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Perhaps the best way
to understand the stoic surface
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of Japanese culture
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is by riding the subway.
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It's quiet.
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Polite.
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Restrained.
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The next station is Akihabara.
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There's a system.
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The doors on the left side will open.
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An order.
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So how does a culture like this...
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create this?
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Earlier this year, I became immersed
in something I knew nothing about.
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The dark, twisted, crazy world of anime...
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manga...
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and Japanese counterculture.
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Like many westerners, I thought of anime
as an endless parade of Hello Kitties
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dressed as wide-eyed school girls,
riding rainbow ponies.
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Awesome, awesome, awesome,
awesome, awesome!
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If I kissed even a fraction
of that much ass,
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I'd drown myself in shame.
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♪ Choke on my rage! ♪
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But it's often dark
and outright fucked up.
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♪ Choke on my rage! ♪
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Even Hollywood is influenced by anime.
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And although I know nothing about it,
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I decided to teach myself,
to become an anime expert.
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And maybe even a better filmmaker.
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Right? Right?
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So, what is anime, really?
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Um...
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Um...
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Um...
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Whether you're an anime newbie like me
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or an Otaku fan, you've probably wondered,
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"How the hell
does anyone come up with this?"
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Or this?
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Or especially...
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this?
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Who are the creative and deranged brains
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behind some of the most innovative anime
out today?
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In a culture where conformity rules,
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the popularity of this vibrant art
might seem like a problem.
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But could it be a solution?
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And to what?
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I went down the rabbit hole of anime clips
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and, instead of finding answers,
I got even more questions.
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Sure, Netflix hired me to do this.
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But it wasn't just a job.
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It became an obsession.
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I had to find anime's soul,
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tap into the genius minds that create it
and look behind the veil.
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This would be an epic anime quest.
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Exciting, right?
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Only problem is... I'm in LA,
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and I have no fucking idea
how I'm going to do that.
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See, it all started with Castlevania.
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It was so dark, twisted, and beautiful.
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I couldn't help but wonder
who would make such a thing?
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00:03:20,283 --> 00:03:21,283
So, I found him:
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00:03:21,534 --> 00:03:23,536
the edgiest anime creator in LA.
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00:03:24,078 --> 00:03:26,915
They call him
the Quentin Tarantino of digital age.
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00:03:27,582 --> 00:03:29,334
But who is Adi Shankar?
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The last thing I Googled
was time travel.
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'Cause I'm a time traveler.
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I'm from the future,
I'm not from this timeline.
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How did Castlevania go from being a...
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a beloved video game series
that was kind of dead
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to a Netflix show
that became, like, a hit?
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00:03:53,399 --> 00:03:57,028
So I had this career making films.
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Some of them ended up in theaters,
some did very well.
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I wasn't really into the movies.
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What I was really into
was making fan films on the Internet.
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00:04:05,745 --> 00:04:07,705
There was a Power Rangers one
and a James Bond one
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00:04:07,789 --> 00:04:09,832
that I released a week apart.
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And, yeah, some of them went, uh,
kind of nuclear viral.
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And it's been interesting, you know.
I never looked at my career in this light,
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but then I had a rapper explain it
to me this way.
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He just called me up.
He's like, "Yo, what up? It's Kanye."
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I'm like, "Huh, what? Hello?"
Then we, like, met.
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Rappers consider that my mixtape,
which makes me feel very cool.
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Because I look at that as just fan films,
which is less cool.
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So, fan films led
to Netflix tweeting at me.
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Yeah, actually there was a tweet,
saying, "Hey, come in for a meeting."
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And that directly led
to Castlevania happening.
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When I was growing up,
all the things I loved,
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I had no idea
that other people liked any of it.
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It wasn't cool. You know,
people would pretend they didn't...
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Like people who liked it
would pretend like they didn't like it.
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And now, it's, like,
people are cosplaying as Goku.
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00:05:09,142 --> 00:05:12,395
It's awesome. I mean, I literally
have a power glove that I wear.
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It lights up.
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When I was growing up in Hong Kong,
there would be, like,
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this crazy, awesome anime on TV
and it was never in English.
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So, like, I didn't know what was going on,
but I loved the way it looked.
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I was like, "Well, one day,
we're gonna make our own,
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and it's gonna look just like that."
From the moment Netflix said, "Yes,
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go make your crazy anime adaptation
of this video game.
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Go do it, go for it..."
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Then, uh, both Kevin and I,
Kevin is my partner on the show,
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we kind of looked at each other.
It had to be 2D.
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It had to be that hand-drawn style,
again that was an homage to those OVAs,
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those OVAs that I would watch
on TV in Hong Kong that I loved
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and I was like, "This is beautiful.
It's an art form."
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My family says my work is very violent.
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It's very violent.
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00:06:06,074 --> 00:06:07,950
Uh, this is Mooshi. She's human,
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00:06:08,034 --> 00:06:10,203
so she, like,
literally understands English.
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I do always get this reaction
and it kind of weirds me out.
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Whenever people see Mooshi, they're like,
"Is this your dog?" I'm like, "Yes."
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They're like, "You picked this dog?
This wasn't a girlfriend's?"
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I was like, "No! This was, like,
the dog I always wanted."
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And they're like, "This is not..."
I always get the same response.
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"This is not the dog
that I would see you with."
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And then I'm like,
"What? What are you talking about?
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What kind of dog
are you imagining me having? Like...
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what, like a Rottweiler?
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00:06:39,273 --> 00:06:41,317
A German Shepherd? Like an attack dog?
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00:06:41,401 --> 00:06:43,945
Maybe a robot dog?
Maybe, like, a demon dog? What?"
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Adi Shankar was a time traveler.
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I was starting to wish
he could whisk me back in time
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before I said I could make this movie.
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Okay.
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What is anime?
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This should be easy.
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Or not. What is creativity?
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00:07:09,762 --> 00:07:11,514
How do people get ideas?
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00:07:12,014 --> 00:07:13,850
Instagram isn't a waste of time,
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it's inspiration. Right?
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00:07:16,769 --> 00:07:17,769
Right?
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00:07:18,146 --> 00:07:20,565
To know anime,
we have to know its birthplace.
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How about a classic doc for inspiration?
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A country of beauty and variety...
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where East meets West...
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00:07:31,784 --> 00:07:36,122
Mingling in modern dress,
in city planning and in industry...
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00:07:37,039 --> 00:07:40,168
but where country life
and customs still follow...
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Or not. Terrible idea.
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No. To know anime,
we have to go to Japan...
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to face those deranged brains in person.
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To meet the biggest names in the industry.
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Tap into the source. The mother lode.
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What makes Japan its birthplace?
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To understand anime,
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we have to dive into the intricacies
of Japanese culture
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and the nuance of its way of life.
146
00:08:05,193 --> 00:08:06,360
How are we gonna do it?
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00:08:06,611 --> 00:08:07,611
Food!
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00:08:12,408 --> 00:08:13,493
Ooh...
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00:08:18,831 --> 00:08:21,209
My favorite thing
about Tokyo is the food.
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I interviewed a fellow foodie,
and anime creator,
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00:08:24,629 --> 00:08:26,797
who takes Japanese anime ingredients
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and serves a completely
cross-cultural anime dish.
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Hello! I am Sam.
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Nice to meet you. I'm Sam.
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00:08:34,055 --> 00:08:36,057
Hello! My name is Sam.
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00:08:36,140 --> 00:08:38,184
Hello there! My name is Sam.
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Hello, my name is LeSean Thomas.
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Hi, I'm LeSean.
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00:08:41,729 --> 00:08:43,189
Hi, I'm LeSean Thomas.
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00:08:43,272 --> 00:08:44,857
Hi, I'm LeSean.
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00:08:44,941 --> 00:08:46,400
Hi, my name is LeSean Thomas.
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After the dot-com crash in New York City,
it was, uh, a difficulty finding work.
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00:08:56,827 --> 00:09:00,498
So, I found myself, uh, jumping
into freelance comic book illustration.
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00:09:02,542 --> 00:09:06,045
I think being around other artists
and creatives who are...
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really good and better at things than I am
really inspire me.
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00:09:10,883 --> 00:09:12,677
I'm a big fan of collaboration,
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00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:14,905
which is why I'm attracted
to the animation production.
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00:09:14,929 --> 00:09:17,557
I like working in a room
full of really, really gifted people.
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It forces me to keep my game up.
