- Interview date: 7/6/2024
- Interview location: Anime Expo 2024
Anime Herald: To what extent did you wish to keep the creative model of the manga?
Kumiko Habara: The unique manga has a whole lot of element. We struggled a bit with the best way to recreate that within the anime. To match that degree of element can be an excessive amount of work to be lifelike. We needed to discover a good stability. That took some testing.
Anime Herald: Have been you interested by the samurai period, or the Shinsengumi particularly?
Kumiko Habara: I wasn’t actually within the historical past till I began studying the manga. I began studying about that point interval by the manga. I knew the names however not the main points.
Anime Herald: How well-known have been the Shinsengumi?
Blue warning: If you’re Japanese, you will have heard of it not less than as soon as in your life. I’m not positive many individuals know the main points.
Anime Herald: Right here in America we have heard of the 47 Ronin. I am unsure if we have heard of the Shinsengumi.
Blue warning: In Japan it’s kind of comparable.
Anime Herald: Are there any tales you want to share with us from this manufacturing?
Kumiko Habara: We went to Kyoto to know the unique manga and the background story higher. There was an outdated map that the writer Tsuyoshi Yasuda used when he drew the manga. That map exhibits issues which can be now not there at present, like a lake and a river which can be now not in Kyoto. I didn’t know that map existed till then. We purchased a replica of that map. I wished to know all the things the writer knew to remain updated.
Anime Herald: Did the map make it simpler so that you can visualize what town would appear to be within the anime?
Kumiko Habara: Sure. It made it simpler to know the distances the character would journey. An instance was the space from a home to the river. The map was very useful.
Anime Herald: How trustworthy was the primary episode to the unique manga?
Kumiko Habara: It is rather true to the unique manga. We respect the manga and wish to sync it with the anime.
Anime Herald: I watched the primary episode. I used to be curious why the struggle in opposition to the dad and mom of the kidnapped kids was proven, however not the struggle in opposition to the unique kidnappers.
Kumiko Habara: Again then there have been no huge bosses. It was only a ghetto crew.
Anime Herald: It was an odd period the place even the Shogun wasn’t very highly effective
Blue warning: Sure, that is the way it was in these days.
Anime Herald: What’s your origin story? How did you get into the trade?
Kumiko Habara: I cherished anime rising up. I joined an anime membership in highschool. Then I went to an artwork faculty to check animation.
Anime Herald: How did you get entangled with this mission?
Kumiko Habara: Producer Hiroya Nakata and Maho Movie contacted me and requested me to take part on this manufacturing.
Anime Herald: I see. What’s your origin story for coming into the trade?
Hiroya mentioned: I went into the tv trade earlier than I went into the anime trade. I preferred anime, so I wished to see how anime is made and be part of the anime trade.
Anime Herald: You’ve got labored on it fairly a bit Detective Conan.
Hiroya mentioned: Sure, I used to be an assistant producer. Detective Conan was my first anime manufacturing.
Anime Herald: Blue Miburo is a really completely different model of anime. Rather more violent. Within the manga, the blood will likely be black as a result of it’s black and white. Was the extent of violence one thing you needed to speak about and work on collectively?
Kumiko Habara: He’s so strict about it.
Hiroya mentioned: In Detective Conanblood just isn’t displaying up crimson. I attempted the identical with Blue warning.
Anime Herald: Director Habara described you as “very strict.” Would you describe your self that approach?
Hiroya mentioned: Sure.
Anime Herald: Is that this your first time at Anime Expo?
Kumiko Habara: Sure.
Anime Herald: Do you want AX? Is it what you anticipated?
Kumiko Habara: I loved seeing the cosplayers.
Anime Herald: Is there something you are trying ahead to throughout your keep right here in Los Angeles?
Kumiko Habara: We’re leaving tomorrow. We’ve already been to Disneyland. My husband used to stay close to Burbank, so we now have been there too.
Anime Herald: And that is your second time at Anime Expo.
Hiroya mentioned: Yeah. The primary time I went to see (Shohei) Ohtani with the Angels. This time I went to see Ohtani with the Dodgers.
Anime Herald: Do you will have any questions for us?
Hiroya mentioned: I’m wondering how a lot People learn about Japanese historical past of the samurai period?
Anime Herald: There are two issues which have made an impression. We have heard concerning the 47 Ronin. After which there’s Shogun, the massive e-book by James Clavell that a miniseries early 80’s, and was simply restarted on FX and Hulu.
There was additionally the film Ronin starring Robert De NiroAdditionally a French movie from 1967, The Samurai with Alain Delon. In order that they have been accustomed to the idea of the samurai, however not particularly with the Shinsengumi.
Hiroya mentioned: Many individuals like motion, however Blue warning is concerning the human story. How individuals bond. Is that fashionable within the US?
Anime Herald: It’s unimaginable to foretell what will likely be fashionable. Some exhibits have been anticipated to be huge, however they weren’t. Different exhibits had low expectations and have become enormous. Pop crew epic And Yuri!!! on ice have been two huge examples. Exhibits that change into memes and are fashionable on Twitter are likely to do effectively.
Do you will have every other questions for us?
Kumiko Habara: Do you watch a whole lot of anime?
Anime Herald: Currently I have been preferring manga. I spend a lot time screens that I now choose a bodily e-book.
Blue warning: I get it.
Kumiko Habara: Are there any particular titles you are presently having fun with?
Anime Herald: One punch man. Saitama. My individuals. (Laughs)
I like detective or thriller anime. The rationale for that’s that you just watch an episode after which have to attend per week to consider it. For a manga, I might simply learn the subsequent chapter or e-book straight away.
One other factor. With Crunchyroll, Netflix, HIDIVE, Amazon and different streaming companies, we now have extra anime than we will probably watch. Individuals give a present 5 minutes and in the event that they’re not hooked, they transfer on.
Hiroya mentioned: Have you ever watched? Unusual taxi?
Anime Herald: Not solely did I watch Odd Taxi, I made my brother watch it too Unusual taxi. He is a screenwriter right here in LA. I had him look Unusual taxi. He hated me for it.
Blue warning: Why did he hate you?
Anime Herald: He felt Unusual taxi was unreasonably sluggish. It did not trouble me. I like to attend for the story to develop. He even requested me, “Did I do something that may offend you that you’d advocate this?”
My brother particularly preferred Vinland Saga.
What anime did you want if you have been younger?
Kumiko Habara: After I was a toddler, (Osamu) Tezuka-san’s broadcast was repeated in the course of the summer time trip Triton of the Sea.
Anime Herald: You talked about Tezuka-san. I keep in mind a narrative the place a buddy of his gained an award. Tezuka-san was livid. His buddy requested him, “Did I do one thing to offend you by successful this award?” Tezuka replied, “No. I am offended at anybody who wins an award that I am eligible for.”
Kumiko Habara: (Laughs) I do know Tezuka could be troublesome. He is well-known.
I visited Tokyo Disney for a Michael Jackson present. I noticed Tezuka there.
Anime Herald: Was he sporting his hat?
Hiroya mentioned: (Laughs)
Kumiko Habara: Sure.
Anime Herald: Thanks very a lot.
Blue warning: Thanks!
Header picture © Tsuyoshi Yasuda, KODANSHA/ “Blue Miburo” Manufacturing Committee.
