key-animation credit to Kanago Higashi for Episode 13.

Blade of the Guardians 2 is featured for Episode 8.

Bleach TYBW Final Arc is represented by Episode 41.

Though I Am an Inept Villainess is listed with Episode 2 and a key animation credit to the featured animator entry.

Short-form animation spotlights

The roundup then shifts to a dedicated section for short films. Two titles are listed:

• Day of Silence, Endless Zero Zone
• False Memory Opening — directed by Jiali Tan for 22F Studio

Fans are also invited to share which animation scenes from July stood out most to them.