Behind-the-scenes​

The Making of Dropkick on My Devil! (2023)
　

Building on his extensive experience directing documentaries about Studio Ghibli, Iwama was invited to direct a behind-the-scenes documentary for the independent anime Dropkick on My Devil! (Jashin-chan). The film explores why this independent series has maintained a long-standing cult following in a highly competitive anime landscape, with hundreds of new series airing each year, despite lacking the backing of major media or corporate sponsors. In the process, Iwama meets Kazuki Yanase, the key promotional producer, whose insights later inspired Iwama to contribute an essay to Yanase’s book Promotion Is All About Difference. Through this project, Iwama gained a deep appreciation for both the anime and the dedicated people who create and support it.