Gen Urobuchi
Gen Urobuchi (虚淵 玄 Urobuchi Gen), born December 20, 1972 in Tokyo, Japan, is a writer currently employed at Visual Novel company Nitroplus and the writer for Puella Magi Madoka☆Magica.
Biography
Gen Urobuchi joined the company Nitroplus as a writer and made his debut in 2001 by writing the scenario of the visual novel Phantom of Inferno, which was later adapted into a TV series and OVA series. His writing activity at Nitroplus continued in the following years with the release of Vampirdzhija Vjedogonia, Kikokugai - The Cyber Slayer and one of his best known works, Saya no Uta. He also actively participated in the company as an advisor to other titles, as well as for the Nitro+Chiral branch.
In 2004 he was approached by Kinoko Nasu and Takashi Takeuchi of Type-Moon with the offer to write a prequel to Fate/Stay Night. At that time, Urobuchi stated that he was going through a difficult period where he felt like he couldn't write the perfect ending. The offer gave him the chance to write a story where he would not have to worry about this. In the postface of the first Fate/Zero volume, he states that this opportunity probably saved his writing career.
When he was 24 years old he had to be hospitalised due to an epidemic. He mentions that spending several months recovering and living like a dead man ended up influenced his work, such as letting him kill off characters without hesitation. Therefore, he is known for writing especially gruesome stories.
Involvement in the Magica Quartet
In Autumn 2008, Urobuchi was called by Iwakami when Shinbo expressed his desire to work on an original Magical Girl anime, project which later became Puella Magi Madoka Magica. He wrote the full script for the series.
When looking over Shinbo's and Ume Aoki's previous work, Urobuchi decided that he wanted to make a work where the central focus would be the 'friendship between girls'. While working on the story, he mentioned that one of the first priorities was incorporating Ume Aoki's world-view into it. His plot proposal got accepted during the first meeting and the script was not changed much from the first draft.
The initial intention was to keep his involvement a secret at first, but this was scrapped when the staff list was leaked early during development. Due to Urobuchi's participation and his writing history, the work quickly gained the nickname "Chidamari Sketch" (chidamari is 'pool of blood') before broadcast, despite his claims of wanting to write a heartwarming story. After episode 3 aired, he apologised for misleading the audience.
Translated Interviews
| Date | Event/Publication | Description/Link |
|---|---|---|
| 2013/11/10 | AFA Singapore 2013 | Gen Urobuchi Interview at AFA Singapore 2013 |
| 2013/08/30 | NyanType 2013-10 | NyanType The Rebellion Story Interview |
| 2013/08/10 | NewType 2013-09 | NewType The Rebellion Story Interview |
| 2013/07/28 | Animagic 2013 | Nitro+ Q&A Panels at Animagic 2013 |
| 2012/01/29 | Niconico Videos | Nico Character Chat with Kazuo Koike and Gen Urobuchi |
| 2011/11/30 | Megami magazine 2012-01 | Urobuchi comments on completing the third movie's script |
| 2011/08/09 | Kirara Magica Vol.2 | Kirara Magica Interview Gen |
| 2011/07/08 | Otona Anime Vol.21 | Gen on Sayaka and fanwork |
| 2011/06/01 | Shinjidai no Mixture Magazine BLACK PAST | Black Past Interview with Gen Urobuchi |
| 2011/03/28 | Febri Vol.5 | From Madoka to Fate/Zero |
| 2011/01/08 | Otona Anime Vol.19 | Combination Brought by the Concept of "Fighting Mahou Shoujo" |
| 2010/11/10 | NewType 2010-12 | First Madoka Script and Visual Discussion |
Gen "Urobutcher" Urobuchi's Trail of Tears
- Ume Aoki was not aware of the true nature of the show until she learned they were planning to kill Mami Tomoe, her favorite character in the show.
- Episode 10 made Ume Aoki cry multiple times.
- Emiri Kato (VA of Kyubey) is a fan of the Mahou Shoujo genre. She only learned the grim nature of the show when she read the script.
- It also made Emiri Kato cry near the end of the series.
- Shinbo liked Sayaka's character so much that he asked Urobuchi if there was some way to bring her back to life. Urobuchi said no.
- The production staff was attached to the characters and wanted to delay the inevitable so they could draw them a little longer. Urobuchi kept reminded them that no.
- Made grown men to shed manly tears.
- Even Urobuchi thinks the ending is cruel.
- No kidding. Even Urobuchi admits on the Blu-ray commentary that his own story is hard to watch.
- According with Urobuchi, Magical Girls are not always girls of justice. What some may call justice, it may be evil for others. Good intentions, kindness, and hope will not necessarily make people happy.[1]
- Being Urobuchi is suffering: On one hand, if Urobuchi stopped being Urobuchi he would lead a healthier and happier life. On the other hand, no more Madoka Magica. This is clearly the definition of Sophie's choice.
- Gen Urobuchi admits to bullying Sayaka, even from the initial proposal idea for the anime.
- Gen Urobuchi is still not done with bullying Sayaka.
- Boy, he wasnt kidding.
- The man is a monster.
- He promises more Sayaka suffering in the Rebellion.
