tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12723945486235809302024-02-19T06:45:35.255-08:00Anime Declassifiedhyunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11997714270174561026noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272394548623580930.post-43674792117031452462021-09-24T00:03:00.000-07:002021-09-24T00:03:24.911-07:00Early Days Interview: Screenwriter Yosuke Kuroda (Animage, November 1999)<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b><span></span></b></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>Let's Hear Their Story </b></h2></span><p></p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">In-Depth Interview with Screenwriter Yosuke Kuroda<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Animage, November 1999 </span></h3><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Disclaimer: This is an amateur fan translation. I'm not responsible for any typo and misinterpretation)</span> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Introduction</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;">"New Generation of Screenwriters". That was the impression I had even before I met him. From his work on "Pretty Sammy" and "TRIGUN", I could sense his "openness" and "straightforwardness". His values are close to those of anime fans, and his attitude is to get involved in the production process and literally hit the ground running. He was much younger than I had expected, and a new type of creator.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Interview by Yuuichiro Oguro</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mFblLPakKvpf83OxwC0bYAqwk7QVir7idLv_RknXXjF2NIeDWfrKXvBUDPheBcinFlvNZQRyj9uVohpMmEe_pOsSyzDzGGABCem-Wyv56YMhnFGLOefpWOrZAnRZHIQ7qc9mqJ3xOZg/s685/kuroda4+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="482" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mFblLPakKvpf83OxwC0bYAqwk7QVir7idLv_RknXXjF2NIeDWfrKXvBUDPheBcinFlvNZQRyj9uVohpMmEe_pOsSyzDzGGABCem-Wyv56YMhnFGLOefpWOrZAnRZHIQ7qc9mqJ3xOZg/w144-h205/kuroda4+%25282%2529.jpg" width="144" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">[Yosuke Kuroda] </span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Born on March 29, 1968. Born in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture. Blood type O. After being expelled from Tokai University, he worked at an animation-related proofreading company. After working there for five years, he established Studio Orphee Ltd. in January 1993. His representative works in anime include "Magical Girl Pretty Sammy," "Battle Athletes," "TRIGUN," "MAICO 2010," and "Dual!". For this fall's new shows, he is participating in "Infinite Ryvius", "Excel ♡ Saga", and "Risky☆Safety" as a series composer and scriptwriter. He has written novels such as "Magical Girl Pretty Sammy," "True Tenchi Muyo! Ryo Oh Ki," "Battle Athletes: Side Story", and "Photon".</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1mGQNmK9X2rFIT6ISSfdookuja45eEyQnXu1S16R1uEoCVpm8qi8N55hw7gYDOISXVF7qkw7U5j2YaRbJfGUm75raV-bXQ3fpa2yrPeMsXmo1fRI4rZ5k-_27q8BiOKoGiEWPrMg2hI/s384/Battle+Athletes+novel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="269" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr1mGQNmK9X2rFIT6ISSfdookuja45eEyQnXu1S16R1uEoCVpm8qi8N55hw7gYDOISXVF7qkw7U5j2YaRbJfGUm75raV-bXQ3fpa2yrPeMsXmo1fRI4rZ5k-_27q8BiOKoGiEWPrMg2hI/s320/Battle+Athletes+novel.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;">Battle Athletes: Side Story</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">" Novel </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small; text-align: justify;"><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">(This interview was conducted on September 10, 199 at Nakano ward in Tokyo)</i></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---You started your career as a magazine editor, didn't you? </b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Kuroda: </b></span></span>I used to go to university, but then I stopped going (chuckles). So I thought about what to do, but I had been working part-time at an anime magazine since I was in junior high school...... </span></p><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>Which anime magazine? </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was "My Anime". One of the writers there was in a production editing service, and he asked me if I wanted to come work part-time (Note 1). I said, "I'm not busy, so I'll go," and joined the company. I was only 19 years old. At that time, I didn't watch much anime, so I just joined out of curiosity. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span><i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d;">(1) Production editing service (in Japan) is a business that undertakes the composition, interviewing, writing, etc. for magazines and books. </span></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTANQDIpggx2ADANTx8_1xAYIOUntHczJS82Xp7n-fKcFudZF6CuPRbSasKn3gLab-j72Cpk1Dnp5-1UAcY3sblYrNmuqK8kMeb1GKwTiVWhGUSiBP8CBKjH6SYEsooTU48y5vT4_pPE/s600/My+ANime+mag.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="422" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTANQDIpggx2ADANTx8_1xAYIOUntHczJS82Xp7n-fKcFudZF6CuPRbSasKn3gLab-j72Cpk1Dnp5-1UAcY3sblYrNmuqK8kMeb1GKwTiVWhGUSiBP8CBKjH6SYEsooTU48y5vT4_pPE/s320/My+ANime+mag.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"My Anime" magazine</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Y</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>ou have not watched anime since you were a child? </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No, not at all. I was very active as a child. I was baptized by "Space Battleship Yamato" and "Mobile Suit Gundam". I was baptized, but once I entered high school, I got a part-time job, played in a band, and rode a motorcycle, so I was away from anime for a while. Even back then, I consciously watched some anime such as "Z Gundam" and "ZZ". </span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;"><i style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: justify;">(Translator's note: "ZZ" is "Mobiel Suit Gundam ZZ") </i></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;"><i style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: justify;"><br /></i></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>What kind of work did you do in the production editing? </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The first job I did was to pack the film sheets for "MADOX-01"(Note 2). I stayed up all night cutting them into little pieces. That was fun (chuckles). But we didn't have a rewinder. So I had to cut the film by turning it while it was on its side. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>(2) The process of cutting the main feature film with scissors and packing it into sheets. From the sheeted film, the necessary frames are cut out. A rewinder is a machine that turns the film.</i></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>(Translator's note: "Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01" is an OVA directed by Shinji Aramaki in 1987.) </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>Didn't you know what a rewinder was at that time? </b></span></div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I knew about it, but the company didn't have one. I have a memory of spending one night packing sheets and taking them to Soei Shinsha the next day. That was my first job, and it left a great impression on me. </span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>(Translator's note: Soei Shinsha was a production planning company that produced OVA titles such as Vampire Princess Miyu, Spirit Warrior, Project A-Ko, and others. The company was ran by Naotaka Yoshida of AMG Entertainment)</i></span><i style="color: #38761d; text-align: justify;"> </i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>What was your impression of the editing work? </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The company I was working for was a place where they used people who were good at what they did, but made people quit who were not. After I finished the job, I was taken to Shogakukan the next day. The next day, I was taken to Shogakukan, where I was told out of the blue, "Take care of the composition of the 'Urusei Yatsura' Mook. "I remember thinking, "What should I do? I remember thinking, "What am I going to do? The project I was assigned was an "encyclopedia". I had to write down the items, write the text, have it checked, and have it corrected. But they gave me the OK, so somehow<b style="color: #3d85c6;"> </b>I......</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>Got the confidence. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I wouldn't go so far as to say confidence, but I felt like I could handle it. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>Which Mook is that? </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b><span>"Urusei Yatsura: The Final Chapter". </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---Was it "Sunday Graphic"? </b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b><span>Yes, that's right. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><i>(Translator's note: </i></span></b></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>: "Sunday Graphic" was a Mook series under Shogakukan's "Shonen Sunday" manga magazine.</i></span><i style="color: #38761d;">)</i></div><div><i style="color: #38761d;"><br /></i></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIcHrNLNMMnz3EHVuRRgxqQ_u6PXx74udvwQ17rflEEPk1UmbFnY_4Z5t1suzr4RIaZxb_oh4qzqm9BqqzPRHZzL4KzBVLif-EOCfYfXhb8XQs_b3zPNymaqKt2WvKCrYxs4jEPmVq28/s1761/urusei+yatsura.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1761" data-original-width="1366" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIcHrNLNMMnz3EHVuRRgxqQ_u6PXx74udvwQ17rflEEPk1UmbFnY_4Z5t1suzr4RIaZxb_oh4qzqm9BqqzPRHZzL4KzBVLif-EOCfYfXhb8XQs_b3zPNymaqKt2WvKCrYxs4jEPmVq28/s320/urusei+yatsura.jpg" width="248" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Urusei Yatsura: The Final Chapter - Sunday Graphic Special mook </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---When you were at the proofreading company, did you mainly edit game strategy books? </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I also edited anime magazines. For example, "Anime V". When I was working on "Anime V", I went to interview director Koji Masunari. I never thought I'd be writing a script for one of his works. I also worked on "Mokei Jouhou (Model Kit Information)". The two of us were saying things like, "let's put 'Saint Seiya' on the cover". </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><i>(Translator's note: </i></span></b></span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><i>: "Mokei Jouhou [Model Kit Information]" was a Bandai's monthly magazine featuring their model kits) </i></span></b></span></div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEies0CCPuNktxYOQE-sljPRQa8N_aVcn1PKBzqOYE7R8XnuyfM1szUXAyrnqoqIkVUCmhygx2zXM_lNlPcmAOkfpudaxEO4dV0sKvTLvtlIDqDVHPkJnOarVyZZ45XMyC4BHKgJxHeTDf8/s384/anime+v+11-1991.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="306" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEies0CCPuNktxYOQE-sljPRQa8N_aVcn1PKBzqOYE7R8XnuyfM1szUXAyrnqoqIkVUCmhygx2zXM_lNlPcmAOkfpudaxEO4dV0sKvTLvtlIDqDVHPkJnOarVyZZ45XMyC4BHKgJxHeTDf8/s320/anime+v+11-1991.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Anime V: November 1991 issue featuring "NG Kight Lamune & 40 EX" OVA </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">Koji Masunari directed this OVA series in 1991</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Who were you two with? </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Tomohiro Chiba, president of Orphee. We had been working together for a long time. We left the company together and started our own company, Orphee. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>Was Orphee established purely as a production editing company? </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That's right. I wore a suit and went out to do business, but at first I couldn't get any work at all (chuckles). I had to ask the person in charge at my previous company, who was a good friend of mine, to assign me work. At that time, I borrowed all the funds to establish the company. I planned to pay it back in six months, and worked like hell. We finished paying it back in six months, and I thought, "Wow, we're amazing. That's how it was. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;">---So Orphee is still doing production editing? </b></div><div><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b><span>Production editing has become like a division of Orphee. Our president is making games now. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Are they scenarios for games?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yes. For example, the upcoming "YUKYU GENSOKYOKU 3". Our president also wrote the scenarios for "Mobile Suit Gundam Side Stories" for the Dreamcast, the "Gundam Side Stories" series for the Saturn, and "Char's Counterattack" for the PlayStation. </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="359" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NOibpa-SYS0" width="506" youtube-src-id="NOibpa-SYS0"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><span> </span>YUKYU GENSOKYOKU 3: Perpetual Blue (Sega Dreamcast)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---How long has Orphee been in business? </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b><span>It was established when I was 25, so about 6 years ago. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---So you made your debut as an anime script writer right after Orphee was established? </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No, I was approached just before the company was established. While I was at my previous company, I was seconded to AIC to work on a scenario for the PC game "Oh My Goddess!" </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="295" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ecX8ij9_A8U" width="478" youtube-src-id="ecX8ij9_A8U"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: justify;">"Oh My Goddess!" PC Game (PC-98 / Windows 95)</span></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---So you've been doing game scenarios for a long time? </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I've been doing game scenarios since I was about 21 or 22 years old. That's when I was asked if I wanted to do it. And I said, "Yes, I'll do it. And I said, "I'll do it, I'll do it". </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>That was the seventh episode of the "Tenchi Muyo!" OVA, right? </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b><span>That's right. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>How did you feel after writing it?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:</b><span> </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I didn't know how to write in the first place (laughs). I had read the scenarios in my work for anime magazines, so I started by watching and learning. I thought, "Well, I'll just give it a quick try and see if I can't get rid of it". But I guess they thought, "we don't have a schedule, so we'll just do this" (laughs). So about a third of the finished film was completely different from my original, but some of the gags I had written were still there. At that time, there was a screening of the film in a hall, so I went to see it. I was so happy to see the audience laughing out loud. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> It was the first time I felt the pleasure of seeing the audience react in real time. After that, when I published a novel, I would get survey postcards back, and it made me happy to read them. I don't know if what I'm doing is really making a difference, but it makes me happy to get a response. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---After that, your next anime project was second series of "Tenchi Muyo!"? </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b><span>For </span><span>"Tenchi Muyo!", I think there was a drama CD before that, so it's like I did the drama CD first and then came to the second series. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YRj1szWJwtQZIsmsWJl9ao4yrJX8t8QBbifdMnKOUFp5tio7m2M7gtqiFYW4zOnhNQYYRZa-1Fg6BTwnAgL7AvWueDJRsECmMFNlWyxRQxh_BXuLZqG4rfZ4NPSTJJz9q73Hz5sMDNU/s400/Tenchi+muyo+drama+CD.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YRj1szWJwtQZIsmsWJl9ao4yrJX8t8QBbifdMnKOUFp5tio7m2M7gtqiFYW4zOnhNQYYRZa-1Fg6BTwnAgL7AvWueDJRsECmMFNlWyxRQxh_BXuLZqG4rfZ4NPSTJJz9q73Hz5sMDNU/s320/Tenchi+muyo+drama+CD.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: justify;">"Tenchi Muyo! Ryo Oh Ki CD Special" Drama CD - (1993)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---How was the second series? </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b><span>This time, I really felt like I was called to do it. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>What do you mean you've been called? </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b><span>I think episode 7 was like an emergency.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>Was episode 7 felt like, "we don't have a lot of time, so hurry up and do it!"? </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I think so. We were told to do the whole series this time, so we had a lot of time to prepare. The very first episode, episode 8, caused a lot of trouble because I've done five or six drafts. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>Even after that, you've been working with "Tenchi Muyo!". Is it a major work for you? </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's a major work, and I was able to do a lot of things with it. I was able to go to voice dubbing session too. For games, I had been told to do the story certain way, but for the "Tenchi Muyo!" games, they said they'll leave it to me. </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="313" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tb8CXCRJiU0" width="412" youtube-src-id="tb8CXCRJiU0"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">One of the many Tenchi Muyo series games: "Tenchi Muyo!-Toukou Muyo" for Playstation</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---It's like, "you can do whatever you want here". </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b><span>Of course, I consulted with (Masaki) Kajishima-san, but I had the right to decide the details, so I would say, "let's put in a gag like this". I had a lot of fun doing that. "Tenchi Muyo!" was originally a successful work, so I was able to be involved in it and got my name remembered somewhat. I think it was an epoch-making work for me because it led to my subsequent work.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;">---When you were editing game strategy books and magazines, did you ever think, "I'll do something different someday"? </b></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not at all. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>Did you like working on the game strategy book? </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">: </b>I'm the type of person who gets really involved, so even when I'm working on a strategy book, if there's something new, I can find enjoyment in it. I'd think, "let's try writing in a colloquial style this time," or "how about a commentary with a few jokes?". Even now, if I get an offer to do something like that for a strategy book, I'd like to accept it if I have the time. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---I think it was "Magical Girl Pretty Sammy" that made your name known to the world. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b><span>That's right. It's my masterpiece.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>"Pretty Sammy" started out as an OVA, right? How did this come about? </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b><span>I wrote the script for "Tenchi Muyo!" and I also worked on the games. I thought, "what genre haven't I tried? That was novels. I thought, "Maybe they'll let me write a novel at least once," but the novel for "Tenchi Muyo!" (Nahoko) Hasegawa-san had already written the novel for "Tenchi Muyo!". I felt bad for Ryoe Tsukimura (Note 3), but I wanted to have him to write "Pretty Sammy" and I took the project to AIC and Pioneer. I think it was the deviation after another deviation that led to the idea for an OVA. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>(3) Pretty Sammy was originally a parody character that appeared in "Tenchi Muyo! Ryo Oh Ki - CD Special" drama CD. The script was written by Ryoe Tsukimura. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>(Translator's note: Ryoe Tsukimura wrote screenplays for anime until 2001 before transitioning as a novelist. Nahoko Hasegawa has been wrting scripts for anime since 1983. She used pen name, Nahoko Shoji, before Tenchi Muyo) </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><br /></i></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvNQ1gi69CXp7PGnGzSUKQ-gi0GS4eFjbEo_YfHjgGNrwAUudNjfo25OsmhVX8h7e8prt5uySkk9FOK_x3QUXaYCzXkhqJoIjeER3Qjb7c8fHNDxtbE_Pw5_3pEkVn0vjDIXv3yp1wfk/s1600/TEnchi+muyo+novel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1135" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvNQ1gi69CXp7PGnGzSUKQ-gi0GS4eFjbEo_YfHjgGNrwAUudNjfo25OsmhVX8h7e8prt5uySkk9FOK_x3QUXaYCzXkhqJoIjeER3Qjb7c8fHNDxtbE_Pw5_3pEkVn0vjDIXv3yp1wfk/w217-h306/TEnchi+muyo+novel.jpg" width="217" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">One of the several "Techni Muyo-Ryo Oh Ki" novels written by Nahoko Hasegawa</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---When you think back, how do you feel about your work on the OVA "Pretty Sammy"?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"> </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:</b><span> </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm not very good at it (laughs). But it was the first work I was allowed to do as part of the core. I was allowed to do whatever I wanted, go on location scouting without permission, take snapshots of the park, and say, "this is the park where Sammy fights. The director, Kazuyuki Hirokawa, is a man with deep pockets, and he told me to keep bringing it to him, so I was like, "yay!". So I drew and set him a picture like, "here's what Sammy's 'Omakase!' pose is like". I don't know how they could have listened to such a youngster, now I think about it. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>(Translator's note: Kazuyuki Hirokawa is a pen name of late director, Shuichi Hirokawa, who passed away in 2012.) </i></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---The setting of the OVA "Pretty Sammy" is based on your own family home, right? </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b><span>Yes. That's also a parody of "Tenchi Muyo!". "Tenchi Muyo!" is a parody of Kajishima-san's parents' house. So I was like, "well, it's a parody of my parents' house</span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">since </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">it's my idea</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">." (laughs) (Note 4)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>(4) "Tenchi Muyo!" is set in the hometown of Masaki Kajishima, the original creator and character designer of the show. Similarly, in the "Pretty Sammy," the main character Sasami's house is a LP record store, and Kuroda's parents are also run a LP record store. </i></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>Oh Really. I heard that your family runs a LP record store, and that you dedicated your work to your late sister in the postscript of the novel, so I thought you were really into it. </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Well, I think it changed gradually. It's like how (Akitaro) Daichi-san became more and more attached to the father in "Kodomo no Omocha". When you continue a series for a long time, there is a part of you that becomes more like it. At first, I didn't intend to have such an exaggerated theme and I didn't want to personalize the work, but I wrote a lot for "Pretty Sammy". I wrote 3 games, 26 TV episodes, 3 OVAs, and 8 novels. When you write that much, you tend to go deeper and deeper into your own inner world. But now I feel sorry that I went a little too far. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><i style="color: #38761d; text-align: justify;">(Translator's notes: A. Interviewer is referring to the novel version of "Magical Girl Pretty Sammy". B. Akitaro Daichi is the director of "Kodomo no Omocha [Child's Toy]" or "KodoCha" among fans.)</i></div><div><i style="color: #38761d; text-align: justify;"> </i></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---So you were really into it. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yeah, I was really into it.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>Which ones are the most important? </b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The seventh and eighth volumes of the novels. I've given them absurd titles like "Condemnation" or "What is friendship?", or "I'm stepping into an unanswerable theme again......, you idiot" (laughs). </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQeuSg1X613pFcsnXxaz4tEsfEpoUBIB7etr-EUHGx2wf1ZwoiIKkpm39Y-ngJJqVQIx4z_AFgQ1j3ZwhaFBxQ7k09LtdNo_pdgwL8hRXG7RfuAEuxFyGTSNLieNeftdNQ9Ol4aWuRA8/s499/Pretty+Sammy+Novel+7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="353" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQeuSg1X613pFcsnXxaz4tEsfEpoUBIB7etr-EUHGx2wf1ZwoiIKkpm39Y-ngJJqVQIx4z_AFgQ1j3ZwhaFBxQ7k09LtdNo_pdgwL8hRXG7RfuAEuxFyGTSNLieNeftdNQ9Ol4aWuRA8/s320/Pretty+Sammy+Novel+7.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: justify;">Magical Girl Pretty Sammy Novel: Vol.7 (Condemnation)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5kzt840QPotqKg7_1AYUebXlVdkAJdyyUQywQByl5ncKgw1UVZTIF5pkaldOadgKCinPsSFfyrsrX-0IuegFxna8zAWjjNQCCEXlN0ccCPns74p-CGBW9a5tJndESsx81LDOzQKf72A/s500/Pretty+Sammy+Novel+8.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="355" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5kzt840QPotqKg7_1AYUebXlVdkAJdyyUQywQByl5ncKgw1UVZTIF5pkaldOadgKCinPsSFfyrsrX-0IuegFxna8zAWjjNQCCEXlN0ccCPns74p-CGBW9a5tJndESsx81LDOzQKf72A/s320/Pretty+Sammy+Novel+8.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: justify;">Magical Girl Pretty Sammy Novels: Vol.8 (Good Bye Magical Girl Pretty Sammy) </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---What about the "Magical Project S (Pretty Sammy)" TV </b></span><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;">series </b><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;">? </b></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Basically, I thought, "as long as I can make a fool of myself, that's all that matters". I was thinking like, "I'll probably have to compose a series for a TV series only once in my life". So working together </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">with (Hideyuki) Kurata and </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I thought, "let's do what we want to do so we don't regret it".</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Well, I'm not sure how to put this into words (laughs), but I have a feeling that if you play "<b>Magical Project S</b>" with that kind of energy, you might regret it when you get older. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:</b><span> </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not at all at the moment. I really like "Magical Project S". I can proudly say that "Pretty Sammy" is my masterpiece. However, I don't think I'd like it if "Magical Project S" is still my masterpiece when I'm about fifty (laughs). </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">--- Yesterday, I watched "<b>Magical Project S</b>" again on video. </b></span><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;">I know I sound rude, but j</b><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;">ust watching it made me feel dumber (chuckles).</b></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b><span>(Laughs). The latter half of the movie is very self-indulgent. It's like a parody of "Furuhata Ninzaburo". </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>(Translator's note: "Furuhata Ninzaburo" is a Japanese TV detective drama starring late Masakazu Tamura. It is often referred to as the Japanese version of "Columbo") </i></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;">---Like, 'you're underestimating something! (Alt. [Insert] is not a decoration!)'. </b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the preview, we had (Chisa) Yokoyama-san say something like "you'll see the tears of time". (Note 6) </span></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>(6) This probably doesn't need to explain this, but "you're underestimating something!" is a parody of dialog between Amuro and Char in the final scenes of "Char's Counterattack," and "you'll see the Tears of Time" is a parody of "Mobile Suit Z Gundam" episode preview narration. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---"Magical Project S" is, at best, pure. Even when parodying it, it's not a 'let's make fun of it' parody, nor is it twisted. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That's right. Kurata and I would do it in the middle of the night, typing on our word processors and saying things like, "I've got this idea for a story," and then "I see, let's put it in". </span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---I thought it was probably something like that.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There were no twists and turns whatsoever. All the gags were straightforward. Threw them hard and fast. </span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Up until now, I think it was mainly the directors who did this kind of naughty parody. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-weight: 400;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:</b><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-weight: 400;"> </b><span>That's right. </span></span></div></span></span><div><span><span><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">Also, in "Time Bokan", for example, you don't know where the story is coming from and where the direction is coming from. It's the same with Satoru Akahori's works. But with "Magical Project S," when you watch it, you realize, 'Oh, the scriptwriter is doing that'. I thought that was something new. </span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">(Laughs) But I was really happy that everyone enjoyed working on "Magical Project S". (Jun) Okuda-san and (Yoshitaka) Kono-san, who did the visuals, had a lot of fun makng it. We had a lot of fun at the launch, and they would say things like, "Since you wrote this script, I drew it like this". </span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>(Translator's Note: Jun Okuda and Yoshitaka Kono are animators) </i></span></div></span></span></span><div><span><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---I see.</b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></b></span>I can say with pride that the script was finished before it went on air. </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---That's amazing. </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></b></span>I went to the dubbing session with my heart in my mouth because it was all done with pictures. The sound director, (Yasunori) Honda-san, also liked it. There were times when we recorded only one shot. </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---One shot recording? </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></b></span>There was one episode where we didn't do any tests and just went for it. Everyone was already used to it, so we just started recording right away. </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Does that mean there's no final test? </b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-weight: 400;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:</b><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-weight: 400;"> </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">No test. It's just the real thing. (Note 7)</span></span></div></span></span></span></span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---That's amazing. It might go down in the history of Japanese postrecording. Which episode was it? </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>In the latter half of the series, like around episode 22. </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></span></span></span></span></span><div><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Continuing on</b></span><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">, </b></b></span></b><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;">Kurata took the initiative for the next work, </b><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><b style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">"Battle Athletes"</b></b></span></b></b></span></b><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;"> . </b></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>I don't want to lie, so I'm going to tell you without hiding anything, but I had a hard time with "Magical Project S". I was bouncing around with a straightforward approach, so the other writers' scripts didn't match the taste of "MPS", and I had to make some changes. There were times when the characters' emotions were flowing well, but then they would suddenly cut off. When that happens, it's quite emotionally damaging. In "Battle Athletes", I took the stance that I didn't want Kurata to feel that way. I thought, "If that's the case, why don't we just do it together"? We wouldn't have to worry about anything else. That's why he was the main one doing the work, and I would follow him when the schedule got tight. </div></b></span></b></span></span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="text-align: justify;">---</b></span>In the script, where do you and Kurata-san start working together? </span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>From the (drama) CD's of "Tenchi Muyo!". Even when he was working on other projects, I would ask him to help me with my stories. </div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He likes stories that jump out at him, and I like stories that go inside, so I chose to write a story about falling in "Battle Athletes". </span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Falling? </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>For example, depicting a story where a character falls into the abyss. </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">------It's a good idea to separate your strengths. </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>I didn't tell Kurata about this, but I wrote episode 5 with the stance of "this is what a sports tenacity story is supposed to be (Note 8). I felt that Kurata was still trying to decide whether to go for "Bishoujo" or "Sports-Tenacity". His novels had a "Sports- Tenacity" feel to them, but when the anime came out, it was a little less sports-tenacity. So I said, "no, don't worry! You can go with sports-tenacity" and I wrote a scene where she smacks someone while in sleep. </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span><span><span><span><span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i>(8) "Battle Athletes" TV series: Episode 5/Arrogance.</i></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><i style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;">(Translator's Note: Sports-Teanacity or Spo-Kon is a formula in sports anime/manga storyline which protagonists go through grueling training under a tough coach to reach the climatic event) </i></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><i style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Did you spend a lot of time on the script for "TRIGUN"?</b></span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yes, I did. It took about 8 to 9 months. </span></div></span></span></span></span></span><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Why did you write the script for the entire episodes by yourself? </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>I didn't want to lower my own excitement. </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Because it's better to write your own script than to control someone else's script? </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>I'm not skilled enough to control it (laughs). But the only thing I couldn't accept was that the characters' emotional lines were cut off. I wouldn't be able to write the next story. I thought I had to improve my skills in that area, so later I worked on "Dual!" though. </div></b></span></b></span></span><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> At the time of "TRIGUN", there were a lot of staff members whom I knew well, so I was confident that I could do it. I was thinking, "I definitely want to do the part where Wolfwood dies, so I'm definitely going to write it through until then. The meetings with the director, (Satoshi) Nishimura-san, were very thrilling and stimulating. </span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---What do you mean by thrilling? </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>Nishimura-san is amazing. For example, he asked me to add three more dots at the end of the line. He said, "just by doing that, the direction will be different by six frames". So I said, "oh I see. Understood" There was a time when I wrote more drafts just for that (laughs). </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---You took it home and typed more dots with word processor. </b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:</b><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-weight: 400;"> </b><span>If that's what the director really needs, then I think it's the duty of the scenario writer to write it. </span></span></div></span></span></span></span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---How was the "Photon"?</b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>(Koji) Masunari-san was a big part of "Photon". I still keep in touch with Masunari-san and talk with him over drinks. Masunari-san taught me how a scenario writer should be, and how I should position myself. It's rare for someone to praise me like that. At the time of "MAICO," he said, "I can't imagine doing this without you guys". I was so happy at that time. </div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold;"><br /></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold;"><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;"><i style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;">(Translator's Note: "MAICO" is "Android Announcer MAICO 2010" ) </i></b></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #3d85c6; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span></span></span><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">------In "MAICO," every scene in every episode is indoors, right? Was that decided from the beginning? </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-weight: 400;">Kuroda: </b><span>Kuroda: The director said he wanted to do a situation comedy with indoor scenes. That was in line with my concept as I mentioned earlier. I wanted a drama in one scene. </span></span></div></span></span></span></span><div><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="350" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TJ9oPRCw9Kc" width="479" youtube-src-id="TJ9oPRCw9Kc"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Android Announcer MAICO 2010</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">--- One drama scene per episode. </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>Kurata and I both liked Koki Mitani, so we decided to make it a bit like "The King's Restaurant. "We were saying things like, "let's not watch 'Radio Time'". The situations are so similar (laughs). </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><b><i style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;">(Translator's Note: Koki Mitani is a Japanese screenwriter, actor, comedian, and director. He wrote screenplay of "King's Restaurant", a 1995 TV drama about young people trying to rebuild a French restaurant on a verge of collapse. "Radio Time" is a 1993 film directed by Mitani which is a situation drama filled with laughter about various events that occur in the confined space of a studio during a radio drama broadcast.)