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00:09:20,059 --> 00:09:23,229
So I started off consuming
Japanese animated TV shows
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through VHS tapes illegally recorded
in locations in Chinatown.
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And it was very niche at the time.
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I would say I took everything,
a little bit of everything that I loved
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to create Cannon Busters.
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00:09:34,699 --> 00:09:41,038
The music in Cannon Busters is, uh, a mix
of jazz, philharmonic score and pop music.
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♪ Playing with fire ♪
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00:09:42,748 --> 00:09:46,836
Cannon Busters' style is influenced
by an amalgamation of things
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00:09:46,919 --> 00:09:51,424
that I was consuming as a young kid
in the '90s and in the early '80s.
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00:09:51,507 --> 00:09:55,052
Road shows, adventure shows,
Japanese role playing games,
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00:09:55,136 --> 00:09:56,971
Final Fantasy, Secret of Mana.
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This project was a perfect opportunity
to combine all those elements.
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00:10:00,933 --> 00:10:03,436
My favorite character
for Cannon Busters is Sam,
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which is an acronym
for Special Associate Model.
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00:10:06,105 --> 00:10:09,025
And she's a royal,
high-profile friendship robot.
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00:10:09,108 --> 00:10:13,154
She's a bit OCD, she's pure,
she only sees the good in people.
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00:10:13,946 --> 00:10:16,699
No, there are no characters
in Cannon Busters that are based on me.
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00:10:16,782 --> 00:10:20,119
I'm not really one of those creatives
that puts myself in my work.
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00:10:20,202 --> 00:10:23,456
I quite like creating distance
between myself and the audience.
189
00:10:24,081 --> 00:10:26,000
I feel like as an American,
Japanese animation,
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as a medium, as an art form
is a truly trans-genre medium.
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00:10:30,796 --> 00:10:33,466
They have animation content for toddlers
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00:10:33,549 --> 00:10:37,928
to young boys and girls
to teens to adults to porn.
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00:10:38,638 --> 00:10:40,973
I don't feel like an outsider,
I feel like a visitor,
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a guest, if you will.
195
00:10:44,685 --> 00:10:47,355
Japanese animation was my gateway
to Japanese culture.
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00:10:47,438 --> 00:10:50,358
It was the thing that I was absorbing
since I was a kid
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00:10:50,441 --> 00:10:54,070
and I knew all about Tokyo through
Japanese animation and comic books
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00:10:54,528 --> 00:10:55,905
before I even visited here.
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00:11:05,373 --> 00:11:10,336
Fun fact: Japan uses more paper
to print manga, or Japanese comic books,
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00:11:10,419 --> 00:11:12,213
than they do to make toilet paper.
201
00:11:13,381 --> 00:11:16,133
Either people in Japan
need to up their fiber intake...
202
00:11:17,176 --> 00:11:19,261
or that's a shit ton of comic books.
203
00:11:21,931 --> 00:11:27,311
Anime, and manga that inspires it,
aren't just pop culture, they define it.
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00:11:28,145 --> 00:11:29,605
During the golden age of anime,
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00:11:29,980 --> 00:11:32,066
animators and manga artists
were like kings.
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00:11:33,150 --> 00:11:35,236
Or, to be more geographically appropriate,
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00:11:35,319 --> 00:11:36,445
emperors.
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00:11:36,737 --> 00:11:38,823
Think of them
as the king content creators.
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00:11:38,906 --> 00:11:40,950
The Instagram celebs of yore.
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00:11:41,534 --> 00:11:43,494
But, you know, talented.
211
00:11:45,204 --> 00:11:47,581
So how does manga become anime?
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00:11:47,707 --> 00:11:50,251
And how do these artists
keep going under all the pressure?
213
00:11:50,835 --> 00:11:53,379
I dropped in on an interview
with Toshiki Hirano:
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00:11:53,671 --> 00:11:56,132
a veteran master
in turning manga to anime...
215
00:11:56,632 --> 00:11:59,927
who gave me the golden key
to solving this anime puzzle.
216
00:12:03,848 --> 00:12:08,769
During the anime boom,
animators were, how to put it...
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00:12:09,145 --> 00:12:12,898
not stars, but something like that.
They were idolized.
218
00:12:13,524 --> 00:12:14,734
I am an animator in my roots.
219
00:12:15,401 --> 00:12:17,963
I started as an animator
and became a director among other things.
220
00:12:17,987 --> 00:12:20,364
Where do you begin creating anime?
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00:12:20,823 --> 00:12:22,491
People call them good scenes.
222
00:12:22,575 --> 00:12:26,078
You first make scenes
that become the keystones.
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00:12:26,912 --> 00:12:30,124
For Baki,
that's the fighters' special poses.
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00:12:31,083 --> 00:12:32,126
Stuff like that.
225
00:12:42,136 --> 00:12:45,097
The best scenes in fighting
are the KOs.
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00:12:45,181 --> 00:12:47,850
It just looks good
when they have a clean execution.
227
00:12:48,225 --> 00:12:51,937
For anime, you first put images
like that in your head
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00:12:52,229 --> 00:12:53,773
and build around them.
229
00:12:53,856 --> 00:12:57,818
Since I'm an animator, I first think
about what I want to show the most.
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00:12:57,902 --> 00:13:00,589
That's kind of how it goes.
After that, I glue everything else to it.
231
00:13:05,534 --> 00:13:09,580
When you're creating film based on manga,
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00:13:09,663 --> 00:13:12,249
breaking it apart
and rebuilding is the way to go.
233
00:13:12,374 --> 00:13:16,712
But for Baki, we thought about sticking
to the manga. That part was set in stone.
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00:13:16,796 --> 00:13:19,298
When did you decide to work in anime?
235
00:13:19,381 --> 00:13:21,884
I never wanted to work in anime.
236
00:13:21,967 --> 00:13:24,127
- You never wanted to?
- I wanted to be a manga artist.
237
00:13:24,428 --> 00:13:25,428
Is that so?
238
00:13:30,684 --> 00:13:33,646
So do you often visit
Mandarake shops?
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00:13:33,729 --> 00:13:36,857
I go occasionally,
as TMS is located in Nakano,
240
00:13:36,941 --> 00:13:39,527
and there is a Mandarake shop there.
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00:13:39,610 --> 00:13:42,404
So it's like a mecca there.
You have the studio,
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00:13:42,488 --> 00:13:45,032
and the original Mandarake nearby.
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00:13:45,115 --> 00:13:47,177
- Yes.
- What do you look at there?
244
00:13:47,201 --> 00:13:50,454
Well, I look at the figures
and used books.
245
00:13:50,538 --> 00:13:52,790
You see, there aren't
that many bookstores nowadays.
246
00:13:52,873 --> 00:13:53,707
Indeed.
247
00:13:53,791 --> 00:13:56,228
For manga, you have to go
to manga shops to buy them.
248
00:13:56,252 --> 00:13:58,337
Or even look at them. So I just have to.
249
00:13:58,879 --> 00:14:01,298
And the size
of their archives is staggering.
250
00:14:02,299 --> 00:14:04,844
When do you come up with ideas?
251
00:14:04,927 --> 00:14:06,387
Usually in the shower.
252
00:14:08,180 --> 00:14:10,724
Well, when you are,
you can't take notes, can you?
253
00:14:10,808 --> 00:14:13,727
Right. So I hurry out to jot things down.
254
00:14:14,144 --> 00:14:16,689
- Oh, really?
- Yes, or I'd forget.
255
00:14:17,231 --> 00:14:20,568
So you're drawing scenes buck naked...?
256
00:14:20,651 --> 00:14:24,530
Not really. I do dry myself. A quick work
of the towel, then off with the pen.
257
00:14:24,655 --> 00:14:25,489
Rough sketches?
258
00:14:25,573 --> 00:14:29,702
- More like short memos.
- Memos straight out of the shower.
259
00:14:29,785 --> 00:14:31,871
I'm used to being alone.
260
00:14:33,789 --> 00:14:36,166
What was the last word you Googled?
261
00:14:36,250 --> 00:14:37,459
"Netflix."
262
00:14:47,344 --> 00:14:52,850
And now you've become
the director of Baki.
263
00:14:52,933 --> 00:14:56,979
So was it fun drawing Hanayama
for the series?
264
00:14:57,062 --> 00:14:58,622
Hanayama doesn't have much screen time!
265
00:15:07,615 --> 00:15:10,993
If you had to fight against
one of those Death Row inmates,
266
00:15:12,494 --> 00:15:14,538
- who would you pick?
