Mika Ninagawa’s live action adaptation of the popular manga “xxxHOLiC,” directed by a fan who had been planning it for ten years, has hit theaters. The film captures the essence of the original work with Blackmagic Design’s Pocket Cinema Camera 6K and DaVinci Resolve Studio.
Cinematographic Choices
The director, Mika Ninagawa, collaborated with cinematographer Daisuke Soma to bring “xxxHOLiC” to life. The film follows Kimihiro Watanuki and Yūko Ichihara, a high school student and a powerful witch respectively.
Soma shared his experience using the Pocket Cinema Camera 6K during filming: “We used it extensively due to its mobility and flexibility. For one dynamic scene where the main character runs away from an unknown black shadow in Shibuya and Harajuku, we mounted the camera on a pipe and shot while running with assistance.”
Technical Aspects
The use of Blackmagic RAW format allowed seamless integration with other footage. Soma explained: “It was particularly useful when we needed to match various shots taken in different locations quickly.”
The post-production phase involved DaVinci Resolve Studio, which played a crucial role in achieving the film’s unique visual style. Soma elaborated on his approach: “For scenes depicting another world, we boosted colors and contrast to create an explosion of hues. In contrast, the opening scene was desaturated to evoke the black-and-white aesthetic of the original manga.”
This strategic use of color helped maintain audience engagement by providing visual variety throughout the film.