</i></b></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">You're doing three new shows this fall. "Infinite Ryvius", "Excel Saga", and "Risky Safety". What are your own concepts for these works? </span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;">Kuroda:</b><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica; font-weight: 400;"> </b><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-weight: normal;">For "Infinite Ryvius", I think it's a matter of whether or not my taste can match with Sunrise's, and how far I can take my taste within Sunrise's framework. There are a lot of characters, a lot of drama, and a lot of innovative things going on. Please watch it as Shakti asks (laughs). </span></div></span></span></span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><b><b><i style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;">(Translator's note: Kuroda is referring to Victory Gundam's character, Shakti. Shahkti serves as the narrator for the episode previews in Victory Gundam, imploring viewers to continue watching the series at the end of every episode by saying, "Please Watch it!")</i></b></b></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><b><b><i style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></i></b></b></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><b><b><i style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></i></b></b></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---What about "Excel Saga"? </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>For me, this is the third work in the "Young King Ours" & Victor's Shigeru Kitayama's line, following "Geo Breeders" and "TRIGUN". When I first heard about this project, I thought it would be difficult because the original story required a lot of pauses and tempo. However, when Shin'ichi (Watanabe) was chosen as the director, I said, "If Shin'ichi-san is going to do it, then we'll do it. We're going to make a super gag/dork anime. It's going to be great. The secondary title of "Excel Saga" is "Quack Experimental Animation". That's why I'm doing a hackneyed experiment every time. That's the concept. Please watch it as Shakti asks (laughs). </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></span></span></span></span></span><div><span><span><span><span><div><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>(Translator's note: Shigeru Kitayama is a producer from Victor Entertainment [now JVC Kenwood Victor Entertainment]. "Young Kings Ours" is a manga magazine that published Nightow Yasuhiro's "TRIGUN")</i></div></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---What about "Risky Safety"? </b></span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I hadn't written many heartwarming stories, so my concept was to see how much information I could pack into 7 minutes, and to see if I could make people feel emotionally moved by a story that lasts less than seven minutes. Of course, there are still some Kuroda-esque parts in there (laughs). </span></div></span></span></span></span><div><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</span></span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-weight: bold;">You just said "Kuroda-esque," but what is "Kuroda-esque"? </span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:</b><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-weight: 400;"> </b><span>Uh, I don't know. </span></span></div></span></span></span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---You just said it yourself (laughs). </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>There have been times when other people have told me that I have a clear idea of what I want to do, and I've wondered if that's true. I don't know if that's true and that the script gives off an aura that says, "don't mess with this scene". That's probably true. There are times when I feel like I'm writing just to do this scene. I also think that the pauses, dialogue, tempo, and dialogue style are a bit unique, but that's just me. </div></span></span></span></span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---There are screenwriters who focus on plot or logic, but it's not like that, is it? </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:</b><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-weight: 400;"> </b><span>Not at all. In that sense, it's about "now".</span></span></div></span></span></span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---"Now"? </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>"Present" when I'm writing. That's why in "TRIGUN", there are times when I wrote without a plot. I always try to take in the feeling of the moment. So even if the story turns out to be a little different from the plot, if the people around me laugh and smile, I think that's OK. Of course, it doesn't take away from the main plot. </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></span></span></span></span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="text-align: justify;">---</b></span>It's very different from the way you would make it up tightly. </span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;">Kuroda: </b>I guess I feel like a weekly manga artist. It changes quite flexibly. </div><div><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---It is important to have good "vitality". </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>That's right. Like in "MAICO", I came up with the idea of having the character, Suga, die in the middle of the story, and I called the director and asked him about it, and he said "OK", so I changed the series structure. </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;">---Isn't it possible to have an idea of where you want to end up, and then work backwards to get there? </b></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>It's not that we don't. In "TRIGUN", I had a clear idea of the final story, and I knew that the character would end up like this at this point in the story. However, if I suddenly thought of a good scene in the middle of the story, I would make the most of it. My priority was to make it interesting. I think that's why it's hard for other writers to get involved, because things change so rapidly.</div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---So, in extreme cases, you wanted to do everything yourself. </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:</b><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-weight: 400;"> </b><span>If possible, I'd like to work with the director on a man-to-man basis, doing all the work myself.</span></span></div></span></span></span></span><div><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---I have the impression that you are the "new generation" of anime scriptwriters. More and more, from an anime fan's point of view, you seem to be a similar type to Akahori-san. </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>I'm often compared to him. </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---But there is something different about you and Akahori-san, and I think that is the difference in generations. </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></b></span>But we're only about three years apart in age. </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Is there a difference in the lightness of footwork and the feeling of getting involved in the field? </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>That's right. I prefer to drink with the people in the studio rather than with the voice actors. When I was working on "Pretty Sammy", I was allowed to observe the cutting process and saw the entire animation process. I had to know everything about it before I could write.</div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"> I had to know how much pain the artists would suffer if I wrote such a script. I had to keep those things in mind. If the schedule was tight, I had to find a way to write in a certain way. </div></b></span></b></span></span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="text-align: justify;">---</b></span>I also have the impression that you're part of the filming crew. The printed script is just your "work" and you don't devote your passion towards it. </span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:</b><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-weight: 400;"> </b><span>I think the script is the blueprint of the work. </span></span></div></span></span></span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Oh, I knew it. </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>I'd like to be closer to the scene. If there is a director's desk in the studio, I want mine to be next to it. For "Infinite Ryvius", Sunrise gave me a desk in the studio. So I'm working on the scenario next to the director. It's so much easier! </div></span></span></span></span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="text-align: justify;">---</b></span>It's that easy?<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"> </span></span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>Whenever I have a problem, I can ask them right away. "I'd like to make this scene like this, what do you think?" And so on. You have to be that quick. I think it would be ideal if the schedule could be extended by a week or two, so that the quality of the drawing and sound could be improved, and if we could have the dubbing done in color, that would be ideal. I think that would be ideal. ...... Not that I've been able to achieve this completely (smiles).</div><div><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Earlier, you said that you were compared to Akahori-san. </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>People around me sometimes tell me that I look like him. I don't think I'm aware of it, so I didn't know. </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---I think Akahori-san was also quite close to the scene when he was working on "Lamune & 40" and other projects. </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>Masunari-san was working on "Lamune & 40", so I've heard about his quick work style. I've heard about his quick work style. He would suddenly fix the script on the spot, or fix lines on the recording site. </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="text-align: justify;">---</b></span>You must be even closer to the site than that. </span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>I love the site. I like the feeling of making something together. Maybe it's like an extension of club activities. It makes me feel like, "wow, such good drawings! Wow, I have to work hard too". I want to raise my spirits, and their spirits goes up steadily. </div><div><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---</b></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">I heard that Orphee basically edits the liner notes and other parts of the LDs for the films that Orphée has worked on. </span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>I'd say things like, concept work. I say things like, "let's put this kind of article in the magazine. Or, "It would be interesting if this artist did an illustration". As a user, when I buy an LD, I'd be happier if there were interesting things written on the liner note, wouldn't I? </div><div><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;">(</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400;">Translator's note: LD is abbreviation for Laserdisc, the predecessor to DVD. In Japan, most anime video publishers include a liner notes in their package that contains anything from factoids to production arts to commentaries. They continue that practice to this day) </span></span><i style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><i style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;">---It seems like a good deal, doesn't it? </b></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>That's right. It was the drama CD of "To Heart" I did a proper rough draft since it's been in a while. I even directed that one, and put a lot of thought into it. </div></b></span></b><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mGLXRYkwAtbO0urQEwLOQOSZ_26DHi0hisUJGTTyORYO_2kfeTW6ZPWtsIeYYNHVa63TovQcGa76v2roHd_8NdDtpkqA8Vjwp2qbdwS0gZp_PoCaZyP4DcGvGx7Z4V6_vIJi3RN1d6w/s384/To+Heart+CD.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="376" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mGLXRYkwAtbO0urQEwLOQOSZ_26DHi0hisUJGTTyORYO_2kfeTW6ZPWtsIeYYNHVa63TovQcGa76v2roHd_8NdDtpkqA8Vjwp2qbdwS0gZp_PoCaZyP4DcGvGx7Z4V6_vIJi3RN1d6w/s320/To+Heart+CD.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"To Heart" Drama CD</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><div><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b style="text-align: justify;">---</b>Recording direction? That's amazing.</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>It was my first time, but I had to do it for various reasons. I did the recording direction, selected the music, and wrote all the liner notes. I asked my company to order illustrations. I wanted to make sure that what I was involved in was good packaging. </div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> I'm going to go back a bit, but I think the reason why the taste of "Battle Athletes" is somewhat coherent is because Orphee did all the work. The novel, the radio, and the game. I wasn't involved in the games "GTO" and "Akari and the Game," though. Other than that, I still have the Orphee's touch. Or rather, it's Kurata's taste. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: italic; font-weight: 400;">(Translator's note: "GTO" referred is a Playstation game, "Battle Athletes-Daiundoukai GTO [バトルアスリーテス大運動会 GTO]". "Akari and the Game [あかりと勝負]" is a PC game version of "Battle Athletes" published by AIC Spirits)</span></span></b></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></i></span></b></b></span></div><div style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="328" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QYBlML4Ddog" width="421" youtube-src-id="QYBlML4Ddog"></iframe></div></span></b></b><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><b><b><b><b><b><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Battle Athletes-Daiundoukai GTO</span></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Everything that has the name, "Battle Athletes", in it? </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>Almost all of them. That was our pride in Orphée, too. We were like, "let's do it, even if we have to". I guess you could say we put the on-site first. </div><div><br /></div></span></span></span></span><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---It was the "Space Nadeshiko Manual". That mook was good, wasn't it? (Note 9) </b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:</b><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-weight: 400;"> </b><span>(laughs). </span></span></div></span></span></span></span><div><span><span><span><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-weight: 400;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJA8n5E-BxMzoO5jr1_-5fB95G2YOM0-wZ3hVyJWspJGiNqJxs27CCDOw-1k1OjGmJeCu7a7YN5IkgyQM_FykrqBNKrjAQrHw_Z58MwKD3gk9cEIj-ESJtMqzwqbo-JGfRzHMKGSN0iN8/s373/battle+athletes+mook+2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="373" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJA8n5E-BxMzoO5jr1_-5fB95G2YOM0-wZ3hVyJWspJGiNqJxs27CCDOw-1k1OjGmJeCu7a7YN5IkgyQM_FykrqBNKrjAQrHw_Z58MwKD3gk9cEIj-ESJtMqzwqbo-JGfRzHMKGSN0iN8/w324-h320/battle+athletes+mook+2.jpeg" width="324" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: times;">(Note 9) This is a mook published by Media Works. The official title is "Battle Athletes Indiscriminate Commentary: Space Nadeshiko Manual[バトルアスリーテス大運動会 無差別解説書 宇宙撫子読本]". The Obi of the mook says "Studio Orphee True Edition". </span></i></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;">---Something like, "I'm putting a lot of effort into this!". There was a bit of youthful indiscretion. </b></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:</b><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-weight: 400;"> </b><span>(Laughs) Wow, youthful indiscretion. </span></span></div></span></span></span></span><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---I mean, it's being deliberately youthful and indiscreet, isn't it? </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda:</b><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-weight: 400;"> </b><span>Uh huh, that's right.</span><b style="font-weight: 400;"> </b></span></div></span></span></span></span><div><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Even if your writing slip ups, you're like, "just keep slipping! (laughs). </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>We wanted them to laugh at our slip ups (laughs). It felt like, "laugh at us, we're so hapless, right"? </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="text-align: justify;">---</span></span><b>Kuroda-san, would you like to do a liner note or a mook in the future? </b></span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>I would like to if I have the time. I think we are still capable of creating interesting articles. </div><div><br /></div></span></span></span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="text-align: justify;">---</b></span>Do you ever go back and watch videos of the films you wrote? </span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b><span>Yes, I do. I watch them all the time. </span></span></div></span></span></span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="text-align: justify;">---</b></span>The same one five or ten times. </span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>I watch it, I watch it. I've watched the episode of "TRIGUN" where Wolfwood dies about 70 times. I think I've also rewatched episode 5 of "Battle Athletes" about 20 times. I've also rewatched episode 20 of Magical Project S (Note 10). I have weak tear glands, so I get really emotional myself (laughs). I watch it again when I'm feeling down at work. I also rewatch other episodes and OVAs. </div></span></span></span></span><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: times;"><i>(10) In "TRIGUN", Wolfwood's death is in episode 23 [Paradise]. </i></span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Do you watch any other anime now? </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>Of course, I watch them. There are many times when I can't watch because of work. If I miss something, I borrow a video from someone I know and watch it. I know it's weird to say, but I feel that there is no one who has the same wavelength as me yet. </div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---No one got in your radar yet? </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: helvetica; font-weight: 400;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>Or rather, I'm deliberately choosing things that don't exist (laughs). I think I can be proud of being a heretic because there is an easy way. Going back to what I said earlier about Akahori-san, I've been told many times that I'm like him, and recently I've come to think that I'm like him in some ways. But if Akahori-san is into Shonen Jump and Shonen Sunday, I guess I'm into Young King Ours and Dengeki Daioh. (laughs) </div></span></span></span></span><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><br /></div><div><span style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;">---Akahori-san is the major league.</b></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;"> </b></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>He is a major player. His stance on how to make something, his planning ability, and so on. He is the Tetsuya Komuro of the anime world. He looks at the anime world from a global perspective. I can't do that (laughs).