Makeine: Too many shedding heroines! Interview with director Shotaro Kitamura

Which woman gained your coronary heart this summer time?

Let’s have a look again on the heroines who coloured the summer time with their distinctive “kawaii” fashion!

We requested the director what charms the characters have and the way they specific their cuteness!

Interview with director Shotaro Kitamura

Shotaro Kitamura: anime director and supervisor. Notable works embody Kaguya-sama: Love is struggle -The primary kiss that by no means ends- (storyboard artist and supervisor), To overhaul! (storyboard artist and supervisor) amongst others. This undertaking is his directorial debut.

Picture of a summer time filled with heartbreak,
And bringing everybody’s recollections to the floor.

──Please inform us your first impression of Makeine: Too many shedding heroines!

Kitamura: I learn the unique novels for the primary time after speaking to him A-1 Photos. By this, I discovered that it had deep characters in addition to a novel perspective not typically present in novels, so I discovered it fairly fascinating. Earlier than studying it, I puzzled why I had been requested to work on such a cute, girly collection, regardless of dramas being my specialty. However as soon as I learn it, I shortly understood.

──That is your first time directing a collection. What method did you’re taking for this?

Kitamura: My perspective on issues remained largely unchanged from after I was storyboarding and supervising particular person episodes, however above all I attempted to create one thing that resonated with the viewers. After I work on storyboarding or supervision, I haven’t got to give you the story myself, however I exploit the situation given to me to resolve how issues would look and the way individuals would really feel. Due to this fact, this time, as a director, I imagined how I would really like viewers to really feel after watching the collection, after which determined to find out numerous points of it, together with the storyline itself.

──This text initially printed in Month-to-month New sortoptions an unique illustration by Lemon Yakishio. What do you consider the story’s distinctive heroines akin to Lemon, Anna Yanami and Chika Komari?

Kitamura: I must suggest episode two to anybody who loves Lemon. I just like the scene the place Kazuhiko Nukumizu pushes her down. Due to our character designer and lead animation director Tetsuya Kawakami‘s expertise, her ensuing facial expressions as she fell, got here via brilliantly. In the meantime, Yanami is lovely with how animated her expressions might be. I might like individuals to suppose, “What’s mistaken together with her!?” once they see her comedic entrance. Lastly, Komari is totally different from the opposite heroines as a result of she takes a brand new step ahead in her life after ending her relationship on her personal. I would really like the viewers to pay attention to her efforts. Additionally look out for episodes that do not revolve round love!

──The Makeine anime is exclusive in that it options a variety of ‘shedding heroines’, however it’s primarily a romantic comedy. What was it wish to compose such a narrative along with the screenwriter? Masahiro Yokotani?

Kitamura: There are undoubtedly some severe moments, however as a result of it is a romantic comedy, we tried to make it one thing that finally makes you chuckle. This has been our coverage, not just for every particular person episode, however for the collection as a complete. Due to this fact, to make sure that the viewers turns into hooked up to the characters, we determined to deal with the relationships between them. Yokotani helped immensely in creating a storyline that would delve deeply into every heroine’s story, making certain that particular person episodes had some form of conclusion and by no means felt half-baked. Furthermore, as a director I at all times thought of how I might painting a type of cheerful nostalgia.

──Is that cheerful nostalgia one thing you keep in mind when portraying the characters?

Kitamura: There are two essential issues we have in mind. The primary is that the characters are depicted in such a method that they stick within the viewer’s reminiscence. MakeineThe story of Yanami, Lemon and Komari begins with heartbreak for the solid of heroines, however the best way Yanami, Lemon and Komari expertise it differs. They’re portrayed in such a method that viewers can empathize with the best way they overcome their heartbreak and subsequently assist them even additional. The second most important level we’ll have in mind is our portrayal of a “Toyohashi Summer season,” which we hope may carry again recollections of summers previous for viewers. In fact, there are individuals who have not had the identical experiences because the heroines, however no less than everybody has skilled the summer time (laughs). Along with the duo chargeable for our visible board, we tightened our course to make it clear at a look that summer time could be the stage for this story.

──So that is the type of work that Aoi Otani And Keigo Ariharawho’re stated to have labored on the visible board did.

Kitamura: Earlier than we went to Toyohashi for location scouting, we had discussions about what a Japanese summer time entails, and we did a number of issues on prime of that. Primarily based on the pictures we took throughout our exploration visits, we found via trial and error how precisely to painting summer time within the anime. We mentioned with our artwork director how greatest to attract the backgrounds, Yuki Hatakeyamautilizing the visible board we developed along with them.

──Lighting in lecture rooms and different buildings is stored considerably dim. Was that additionally completed to evoke the summer time ambiance?

Kitamura: Sure. With the visible board as a foundation, we had a variety of lengthy conversations with our photographers and coloration designers about issues. Consistent with the route we had been going, I additionally requested our character designer Kawakami to take the silhouettes of the characters under consideration upfront when engaged on the characters. Moreover, I requested that he not change a lot from their unique designs, to maintain the viewer’s first impressions in line Imigimuru‘s illustrations, and that he makes certain their designs work for each comedy and drama. On the manufacturing facet, the three most important animators oversaw the heavier cuts: Takumitsu Miuraadept at making fascinating strikes; Akane Takedawho confirmed a fantastic ardour for the characters; And Mirai Harashimaour all-rounder who put a variety of work into the household restaurant scene in episode one. Everybody was absolutely concerned in making this undertaking occur.

──What do you suppose was notably tough in regards to the manufacturing?

Kitamura: I might say it was Kazuhiko Nukumizu. Usually, the protagonist of a romantic comedy finally ends up with one of many heroines, however that’s not the case with him as he’s merely an observer of shedding heroines. I feel I actually took that to coronary heart when creating the storyboards for episode one, as a result of I feel the plotting of the present would have been lower in half if that hadn’t been made clear from the start.

──The connection between Nukumizu and Yanami developed a bit of additional in episode 4.

Kitamura: Up to now, Nukumizu had been exterior, however there was a scene the place he obtained one thing from one of many heroines. I constructed these storyboards with the concept that the viewer would have the ability to empathize with him and on the identical time see Yanami’s appeal.

──Which scene would you most like viewers to rewatch?

Kitamura: It must be the sparkler scene from episode 4. Yohei Miyawakiour Director of Images, helped create this scene, which I feel actually highlights the fantastic thing about the results used on this undertaking. The backgrounds in that episode had been additionally stunning, so I would like followers to look at this many times!

──Is there something you need viewers to pay particular consideration to from episode 5?

Kitamura: Every heroine might be explored in additional depth, bearing in mind their relationships with Nukumizu so far. The story will proceed to unfold in impactful methods, so it may be enjoyable to rewatch every part from the primary episode and put your self in Nukumizu’s sneakers! Moreover, I hope that you’ll all proceed to assist the heroines of this story!

Makeine: Too many shedding heroines!
WEB https://makeine-anime.com/
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This interview initially appeared in New sortthe September 2024 problem.

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