Cinematic 2.5D Animation with Matte Finish

the prompt

Cinematic 2.5D animation  with hard-edged light shapes, matte finish, soft filmic volumetric lighting, shallow depth of field. NOT flat 2D cartoon, NO bold black outlines, NO cel-shading, NOT glossy CGI, NOT Unreal Engine, NO photorealism, no plastic skin. 

WORLD: a narrow bamboo forest path at dusk, thin mist low to the ground, palette of deep indigo-green bamboo and charcoal-grey mist with one accent — frost-violet blade energy — volumetric god rays cutting through the canopy, drifting bamboo leaves. 

CHARACTER: @[Image1] a tall slim adult woman with dark hair in a high tight topknot and a thin scar through one eyebrow, wearing an asymmetric off-shoulder deep indigo-black wrap top, voluminous pleated burgundy wide-leg trousers, a wide charcoal obi-style sash, fingerless wrapped gauntlets, dark tabi-style boots, and a sheathed katana with a pale violet cord wrap, elongated stylized proportions, painterly matte skin with brush-stroke shading. Surrounded by several ragged bandit ambushers in torn brown wraps and improvised weapons — visually consistent but anonymous, no individual detail needed. 

CINEMATIC SHOT DESIGN (10 Filmic Cuts with Expressions, 20s total): 
- SHOT 1 (0–2s | Macro Detail): Close-up on Kagero's hand resting on the katana's hilt, wind stirring the bamboo leaves around her, still and quiet. 
- SHOT 2 (2–4s | Wide Threat Reveal): Wide shot — she stands motionless on the path as several bandit silhouettes emerge from the mist on both sides, encircling her. 
- SHOT 3 (4–5s | Reaction): Close-up on her eyes narrowing slightly, calm, unafraid. 
- SHOT 4 (5–7s | Wide Low-Angle Clash): The first bandit lunges; she draws and cuts him down in one fluid motion faster than the eye can track, a streak of frost-violet light trailing the blade. 
- SHOT 5 (7–8s | Reaction): Macro close-up of a second bandit's eyes going wide in shock. 
- SHOT 6 (8–10s | Dynamic Tracking): She pivots low, the blade sweeping through two more attackers in one continuous arc, her sash and loose hair whipping with momentum. 
- SHOT 7 (10–12s | Medium Clash/Tension): She catches a heavier strike from the largest bandit, sparks flashing off crossed blades, held a beat — real physical resistance, not an easy win. 
- SHOT 8 (12–13s | Reaction): Quick close-up, her expression hardens for a fraction of a second. 
- SHOT 9 (13–17s | Wide Cinematic Climax): She spins through the remaining bandits in one continuous fluid motion, the katana now fully wreathed in frost-violet spirit energy, cutting a wide circular arc as the last attackers fall. 
- SHOT 10 (17–20s | Heroic Landing/Poster Frame): Low-angle hero shot — she stands still in the settling mist, katana lowered, the frost-violet glow fading from the blade, bamboo leaves drifting down around her, one slow exhale. Hold. 
Weighty natural character animation, cloth and hair reacting to momentum, filmic 24fps shutter, shallow depth of field. NOT flat 2D cartoon, no bold outlines, no cel shading, not glossy CGI, not Unreal Engine, no photorealism.