</div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></div></b></span></b></span></span><div><span><span><span><span><div><span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><i>(</i></span><i>Translator note: Tetsuya Komuro is a famous Japanese pop musician, singer-songwriter, composer, record producer</i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><i>)</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #a64d79; text-align: justify;">---Do you think you're more underground? </b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><b style="color: #3d85c6;">Kuroda: </b></span>I guess I'm more like a minor-major leaguer, or a guy who came out of the indie scene. A musician who comes out of the indie scene and doesn't know how to be polite. Whoa, I said it myself, it's so unreal (laughs). </span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i><b>Chronological List of Yosuke Kuroda's work as of 1999:</b></i></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>1993</b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>OVA</b><span><b> <i>"Tenchi Muyo!"</i> </b></span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Screenplay: Epsiode 7 and beyond) </span></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>1995</b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>TV <span> </span><i>"Tenchi Universe"</i> </b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Screenplay: Episodes 4, 8, 9, 17, 21) </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>OVA <i>"Magical Girl Pretty Sammy"</i> </b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Screenplay)</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>1996</b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>TV <i> </i> </b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><b><i>"Magical Project S"</i> </b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Series Composition, Screenplay: Ep. 1, 3, 8, 9, 12, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26) </span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">OVA<span> </span></b><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>"Magical Girl Pretty Sammy 2 - Cyberbrain Empire Strikes Back"</i> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Screenplay)</span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">OVA <i>"</i></b><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Magical Girl Pretty Sammy - Samy's Song Book":</i> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>l</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">ive action part</span><b style="font-family: helvetica;"> </b><span style="font-family: helvetica;">(Screenplay)</span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>OVA <i>"Fire Emblem"</i> </b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Screenplay)</span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>OVA <i>"801 T.T.S. Airbats"</i> </b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Screenplay: Vol. 5) </span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">OVA <i>"Tattoon Master"</i> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Screenplay)</span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">OVA <i>"Panzer Dragoon"</i> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Screenplay)</span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">OVA <i>"Variable Geo"</i> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Screenplay)</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>1997</b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">TV <span> </span><i>"Battle Athletes"</i> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Series Composition [joint credit], Screenplay: Episodes 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 17)</span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">OVA<span> </span></b><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>"Magical Girl Pretty Sammy 3 - Super Kiss"</i> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Screenplay)</span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">OVA <i>"Jungle De Ikou"</i> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Screenplay: Vol. 3)</span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">OVA <i>"Photon"</i> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Series Composition, Screenplay: Episodes 1, 2, 4, 6</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">) </span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>1998</b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">TV <i>"Trigun"</i> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Series Composition, Screenplay: All Episodes</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">) </span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">TV <i>"MAICO 2010"</i> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Series Composition [joint credit], Screenplay: Episodes 1, 4, 8, 9, 15, 16, </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">19 to 24) </span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: black; font-family: helvetica;">TV <i>"</i></b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i>Hikarian - Great Railroad Protector"</i> </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Screenplay: Episodes 42, 43, 47, 49, 56, 61, 63, 70, 71, 80, 82, 91) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">OVA <i>"Geobreeders"</i> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Series Composition, Screenplay</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">)</span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>1999</b></span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: black; font-family: helvetica;">TV <i>"</i></b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i>Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure"</i> </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Series Composition, Screenplay: Episodes 1, 2, 8, 13</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">)</span><b style="font-family: helvetica;"> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">TV <i> "Infinite Ryvius"</i> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Series Composition, Screenplay</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">)</span><b style="font-family: helvetica;"> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">TV <i>"Excel Saga"</i> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Series Composition [joint credit], Screenplay)</span></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">TV <i>"Omishi Magical Theater Risky Safety"</i> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Series Composition [joint credit], Screenplay</span><b style="font-family: helvetica;"> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div style="color: black;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">OVA <i>"Tokimeki Memorial"</i> </b></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Series Composition, Screenplay</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">)</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>hyunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11997714270174561026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272394548623580930.post-59858019057328566712021-09-10T23:49:00.003-07:002021-09-11T04:08:34.613-07:00In-Depth Interview with Director Tetsuro Araki (Animage, December 2010)<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>"I Want To Hear Their Story" </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">In-Depth Interview with Director Tetsuro Araki </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> Source: Animage, December 2010 </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Disclaimer: This is an amateur fan translation. I'm not responsible for any typo and misinterpretation)</span> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>Introduction</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Tetsuro Araki was a standout right from his episode directorial debut in "Galaxy Angel". His first directorial work, "Death Note", is a TV series where razor sharp wit and eccentricity made it attractive. "High School of the Dead", which its broadcast just ended recently, is an impressive work full of fan service and penetrating sensibilities. He seems to be good at edgy works, but for the past few years, he has been working on his works with less of himself in the forefront. So what is his true intention?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Interview by Yuuichiro Oguro</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPQ-p9kSx1KFujxywxzm-bkq7b3WPAvsXEM4sgOGE7DYqXqD9RMUCEqU7rY-NH1CR1ipEoEQ-JoyvOa21oH7-WFQm5QrO_SEbgWnEILeh03aD8q0uStEw2LSdJL8lLqlz8cfd7Vo6tYk/s1021/Araki4+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1021" data-original-width="898" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNPQ-p9kSx1KFujxywxzm-bkq7b3WPAvsXEM4sgOGE7DYqXqD9RMUCEqU7rY-NH1CR1ipEoEQ-JoyvOa21oH7-WFQm5QrO_SEbgWnEILeh03aD8q0uStEw2LSdJL8lLqlz8cfd7Vo6tYk/w150-h171/Araki4+%25282%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;">[Tetsuro Araki Profile] </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Director, born November 5, 1976 in Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture. Blood type B. After graduating from Senshu University with a degree in Humanities, he joined Madhouse. After working as a production coordinator and design manager, he made his directorial debut with "Tomoyo's Video Diary," an exclusive bonus video for (Japanese) fans who purchased the complete video set of "Cardcaptor Sakura". He has been involved in "Galaxy Angel" since the first series, and has attracted attention for his outlandish work. He made his directorial debut with the "Fairy Musketeer OVA". His representative works include "DEATH NOTE," "KUROZUKA," and "HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD" (all of which he directed). On "Michiko and Hatchin" episode 7, which he participated under pen name, </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Saburo Mochizuki, is</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> the one in which he was able to do what he wanted to do </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">even though he followed the scenario.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Just like "DEATH NOTE" episode 25 and the first episode of " HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD," He is currently freelance. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5Q96tp9RMk8" width="478" youtube-src-id="5Q96tp9RMk8"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"Cardcaptor Sakura - Tomoyo's Video Diary"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="362" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6DzkK2i--gw" width="481" youtube-src-id="6DzkK2i--gw"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Fairy Musketeer OVA"</span></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;">(This interview is conducted on December 10, 2010 at Madhouse studio)</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;">---Actually there was a time when I was approached to interview you for this feature during the broadcast of "Galaxy Angels". </span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Oh, so long ago.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---However, I told (Masao) Maruyama-san that "it's too early. If you put him on a pedestal now, he'll get carried away. So it's better not to do it" (Note 1) </b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> It's a bit of a "no-brainer," though.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #38761d;">(1) Masao Maruyama is a veteran producer of Madhouse who produced countless masterpieces. </span></i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---It took about eight years, but today's interview has finally come to fruition.</b></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> As for myself, I'm very happy as well. (Takayuki) Hirao was featured and I was envious. (Note 2) </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #38761d;">(2) Takayuki Hirao is the director of "The Garden of the Sinners" and other works. He and Tetsuro Araki joined Madhouse at the same period and they are good friends. They often help each other's works.</span></i></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---Did you originally enter the animation realm because you wanted to be a director?</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> Definitely, yes. When I was a university student, I was making movies on camcorder video, and I thought it was interesting to make films, and I was happy that people around me were somewhat pleased with my work. That's why when I entered the animation industry, I was very clear that I wanted to direct. I liked animation to begin with, but I felt that it was easier to be a director in animation than in live action.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">---What kind of films did you make at the university?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> Well, let's see. It was about an older brother and a younger sister, and how the younger sister may or may not abandon the older brother who has gone crazy from worrying too much. It was about whether or not the sister would abandon the brother who had become too troubled and crazy, and whether or not he would cut him with a utility knife.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---That was brutal (laughs). </b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> That was pretty much my mental state at the time. I imagined myself as the older brother, and cast the girl I liked at the time as the younger sister of the main character. It was like I was trying to get the girl to leave her brother. When I think about it now, I feel like I made something that was meant to harass me (laughs).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>Everyone (laughs loudly).</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> The people who watched it were all very happy, though (laughs). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---Was there a reason why you joined Madhouse? </b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> I was just about to graduate when I decided to work in animation. I wasn't looking for a job, so at first I was thinking of going to a vocational school. But my brother-in-law told me, "If you call them out of the blue and ask them to let you in, they'll let you in," so I called the places that were still recruiting at that time. At that point, the two companies that were still recruiting were Ashi Pro and Madhouse. I applied to both, and was rejected by Ashi Pro, but was accepted by Madhouse.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---As you became an episode director after going through as Production Assistant and Design Manager later on, did you have an image of the ideal director you were aiming for?</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> The first person who comes to mind is Yoshiyuki Tomino. But I didn't want to create something like him, nor did I want to become someone like him. I just thought that Tomino's way of expressing what is really important to him in the film, or shouting out what he wants to say in the film, is something that makes me feel good. That's what I want to do, that's for sure. It's not that I wanted to create a character who speaks Tomino dialogue, or that I wanted to do something like "Gundam," but that the act of putting oneself into a film is what attracted me. Also, even if I wanted to be like Tomino-san, I think it would be difficult for me to be like him because I can't get angry at people. According to what I heard, Tomino-san often gets angry with people.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #a64d79;">---I heard that he was a scary person, especially in the past</span>. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> I was really weak-minded. Anyway, I couldn't get angry with people. I think to myself that if I had been able to get angry at people more, I would have been a better director. When I hear that a director I know has had a bad day with someone or got angry with someone, I think, "That is so cool......! I wish I could be like that" (laughs). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---Your episode directorial debut was "Galaxy Angel". In "Galaxy Angel", other people were doing outlandish things, but you stood out among them, and I remember that there was a sense that you were going in an avant-garde direction. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> At that time, didn't you interview with me on the Madhouse web page? (Note 3). After the interview was over, you blurted, "don't make this a normal production." </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #38761d;">(3) "Turbulance in Madhouse: Side Episode" was a blog entry in Madhouse's official website. Interview was conducted around the time "Galaxy Angel" was aired. (Translator's note: Aforementioned blog entry is no longer available in Madhouse website. Luckily the blog entry is reprinted on "Anime Style 005" - May 2014 issue) </span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-QwEOTZfwj5LptopiEdagH61el-hScmJzQ9ZdNlwd_ywAP64rvwrtHgKZ88oaCFwS803BBpPK-zIhJwN5yUnldh5OrOSUoHep9th0GmCMkrxN5hMf2jgz3KpLLGJF9YBv_-SZI7c4Gs/s640/anime+style+005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="453" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-QwEOTZfwj5LptopiEdagH61el-hScmJzQ9ZdNlwd_ywAP64rvwrtHgKZ88oaCFwS803BBpPK-zIhJwN5yUnldh5OrOSUoHep9th0GmCMkrxN5hMf2jgz3KpLLGJF9YBv_-SZI7c4Gs/w313-h442/anime+style+005.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---So, when you were working on Galaxy Angel, did you have that "me, me, me" feeling?</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: helvetica;"><b>A</b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">raki:</span></b> Yes, I did. When I look back now, I remember that I was so stubborn that I wonder why I was so stubborn. "I thought, "It's no fun for anyone but me". Now I think I just didn't see the work of the people around me. I didn't even notice the goodness of the scenario I was given. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Now, I think my first priority is to recognize the quality of the material given to me and work to make the most of it. What I want to do now is to go one step further. I would like to do work that creates the "fun" itself, rather than just fixing the "fun" on film. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---In other words, "DEATH NOTE" and "HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD" were about taking the "fun" that you were given and establish it on film? </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> That's right. How to transfer the "fun" in the source material or manga to film without changing its tempo. I don't mind the work itself. When I read the original manga, I found it interesting and it moved me, so I try to make it so that I feel the same way on film. Just because I traced the manga as it was doesn't mean that I would be moved in the same way, so I had to get creative. It was an interesting mission, and I'm glad I did it. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---For example, don't you think that the edgy sensibility of "DEATH NOTE" is your strong point? </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> No, not in "DEATH NOTE" or in "HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD". For example, I don't think I did it with the mindset of "watch my work" like I did with "Galaxy Angel".</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The first priority is to make the audience see the film without losing the charm of the original work, but rather by upgrading it. In the process of this mission, there was a moment when I thought, "hmm, if I keep doing the same thing, it's going to be less powerful than the original," I think there was a moment when I was in a hurry to do something about it, and my mind went into a mode where I didn't understand what was going on, and I came up with a unbelievable idea. It's not that I was trying to do that from the beginning, but I was seriously trying to capture the charm of the original story on film, and that's when I came up with unbelievable ideas.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---I see. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> For example, when I was checking the storyboard, I felt that the film was not satisfying enough even after the B-Part, probably because there was too little pleasure in the movement. So I thought, "Oh, maybe I should make the picture a little more flashy," and that's when something unexpected happened. In my own way, I tried to fill in the missing parts of the film and create a balance.