- There is probably gonna be even more bullying in the new movie judging by the trailer lol.
- Q: What is your favorite Madoka character?
A: I liked writing Sayaka's story the most, so it would be her.[2]
- Q: What is your favorite Madoka character?
- There is probably gonna be even more bullying in the new movie judging by the trailer lol.
- He promises more Sayaka suffering in the Rebellion.
- The man is a monster.
- Boy, he wasnt kidding.
- Gen Urobuchi is still not done with bullying Sayaka.
- In the audio commentary for Episode 12, when Chiwa Saito and Aoi Yuuki asked for a bit of happiness for their characters (and themselves) in the alleged second season, Gen Urobuchi was ambiguous about giving a happy ending.
- Ume Aoki points out that Gen Urobuchi doesn't give out happiness that easily.
- Apparently, the extent of his generosity in giving away some happiness (relatively speaking) is proof enough that he can make a happy story. He calls this "his proof".
- Then again he cant help himself by teasing them with a final and ambiguous answer regarding some future happiness if a second season is ever made.
- Urobuchi will never give Sayaka her happy ending. Well, at least not with Kyousuke as her love interest.
- Chiwa Saito (Homura) confesses that when she saw Kyoko's sacrifice scene in Episode 9, with Aoi Yuuki (Madoka) and Emiri Kato (Kyubey), they all cried.
- He took away Naked Space Hug from the movie version of Madoka.
- Remember how Yuno (Kana Asumi), from Hidamari Sketch, was the only one to not appear on the Madoka series to suffer under Gen Urobuchi's hands? Well, about that...
- The ending of "Rebellion", he robbed us of our happy ending.
- To be fair, Shinbo thought of it first. From the start, Urobuchi planned to have Madoka take Homura with her, thus creating a "happy ending" of sorts, but decided it wouldn't be a good enough ending. Then, Shinbo suggested the concept "Madoka and Homura into enemies”, Urobuchi accepted the idea and admitted that this was a breakthrough for him. Urobuchi believes that Rebellion got a happy ending for at least its main character, Homura.
- "Sometimes when I see someone who's a spirit of justice… I feel like I want to destroy them!"[3]
Trivia
- In his interview with Kirara Magica, Gen Urobuchi never actually planned for a sequel while writing the original series. Whenever he talked about it he was just joking.
- As a result, Gen Urobuchi had to come up with a new plot for his sequel that it was then turned into a movie as the content was too short for a TV series format.
Other Works
Anime
- Phantom: The Animation (2004) (OVA, producer, wrote original scenario)
- Blassreiter (2008) (TV anime by GONZO, Scriptwriter for ep: 10-12, 15-17, 22-23)
- Phantom ~Requiem for the Phantom~ (2009) (TV anime adaptation of his visual novel story by Bee Train. Wrote scripts for episodes 6, 18, and 25)
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011)
- Fate/Zero (2011) (TV anime by Ufotable, original creator)
- Psycho-Pass (2012) (TV anime by Production I.G, series composition, scriptwritter)
Visual Novels
- Phantom of Inferno (2000) (visual novel by Nitro+, scriptwriter, illustrated by Kimi Yanoguchi)
- Vampirdzhija Vjedogonia (2001) (visual novel by Nitro+, scriptwriter, illustrated by Higashiguchi Chuuou)
- Kikokugai - The Cyber Slayer (2002) (visual novel by Nitro+, scriptwriter, illustrated by Higashiguchi Chuuou)
- Saya no Uta (2003) (visual novel by Nitro+, scriptwriter, illustrated by Higashiguchi Chuuou)
- Jouka no Monshou (2003) (a short “fanfiction” Visual Novel by Gen Urobuchi, illustrated by Higashiguchi Chuuou. It takes place in the world of Equilibrium, which Urobuchi is a fan of)
- Zoku Satsuriku no Django (2007) (visual novel by Nitro+, scriptwriter, illustrated by Niθ)
Novels
- Hakumou no Dendoushi (2004) (novel, illustrated by kamiwata)
- Fate/zero (2006-2007) (novel, prequel to Fate/stay night, collaboration with TYPE-MOON)
- Black Lagoon novels (2008-2011) (novel, illustrated by Rei Hiroe)
- Eisen Flügel (2009) (novel, illustrated by Higashiguchi Chuuou)
- Kin no Hitomi to Tetsu no Ken (2011) (novel, illustrated by Yun Kouga)
Tokusatsu
- Kamen Rider Gaim (2013-2014)
Games
His work is writing script and designing the background/world of game. He joined the following products:
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica Portable, as supervisor
- Gunslinger Stratos(Square Enix 2012), as world and story designer.
- Madoka Magica - The Battle Pentagram, as supervisor
- Fate/Grand Order, as the writer of "Lostbelt 3: The Synchronized Intellect Nation, SIN"
Gallery
Gen Urobuchi 10 years ago.
Gen Urobuchi nowadays.
Not even Charlotte can defeat Gen Urobuchi.
Gen's commentary from Episode 12
See Also
- December 2011 Urobuchi book on Madoka draft script scenarios, storyboards and interview.
- Translated Tweets