- I can't fight.
267
00:15:14,622 --> 00:15:18,959
- They'd take me down instantly.
- What is your favorite line from Baki?
268
00:15:19,043 --> 00:15:20,203
My favorite line from Baki...
269
00:15:20,336 --> 00:15:21,503
"I don't give a fuck."
270
00:15:24,590 --> 00:15:28,093
And there they were: the golden words of anime.
271
00:15:29,762 --> 00:15:32,222
But unlike Baki, I did give a fuck.
272
00:15:32,389 --> 00:15:33,515
I gave many fucks.
273
00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:36,769
So I took to the streets to ask the fans.
274
00:15:37,186 --> 00:15:40,856
What drives them,
what lures them to this crazy medium?
275
00:15:41,023 --> 00:15:43,859
I was worried that flying
all the way to Tokyo
276
00:15:43,943 --> 00:15:45,819
still wouldn't give me
the answers I needed.
277
00:15:46,862 --> 00:15:50,741
But that's kind of the point of anime.
To take risks. To listen to nobody.
278
00:15:50,824 --> 00:15:52,368
To abide by your own rules.
279
00:15:53,285 --> 00:15:55,496
I wasn't gonna let
a language barrier get in my way.
280
00:15:55,829 --> 00:15:59,166
I'm immortal. Sushi like anime, what?
281
00:16:00,542 --> 00:16:01,710
Sorry, arigato.
282
00:16:11,512 --> 00:16:14,807
Anime isn't one size fits all,
just like Japan isn't.
283
00:16:15,432 --> 00:16:16,684
Japan is this:
284
00:16:20,396 --> 00:16:21,605
But it's also this:
285
00:16:23,357 --> 00:16:24,357
Cool, right?
286
00:16:25,693 --> 00:16:28,153
That's because Japanese anime subculture
287
00:16:28,237 --> 00:16:31,323
has bred even crazier,
even more niche sub-subcultures.
288
00:16:32,116 --> 00:16:35,077
And when I say crazy, I mean crazy.
289
00:16:37,496 --> 00:16:41,333
Like rockabillies who dress
like 1950's American greasers.
290
00:16:50,175 --> 00:16:51,301
Or goths.
291
00:16:52,928 --> 00:16:53,928
Or Lolitas.
292
00:16:56,140 --> 00:16:59,727
Or goth Lolitas.
Or steampunk goth Lolitas.
293
00:17:01,228 --> 00:17:03,147
Yeah, you get the idea.
294
00:17:06,358 --> 00:17:07,359
Then there's jocks.
295
00:17:07,693 --> 00:17:09,611
And, of course, metal heads.
296
00:17:10,154 --> 00:17:12,364
I'm sure death metal is...
297
00:17:12,698 --> 00:17:17,619
created from an overdrive
of rock elements to the limits.
298
00:17:18,037 --> 00:17:24,418
It's abnormal... something abnormal.
299
00:17:24,501 --> 00:17:28,130
There's something like that
in fashion too. It's called Gothic-Lolita.
300
00:17:29,506 --> 00:17:32,384
Motorcyclists have those choppers.
301
00:17:32,968 --> 00:17:38,265
Every industry has its abnormalities.
302
00:17:38,348 --> 00:17:43,604
Such abnormalities go by their own rules.
303
00:17:43,687 --> 00:17:48,692
They liberate people bound by the mundane.
304
00:17:48,776 --> 00:17:54,782
That's their function in this world.
305
00:17:57,159 --> 00:17:59,079
So to test anime's limits,
306
00:17:59,453 --> 00:18:02,247
I interviewed three
of Tokyo's edgiest outlaws.
307
00:18:21,433 --> 00:18:24,478
There's a character in Durarara!!
308
00:18:24,561 --> 00:18:26,522
that talks using a smartphone.
309
00:18:26,605 --> 00:18:29,691
I had thought it was adorable,
310
00:18:29,775 --> 00:18:34,321
so I tried it myself
when the perfect app for that came out.
311
00:18:36,615 --> 00:18:38,992
My previous comment was just a joke.
312
00:18:39,076 --> 00:18:41,703
I use an app because I injured my throat.
313
00:18:42,204 --> 00:18:46,625
I previously recorded my voice
into the app for several hours,
314
00:18:47,167 --> 00:18:50,420
and now the app converts
the typed text into speech for me.
315
00:18:51,130 --> 00:18:53,882
What is Kengan Ashura about?
316
00:18:54,133 --> 00:18:56,510
Disputes and rules between companies
317
00:18:56,593 --> 00:18:59,638
are not fought directly,
legal or otherwise.
318
00:18:59,805 --> 00:19:05,185
Instead, each company hires fighters
who settle things with combat.
319
00:19:05,561 --> 00:19:08,772
It's a very simple story
about violence and politics.
320
00:19:10,232 --> 00:19:13,110
Mr. Kishi first explained to me
321
00:19:13,193 --> 00:19:18,282
that he wanted to create
an entire series from just CG.
322
00:19:19,074 --> 00:19:24,204
Basically, the main component
of Kengan Ashura are the fighters' bodies
323
00:19:24,288 --> 00:19:27,291
so I think it was something like,
324
00:19:27,374 --> 00:19:29,710
"How about we draw muscles
like how we draw armor?"
325
00:19:29,793 --> 00:19:31,044
I was sold.
326
00:19:31,879 --> 00:19:35,924
Mr. Kishi said that when people
were done watching Kengan Ashura,
327
00:19:36,008 --> 00:19:39,094
he didn't want them to think
they watched a CG movie
328
00:19:39,178 --> 00:19:42,014
but feel they watched
an ordinary Japanese anime.
329
00:19:42,097 --> 00:19:43,937
He wanted visual expressions
like regular anime
330
00:19:43,974 --> 00:19:45,454
so nobody would realize that it's CG.
331
00:19:45,767 --> 00:19:48,604
I believe that was his theme.
332
00:19:55,652 --> 00:19:58,322
This series is,
in one word, about fighting.
333
00:19:58,405 --> 00:20:01,200
It's uncommon for animation,
so you could say it's unique.
334
00:20:01,283 --> 00:20:02,534
My inspiration?
335
00:20:03,327 --> 00:20:08,582
They really come to me
when I'm least thinking about it.
336
00:20:08,874 --> 00:20:11,960
I get ideas during everyday life,
like when I'm taking a bath.
337
00:20:12,044 --> 00:20:14,213
Ideas really spring to life
during times like that.
338
00:20:21,220 --> 00:20:22,721
I do work out at the gym.
339
00:20:22,930 --> 00:20:26,683
I do make an effort to go and work out.
340
00:20:29,144 --> 00:20:31,063
Japanese animation is a hand-made 3D art.
341
00:20:31,146 --> 00:20:33,626
That kind of animation
is what the industry has developed into.
342
00:20:33,899 --> 00:20:36,026
So I wanted to try it out for this series.
343
00:20:36,735 --> 00:20:39,154
About whether or not
it's rough for my staff?
344
00:20:39,238 --> 00:20:41,698
Well, it's rough.
It really is tough for them.
345
00:20:41,949 --> 00:20:45,077
They hand-create the art
for each and every frame.
346
00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:48,705
In that aspect, I feel the final project
really screams out "Made in Japan."
347
00:20:49,081 --> 00:20:50,540
I met all the martial artists
348
00:20:50,624 --> 00:20:53,335
who participated for the first time
with this project.
349
00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:01,426
We all went to the original Gold's Gym
in Los Angeles one morning.
350
00:21:01,510 --> 00:21:04,179
When we did, we just happened
to meet Schwarzenegger.
351
00:21:04,263 --> 00:21:07,891
We were able to shake hands with him,
and he okayed taking a picture with us.
352
00:21:22,698 --> 00:21:24,449
We went to Anime Expo.
353
00:21:24,533 --> 00:21:27,995
Our director went to Gold's Gym,
and was able to meet Schwarzenegger.
354
00:21:28,120 --> 00:21:29,913
Where were you at the time,
Mr. Higa?
355
00:21:29,997 --> 00:21:31,915
At Gold's Gym, obviously!
356
00:21:41,883 --> 00:21:47,681
We actually have real martial artists
fight out the combat scenes on this floor.
357
00:21:47,889 --> 00:21:50,809
We then take their footage as the base
for drawing each frame of CG.
358
00:21:51,143 --> 00:21:54,730
We really had them punching and kicking.
359
00:21:54,938 --> 00:21:58,775
We then controlled the speed
to make it look more awesome.