</span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---Do you have a specific example?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> In "DEATH NOTE", I think it was the action of writing the note. The most satisfying part for me was the appearance of Teru Mikami (Note 4). I originally liked the character Teru Mikami, and I thought that if he appeared in the second part, he would be the sole focus of the story. That's why I wanted to make his appearance have a big impact. I tried to make the scene more flamboyant in the storyboard by adding big action scenes, but it just so happened that (Yoshihiko) Umakoshi-san did the key animation for the scene, and it turned out to be more flamboyant than I imagined. And there was that beam of light coming out of it (laughs).</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><i><span style="color: #38761d;">(4) On "Death Note" episode 31, mysterious light shoots off from the notebook while Teru Mikami is making pen strokes on the Death Note.</span></i></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="330" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2bAt6LETFIM" width="480" youtube-src-id="2bAt6LETFIM"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">"Death Note" episode 31 - Pen stroke scene </span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---(Laughs).</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> I remember how much I liked that scene. Until I drew the storyboard for that scene, I had never imagined that such a scene would be created.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---The scene where Light eats potato chips is another example. (Note 5)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> That's right. When I'm drawing a storyboard, I want to do it again in that groove. When I am in that mode, interesting scenes are usually created. I originally thought of the potato chip scene as a parody of the scene in episode 1, where he wrote a note to a song, and my concept for the direction was to take the situation from episode 1 and do it again under surveillance with the same cut. It was like re-creating the same scene, but this time as a gag.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I drew the storyboard to the song, and when I was putting the dialogue to the song, I found that a good part of the song hit the words, "And then eat potato chips". I thought, "hey, this isn't the most powerful part of the song," but I thought that if I dressed up the action of eating, it would somehow fit with the song. and it just happened to take that shape. I thought it was interesting, and I'm glad I did it.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><i><span style="color: #38761d;">5. In Death Note Episode 8, Light kills people with the Death Note while pretends not noticing the surveillance. He uses potato chip bag to hide the notebook. He acts like he's studying while eating potato chips, but that scene turned out very interesting and became a hot topic. </span> </i></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---There was an exciting scene I noticed. In episode 25 of "DEATH NOTE," for which you did the storyboard, there was a scene where Light and L get wet in the rain, and L wipes Light's body. That's not in the source material, is it? </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> That's right.</span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---How did you come up with that kind of depiction? It felt like the artistic flavor suddenly came out. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> I think I wanted to make a film even before I entered the animation world, and I think I did it right. It's an adaptation of someone else's original work, but it's like "I thought I could do it, so I did it". </span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm not sure if I should say this, but I was aware of the novel "An Urgent Appeal" by Osamu Dazai. After Christ wipes the feet of the apostles, he prophesies that Judas will betray him. In fact, after his feet are wiped, Judas appeals to Christ. I really liked that novel because it depicted Judas' love and hatred for Christ. From the very beginning, I thought that the relationship between Light and L could be applied to Christ and Judas, that L strongly hates Light but also strongly loves him. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>That was the story about L being defeated by Light's cunning game of cat and mouse, but I thought, "maybe we can add another level to this story?" The assumption that, "L knew everything, but was daringly buried" could be included in that story. It could be replaced by Christ's feelings in "An Urgent Appeal". I remember thinking strongly, "I'm going to make a film about that resignation.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The amount of dialogue in that episode was less than half of the usual number of episodes, and I tried to create a sense of solemnity with the silence. In one of the few lines, L says to light, "have you ever told the truth even once since you were born? In other words, they have a feeling of being sinful kindred spirits. I thought that their "Last Supper" scene would look homoerotic in its appearance, but I also thought that it would create a mythical atmosphere. It's something I wanted people to read into it, but I remember being careful to make sure that it could be interpreted in many different ways by different viewers. I tried to keep it in the zone where the relationship between Light and L could be interpreted as it was in the original story.</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I remember feeling a sense of satisfaction because I thought I was able to make a film that was true to the original story but also had some kind of soul to it. Even though (Mitsuyuki) Masuhara-san directed the episode, I sound as if I alone took credit for it, but I had the greatest response in my work. The first episode of "High School of the Dead" had the same kind of maximum response as well.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---Between "DEATH NOTE" and "HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD", you worked on "KUROZUKA" and "Aoi Bungaku". You said earlier that you were "selflessly devoted to your work", but did you make "KUROZUKA" as a service to the source material?</b> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> "Kurozuka" was a very difficult work. The original story is characterized by the main character's wandering through time, jumping from one era to another over decades and centuries, so my first priority was to make the most of that. However, it was difficult to expand the interest beyond that. I had a strong sense that I was making an extension of the way I had succeeded with DEATH NOTE in terms of drawing. When I think about it now, I don't think I should have taken that stance.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="278" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ohpq9jsPPzY" width="480" youtube-src-id="ohpq9jsPPzY"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">"Kurozuka"</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---I thought that "Kurozuka" was an attempt to do the story right. And what I couldn't figure out was "Under the Full Cherry Blossom Forest" in "Aoi Bungaku". (Note 6)</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> You didn't understand it that much? I felt that I had done everything right. There are some points in that work that I regret, but I still think that the way I set the initial policy was right. In short, cherry blossoms are women, and even that person you are familiar with has a terrible side. It's not that the woman in that story is special. I wanted to use a pop expression to show that a man can be inadvertently entangled by a woman like that and get lost. That was my strategy, but it didn't work for the people who watched it. I don't think it really got through. It's like, "I think it's funny, but what the hell?</span></div><div><br /></div><div><i><span style="color: #38761d;">(6) "Under the Cherry Blossom Forest" is a part of "Aoi Bungaku" omnibus. It's based on Ango Sakaguchi's novel. As Araki stated in the interview, it's a unique work which he challenged himself to try different style. </span></i></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;">---(Laughs). </span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Araki:</b></span> What was about it that was so puzzling to you, Oguro-san? </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---"Under the Full Cherry Blossoms Forest" is a work of fiction, isn't it? It suddenly becomes a musical, people become dolls as soon as they are cut down, and blood is expressed by red cloth falling down like on a stage. The gags are inserted at certain points by replacing the characters with fake ones. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki: </span></b>That's right. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="328" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QOoCBjqk52Q" width="482" youtube-src-id="QOoCBjqk52Q"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;">"Aoi Bungaku: Epsiode 5 / Under the Full Cherry Blossom Forest </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;">(Part 1)</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;">"</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---For example, I think it would have fit better if it had a punchline like when the main character dies, the camera pulls back to reveal that it was a movie set at the end of the film.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> I see, that's what you mean.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---I was not satisfied with the final result because it did not integrate the various experimental techniques that you had tried.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> In other words, there is a reason or a conclusion to the fictional nature of the work that was presented...<b> </b></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---I think it would have been good if it had. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Araki:</b></span> I search the Internet for people's impressions of the show after it has aired. In this case, I would search for "Under the full Cherry Bloom Forest" and "anime" and read the first two or three lines that came up and only the ones that I thought would help me keep my mind occupied, because going through 2-Chan would wreck my heart (laughs). And the criticism in "Under the Full Cherry Blossoms Forest" was mostly anger at the gag itself. As for what you just said, I take it very seriously because I think that such things only functioned to liven up the surface. However, I did it with the firm intention that there is no rule that literature has to be profound. For example, I like Osamu Dazai, but I feel that his works are more light-hearted than heavy. I was aware that literature is supposed to make people laugh, so I thought it would be good if I could make people laugh while doing it.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---I'd like to ask you a trivial question: Is the "Previously on..." narration for the second part of "Under the Full Cherry Blossom Forest" a parody of "Dragon Ball Z"?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> Yes, it is. And you want know how did it come to be, right? </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="331" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JUSyH5HqLro" width="451" youtube-src-id="JUSyH5HqLro"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">"Aoi Bungaku: Epsiode 6 / Under the Full Cherry Blossom Forest (Part 2)"</div></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---In the first part, the traveler who is attacked by the main character almost becomes a Super Saiyan, so maybe it was a gag related to that? </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> That's probably part of it, but as I recall, there's not much content in the second part. When I drew the storyboard, I couldn't reach the full length. So we had to extend it by adding a "previously on..." synopsis (laughs). I think that's how I came to the conclusion that the narration of the previous episode should be from "Dragon Ball"...... I'm pretty sure I had that actor in mind while storyboarding.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><b style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;">---And that actor is Joji Yanami.</b></div><div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> That's right. Yanami-san. I wonder if everyone noticed that that was from "Dragon Ball". Now I'm suddenly worried.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---Probably not many people have noticed. You haven't done a "Dragon Ball" joke since "Galaxy Angel" (laughs).</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Araki:</b></span> Oh, yes, yes, I did that, didn't I?</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---I'm probably the only person in Japan who saw "Under the Full Cherry Blossom Forest" and thought, "Oh, Araki-san, it's been a while since you've pulled a Super Saiyan joke."</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> Hahahahaha. I'm sure you're right (laughs). </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---So, your latest work, "HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD", you didn't make it thinking, "this is MY Creation!" either.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> That's right. Most of the works I have made since I became a "director" have been based on selflessness. But I don't think I need to say that. I think people usually do selfless work.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---As long as you are doing it as a job, the basic principle is selfless devotion.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> That's what I meant. I don't know if it's okay for a director to be interviewed on behalf of the staff. I don't really feel like I'm taking the main role in the creative process of the film. No, that doesn't mean I'm not cool with it. I'm happy to take on the responsibility of directing, but I don't feel the need to say, "Look at me, look at me". I'm doing it with the intention of spreading the goodness of the original to the world. However, in the midst of all this, especially in the first episode, the flavor of the original story and the point I wanted to make overlapped nicely, so I think it was a happy job.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---In this case, what do you mean by "what I wanted to do"?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Araki:</b></span> It's about the last minute personal conflicts. The drama presented in the first episode is that the main character, Takashi, has always felt inferior to Hisashi and Hisashi is the boyfriend of Rei, the girl he liked. And Takashi kills the Hisashi with his own hands when Hisashi turns into a zombie in front of him. While Takashi has friendship with Hisashi, he thinks he is no match for him and hates him. In the first half of the story, I depicted this conflict and wondered how Takashi would feel about the way he holds the bat when he had to beat him to death. There is an emotional movement in Takashi that is not straightforward.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In the end, Rei blames Takashi for killing Hisashi. I also felt that Rei's rawness made me to say, "Okay, I've got it!" I thought it was a worthwhile subject to depict. She's the type of person who knows she's a pretty girl and uses that to get people to do her bidding. I thought she was the type of person who wouldn't appear in an anime unless it was a source material like this. However, I thought that there was a tendency for girls to be like that, so I was happy to have the chance to depict her. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I feel that there are still many types of people and emotions that have not been portrayed in anime. On the contrary, I feel like I want to get away from the "emotions that are often depicted" and "characters that are often depicted". I often think to myself, "The world I've seen is not that small". The world should be more complex and richer. Whenever I get a chance to get even a little closer to that, I'm happy to go. The first episode of "High School of the Dead" was such a place for me. The same thing happened with episode 25 of "DEATH NOTE", and I felt that I could take this story to the next level. I'd like to keep doing that in the future.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---How is the response to "HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD" throughout the series?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> I think there should be more good times than not. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---It was highly entertaining, wasn't it? Whether it's the lewdness or the action, it's all about pleasing the audience. It's also good that the filmmakers don't try to look too good. It's not cool to use boobs to make a scene, or to add sound effects to the movement of boobs, no matter how you look at it. No, in a roundabout way, I could say it's cool to overdo it.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> I see. Thank you very much. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---That's why it was so interesting. Somehow when I watch "HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD", I feel like eating meat, don't you?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> Yeah, it's a very carnivorous film. I had a lot of fun doing it, but it was very physically demanding. I broke down a lot. However, the main staff was very good. (Yosuke) Kuroda wrote the script, (Masayoshi) Tanaka designed the characters, and Kusanagi (Studio) did the art. and then (Shuhei) Yabuta for CG. The work by the people in the position of "so-and-so director" was all very good. I think it's a rare thing that the excitement in all department is high. It was wonderful. By the end of the series, I was in tears, wondering why I was able to work with such good people. Rather than feeling a sense of accomplishment from my work, I felt a strong sense of gratitude, like, "Thank you for letting me meet such good people. So, rather than feeling a sense of accomplishment from my own work, when I heard that one of the staff members who participated in this project got a promotion and was hired for a good position in the next project, I felt really glad that I did it. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---I knew Tanaka was a skilled guy, but I didn't know he was capable of such a heavy-handed style. I heard that Tanaka decided to participate in "HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD" because of your heartfelt appeal.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> I thought that the key to the success of this work would be whether or not I could get <span> </span>Tanaka's art. When the work actually started and Tanaka's revisions were coming in thick and fast, I was almost in tears. The person who said, "please do this for me," was really participating in the project. It's like, "I was deeply moved by the fact that so many of my favorite pictures were on it." (Note 7) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span style="color: #38761d;">(7) "I was deeply moved by the fact that so many of my favorite pictures were on it." actually refers to several key frames corrected by Masayoshi Tanaka along with others. </span></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---I'm sorry to ask this after hearing such a great story first, but the expression in episode 9, "(I'm) Wet!" had a tremendous impact on me (Note 8). Where did they come up with that kind of expression? The dialogue is in the original story, isn't it?