Shinbo Akiyuki
Translated from Chinese source http://www.xdmhy.info/read.php?tid-1468431.html
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| From Season 2 to movie trilogy, this was how it started.
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| Kirara What caused the development of the Madoka Magica Movie?
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| Shinbo I originally planned to work on Season 2. When we reviewed the sequel proposal by Gen Urobuchi, however, we felt that the content are not enough to fill a full second season. This is when producer Atsuhiro Iwakami suggested, "With this storyline, wouldn't a movie be better?" From here it became, we need to connect the TV series with the new movie, so let's start with the compilations.
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| Kirara Did you planned from the start to not just make a sequel, but also a compilation movie? Or had you consider broadcasting a special edition on TV first?
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| Shinbo We didn't consider TV. If the sequel was to be a movie, we need the full story in the theatre. The staff never considered of making an TV compilation instead.
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| Kirara As the supervisor, what is your approach the series compilation? Do you have an overarching concept in mind?
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| Shinbo I don't have any special concept in mind. For my generation, "Space Battleship Yamato (1974)" was definitely the cultural milestone. So in some vague fashion, I want to make something like that. There are plenty of examples for compilation movies.
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| Kirara Like "Mobile Suit Gundam (1981)" and "Densetsu Kyojin Ideon (1982)"?
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| Shinbo Also "Homeless Remi (1977)" and "3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (1980)." Many of these franchise left me strong impressions. For a niche title to reach the big screens as a movie compilation, I think it is not bad.
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| The birth of the compilation
the importance of the sequel
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| Kirara When did you really start working on the project?
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| Shinbo Around the end of 2011; I still remember editing the storyboard in the first month (of the lunar calendar). I was working even during lunar new year's day (laughter)!
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| Kirara That's a bit too much (laughter)! Was editing the storyboard the first step?
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| Shinbo Not quite. First, I worked with Miss Rie Matsuhara, editor for the compilation movies, to create a compilation outline. From this outline, we tried to improve weak parts, smooth out any conflicting points, and eliminate unnecessary scenes. Just trying to get everything right. It's an editing as we watch it feel, scene by scene. The final product is put together this way.
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| Kirara For the compilation movies, the editor has quite a heavy responsibility.
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| Shinbo Definitely. Thanks to miss Miss Rie, the project proceed smoothly.
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| Kirara While we are at it, I want to ask about the supervisor - have you ever produced a compilation of your own TV series before?
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| Shinbo This is my first time.
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| Kirara Ah, so it's like this.
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| Shinbo Honestly, not my area of expertise.
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| Kirara This is a surprise!
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| Shinbo Even though this was ancient history, before working on the "Soreyuke! Uchuu Senkan Yamamoto Yohko II (1997)" OVA, I was asked to make the Season 1 compilation. I instantly rejected the offer and suggested someone else (forced laughter). I feel uninspired working on these type of editing work. I always felt, "need to splice this scene, got to add this angle." With existing footage, I am helpless with these ideas.
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| Kirara Sounds like this is a new challenge to the supervisor.
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| Shinbo Yes. However, I have Miss Rie to lead the way (laughter).
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| Kirara In interviews, you often bring up Rie Matsuhara, Kazuhiko Seki (Editor, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei) and such editors.
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| Shinbo Because series editing is a very important job. It's up to the editor to build cohesion within a piece of work. In some ways, editing can be consider the most important part of a project. Additionally, sometimes I will force in some shots that doesn't really obviously connect. If they do make sense, it's really to the editor's credit. I feel a work's cohesion is largely dependent on the editor.
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| Anticipated elements of the Madoka Magic Movie
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| Kirara Do you plan to add any new sequences? Redraw existing scenes? The fans are eager to find out what you might do.
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| Shinbo If we need new scenes to connect sequences together, we'll draw them. Most scenes through wouldn't see much changes. On the other hand, voice acting will be re-recorded, as well as the soundtrack.
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| Kirara So we can look forward to the higher fidelity sound in the theatre?
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| Shinbo I plan to redo the original soundtrack in 5.1 surround sound, as well as add new pieces. Additionally in the Witch sequences, I want to merge the sound and runes into one form, while retaining Gekidan Inu Curry's unique visual presentation. Hopefully this will change the impression slightly.
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| Kirara What about the Seiyuu side of it?
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| Shinbo Most voice acting are re-recorded, except for some parts of Episode 10. I am somewhat hesitant on whether to keep the original TV recording for that episode. This work was built on voice acting. Superb voice acting doesn't really need to be redone. Furthermore, with all other parts re-recorded, the contrast will highlight how special Episode 10 is. Right now, the biggest uncertainty is whether to redo Episode 10.
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| Kirara Besides yourself and miss Rie, who else are working on this project?
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| Shinbo Production is headed by the TV series director Yukihiro Miyamoto, because the atmosphere of the series wouldn't see significant changes. Still, each performance will inevitably bring about slightly different pacing and atmosphere, creating a conflicting feeling. To remove this, we need Mr. Miyamoto to make the necessary adjustments (the timings of animation, special effect directions, design type stuff).
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| Kirara As Supervisor, do you plan to bring a different style or meaning from the TV version?
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| Shinbo There'll be some difference between TV and theatrical version, but my focus is to avoid making our original fans uncomfortable. Because it's an special activity, even if the theatrical presentation and style are not obvious, it would be good enough for the job. Instead of highlighting the theatrical style, what's important is to focus on the Madoka Magica's style. I do believe this type of work will be the best.
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| Madoka Magica's inspiration and legacy
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| Kirara Wrapping up, Madoka Magica has quite an impact since release. Again, what does this franchise mean to you?
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| Shinbo Through working on this project, I gained many new experiences. For example, this was my first work to be spoofed, and I truly enjoy all the fanworks. If we include everything that came out, this series probably has had the greatest impact that I worked on. We had some oba-sans that lived near the studio. When they saw the studio posters, they said "Oh, it's Homura!" For my work to have such wide spread recognition, I am overjoyed!
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| Kirara Do you felt pressured that now you have a larger audience?
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| Shinbo It really is a sigh of relieve, because creating an original work already has significant pressure. If it had failed, people may consider original magical girl genre as not viable. Not only that, it may also make pitching future anime original more difficult as well. Not being a dud gave me a sigh of relieve. At least I didn't kill off this genre. Previous to Madoka Magica, I made the anime original "Le Portrait de Petit Cossette." That ended without much of exposure. With that experience, the popularity of this work made me really happy.
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| Kirara To have consequences for the entire genre, must be scary to be the creative mind behind an anime original.
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| Shinbo ANIPLEX's "Ano Hana (2011)" was also very successful. With the success of these types of original works, everyone will want to try making their own. This is a great trend. Besides relieve, it also made me a bit self conscious.
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| Kirara Success made the movie possible, so you must be very grateful?
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| Shinbo If we can continue this, I want to keep going. I want to discover the big direction in animation. I also want to expand the Madoka Magica franchise a bit more. For all this, I have to work hard to complete the Madoka Magica Movie. That's all.
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