360
00:21:58,859 --> 00:22:01,778
We're creating the CG by hand.
It's not motion-capture.
361
00:22:02,112 --> 00:22:04,948
We didn't put devices on the fighters
like you do in motion-capture.
362
00:22:05,032 --> 00:22:07,034
We create each combat scene by hand.
363
00:22:07,117 --> 00:22:09,369
That's the director's concept
we're running with.
364
00:22:13,540 --> 00:22:15,417
What I don't like about our director...
365
00:22:15,667 --> 00:22:16,835
Well, he's a bit...
366
00:22:17,377 --> 00:22:20,380
How should I say this? What should I do?
367
00:22:21,256 --> 00:22:23,296
What I don't like
is actually what I love about him.
368
00:22:25,385 --> 00:22:26,636
That man is just insane.
369
00:22:28,013 --> 00:22:29,848
Mr. Kishi really is insane.
370
00:22:29,931 --> 00:22:32,434
So everyone else around him
starts becoming dumber and dumber.
371
00:22:32,934 --> 00:22:34,770
Children are waiting for our anime!
372
00:22:34,853 --> 00:22:36,355
Sorry! Sorry!
373
00:22:40,233 --> 00:22:43,028
And give me a portrait.
Uh, do you have a close-up?
374
00:22:43,111 --> 00:22:44,831
Seiji, Seiji! Telephone hello.
375
00:22:54,539 --> 00:22:58,001
Nothing screams
"Made in Japan" more than Toei Animation.
376
00:22:58,543 --> 00:23:01,129
I had to go to the source
to see how it all started.
377
00:23:01,421 --> 00:23:02,881
Toei is anime.
378
00:23:03,256 --> 00:23:05,550
The original. The birthplace of it all.
379
00:23:06,051 --> 00:23:07,094
It's for kids.
380
00:23:07,969 --> 00:23:10,889
It's the country's Disney,
except instead of a mouse,
381
00:23:11,681 --> 00:23:12,974
they've got a cat.
382
00:23:13,183 --> 00:23:14,184
Suck it, Disney.
383
00:23:14,768 --> 00:23:17,270
If you were a kid in Japan,
you were raised on Toei.
384
00:23:24,528 --> 00:23:27,572
Japanese animation,
that is Toei Animation,
385
00:23:27,656 --> 00:23:34,413
started right after Japan lost the war.
It was based on Disney.
386
00:23:34,913 --> 00:23:38,291
It was a brand-new industry.
387
00:23:38,625 --> 00:23:42,170
It was a way to give kids hope
after losing the war.
388
00:23:42,254 --> 00:23:45,757
That's how Toei Animation began.
389
00:23:58,645 --> 00:24:00,689
Yes, I'll definitely be watching.
390
00:24:01,022 --> 00:24:04,025
I've watched Toei Animation
for a long time.
391
00:24:04,192 --> 00:24:08,113
For example, Slamdunk,
Dragon Ball Z, Digimon.
392
00:24:08,196 --> 00:24:10,240
I do some illustrating myself,
393
00:24:10,615 --> 00:24:15,912
so I watch it like a student would,
for my own drawings.
394
00:24:19,583 --> 00:24:21,018
Awesome move.
395
00:24:21,042 --> 00:24:24,296
Since they're making it with CGI,
396
00:24:24,921 --> 00:24:28,758
there might be some former fans
who won't be able to accept it,
397
00:24:29,384 --> 00:24:33,597
but the way I see it, it's for the sake
of the younger generation,
398
00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:35,807
so I'm interested to see
how it will turn out.
399
00:24:36,099 --> 00:24:41,229
That's why Toei Animation's
target audience is always kids.
400
00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:44,316
That's why they make anime
that makes them happy.
401
00:24:44,566 --> 00:24:47,110
And that's something
they shouldn't stray from.
402
00:24:47,194 --> 00:24:54,159
I really love the phrase
"Friendship, Effort, Victory."
403
00:24:54,242 --> 00:24:59,289
How to teach that to kids
is where the love in anime is.
404
00:24:59,372 --> 00:25:01,374
That's radical.
405
00:25:05,086 --> 00:25:06,796
Do you have COSMO?
406
00:25:06,922 --> 00:25:10,509
I'm already 70 so it's almost gone,
but it's still there.
407
00:25:11,259 --> 00:25:13,178
When a movie is done,
408
00:25:13,261 --> 00:25:18,934
or when I finish a TV show,
I am liberated from stress.
409
00:25:19,309 --> 00:25:21,269
Until then, I'm a clump of stress.
410
00:25:21,353 --> 00:25:24,981
I'd guess it's the COSMO
that keeps me creating anime.
411
00:25:25,524 --> 00:25:27,984
Seiya, burn your COSMO.
412
00:25:29,903 --> 00:25:31,071
♪ Saint Seiya ♪
413
00:25:31,196 --> 00:25:34,449
♪ Every young boy ♪
414
00:25:34,616 --> 00:25:35,867
♪ Saint Seiya ♪
415
00:25:35,951 --> 00:25:38,662
♪ We will stand with you
Till the end ♪
416
00:25:38,745 --> 00:25:40,080
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
417
00:25:40,330 --> 00:25:41,370
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
418
00:25:41,498 --> 00:25:42,541
Something like this.
419
00:25:50,382 --> 00:25:52,652
Music is a huge part of Japanese culture,
420
00:25:52,676 --> 00:25:53,760
and of anime.
421
00:26:00,850 --> 00:26:05,772
Anime shows are known for their crazy,
over the top, rock operaesque theme songs.
422
00:26:05,855 --> 00:26:09,776
And anime fans everywhere
go apeshit for their musical stylings.
423
00:26:10,318 --> 00:26:12,380
- It's Evangelion! Know this song?
- Yes, yes.
424
00:26:12,404 --> 00:26:14,298
- I can sing the song.
- Can you sing it? Sing it!
425
00:27:04,831 --> 00:27:07,459
Music is everything
to these fans.
426
00:27:12,088 --> 00:27:13,882
So next we found their muse.
427
00:27:31,441 --> 00:27:34,694
When I first heard
the melody for "A Cruel Angel's Thesis",
428
00:27:34,778 --> 00:27:36,738
I thought,
"Wow, this is such a difficult song!"
429
00:27:43,286 --> 00:27:45,288
I don't know how many times I've sung it,
430
00:27:45,372 --> 00:27:47,374
but I think the count
is in the tens of thousands.
431
00:27:47,624 --> 00:27:51,378
The audience reaction changes
with each country,
432
00:27:51,461 --> 00:27:53,838
but they all sing in Japanese with me.
433
00:27:53,922 --> 00:27:55,965
They surprise me every time.
434
00:27:56,049 --> 00:28:00,679
Today's costume was again designed
by my stylist Chica Hanashima.
435
00:28:00,762 --> 00:28:03,407
- What's your inspiration for the costume?
- This time, it's a queen.
436
00:28:03,431 --> 00:28:04,599
Queen!
437
00:28:26,329 --> 00:28:29,290
I don't make that many phone calls
before concerts,
438
00:28:29,374 --> 00:28:31,876
but if I do, I call my daughter.
439
00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:33,086
She's sleeping.
440
00:28:33,169 --> 00:28:34,504
I'm so sorry, my daughter...
441
00:28:34,587 --> 00:28:36,798
Oh, she hung up on me.
442
00:28:40,468 --> 00:28:42,846
My favorite episode in Evangelion
is the final episode.
443
00:28:42,929 --> 00:28:48,852
I like the last episode of Evangelion,
despite it having mixed reviews.
444
00:28:48,935 --> 00:28:50,603
Everyone has their opinion.
445
00:28:50,854 --> 00:28:53,773
I felt that those scenes
were the most philosophical,
446
00:28:53,857 --> 00:28:59,154
and for me, it felt like an awakening.
447
00:28:59,362 --> 00:29:01,364
That's why I like it.
448
00:29:08,663 --> 00:29:11,916
Philosophy in the song lyrics...
449
00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:16,713
I think it depends
on how you interpret them.
450
00:29:16,796 --> 00:29:20,967
In my head, the part,
"Young man, become a myth" ultimately...
451
00:29:21,551 --> 00:29:25,180
feels very profound as I sing it.
452
00:29:31,102 --> 00:29:33,605
Well, I'd like to call my manager now.
453
00:29:33,897 --> 00:29:35,023
Hello?
454
00:29:35,523 --> 00:29:36,524
Hello?
