This Japanese animation crew calls themselves “U-Min” meaning unknown. Even though they focus on “animation” style, the members also perform locking, popping and breaking. This performance was done for Japanese clothing company called “UNIQLO”.
U-min is very unique in their choreography. Each movement itself may not be so unique. But the way they put each movement together as a group and the use of their technique is extraordinary. Because of their amazing skills, they have been knicknamed as “Controller of Time and Space”.
Currently, two members from U-Min, Koutei Sennin and Kikky are performing as a group called “U-Min no kokoro (Soul of U-Min).
“Animation” is a style and a technique that attempt to imitate film characters being animated by stop motion. The technique consists of moving rigidly and jerky by tensing muscles and using techniques similar to strobing and the robot to make it appear as if the dancer has been animated frame by frame. This style was heavily inspired by the dynamation films created by Ray Harryhausen, such as The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad (1958).
Two guys from U-Min have a whole opera here, with great pacing, styles, changing themes, and a nice finish.
They have made popping into an entire theater art in the way Stomp did percussion; the four man group has evolved popping into an art far beyond what it is here.
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