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> I had told the storyboard artist that "just express the word 'Wet' in letters", but it was during the storyboard check that I settled on the current expression. I remember feeling electrified as I was going through the storyboard check. At the end of the episode, Saeko said, "you'll take responsibility, right? and Takashi responds, "I hope so!". I think that's the point of that episode. I wondered how I could get to that point, so I adjusted the tone curve in my own way, but I couldn't get to the point where they promised to get married unless the production was really upbeat. I thought it would have to be pretty outrageous to be smooth. </span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><i><span style="color: #38761d;">(8) "High School of the Dead" episode 9 "The Sword and the DEAD" is an episode that focuses on Saeko Busujima. In this episode, she confesses to Takashi, the main character, that she has a habit of taking pleasure in beating up her opponents. Afterwards, with Takashi's encouragement, she frees herself from her feelings and confronts the zombies. As he defeats the zombies, he feels pleasure and utters the word "Wet" that is talked about in the interview. which was talked about in the interview. The words "Wet" also appear on the screen. which was talked about in the interview.</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="342" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5oqxXDWcnhk" width="480" youtube-src-id="5oqxXDWcnhk"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">"Highschool of the Dead" Episode 9 - "Wet" scene </span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---It's a serious story until it reaches its climax, isn't it?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> In the shrine before the climax, I made the part where she confesses her past very heavy and I thought, "it would be more pleasant if I jumped from here on". Sometimes I give myself an order to do whatever I want to do. I think I gave it to myself that time. I remember thinking to myself, "since I'm depicting unhappy feelings in the confession part, from here on out, let's make these guys happier and happier". I hope we can end the episode with a feeling of "Congratulations! The recording of that episode was very interesting. I remember going over and over the "Wet!" scene again and again until I got it right. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---(Laughs). </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> What was interesting was when Takashi said, "I hope so!". Saying "you'll take responsibility for me, right? seems strange for a woman who grabs his hand. The part that feels like "what?", but he replies with a very refreshing, "I hope so!" line. So even the "Will you take responsibility for me?" line, I've come to think that it's okay to say that way.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---Thanks to the actors' exceptional play, it all came together nicely, didn't it?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> That's what I meant. During the recording, moment when the "I hope so!" take came out, everyone in the studio burst into laughter. We called it a "home run" in the studio, and it was kind of refreshing, even though I couldn't relate to it at all (laughs). It was also a lot of fun. It was a great scene.</span></div></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---What kind of things do you want to make in the future? </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> I've been asked to do some original work, so I'd like to see how much I can do with it. I can say that I've been leaning on the source materials while claiming to be a selfless person, so now that I'm not leaning on it anymore, I want to see how much storytelling I can do, and how much of what I think is "interesting" will work in the world. I've been thinking that I'd like to try it out as soon as possible.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>And then there are gags. I've been asked, "Why don't you try this? I've always just gone along with whatever genre they told me to do. Recently, I haven't been asked to do many gags, so if things continue like this, I might not be asked to do any more. The next job I'm going to do is going to be a weighty one, but after that I'd like to do gags properly. I want to make sure that if I do gags properly, they will still be funny. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: helvetica;"><b>---Do you have a theme that you've been working on? </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Araki:</span></b> I've been thinking about how to make it a viable project for anime.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I like the novels of Kou Machida, the plays of Suzuki Matsuo, and the manga of Hideki Arai, but there are many things that I enjoy as entertainment that don't go well with anime.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Many of the things that the people I just mentioned are doing are things that delve into emotions that have not been expressed in entertainment before. For example, for Suzuki Matsuo, it's "the momentary triviality that blends into a serious situation"; for Hideki Arai, it's "violent characters and the not-at-all hard-boiled world that surrounds them"; for Kou Machida, it's "anger at those who don't wait their turn at the cash register" (laughs). What I really want to include is a sense of familiarity. What I really want to include. I think there are emotions that we feel all the time in our daily lives, but have never depicted in films. That's what I want to do in my work.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Even if the settings, characters, and gimmicks are filled in with the usual suspects, I believe that I can portray emotions that have not been portrayed before in my work. I believe that I can provide something that doesn't give the reader a sense of déjà vu. That's what I think. I think the reason why Tomino-san is so great is because he is able to express in his films what he really feels in his daily life, and I think that's why I want to do something like him. I think that's why I want to do what Tomino does. I think it's about putting the world I've seen and the things I've felt into film. I hope I can do that properly. </span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghp8STRC1e6k7GOxy0aAw318Q0t7b5K5ezJge-K6fAvolROSDqbHrw2KS3HfHzaelasadb2Wanty88f24kML6W118A7GyE_c8DZ-jRa_0F7I9-JvBPjRiJmMKriBVZkC1yoIIdFfFro5o/s500/samurai+punk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghp8STRC1e6k7GOxy0aAw318Q0t7b5K5ezJge-K6fAvolROSDqbHrw2KS3HfHzaelasadb2Wanty88f24kML6W118A7GyE_c8DZ-jRa_0F7I9-JvBPjRiJmMKriBVZkC1yoIIdFfFro5o/s320/samurai+punk.jpg" width="207" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">"Samurai Punk" by Kou Machida</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="303" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eys5tD6omeo" width="483" youtube-src-id="eys5tD6omeo"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">"108: Revenge and Adventure of Gorō Kaiba" (2019), </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">a movie directed, written, and starred by Suzuki Matsuo </span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNqRt-tc5qpE6GKn-lFk1HiOXHP3hqsDGwP8WqN7bRBAKlBf37geaovU_BgBJ9VpKS_5GgilyPtVPJbSnwXY8-7-Tvocdp5Q8T_V8oQ_qIXGWsXUqlXzctKLSJoPJt0DkALC37t2Zas0/s500/Miyamoto+kara+kimie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="340" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNqRt-tc5qpE6GKn-lFk1HiOXHP3hqsDGwP8WqN7bRBAKlBf37geaovU_BgBJ9VpKS_5GgilyPtVPJbSnwXY8-7-Tvocdp5Q8T_V8oQ_qIXGWsXUqlXzctKLSJoPJt0DkALC37t2Zas0/w272-h399/Miyamoto+kara+kimie.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;">"From Miyamoto to You" by Hideki Arai</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>hyunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11997714270174561026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272394548623580930.post-81101047572184568222016-11-14T05:37:00.000-08:002018-08-23T15:54:03.572-07:00Mou Hitotsu no Barusu: Untold behind the scene story of Laputa<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Another Barusu </h2>
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On November 12, 2016, San Francisco Kinokuniya Bookstore held talk & authograph event for Hirokatsu Kihara: a Japanese horror author, talk radio personality, and former Studio Ghibli production coordinator. </div>
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I heard about his visit to San Francisco through email from Kinokuiya and purchased his nonfiction book, "Another Barusu" / 「もう一つのバルス」, one week prior to his visit and started to read his book. For people who don't know what his book is about, "Another Barusu" is about Kihara's experience in Studio Ghibli when he was involved in production of "My Neighbor Totoro", "Kiki's Delivery Service", and "Laputa: Castle in the Sky" as production management and Miyazaki's confidant. For people who don't know what "Barusu/Balse/バルス" is, it's the last incantation spoken by Laputa's main characters Pazu and Sheeta at the climatic scene of the movie. And it's also a record breaking tweeted pop culture word in Japan.</div>
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At little past 4:00 PM, Hirokatsu Kihara is showed up with outgoing presence (in Pixar hoodie) and spoke with easy-to-understand Japanese with a translator helping him. Most notably, he brought never-seen-before sketches, cels, background paintings, promotional arts, concept arts, animation drawings. Since audience are not allowed to photograph artworks due to possible lawsuit, I'll leave the rest to your imagination as he described each artworks he brought.</div>
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First, Kihara brought out sketches of key visuals/promotional posters used in Totoro, Kiki, and Laputa</div>
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<b>A. On Kiki's Delivery Service</b></div>
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Miyazaki is very detail-oriented to the single line. Even a single line in the animation drawing doesn't meet his satisfaction, he makes correction.</div>
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On Kiki's Delivery Service promotional art sketches: Fans know that Japanese poster of Kiki's Delivery Service pretty much looks like this:</div>
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However, Miyazaki drew the initial sketch which Kiki is sitting on toilet. It was not a joke as I witnessed the initial sketch when Kihara displayed it. Black cat Jiji is more cartoony on initial sketch, but Miyazaki decided to make it more realistic on final version. Also Miyazaki made her ribbon much bigger for final version as Kihara showed before-and-after sketches. Anyway initial sketch of promotional picture got ire from both Kihara and female animators, so Miyazaki revised to what we see it today.</div>
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Kihara brought cels and BG of the above cut and showed that clouds are in 2 layers of cel, foreground grass is another cel. Although it's not noticeable, BG artists even painted </div>
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tiny waves for the lake.</div>
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On this cut, one cel for river and another cels for tree, and another cel for shrubbery. </div>
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Each layer of breads are painted in cel. </div>
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And of course they drew the jar on the right corner as "Storo" instead of "Straw" berry. </div>
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Kihara also brought key animation, cels and BG paint of above cut. According to Kihara, male animators couldn't quite get how female skirt should move which Miyazaki wanted, so it was the female animators who drew Kiki twirling her skirt. </div>
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Kihara repeatedly said that Miyazaki is meticulous, but the process takes too much time. </div>
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Kihara showed several background and concept paintings used in Kiki. On contrary to popular assumption, he explained that BG artists used ordinary art suppliesy that they could get from any stationary/art store in Japan while displaying BG for Cut 203B. BG paint brand used was called "Turner".</div>
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On Cut 203B, which was painted by art director Hiroshi Ono, Kihara emphasized the level of details considered by art director. He pointed out that even small reflections on windows are painted without being overlooked. </div>
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Surpirsingly, Kiki wasn't a major success due to fact that the main production concluded 10 days before the premier and they couldn't print enough films on time to make nationwide premiers.</div>
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Kiki used 525,000 sheets total which include Miyazaki's key animation corrections, animation director corrections, key animations, inbetween cleanups, and cels. It was finished 10 days before film print date.</div>
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<b>B. On Laputa:Castle in the Sky </b></div>
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Kihara brought out cels and background used in Laputa as he tells what happened:</div>
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One of the cels is from this scene which castle floats in the sky (sorry, picture quality is from the web). According to Kihara, weeks are spent by doing cut and paste with knife and tape the layers of castle parts and Ink & Paint department painted tiny subtle details around the contour of the castle. Of course, the cut only lasted 3 seconds despite weeks of hard work. He commented that it's lot easier to do it with digital tools on such method. </div>
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On cel version of this cut, blurry flapping of wings are actually done with quick paint brush strokes. </div>
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Kihara also added that Laputa BG Art is based from England countryside.</div>
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Of course, Kihara showed cel and BG of this famous climatic scene that got over 100K tweets per minute in Japan. Really, that black flash is really painted in black paint.</div>
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Most cool thing about Laputa was that Kihara has original Miyazaki's E-Konte/Storyboard scene never used in the movie. It was unused scene of Laputa prologue which govenrment officials are having dinner in an airship. One of the change was that they're having roasted turkey/chicken instead of roast beef which was showed in the movie. Also Miyazaki literally cut out storyboard scene if he's not satisfied.</div>
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<b>C. On My Neighbor Totoro:</b></div>
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Kihara showed several sketches, cels, and BG paintings from Totoro. One of the fun fact is that Cat Bus's aexpression is based from Kihara. </div>
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Of course, he brought cel and BG paint of this famous scene:</div>
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And he brought concept sketch of this Totoro promotional art</div>
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On the concept sketch version, Totro never smiles. However, just like a Kiki promo art, the obvious change was made.</div>
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To everyone's surprise, Kihara showed the audience trashed character model sketches of Totoro. It is one of those rejects that never got stamp of approval from Ghibli and he's been holding it for 27 years. </div>
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Lastly, he showed unused concept sketches of Nausicaa disposed by Miyazaki.</div>
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Kihara stressed that it's easier to just watch anime than making one. When he was in Studio Ghibli, he worked very, very, very hard. He also stressed that when creating something, artist has to put heart and soul into it. </div>
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After the talk event, people lined up for his autograph and photo shoot. At final autograph, a female fan, who did some serious research, gave Kihara LP record set of Hobbit the animation which was coproduced with Topcraft studio. When Kihara started out in anime industry, his first studio was Topcraft studio which did a lot of coproduction with Rankin/Bass Studio. Kihara was very delighted by the gift.</div>
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hyunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11997714270174561026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272394548623580930.post-70217052725245631452016-06-30T17:40:00.003-07:002016-06-30T18:09:16.025-07:00Texture of Kabaneri<h2>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Texture of Kabaneri: Redefining the coloring techniques as demonstrated in "Kabaneri of Iron Fortress"</span></h2>
Coloring in Anime has come long way since Ink & Paint Department a.k.a. Finishing (仕上げ/Shiage) painted each cellophane sheet (cel for short) with a special paint and then those cels are photographed with a special camera stand. With adoption of digital coloring and compositing techniques, color scheme used in anime has gotten more brighter and gained richer texture. To many fans, one of the most notable example of such technique is rosy cheeks and florid skin of female anime characters which have been shown in past ten years. This time, "Kabaneri of Iron Fortress" pushed the envelope to next level which moving images look more like paintings.<br />
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Again, I found another fascinating interview from the same Animage magazine which features the coloring technique and a new job title.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhjZp_sm47U-Ax5oz7qkA1ItiGj9ntfLY5cU0W6nOnPaUTwaEy6w8r8jwVxmfx71PVge7dbHne9YE94s1iS3O-etKB4tlH09BlfBpswOlOy2JThNiliSF_I71uy_J7nw48wydCllMwWY/s320/SP6COVER.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="248" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Animage June 2016 issue</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhjZp_sm47U-Ax5oz7qkA1ItiGj9ntfLY5cU0W6nOnPaUTwaEy6w8r8jwVxmfx71PVge7dbHne9YE94s1iS3O-etKB4tlH09BlfBpswOlOy2JThNiliSF_I71uy_J7nw48wydCllMwWY/s1600/SP6COVER.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEPNyptp1290KZyEYDfFxnHwZDnH-jzo73ohHvot10oU1LC1HNWfT_RV9ff4MhYAGGz4RT_Kza_9fASeYLnoVTWhZ7Xv5_F3-joc4CSsFGHqckM6r9gqEfueNymRfITN_vWVkWqxMP3k/s400/Kabaneri.jpg" width="291" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feature: Drawing of the Soul</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Painting of the Soul</b></span></div>
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Chief Make-Up Animator: Sachiko Matsumoto (松本幸子)<br />
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<b><i>Introduction</i></b><br />
It's no doubt that heavily detailed visual is one the factors that keeps the "Kabaneri of Iron Fortress" exciting. Among those, it's the thickly textured cuts comprised of critical scenes, such as character close-up, that draw eyes to the show. They are the cuts made by artists with unique job title of "Make-Up Animator" of the show. These artists made an epoch as if these characters are painted like an illustration all while moving. They play important role in symbolizing the show's visual quality and bringing life to its drama.<br />
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<i>---What kind of work does "Makeup Animator" do?</i><br />
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Matsumoto: Job title of "Makeup Animator" came up only recently. Director (Tetsuro) Araki and Design Setting Overseer (Junpei) Kasaoka came up with that title. From the start, it was about finding new expressions from digital 2D animation while utilizing it in production. We've set goal of expressing texture and feel of Haruhiko Mikimoto's illustration on actual screen .<br />
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<i>---Therefore, isn't the work close to "compositing"?</i><br />
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Matsumoto: That's right. Except, in case of animation compositing, it has been augmented into a still image; however this time, we've been putting into a moving character images which is different from how things are done: how will it look when texture is added to moving characters.<br />