455
00:29:36,816 --> 00:29:37,816
Hello?
456
00:29:38,860 --> 00:29:40,487
Where are you now?
457
00:29:41,029 --> 00:29:42,029
I'm outside.
458
00:29:42,989 --> 00:29:44,783
Where is outside?
459
00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:47,368
Eh? Outside is outside.
460
00:29:47,452 --> 00:29:50,747
- Do your best in the actual performance.
- Yup, I'll do my best!
461
00:29:51,331 --> 00:29:53,211
- Bye. Take care.
- Thank you. Bye.
462
00:30:05,553 --> 00:30:09,265
I never wanted to be
a professional singer.
463
00:30:10,225 --> 00:30:12,602
I get extremely nervous
before going on stage.
464
00:30:30,245 --> 00:30:32,807
As I was learning
more and more about anime,
465
00:30:32,831 --> 00:30:35,041
I was feeling like I knew less and less.
466
00:30:36,292 --> 00:30:39,629
Anime was originally for kids.
So, I went back to the beginning.
467
00:30:40,046 --> 00:30:43,049
It's not a secret that Japanese
have a thing for cuteness.
468
00:30:43,258 --> 00:30:45,468
After all, look at these kids.
469
00:30:45,552 --> 00:30:47,720
And these cuties all love anime.
470
00:30:47,804 --> 00:30:49,180
What's your favorite anime?
471
00:30:49,806 --> 00:30:51,766
Oh, yeah. Language barrier.
472
00:30:51,850 --> 00:30:53,309
Doraemon.
473
00:30:53,393 --> 00:30:54,853
Aikatsu Friends.
474
00:30:54,936 --> 00:30:56,604
Pretty Cure!
475
00:31:02,569 --> 00:31:05,047
- "Let's play again."
- Oh, let's play again.
476
00:31:05,071 --> 00:31:06,656
Yes, I would love that.
477
00:31:07,115 --> 00:31:09,915
"Kawaii culture" literally
translates to "cuteness culture."
478
00:31:12,287 --> 00:31:14,914
But don't be fooled,
it's not just for kids.
479
00:31:16,666 --> 00:31:20,420
Like, did you know kawaii culture
started in the '60s as the rebellion
480
00:31:20,503 --> 00:31:22,088
to adulthood and authority?
481
00:31:22,171 --> 00:31:24,382
That, in protest, students threw away
their school books
482
00:31:24,465 --> 00:31:26,467
and read only manga? Yeah.
483
00:31:29,554 --> 00:31:33,433
And now kawaii anime
revolutionizes the anime form.
484
00:31:48,615 --> 00:31:49,782
So cute!
485
00:31:53,453 --> 00:31:54,829
Such a big head!
486
00:31:56,706 --> 00:32:00,043
There are rumors that there's an old guy
inside Rilakkuma. Just rumors, right?
487
00:32:00,126 --> 00:32:03,963
I've heard people say
it might be Kaoru's father inside.
488
00:32:04,047 --> 00:32:06,341
Rumors, right?
489
00:32:20,605 --> 00:32:23,650
This is how we go about creating
stop-motion animation.
490
00:32:24,901 --> 00:32:28,404
The first thing we have to do is
491
00:32:28,488 --> 00:32:31,032
assemble everything
that appears on camera.
492
00:32:31,115 --> 00:32:35,328
First we make the puppets,
create the artwork, create the rooms.
493
00:32:35,411 --> 00:32:37,851
In this case, create the puppets
for Rilakkuma and the humans.
494
00:32:37,914 --> 00:32:40,833
And then, we start moving the puppets.
495
00:32:45,004 --> 00:32:48,633
As for how long it takes
to create stop-motion animation,
496
00:32:48,716 --> 00:32:54,430
it takes a whole day for a single animator
to shoot ten seconds.
497
00:32:55,932 --> 00:32:59,018
I love the zipper on Rilakkuma's back.
498
00:33:07,318 --> 00:33:10,613
The reason why Kaoru needs Rilakkuma
499
00:33:11,030 --> 00:33:17,620
is because he's so soft and warm,
and I think she can't give him up.
500
00:33:19,122 --> 00:33:23,626
I don't think
that Kaoru's really struggling in life.
501
00:33:23,876 --> 00:33:27,255
I think there's a time
when every one of us
502
00:33:27,338 --> 00:33:29,799
feels like nothing's going right.
503
00:33:29,882 --> 00:33:34,679
So, I think it goes to show
that Kaoru is just normal,
504
00:33:34,762 --> 00:33:36,848
like the rest of us.
505
00:33:37,515 --> 00:33:40,768
I think it's important to take it easy
506
00:33:40,852 --> 00:33:43,354
because if you keep yourself too busy,
507
00:33:43,771 --> 00:33:48,735
you might end up forgetting
to be nice to others.
508
00:33:49,068 --> 00:33:54,032
If you don't relax,
food won't taste that good anymore.
509
00:33:59,662 --> 00:34:00,663
Mm.
510
00:34:04,208 --> 00:34:07,503
Sweet dumplings? I love sweet dumplings.
511
00:34:07,587 --> 00:34:09,338
My favorites are the ones
512
00:34:09,422 --> 00:34:13,885
in a sweet-and-salty glaze
of soy sauce and sugar.
513
00:34:13,968 --> 00:34:17,055
Those soy sauce ones
are my favorites, too.
514
00:34:17,138 --> 00:34:19,140
I would love some. May I?
515
00:34:20,349 --> 00:34:22,769
Please bring me some yummy dumplings, too.
516
00:34:31,069 --> 00:34:36,699
In the script, we included the main events
from each month
517
00:34:37,075 --> 00:34:41,996
celebrated in Japan from April to March.
518
00:34:42,663 --> 00:34:44,707
About the seasons,
519
00:34:44,791 --> 00:34:51,547
we calculated the sun's position
over 12 months to create the lighting.
520
00:34:51,798 --> 00:34:55,093
We also used snow and cherry blossoms
to illustrate the seasons.
521
00:34:58,262 --> 00:35:02,517
I wanted everyone to be able
to relate to her.
522
00:35:02,767 --> 00:35:07,063
This was the first time we used
stop-motion animation
523
00:35:07,230 --> 00:35:12,276
so I knew we could do things
that we never could with live-action
524
00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:17,240
so I wanted to let my imagination
run wild, to explode,
525
00:35:17,323 --> 00:35:21,244
and have it lead me
to a totally different world.
526
00:35:36,342 --> 00:35:38,070
Japanese culture revolves
527
00:35:38,094 --> 00:35:40,680
around the values of respect,
honor and pride,
528
00:35:41,430 --> 00:35:43,391
particularly pride in one's work.
529
00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:46,644
Translation?
530
00:35:47,770 --> 00:35:49,772
Japanese people work hella hard.
531
00:35:52,817 --> 00:35:54,193
Maybe it's rubbed off.
532
00:35:54,402 --> 00:35:58,364
In Japan, I was working harder
than ever to piece this film together.
533
00:35:59,907 --> 00:36:03,828
I had to squeeze out anime's essence,
or be left behind forever.
534
00:36:07,039 --> 00:36:11,335
I interviewed the creators of Aggretsuko,
which revolts against office culture
535
00:36:11,419 --> 00:36:16,757
in a new deafening way
by being both kawaii and edgy as hell.
536
00:36:32,982 --> 00:36:37,737
The name "Rarecho"
is from my amateur days.
537
00:36:37,820 --> 00:36:43,159
I was using it as my internet screen-name.
It doesn't really mean anything.
538
00:36:43,409 --> 00:36:45,870
It's something I randomly came up with.
539
00:36:45,953 --> 00:36:50,541
And now that I'm 46,
the fact that I still go by that name...
540
00:36:51,626 --> 00:36:54,086
does make me think,
"Well, isn't this a problem?"
541
00:37:03,429 --> 00:37:08,100
I am the character designer,
542
00:37:09,018 --> 00:37:13,648
who chooses how characters look
and how they act in Aggretsuko.
543
00:37:16,067 --> 00:37:19,528
I'm wearing this mask because...
544
00:37:19,862 --> 00:37:21,113
I'm a bit shy.
545
00:37:29,330 --> 00:37:31,332
When I first made my presentation
to Sanrio,
546
00:37:31,582 --> 00:37:34,919
instead of voicing everything myself
like I usually do,
547
00:37:35,002 --> 00:37:39,257
I asked my wife
to voice the lead female instead.