We conducted multiple tests as we made it. Processing method changes depending on character; beautiful and cute for girls; keep the harsh line quality intact while adding texture to metallic parts, leather belt, glasses and etc for Ikoma. For example, in ink & paint stage, an "eye" is painted in separate solid colors, but we added highlights and depth to iris and pupil. Even eyebrows only had little touch up at first, but now we made it look fuzzy with blurring and added the process into the workflow. Then there is the hair. To express glossy and translucent feel of hair depicted in Mikimoto's illustration, we touched up the hair strands one by one with Brush tool. Also there is the goal of maintaining nuance of the line quality drawn by Chief Animation Director (Yasuyuki) Ebara, so we adjusted the line thickness and opacity while extracting pencil line strokes from inbetween drawings. So the work is about adding such process one (cel) frame at a time which also flows with character's movement. It's difficult because it's not just simply cleaning up the image, it's about not clashing with flow of the movement.<br />
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<i>---In other words, you don't process it automatically like CG, but "paint" it one frame at a time.</i><br />
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Something like that (laughs). So at any rate, we can work with from few cuts to dozens of cuts for each episode. For example, we handled a total of 11 cuts for episode #1. As for staffs including myself, a person for inbetween, person who handles compositing and textures, and others, a total of 5 people have been working on the process.<br />
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<i>---What are the fun aspect and difficult aspect while you're working?</i><br />
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I think it would be great if we can express that character is "alive" in that world. Again, there is that Director Araki's "wanting to make girls look cute" request so we pay special attention to them. Due to fact that cuts which we're handling are acting as face of the story, there is a heavy burden of doing the absolute best; but still it's really rewarding. They're really luxurious cuts, so we would be happy if everyone could enjoy with "oh wow" feeling.<br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGiGAv9zxAHEfBpH12-ZnKM4NDvnDtPjCAbrGfgOjMWcguuOg_QaT7-hwq3arZi0jgfn8YySUUMMYAUg65Q-MkXtopbCN6ue3WIfllyWgnmxu86Ovs2hPCTRCHTjsKIwH_v0TjqPv1EU/s640/Kabaneri+coloring+1.jpg" /></div>
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Last scene in the episode #1: An impressive cut where Mumei removes her ribbon.<br />
Top one is before the processing, Bottom one is after the processing which shows a hint of sexiness added to hair and skin texture. Also a feeling of richness in her expression as well. In case of this cut, the same processing was done on 30 frames one frame at a time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooBFg7iw1MMCQf1rmyqPDVFBMeV2ixlvQXBP8HVkyJUeSxrIOGpzrROai18dQNytq1ZPK0RdiH_O6SSBsVuR6Vkh9WlppYy3Z9wj3tXoNRyvOLBoeDTek21BbM5MPRWjPnl81XCEVyDI/s1600/Kabaneri+coloring+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooBFg7iw1MMCQf1rmyqPDVFBMeV2ixlvQXBP8HVkyJUeSxrIOGpzrROai18dQNytq1ZPK0RdiH_O6SSBsVuR6Vkh9WlppYy3Z9wj3tXoNRyvOLBoeDTek21BbM5MPRWjPnl81XCEVyDI/s640/Kabaneri+coloring+2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Likewise, Ayame from Episode #1. Lower right is before the processing. Upper left is after the processing. Rosy cheek is derived from blurred flat red color. When comparing before and after processing on eyebrows, they actually look like women's makeup. Limited only to female characters, slight red hue is added on eyelids to express florid complexion<br />
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<br />hyunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11997714270174561026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1272394548623580930.post-87542151662251248192016-06-16T21:49:00.001-07:002021-09-07T02:09:53.808-07:00Creative Process behind "Bungo Stray Dogs" ED<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">Portrait of Stray Dogs</span></h2>
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</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Creative Process behind </span>"Bungo Stray Dogs" Ending Sequence</span></span></h3>
<i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Source: Animage magazine June 2016/Vol. 456 </i><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Among anime fans in the West, Yasuomi Umetsu (</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px;">梅津 泰臣) </span>is well known for his animations, "Kite" and "Mezzo". Other than his prolific directorial works, he has been very active with opening and ending animations for various TV anime titles for past several years.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">As a hardcore anime fan who regularly dig through Animage magazine (<span style="font-family: inherit;">月刊アニメージュ) </span>for interviews and features, I really want to share this kind of behind the scene interview and commentary which Japanese fans have been enjoyed for decades. I hope my amateur translation bring some insight on how Japanese animators bring their work to life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: red;">(Disclaimer: This is just a fan translation of existing magazine feature. I'm not responsible for views expressed in the feature.</span></b></span></span><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: red;">) </span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Update: I've made corrections on names and titles. Also I have made changes on wording)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Portrait of Stray Dogs: (Relationship) Triangle of Atsushi, Dazai, and Akutagawa </span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Storyboard, Direction, Animation Direction: Yasuomi Umetsu </span></b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ending song "Namae wo Yobuyo"</span></b></i></span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"> Introduction</span></span></h2>
<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Yasuomi Umetsu, the animator, director, and screenwriter well known with oversea fans, has been famous for directing numerous (TV anime) opening and endings sequences. This time, he has handled storyboard, direction, and animation direction for ending sequence for "Bungo Stray Dogs". </span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>"I wanted to express what Dazai and Akutagawa are meant to Atsushi at deeper level."</i>, said Umetsu. Thus he made the sequence featuring the relationship among Atsushi, Dazai, and Akutagawa as basis.</span><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span id="result_box" lang="ko"><span title="梅津さんの豊かなイマジネーションで描かれた、美しく繊細な『文豪ストレイドッグス』の情景をぜひ目に焼きつげてほしい。">With triangular relationship looping around Akutagawa to Dazai; Atsushi to Dazai; Dazai to Akutagawa, he made the sequence by visualizing </span></span>their relationship portrayed in the first cour of the show. From details of their perspective to hand gestures, there is intricate drama weaved in them. <span id="result_box" lang="ko"><span title="梅津さんの豊かなイマジネーションで描かれた、美しく繊細な『文豪ストレイドッグス』の情景をぜひ目に焼きつげてほしい。">We want to present how scenes in this beautiful </span></span><span id="result_box" lang="ko"><span title="梅津さんの豊かなイマジネーションで描かれた、美しく繊細な『文豪ストレイドッグス』の情景をぜひ目に焼きつげてほしい。">"Bungo Stray Dogs" ending </span></span>sequence leaves deep impression on us <span id="result_box" lang="ko"><span title="梅津さんの豊かなイマジネーションで描かれた、美しく繊細な『文豪ストレイドッグス』の情景をぜひ目に焼きつげてほしい。">by </span></span><span id="result_box" lang="ko"><span title="梅津さんの豊かなイマジネーションで描かれた、美しく繊細な『文豪ストレイドッグス』の情景をぜひ目に焼きつげてほしい。">Umetsu's abundant imagination.</span></span><span lang="ko"><span title="梅津さんの豊かなイマジネーションで描かれた、美しく繊細な『文豪ストレイドッグス』の情景をぜひ目に焼きつげてほしい。"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span id="result_box" lang="ko"><span title="梅津さんの豊かなイマジネーションで描かれた、美しく繊細な『文豪ストレイドッグス』の情景をぜひ目に焼きつげてほしい。"> </span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Interview #1: </span></b></span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yasuomi Umetsu</span></span></b></h2>
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<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(</span></b><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Direction, Storyboard, Animation Direction)</span></b></h2>
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<span style="color: magenta;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: magenta;"><i>--What kind of impression did you get after reading the manga?</i></span><br />
<i><span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit;"></span></i><br />
Umetsu: At first glance by the title alone, I wondered if this was like "I Vitelloni" (1953 Italian film directed by Federico Fellini) with novelists as main subject. When I read it, it has exceptionally strong impression of battle genre, but I felt triangular relationship among Atsushi, Dazai, and Akutagawa.<br />
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<i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit;">---So there are only <span style="font-family: inherit;">three</span> characters appear in the ending sequence.</span></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Umetsu: </b>When I make opening and ending, I always consult with director, producer, and video makers first, but this time I received an order from Director Takuya Igarashi to feature these three characters. With those characters on hand, I thought I could bring out other characters as I was handling the storyboard, but I realized it's better to focus on those three main characters as I was processing the visual concept. </span></span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">---Did you and Director Igarashi had more specific discussion?</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Umetsu:</b> More like listening to his thought on the works than specific order. It is necessary to find commonality between his thought and my thought, but this time we had the same impression. I brought my draft with expectation of "<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">perhaps</span> mine is like this" to Igarashi and he felt that "this direction is fine" and so there was no hesitation. Except physical work took so much time and I barely made to the <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">last minute</span> (bitter smile) </span></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">-<span style="font-family: inherit;">--What kind of impression did you had for (ending) theme song, "I'll <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">c</span>all out <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">a </span>name/Namae wo Yobuyo"?</span></span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>Umetsu:</b> It's <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">r</span>eally a great song! My quite often make decision by tune of the song. If melody, tempo, rhythm, and etc don't coordinate, then overall doesn't synchronize well with visuals. On contrary, if a song is good, it blends well with the worldview and it widens overall imagery. Because I especially liked this song, the work went smoothly. When I read the Luck Life's lyric, I had impression that their goal and my direction weren't so different. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">--</span></span>Luck Life (Artists for the ending theme song) said they expanded their imagery from Atsushi's line of "you </span></span></i><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">can't go on living without telling someone that 'it's good to be alive'".</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Umetsu: </b>Absolutely! That's the heart of the matter. It seems like Atsushi and others are living off from such feeling. </span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">---Do you jump onto storyboard right after expanding your ideas?</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">---F</span></span></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">rom the start y</span></span></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">ou're making it while </span></span></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">not </span></span></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">thinking about continuity, but just putting them all together.</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Umetsu:</b> That's right. I build it with list of images first and once I lay them out, the whole thing would tell the story in a mysterious way! </span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">---Which cut was the first thing that came into your mind?</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Umetsu:</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Image of Atsushi sinking in water came into my mind first. Actually, I was inspired by a scene from <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">a</span> </span>movie. <span style="font-family: inherit;">I<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">t's like</span></span> I kept it alive in my heart for 15 years so that I could use it someday. </span></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">---This time, you were able to pull it off after the long-wait.</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><b>Umetsu:</b> As I love films, yet I can't remember which film it was! (laughs). In addition, cover illustrations </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">for</span> both Opening CD and Ending </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">CD are featuring </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">Atsushi and Dazai sinking into water</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">and</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> th<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">at</span> was<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> total </span>coincidence. I was really surprised by them. </span></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">---It seems like you went to Yokohama for inspiration</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><b>Umetsu:</b> I felt something was lacking as I was drawing the storyboard. So I <span style="font-family: inherit;">hurriedly</span> went to Yokohama for reference. My concept<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">idea</span> </span>has gotten broader as I took photos of the actual locale. <span style="font-family: inherit;">When</span> I thought about 'how to move things to where", there is still a limit to just sitting behind the desk and working on the storyboard. I reaffirmed importance of overall atmosphere through the actual visit (to the locale). As for first scene where each character <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">is</span> </span>holding a book and I thought, "I want to position them here" after seeing the actual Yokohama's scenery.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">---What is the most rewarding part to you for making the opening and ending sequence?</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Umetsu:</b> It's not about copying from original manga material to video form as it is; it's about adding atmosphere and weight into it. Since <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">o</span>pening sequence is the face of the show so I can't venture off too far, but because I think the <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">e</span>nding <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">s<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">equence </span></span>has </span>slightly loose grip (on creative aspect), I threw in some curve balls from time to time (laughs). With this <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">e</span>ndi</span>ng sequence, it was really fun putting together (animation) staff's design and my concept. Now that my thoughts on this title is condensed into a video form, I hope that people would enjoy this ending and </span>the show<span style="font-family: inherit;"> repeatedly.</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Sc<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">ene-by-scene </span>Commentary</span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></b></span></h3>
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<b style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>1. Works of Literary Figures</i></b><br />
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<img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoK3qrjNNqpmJSxYYeEnT5Ci0aviMmjkiJH1_puK6sTdjJxVljoCXk5qmFAv0LngC4S6Wi1ZB9x26L9nH3PblUm0jyDcwIMiJN6VPx8eCX5vIGbl_r0TD8bhwqrn97LyX2OeBUzDg-RnI/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Animage June 2016 / Vol.456</span></td></tr>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Atsushi
holding (his own) book. Text of the actual novel is pasted on pages: "Sangetsuki" <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">by</span> Atsushi Nakajima; "No Longer Human" <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">by</span> Osamu Dazai; "Rashomon" by
Ryunosuke Akutagawa. </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"I had other idea by attaching staff credit on the pages, but I used this way to make connection with the story" </i><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">(Umetsu)</b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">.</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">In addition, cover illustration of the (Animage) magazine features the same book.</span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>2. Flying pages</i></span></b></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Pages are flying off to the sky one by one. </span><i>"This book is Atsushi's heart and body"<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">.</span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">The p</span>ages <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">are</span> a part of (his) life. As those pages fly, they mingle with Dazai's and Akutagawa's and affecting one another"</i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b> (Umetsu)</b></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>. </b></span>Although Atsushi appears mainly passive by people around him in the beginning, in reality he affects people around him like flying pages. </div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>3. Atsushi and Dazai lying down</i></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNtYLyaIJHZ0cLaYmRIih60LPb5TUTpQk0mt0e7irCzCPbz10g845xFZW4i8PbiqNKz8SZ0mB9w8EwqY7WoKTJbJJWuJ5lber8pJJeh_o-gz81hkYmm4fsBLIgtiFR4r5Z7_WN7vBS34/s1600/3a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNtYLyaIJHZ0cLaYmRIih60LPb5TUTpQk0mt0e7irCzCPbz10g845xFZW4i8PbiqNKz8SZ0mB9w8EwqY7WoKTJbJJWuJ5lber8pJJeh_o-gz81hkYmm4fsBLIgtiFR4r5Z7_WN7vBS34/s400/3a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Background is modeled from a dock in Yokohama. Dazai is lying next Atsushi, but their hands still don't touch.</span><i>"Atsushi's pinky finger is moving just a little because it's the </i><i>most heart pounding moment </i><i>whether it is going touch or not"</i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> <b>(</b></span><b>Umetsu<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">). </span></b></span>It's definitely a delicate balance between th<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">e</span>ir relationship.</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>4. Contrasting sho<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">t<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">s</span> of </span>moon-lit night</i></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9NXrja-N0QgLW5umm5N6D5PivK-u39p0-AI_mwK3zMgdKicB_CDVmX3dMhyphenhyphen2zt-TJ_djuRfhBZwtp_8FIiGDwQeUj3GAxExI-xHwcpkq84IDrf2EnrjfVDKd88v1YOD3FGBCwQVLXZ4/s1600/4a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9NXrja-N0QgLW5umm5N6D5PivK-u39p0-AI_mwK3zMgdKicB_CDVmX3dMhyphenhyphen2zt-TJ_djuRfhBZwtp_8FIiGDwQeUj3GAxExI-xHwcpkq84IDrf2EnrjfVDKd88v1YOD3FGBCwQVLXZ4/s320/4a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Atsushi
lost in thought by window and Akutagawa walking on a night street.
Each goes on with one's fate with full moon set as background. </span><i>"<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">On</span> color selection discussion with Igarashi<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">,</span> I've set Atsushi's theme color as bluish-white, Dazai's as white, and Akutagawa's as red for motif. To bring out those three colors, I've set aside usual background and cel color scheme. And those <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">three</span> colors came out forward much more" </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>(Umetsu<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">).</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>5. Objects and Mental Imagery</i></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdc3pkrcWot7gzk-uf_Vdgb4Oq_sQNPWJmG7qd27ccIDbMDAdE-UlDv6YDolHLO7Z-FRGmydRhyc8D27bXvs0R0RbEKbOfwb8HbAW-dHSodpznVriYq6jv6BseOejGqDH6fyLx_L3E5Q/s1600/5a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdc3pkrcWot7gzk-uf_Vdgb4Oq_sQNPWJmG7qd27ccIDbMDAdE-UlDv6YDolHLO7Z-FRGmydRhyc8D27bXvs0R0RbEKbOfwb8HbAW-dHSodpznVriYq6jv6BseOejGqDH6fyLx_L3E5Q/s200/5a.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtn1WUCjdBfr2fxGL2VmdBP4wiLkaO9XCgR__lZgLLJ9twgvwmD46hdYKh_mmzXwzRjiQ792BF946SoU7KFoQlVvm-PsvI-r1GuQI11sJtwXnC0f96xL3wNojbxifOIUK56n73-SeGOB4/s1600/5b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtn1WUCjdBfr2fxGL2VmdBP4wiLkaO9XCgR__lZgLLJ9twgvwmD46hdYKh_mmzXwzRjiQ792BF946SoU7KFoQlVvm-PsvI-r1GuQI11sJtwXnC0f96xL3wNojbxifOIUK56n73-SeGOB4/s320/5b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNEbjHATTwJgXBEZ6KEumHA8Y7_eKmIovG1-HqzOwHx2gfBClyplJ1jDaxRgrwGTKWNmMVgXwTf518UcWoSLjAmQFh8bhvgG0uN6bdiaID4Z8Zjs5_svSd7EJhC_RpdEIOcwdtGqVifs/s1600/5c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNEbjHATTwJgXBEZ6KEumHA8Y7_eKmIovG1-HqzOwHx2gfBClyplJ1jDaxRgrwGTKWNmMVgXwTf518UcWoSLjAmQFh8bhvgG0uN6bdiaID4Z8Zjs5_svSd7EJhC_RpdEIOcwdtGqVifs/s200/5c.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDDWcUlNFbhIw8MgH-YQINBxIQTVpPg_N2sFlUKLhorJMtG1CTuD5lZsl8iNX0Wi3utIyhip6DAqmKM6ytrDkyNZp7kpnEbOyQRlGG5OJrKEDwaiEGSlRsZDxiC7mnDq0YWqvYrGFoNg/s1600/5d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDDWcUlNFbhIw8MgH-YQINBxIQTVpPg_N2sFlUKLhorJMtG1CTuD5lZsl8iNX0Wi3utIyhip6DAqmKM6ytrDkyNZp7kpnEbOyQRlGG5OJrKEDwaiEGSlRsZDxiC7mnDq0YWqvYrGFoNg/s320/5d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Sudden flash of <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">four</span> images in subliminal way. </span>These elephant and penguin objects are all actually in Yokohama. According to Umetsu, <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">he "</span>brought out the city's atmosphere first then depicted characters' mental scenery".<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> O</span>bjects and Atsushi and Dazai are <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">flashed</span> in alternate sequence. On two cuts where Atsushi's shirt is off and blood is spilling from Dazai's mouth, Umetsu added as "a prediction of cruel future which is likely to happen".</div>
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<i style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">6. <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Atsushi's </span></span>shadow turns into tiger's shape</span></b></i></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXDiOtwmvj7QK-LUxSfuP9YKHi3ifSKCdYxjzYqBlqGiTG6-Xb30QR7CGB5AdYuiVJNvobMk_e2WrlFIfAXfaDMjAclUoYNezwYRfMUU3n-HVNgWXRsoTBrHfIcp_OlrNNJvlPMPx0X4/s200/6a.jpg" width="200" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxKWr9617Wu4xz2cg9kRC1OBB5EKZDN_gu77hiZbeFeU7HX-Xe9fgzo_RbIXFo8KXhpyur33NqhrDkrgHbvxf6-1DaNE0MntbS_HQVlrZa1Q2lqfZWJhKb1GkjCxE1GrddnhjIdcC4Zc/s1600/6b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxKWr9617Wu4xz2cg9kRC1OBB5EKZDN_gu77hiZbeFeU7HX-Xe9fgzo_RbIXFo8KXhpyur33NqhrDkrgHbvxf6-1DaNE0MntbS_HQVlrZa1Q2lqfZWJhKb1GkjCxE1GrddnhjIdcC4Zc/s200/6b.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Shadow on the wall slowly becomes the tiger's shape. Reason for drawing it as shadow? <i>"Because epitome of transformation scene has to be shown in the episode, so there is no reason draw it in<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> the e</span>nding. Even though opening and ending <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">are</span> not about depicting specific story elements, it's important to express the symbolic matters of the show"</i> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b>(Umetsu).<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span></b></span>Such is his persistence.</span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>7. <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Pages</span> that stopped moving</i></span></b></div>
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<img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NCE2-1lq2hr4ngq-grrNekaC_FbvW71-nALL9f8OKhQlix45CmXOXmwqf1mEqJm4B0H3RVOxeS9YfYU3NCWEY0iTcsb8MzbQPXwogRcVimMTOGoWKMITOME6zKmgBm9TE-9gnjXKzhw/s320/7a.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsIyIXysNcl27mTqdcawTLxTR7ab_xwxzewQIxOlROK98ZTRYwo2wGejXh_h1wuxKUkVLJtSrix2Sj_dwfo3lsMrUt9PfWqNEu7TkMiFGI06dDk0AjX64XN6B_gMLvnXmEQbmqfPJRGc/s1600/7b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsIyIXysNcl27mTqdcawTLxTR7ab_xwxzewQIxOlROK98ZTRYwo2wGejXh_h1wuxKUkVLJtSrix2Sj_dwfo3lsMrUt9PfWqNEu7TkMiFGI06dDk0AjX64XN6B_gMLvnXmEQbmqfPJRGc/s320/7b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Pages of the <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">b</span>ook</span> on ground are flipped by <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">blowing wind</span>, <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">but they stopped when <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">wind</span> stopped. An<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">d</span> then, <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">text <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">in pages dis<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">appear<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> and become meaningless. <i>"T<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">h</span>ose are Atsushi's heart</i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>, body, and a part of his life"</i> <b><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">(</span>Umetsu)</b>. What sort of meaning </span></span></span></span></span>is hidden <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">in</span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> the<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> disappearing text?</span></span> </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>8. Atsushi/Dazai and<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> Ak<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">utagawa</span></span></i></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7V2eeIy3o__Sf1uuFC2Zb9q-Ti5YpRKUYDYORYy1m26jNNS4AbCTmBpncEkD2B4B1fs20cTVo59OzQhyphenhyphen8sV-GKEQqs_2L6KpNMeeloJ34Vjmsc0ZTVoSOdF1xMtnooQ-GPxMWDkS3MY/s1600/8b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7V2eeIy3o__Sf1uuFC2Zb9q-Ti5YpRKUYDYORYy1m26jNNS4AbCTmBpncEkD2B4B1fs20cTVo59OzQhyphenhyphen8sV-GKEQqs_2L6KpNMeeloJ34Vjmsc0ZTVoSOdF1xMtnooQ-GPxMWDkS3MY/s320/8b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Atsushi and Dazai<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">, <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">while</span> Akutagawa wh<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">o is farther apart from the<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">m (<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">t</span>op picture). Atsu<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">shi and Dazai are facing front while <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Akutagawa is facing other direction (bo<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">ttom picture). These <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">three <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">c</span></span>haracter<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">s' relationship is expressed </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>frankly <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">by these</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> two shots.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> As for <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">r</span>eason why above cuts are in red and whit<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">e<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">, <i>"I wanted show comparison between Dazai and Ak</i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>utagawa. By putting Atsushi with Dazai, it b<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">rought out strong feeling o<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">f </span>Atsushi and Dazai as a pair<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">."</span></span></i> </span></span></span>Umetsu explains.</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>9. Dazai petting Atsushi's <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">h</span>ead</span></i></span></b><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">D<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">azai's <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">reaches out and gently pets Atsushi who is lost in thought<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">. And Atsushi smiles faintly. <i>"Tweaking </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>that smile was very difficult</i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">" as Umetsu points out. As the time flows </span></span></span></span></span></span>peacefully, <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">what will become of Atsushi and Dazai? Even flying pages <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">don't have answer for that.</span> </span></span> </span> </div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>10. Dazai doesn't reach out to Akutagawa</i></span></b><br />
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Akutagawa<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">looks down with sadness in front of red brick </span></span>warehouse. His shadow turns into white and Dazai's hand reaches out, but his hand fades away.<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span></div>
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<i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">"Probably to Akutagawa</span>, Dazai's existence i</i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>s like no</i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>thing like anything else. I definitely th</i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">ink</span> only Dazai can save Akutagawa" </i><b>(</b></span></span></span><b>Umetsu). </b>However, when is that salvation? Thus Dazai's hand fades out like an illusion.</div>
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<b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">11. Sinking Atsushi </span></i></b></div>
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Atsushi <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">dr<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">ops</span></span> into a sea<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">. Also <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Yokoha</span></span>ma<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> scenery is shown in the background. <i>"Atsushi </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>has both naivety and a part of </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>irrationality mixed together. I</i></span></span></span><i>nstead of<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span>changing, h</i><i>e still doesn't know<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">how </span></span>to deal with himself </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>" </i>Umetsu s<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">aid</span>. That <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">i</span>s why </span>his facial expr<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">e</span>ssion wants to say something while sinking. <i>"</i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">I</span>t's <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">his </span></span>unique face </span>expression <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">mixed with</span></span> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">va</span>rious thoughts" </i>Umetsu added. </span><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>12. Dazai's hand in water</i></span></b></div>
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Again D<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">a</span>zai's hand <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">touches Atsushi<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">'</span>s head.</span> Reason for doing it second time<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">:</span> <i>"It's like Atsushi will stum</i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>ble and fall many times in his life. However, Dazai will reach out <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">again and again</span>"</i> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Umetsu explains<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">. It's <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Dazai's expression of 'e</span></span>ven i<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">f <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">you</span> </span>fail </span></span></span></span>and being for<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">saken, <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">you <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">keep</span> true to yourself<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">'. Then At<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">sushi's s<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">urrounding turns into Dazai's </span></span>theme</span></span></span> color of white.</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>13. Akutagawa shedding red <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">tear</span></i></span></b><br />
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Akutagawa<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> </span>sinks and his <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">b</span>loody tear floa<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">ts o<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">ut from </span></span>water <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">and fl<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">ie</span>s off as a f<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">irework</span>. <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">I<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">t <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">represents</span> his sadness<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> and <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">rage<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> and</span> Umetsu himse<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">lf love<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">s that cut. </span></span>Also <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">the </span>sea is analyzed as <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">"a sea formed by many shed tears". <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Even though</span> Dazai's hand reaches to <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">sinking <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">A</span>tsushi, he doesn't reach out to sinking Atakugawa.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b style="color: blue; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i>14. At a special place by himself</i></b></span></span></span></div>
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<img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdYlwkF_bB4f6TvyXXT0PHHvlZ-xhEO20LaRSKEZyZbF7SY418Ail9kg9qgWCkjuSy_y-soavWz0lzbDUmAyM9Fan8-gmyjqLO-czX1_XYl1Uf-rjhevS_TDTIIEKhGTXQ0PIlVubNYE/s320/14a.jpg" width="320" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0htyF_5O4wIeAwT2ilQe5Zgy0g71gcxCmShPnnYn-M5wvyOHEv586LpvRwxVjaoK0H6mv_29VUrY_eJUAwh7ufnd7SbpQy6zFugX1DRR6Ugd2zzTVr3YwTfJ-5AgXH49MBku9G02FRR4/s1600/14b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0htyF_5O4wIeAwT2ilQe5Zgy0g71gcxCmShPnnYn-M5wvyOHEv586LpvRwxVjaoK0H6mv_29VUrY_eJUAwh7ufnd7SbpQy6zFugX1DRR6Ugd2zzTVr3YwTfJ-5AgXH49MBku9G02FRR4/s320/14b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVDsKzYItVlZdnSuJWyATXTEraf4daJrCKmULr2xBGGmnuGNX-Gn5aVzvIOGKBRaqpqHRVkgyVNa_QU745ffL285p3VqXnnaZxNaRy8ZgzSCyHo87a7A2YMtqojZpDGzFX72mSza4wI0/s1600/14c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVDsKzYItVlZdnSuJWyATXTEraf4daJrCKmULr2xBGGmnuGNX-Gn5aVzvIOGKBRaqpqHRVkgyVNa_QU745ffL285p3VqXnnaZxNaRy8ZgzSCyHo87a7A2YMtqojZpDGzFX72mSza4wI0/s320/14c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Above cuts are also modeled from<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Yokohama. Akutagawa is <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">kneeling</span> under the shade and Atsushi<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> stand<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">s momentarily <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">a<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">t a<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> place <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">under morning sun. <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">P</span>ages <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">of </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">a</span>nother book s</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">catters around Akutagawa's coat. </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<b><i><span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">15. Close<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">d Book</span></span></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiduhUZRYA5TsdQi66BUCqh3_WdsCQ0ReCPw8BJERVDXxHLRCKJWvX0sxjISOqJS7gxgHTRRIKxGIGHUMGhyphenhyphenUmqZKOleTXZqhWCQQWvzzxeKKDxhf1SZGgPn38G9E0I0nq90Y3-9wFW-Dw/s1600/15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiduhUZRYA5TsdQi66BUCqh3_WdsCQ0ReCPw8BJERVDXxHLRCKJWvX0sxjISOqJS7gxgHTRRIKxGIGHUMGhyphenhyphenUmqZKOleTXZqhWCQQWvzzxeKKDxhf1SZGgPn38G9E0I0nq90Y3-9wFW-Dw/s320/15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The book is in Atsushi's hand again<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">, <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">but the book is closed<span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">. <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Flying <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">pages are nowhere to go. This <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">cut is drawn as </span><i>"an image which <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">n</span>o one</span> knows where those pages will lead in the future" </i><b>(Umetsu).</b></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Sudden appearance of two fascinating cuts: <i>"I didn't want to end with cut and dry feeling; so I wanted something to save the thought of </i></span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><i>'let's watch it next week too'". </i></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">On half-weretiger cut: </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"As a character, Atsushi can goof off too, right? It's too complicated for Dazai and Akutagawa though </i><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">(laughs)" as Umetsu comments on the cut which Atsushi shows "roar" expression with heart-shaped windpipe. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">On final cut's graphic style image, </span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Umetsu concluded,</span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"I wanted to close the ending in style with (Atsushi's) just-right-before-turning-into-tiger </i><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">image."</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBn31HYBwqQxMiV58LsRkKwTw-I5RcK5X6QG5ns_b09laYR6EVNUg4SM0f4gX1efwOwoKv8uED3XkKIARv8xiy4rQYRstP39u_CjksYQRoI-h_hqd-xDdepthVb0FDjsPq_7ZfoD4Cww/s1600/16a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBn31HYBwqQxMiV58LsRkKwTw-I5RcK5X6QG5ns_b09laYR6EVNUg4SM0f4gX1efwOwoKv8uED3XkKIARv8xiy4rQYRstP39u_CjksYQRoI-h_hqd-xDdepthVb0FDjsPq_7ZfoD4Cww/s320/16a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Interview #2: </span></b></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Luck Life </span></span></b></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Ending theme song</span></b></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">)</span></span></span></span></div>
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<img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyhMDrZ-_uoa4x59biElhLiktDVSabJNC9LSekKJjFToeguBu7OyucV25g-jxTv98SLP5aXaWHRz8192235e-bUhgF-oD3Wm3VB1xjvTlAS31_wdBZmpc0ljS16lkbinPZm_W8PQFgOA/s400/Luck+Life.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Profile:</span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> Luck Life is a rock band based from Osaka. The band is composed of LOVE-Ooishi (Drums), PON (Vocal & Guitar), Taku (Bass), and Ikoma (Guitar). Their previous song, <i>"Unchanging Sky</i> / </span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">変わらない空</span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">", is the main theme song for TV anime, "Junjo Romantica 3". They made t</span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">heir major debut</span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> with </span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">"</span><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I'll </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">c</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">all out </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">a </span></i><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>name </i></span><i>/ </i></span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">名前を呼ぶよ</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">".</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i>---I've heard that Luck Life started when you guys are in high school</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">PON:<span style="font-weight: normal;"> As soon as I entered high school, Ooishi said, "Hey you wanna check out light music club?" I wasn't totally interested at first, but as I watched seniors in light music club and I thought, "maybe I could get super popular" (laughs). That's how I met colleagues and started the band with such naive mindset.</span></span></span></div>
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<i style="color: purple;">---You had a different band name at first, but changed to Luck Life in 2008.</i><br />
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<b>PON: </b>We went for popular rock genre to play the original music that I've written. We used that opportunity to change the name and set the goal to make debut with mainstream.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><i>---"I'll call out a name" is like that, I felt your music is about expressing solid lyric with easy-to-listen vocalization.</i></span><br />
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<b>PON:</b> As for making music, it's all about wanting everyone listening to our song. We take great care with lyric with "don't lie" as our motto, so I think we're making song for everyone with what I myself really feel.<br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><i>---What is your impression of "Bungo Stray Dogs"?</i></span><br />
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<b>PON:</b> Everyone being cool and handsome is the first thing that came up in my mind. As guys, their powers are still weak though, right? (laughs) It's close to what I read as a kid so composing the song was fun.<br />
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<i><span style="color: purple;">---We know that "I'll call out a name" is your own songwriting, but can you tell us how did you made it?</span></i><br />
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<b>PON:</b> Animation production asked the song to be a ballad. At first I couldn't imagine ballad just from reading a lively battle action comic. However, there is that Atsushi's "<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">you can't go on living without telling someone that 'it's good to be alive'" line and I totally understood. So the band started to try out some tunes and there would be some feedback from listeners; so as I continually thought about it and then lyric came out from my gut with a bang. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><i>---I felt a connection from your song with Atsushi Nakajima's novel, "Sangetsuki". The story is about a poet who turned into tiger and asking his friend to save his name and poem before he loses his humanity.</i></span><br />
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<b>PON:</b> Oh, really? What a coincidence! I was so busy at that time of writing; and now that I recall, I certainly had a meeting with Director Igarashi when lyric was half-finished. I was, like, happy when he said, "leave as it is. This is fine". So I wrote the remaining lyric straight ahead while riding a bullet train to Osaka.<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: small;"><i>---Also (ending) sequence fits very well with song's perspective of the world</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>PON:</b> Most memorable part was Dazai is petting Atsushi's head. They're, like, really cool. I really love Dazai and Atsushi's master-and-pupil relationship. It makes me happy to think about everyone listening to "I'll call out a name" while immersed themselves in setting sun. If you like us through our single, please check us out at our live concert.</span><br />
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hyunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11997714270174561026noreply@blogger.com0