548
00:37:39,340 --> 00:37:42,468
Sanrio fell in love with her voice
and wanted her in the cast.
549
00:37:42,551 --> 00:37:45,137
I was like, "Really? Seriously?
We're doing this?"
550
00:37:45,221 --> 00:37:46,764
My name is Retsuko.
551
00:37:48,099 --> 00:37:51,602
25-years-old and single.
A Scorpio, blood-type A.
552
00:37:53,271 --> 00:37:57,233
Retsuko is made
of many people's stories.
553
00:37:57,984 --> 00:38:02,488
She is a mixture of several people I know.
554
00:38:04,448 --> 00:38:07,368
An example of inspiration
from experience,
555
00:38:07,451 --> 00:38:11,747
take the story where Retsuko went to work
wearing her sandals in episode one.
556
00:38:11,831 --> 00:38:13,666
I've done that several times already.
557
00:38:16,335 --> 00:38:18,963
This was how Retsuko started out.
558
00:38:19,171 --> 00:38:26,012
Director Gori and Washimi
were much more realistic.
559
00:38:26,595 --> 00:38:31,517
My body wasn't made to sing death metal.
560
00:38:33,311 --> 00:38:38,941
I started singing because
I didn't know anyone I could ask.
561
00:38:39,358 --> 00:38:41,861
So I thought,
"Oh, well, guess I'll do it myself."
562
00:38:42,069 --> 00:38:45,740
I Googled how and practiced for a month.
563
00:38:47,742 --> 00:38:53,122
"Death voice" isn't made for microphones
like these.
564
00:38:56,959 --> 00:38:58,210
Tea.
565
00:38:58,919 --> 00:39:00,087
Excuse me?
566
00:39:00,671 --> 00:39:02,715
Why death metal?
567
00:39:03,132 --> 00:39:06,802
When my friend grunted while griping,
it sounded like death metal.
568
00:39:06,886 --> 00:39:12,016
So, I thought death metal
would fit right in.
569
00:39:12,391 --> 00:39:15,061
That's why Retsuko started singing.
570
00:39:15,144 --> 00:39:18,481
The themes in Aggretsuko,
571
00:39:18,814 --> 00:39:22,526
like when Retsuko
gets sick of serving tea,
572
00:39:22,610 --> 00:39:28,199
have been in Japanese comedy
for the past three decades.
573
00:39:28,282 --> 00:39:32,286
I was surprised people overseas
found it funny.
574
00:39:32,370 --> 00:39:36,874
But then
with the recent #MeToo movement,
575
00:39:36,957 --> 00:39:42,380
perhaps the world hasn't evolved
as much as I had thought.
576
00:39:42,588 --> 00:39:46,342
It's part of your job, too.
For the women, that is!
577
00:39:50,554 --> 00:39:54,642
Shitty boss!
578
00:40:00,815 --> 00:40:03,025
If I had free time...
579
00:40:05,319 --> 00:40:06,737
I would like to sleep.
580
00:40:07,863 --> 00:40:10,699
Last thing I Googled?
I think that would be an "ego-search."
581
00:40:10,866 --> 00:40:11,866
My own name.
582
00:40:12,243 --> 00:40:17,748
But, well, since you can skip intros
and endings on Netflix,
583
00:40:17,998 --> 00:40:20,501
not many people know who I am.
584
00:40:30,219 --> 00:40:34,390
♪ End of the world, karaoke all alone
Heal all the pain from my office job ♪
585
00:40:40,855 --> 00:40:43,107
♪ Choke on my rage! ♪
586
00:40:47,361 --> 00:40:50,614
I was starting
to feel like I was losing my track,
587
00:40:51,365 --> 00:40:53,868
getting caught in Japan's contradictions.
588
00:40:54,326 --> 00:40:58,456
How do we get anime like Aggretsuko,
loud, aggressive, and gritty,
589
00:40:58,539 --> 00:41:02,835
when, seemingly, Japan is literally
the least gritty place I've ever been?
590
00:41:06,589 --> 00:41:09,341
To say Japan is clean
would be an understatement.
591
00:41:09,425 --> 00:41:10,425
It's pristine.
592
00:41:11,969 --> 00:41:12,969
There's no litter,
593
00:41:13,179 --> 00:41:15,347
which is impressive enough,
until you realize
594
00:41:15,431 --> 00:41:17,641
there aren't even any public trash cans.
595
00:41:19,477 --> 00:41:20,978
And Tokyo isn't just clean.
596
00:41:21,729 --> 00:41:22,729
It's green.
597
00:41:23,063 --> 00:41:25,566
Maybe that's also what drives
this art form.
598
00:41:25,649 --> 00:41:27,526
Anime does tackle big issues,
599
00:41:27,693 --> 00:41:31,405
like climate change, technology,
the apocalypse, utopia,
600
00:41:31,489 --> 00:41:33,741
flora and fauna mutation, and crabs.
601
00:41:33,991 --> 00:41:35,868
Giant man-eating crabs.
602
00:41:37,495 --> 00:41:39,663
There's even an anime
with all of the above.
603
00:41:40,080 --> 00:41:42,333
Oh, and girl power.
604
00:41:45,920 --> 00:41:50,674
7SEEDS is about a world
where humans went extinct
605
00:41:50,925 --> 00:41:52,426
from catastrophic natural disasters.
606
00:42:04,897 --> 00:42:11,403
The connection between the world of 7SEEDS
and our own?
607
00:42:11,487 --> 00:42:13,531
Actually, the conditions are different,
608
00:42:13,614 --> 00:42:19,119
but I feel similar things are happening
in our world and their world.
609
00:42:19,203 --> 00:42:21,872
During the creative process,
610
00:42:21,956 --> 00:42:25,793
as we draw out
how the protagonists behave,
611
00:42:26,168 --> 00:42:29,922
and as I'm directing their movements,
it felt like this was actually present day
612
00:42:30,005 --> 00:42:34,552
and that their situation was similar
to the one that we've been put into.
613
00:42:45,187 --> 00:42:49,650
I think it's a great series
with characters that stand out.
614
00:42:49,733 --> 00:42:52,278
7SEEDS is a really interesting series!
615
00:42:52,361 --> 00:42:54,029
I really love 7SEEDS!
616
00:42:54,113 --> 00:42:56,073
7SEEDS is so interesting! It's the best!
617
00:42:57,241 --> 00:42:58,450
7SEEDS!
618
00:42:58,826 --> 00:43:03,581
The reason why 7SEEDS
is so popular among females
619
00:43:03,664 --> 00:43:08,502
is because each female character
is powerful in different ways
620
00:43:08,586 --> 00:43:12,172
and the male characters can be either kind
or strong.
621
00:43:12,715 --> 00:43:16,135
I believe each character is very appealing
in their own way.
622
00:43:18,220 --> 00:43:22,016
The meaning of "7SEEDS"
is literally that of seven seeds.
623
00:43:22,099 --> 00:43:27,479
Each of the boys and girls
sent to the future is a "seed."
624
00:43:27,563 --> 00:43:30,983
Where 7SEEDS differs
from other girls' manga is how,
625
00:43:31,066 --> 00:43:34,111
unlike most girls' manga
that focus on romance,
626
00:43:34,194 --> 00:43:35,904
this series takes a different approach
627
00:43:35,988 --> 00:43:39,533
and talks about a deeper theme
of survival.
628
00:43:46,999 --> 00:43:50,044
If I was not a part
of the animation industry,
629
00:43:50,127 --> 00:43:53,255
I believe I would be
doing something related to astronomy.
630
00:43:57,635 --> 00:43:58,955
Astronomy.
631
00:43:59,345 --> 00:44:01,805
All these anime creators
seem to have a backup plan.
632
00:44:03,223 --> 00:44:04,558
I need a backup plan.
633
00:44:05,809 --> 00:44:07,186
What should it be?
634
00:44:08,604 --> 00:44:12,733
I used to want to be a chef.
635
00:44:14,193 --> 00:44:17,613
I think I'd be really good at it.
636
00:44:18,030 --> 00:44:20,741
If I wasn't in the animation business?
637
00:44:20,824 --> 00:44:22,409
That's a very dangerous question.
638
00:44:25,287 --> 00:44:27,539
A dangerous question, indeed.
639
00:44:28,165 --> 00:44:32,670
Because the life of a creator is no walk
in one of Japan's clean, green parks.
640
00:44:34,213 --> 00:44:35,631
It can be soul-crushing.
641
00:44:35,798 --> 00:44:38,634
Anxiety-inducing. All-consuming.
642
00:44:38,926 --> 00:44:43,180
And, I was coming to realize,
incredibly lonely.
643
00:44:43,847 --> 00:44:45,891
Would I move to Tokyo forever?
644
00:44:46,892 --> 00:44:48,936
No. I miss my family too much.
645
00:44:49,186 --> 00:44:56,026
Since I was a student,
I'd be working 20 hours straight every day
646
00:44:56,110 --> 00:44:58,445
making movies
while running myself into the ground.
647
00:44:58,529 --> 00:45:04,410
Creating anything in film
turns you into a clump of stress.
648
00:45:04,743 --> 00:45:08,455
If I had free time,
I'd sleep six hours a day.
649
00:45:08,622 --> 00:45:10,809
Animation production,
it's hard to get a lot of free time.
650
00:45:10,833 --> 00:45:11,875
Everyone's so busy.
651
00:45:11,959 --> 00:45:14,169
If I had free time...
652
00:45:16,463 --> 00:45:18,924
I would like to sleep.
653
00:45:19,007 --> 00:45:20,259
Your next step?
654
00:45:22,886 --> 00:45:24,388
To live an easy life?
655
00:45:29,059 --> 00:45:32,604
Hedgehog wrangling.
That's gonna be my backup.
656
00:45:33,522 --> 00:45:35,441
I was starting to doubt everything.
657
00:45:35,691 --> 00:45:37,818
My decision to come to Japan.
658
00:45:37,901 --> 00:45:39,570
My ability to tell this story.
659
00:45:39,945 --> 00:45:44,158
All of these anime creators
started to seem so distant.
660
00:45:44,283 --> 00:45:46,326
How do they keep going,
running on no sleep
661
00:45:46,410 --> 00:45:48,954
and having to come up
with creative innovation?
662
00:45:49,121 --> 00:45:52,207
Especially the ones
who have been doing this for decades.
663
00:45:57,880 --> 00:46:00,966
When I was singing
Ultraman's song for my son,
664
00:46:01,049 --> 00:46:03,051
he asked me, "What's that song?"
665
00:46:03,135 --> 00:46:07,055
I said, "This is Ultraman's song."
Then he started loving Ultraman.
666
00:46:07,848 --> 00:46:10,559
We watched old series and new series.
667
00:46:10,642 --> 00:46:13,228
We both love Ultraman. Ultraman pose.
668
00:46:15,606 --> 00:46:18,233
I used to want to design cars.
669
00:46:20,486 --> 00:46:27,034
I think I'd like to have done that
for a living.
670
00:46:32,498 --> 00:46:37,878
The first thing I ever directed
was Madox-01.
671
00:46:37,961 --> 00:46:44,468
It was a short, 40-minute
original video animation, OVA.
672
00:46:47,095 --> 00:46:51,141
The first show I directed
was Patlabor Minimum,
673
00:46:51,225 --> 00:46:56,271
these short movies that accompany
the OP for a show called Patlabor.
674
00:46:56,355 --> 00:46:59,775
I did hand-drawn animation for decades.
675
00:46:59,900 --> 00:47:01,318
Then something came along
676
00:47:01,401 --> 00:47:04,154
that would bring out both our designs
and worldviews even more,
677
00:47:04,238 --> 00:47:10,494
like computer graphics.
It was all over the news,
678
00:47:10,577 --> 00:47:14,873
and I thought,
"This is the way to go from now on."
679
00:47:14,957 --> 00:47:18,460
Without a doubt, that would be
the first APPLESEED movie.
680
00:47:18,544 --> 00:47:22,506
It was my first time using motion capture,
681
00:47:22,714 --> 00:47:24,883
and rendering everything in 3DCG.
682
00:47:24,967 --> 00:47:28,762
I think I've been involved with
Ghost in the Shell the longest.
683
00:47:28,846 --> 00:47:31,640
There were two series, after all.
684
00:47:31,723 --> 00:47:34,768
I also made
one feature-length theatrical film.
685
00:47:34,852 --> 00:47:40,566
Eden of the East
was my first completely original title.
686
00:47:40,649 --> 00:47:45,779
One of the films that I spent
a lot of time on was Captain Harlock,
687
00:47:45,863 --> 00:47:47,948
a full CG film.
688
00:47:48,031 --> 00:47:54,454
I think it took more than five years
to complete.
689
00:47:56,540 --> 00:48:00,002
I don't remember all the details,
690
00:48:00,085 --> 00:48:04,798
but I think Mr. Aramaki initially wanted
to create
691
00:48:04,882 --> 00:48:08,552
a different Ghost in the Shell series.
692
00:48:08,635 --> 00:48:10,554
It was at a party,
693
00:48:10,637 --> 00:48:13,640
and producer Ishikawa
happened to be sitting next to me.
694
00:48:13,724 --> 00:48:16,351
I thought I'd just ask him
for the heck of it,
695
00:48:16,435 --> 00:48:17,477
since he was right there.
696
00:48:17,561 --> 00:48:19,938
So, it was decided that Mr. Aramaki and I
697
00:48:20,022 --> 00:48:22,691
would make
a Ghost in the Shell series together.
698
00:48:23,066 --> 00:48:29,031
But we were both directing other projects,
699
00:48:29,114 --> 00:48:35,037
and we couldn't get started right away,
700
00:48:35,120 --> 00:48:41,084
but there was another project
in the works.
701
00:48:41,168 --> 00:48:46,882
It was Ultraman and they offered it to us.
702
00:48:56,224 --> 00:48:58,060
Since we're both from the generation
703
00:48:58,143 --> 00:49:00,312
that grew up watching
the first Ultraman shows,
704
00:49:00,854 --> 00:49:03,273
we were both really passionate about it.
705
00:49:03,357 --> 00:49:06,693
In terms of visuals, sure...
706
00:49:07,986 --> 00:49:12,741
jaw-dropping action scenes
are great and all,
707
00:49:12,824 --> 00:49:16,578
but since the CG is motion capture-based,
708
00:49:16,662 --> 00:49:22,209
the humans look more human
709
00:49:22,292 --> 00:49:25,337
as well as more raw.
710
00:49:25,420 --> 00:49:30,425
It's that fusion of human rawness
and anime's deformé style
711
00:49:30,509 --> 00:49:35,097
that I want to pursue to the limit.
712
00:49:38,725 --> 00:49:41,436
I was starting
to feel like I'd hit my limit,
713
00:49:41,979 --> 00:49:43,647
which was hard to do in Tokyo,
714
00:49:43,730 --> 00:49:46,525
which feels like a place
where limits don't exist.
715
00:49:47,234 --> 00:49:48,819
From vending machine restaurants...
716
00:49:50,404 --> 00:49:51,780
to bullet trains...
717
00:49:52,114 --> 00:49:55,242
to the most confusing, high-tech toilets
the world has ever seen.
718
00:49:56,326 --> 00:49:58,453
Japan is already living in the future.
719
00:49:59,579 --> 00:50:03,375
It's all about full automation...
especially in animation.
720
00:50:06,253 --> 00:50:08,630
I really can't stand
the repetitive tasks.
721
00:50:08,714 --> 00:50:13,051
I wish we could use computers
722
00:50:13,135 --> 00:50:14,177
for all of that.
723
00:50:30,318 --> 00:50:33,321
3DCG involves numerous processes
724
00:50:33,405 --> 00:50:39,494
and elements to produce visuals.
725
00:50:39,786 --> 00:50:43,540
Now, I'd like to explain each process
to you.
726
00:50:46,835 --> 00:50:50,505
This is part of an animatic.
727
00:50:50,797 --> 00:50:56,595
This raw data allows us to experiment
so we can figure out
728
00:50:56,678 --> 00:50:59,598
how we can create the powerful scenes
we have in our heads.
729
00:50:59,681 --> 00:51:02,601
Then, you start the modeling process.
730
00:51:11,693 --> 00:51:14,905
I wanted the fist to get
smashed more and sink into the flesh.
731
00:51:15,113 --> 00:51:19,201
And I wanted the place where it landed
to bulge out here.
732
00:51:20,077 --> 00:51:22,662
This is an effect.
733
00:51:22,746 --> 00:51:27,000
Here you can see the impact of the punch
is so powerful,
734
00:51:27,084 --> 00:51:32,756
the steam inside this muscle
is leaking out.
735
00:51:32,839 --> 00:51:34,633
I really want it to come out from
the crack,
736
00:51:34,716 --> 00:51:38,553
but it would be so much work
to make it come out from the crack.
737
00:51:38,637 --> 00:51:40,263
So, the steam emerges from the surface.
738
00:51:40,764 --> 00:51:42,849
You can tell
that we're cheating this shot.
739
00:51:45,977 --> 00:51:47,145
As for the lighting,
740
00:51:47,354 --> 00:51:52,109
the reason I have so much light
hitting the ring
741
00:51:52,192 --> 00:51:57,656
is because I wanted to create a sense
of flashing during the characters' fight.
742
00:51:57,739 --> 00:52:02,202
The characters' emotions are linked
to the color of the light.
743
00:52:02,619 --> 00:52:06,206
I was hung up on using the flashing
744
00:52:06,289 --> 00:52:10,252
in an effective way.
745
00:52:11,086 --> 00:52:16,550
My goal isn't so much about
reproducing Japan's anime in 3DCG.
746
00:52:16,716 --> 00:52:19,278
But, rather, I'd like to take
the American comics, graphic novels,
747
00:52:19,302 --> 00:52:21,179
bandes dessinées that I love so much...
748
00:52:22,013 --> 00:52:26,017
and find a way to somehow
set them in motion in that style.
749
00:52:26,101 --> 00:52:28,436
That's my goal.
750
00:52:31,189 --> 00:52:36,486
A director has three jobs.
Three truly basic jobs:
751
00:52:36,570 --> 00:52:41,366
To have a vision. To choose. To decide.
752
00:52:41,783 --> 00:52:45,036
Yeah, I didn't know what to do.
753
00:52:45,745 --> 00:52:48,498
Guess we'll have to get to anime's essence
the hard way.
754
00:52:48,832 --> 00:52:51,459
I'm sending in backup.
It's an interrogation.
755
00:52:53,837 --> 00:52:55,881
- Name?
- Rui Kuroki.
756
00:52:55,964 --> 00:52:57,841
- Age?
- Forty-one.
757
00:52:57,924 --> 00:52:59,467
- Hometown?
- Tokyo.
758
00:52:59,718 --> 00:53:02,220
- Dislikes?
- Getting older.
759
00:53:16,276 --> 00:53:18,320
What did you eat for lunch?
760
00:53:19,279 --> 00:53:21,239
- I haven't eaten.
- Why is that?
761
00:53:21,323 --> 00:53:22,449
I don't have time.
762
00:53:22,949 --> 00:53:25,327
- Who do you work for?
- For myself.
763
00:53:25,410 --> 00:53:28,747
- How did you get here?
- By car.
764
00:53:29,372 --> 00:53:31,333
- Any pets?
- No.
765
00:53:31,750 --> 00:53:33,335
- Dogs or cats?
- Dogs.
766
00:53:33,418 --> 00:53:34,961
- Favorite food?
- Crabs.
767
00:53:35,045 --> 00:53:38,673
- How long have you lived here?
- Forty years.
768
00:53:38,757 --> 00:53:40,050
- Favorite color?
- Black.
769
00:53:40,133 --> 00:53:42,510
- Favorite movie?
- Ghostbusters.
770
00:53:42,719 --> 00:53:44,679
- Where are we?
- IG.
771
00:53:44,971 --> 00:53:46,056
What is your job?
772
00:53:46,264 --> 00:53:47,515
Animation producer.
773
00:53:47,599 --> 00:53:49,142
Your first anime title?
774
00:53:49,226 --> 00:53:50,226
Kill Bill.
775
00:53:50,310 --> 00:53:52,479
Number of anime titles
you have produced?
776
00:53:52,562 --> 00:53:53,813
Over 20.
777
00:53:53,897 --> 00:53:55,523
Your favorite among them?
778
00:53:56,399 --> 00:53:57,692
B: The Beginning.
779
00:54:10,121 --> 00:54:11,248
Who do you respect?
780
00:54:12,249 --> 00:54:14,668
Who do I respect?
781
00:54:20,465 --> 00:54:21,465
My father.
782
00:54:23,009 --> 00:54:24,729
Where does your inspiration
come from?
783
00:54:25,303 --> 00:54:27,138
The brains of other people.
784
00:54:28,181 --> 00:54:30,101
What does your family think
about your job?
785
00:54:30,141 --> 00:54:31,381
They take pride in it.
786
00:54:31,768 --> 00:54:33,603
What was the last thing you Googled?
787
00:54:33,687 --> 00:54:34,687
Stan Lee.
788
00:54:36,314 --> 00:54:38,149
The hardest project you worked on?
789
00:54:40,986 --> 00:54:41,987
Kill Bill.
790
00:54:45,156 --> 00:54:46,533
Your favorite author?
791
00:54:46,616 --> 00:54:48,702
My favorite author?
William Burroughs.
792
00:54:49,119 --> 00:54:50,412
Your ultimate goal?
793
00:54:51,329 --> 00:54:52,998
Going to heaven.
794
00:54:53,081 --> 00:54:55,375
- Your next step?
- To live an easy life?
795
00:54:55,458 --> 00:54:58,378
- Should we be worried?
- I don't think you need to be.
796
00:54:58,461 --> 00:55:00,422
- Are you Keith?
- I am not.
797
00:55:00,505 --> 00:55:02,340
- Are you Koku?
- I am not.
798
00:55:02,424 --> 00:55:04,926
- Are you Killer B?
- I am not.
799
00:55:05,010 --> 00:55:07,137
What is the climactic moment
in season 2?
800
00:55:08,054 --> 00:55:09,139
I cannot tell you.
801
00:55:23,069 --> 00:55:24,922
Turns out I did need this quest
802
00:55:24,946 --> 00:55:26,031
to understand anime,
803
00:55:26,531 --> 00:55:28,199
not to be a better filmmaker.
804
00:55:28,700 --> 00:55:31,619
It's about acceptance, inspiration,
805
00:55:31,703 --> 00:55:34,748
and something these anime creators
knew all along.
806
00:55:35,332 --> 00:55:37,542
The contradictions of Japan
aren't confusing.
807
00:55:37,625 --> 00:55:38,501
They're vital.
808
00:55:38,585 --> 00:55:42,130
Relax in the chaos
and the great ideas just flow.
809
00:55:42,213 --> 00:55:43,465
How do I come up with my ideas?
810
00:55:43,548 --> 00:55:47,469
I get ideas during
everyday life, like when I take a bath.
811
00:55:48,053 --> 00:55:49,512
Bath time.
812
00:55:50,430 --> 00:55:52,432
It can be when I'm in the bath...
813
00:55:52,515 --> 00:55:54,225
Usually in the shower.
814
00:55:54,309 --> 00:55:59,939
They hit me at all times,
like when I'm taking a walk.
815
00:56:00,023 --> 00:56:01,900
The commute home.
816
00:56:02,901 --> 00:56:05,153
...or just strolling around the area.
817
00:56:05,362 --> 00:56:09,616
Ideas don't pick a place or time.
818
00:56:11,826 --> 00:56:14,871
So, the question is not, "What is anime?"
819
00:56:17,624 --> 00:56:19,542
How it's made, why it's made,
820
00:56:19,626 --> 00:56:21,127
what makes the fans love it?
821
00:56:22,045 --> 00:56:26,257
It's not just the people who create it:
the idea-makers, the dreamers,
822
00:56:26,341 --> 00:56:29,511
the visionaries who have the guts to say,
"I don't give a fuck."
823
00:56:30,887 --> 00:56:33,181
The thing that unifies anime
and makes it special...
824
00:56:34,474 --> 00:56:38,103
is the way it makes you a part
of something bigger than yourself.
825
00:56:39,938 --> 00:56:42,524
How it accepts you
into this crazy community.
826
00:56:42,607 --> 00:56:45,693
And the way it makes you feel
like you're not alone.
827
00:56:46,778 --> 00:56:50,281
Made by misfits for other misfits.
828
00:56:51,783 --> 00:56:54,661
It didn't matter what school
I went to in what country.
829
00:56:54,744 --> 00:56:56,830
If I saw someone
who wore a Wolverine T-shirt,
830
00:56:56,913 --> 00:56:59,374
I was like,
"I can talk to this dude about X-Men."
831
00:56:59,707 --> 00:57:02,961
Right? And that was a way
to connect across cultures.
832
00:57:04,754 --> 00:57:06,756
The veil has been lifted.
833
00:57:08,174 --> 00:57:09,884
Enter the anime.
69741
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