1 00:00:07,540 --> 00:00:09,809 The reason I created "Voices of a Distant Star" by myself 2 00:00:09,809 --> 00:00:11,578 was not because I thought I'd do all the future projects by myself 3 00:00:11,578 --> 00:00:14,514 Change and Evolution of the Production System was not because I thought I'd do all the future projects by myself 4 00:00:14,514 --> 00:00:21,521 Change and Evolution of the Production System but because just once I wanted to do things decisively in the way I wanted by myself. 5 00:00:21,521 --> 00:00:23,757 Change and Evolution of the Production System It may sound strange, 6 00:00:23,757 --> 00:00:26,092 Change and Evolution of the Production System but I felt satisfied, thinking, "That was enough of working by myself." 7 00:00:26,092 --> 00:00:28,294 but I felt satisfied, thinking, "That was enough of working by myself." 8 00:00:28,294 --> 00:00:33,266 I figured out what I wasn't good at and what kind of work I liked, 9 00:00:33,266 --> 00:00:36,169 so after I finished "Voices of a Distant Star," 10 00:00:36,169 --> 00:00:39,900 I decided, "I'll work on the next project with other people." 11 00:00:40,140 --> 00:00:43,777 In most cases animation depends heavily on the storyboards, 12 00:00:43,777 --> 00:00:47,047 but in my case when I draw the storyboards and create animation storyboards, 13 00:00:47,047 --> 00:00:48,815 I already add sounds to them, 14 00:00:48,815 --> 00:00:51,684 so the storyline doesn't change after that point. 15 00:00:51,684 --> 00:00:54,087 In that sense, 16 00:00:54,087 --> 00:00:56,289 since I created everything myself up to the animation storyboards, 17 00:00:56,289 --> 00:00:59,959 things like creating the story were exactly the same process as the previous work. 18 00:00:59,959 --> 00:01:01,094 things like creating the story were exactly the same process as the previous work. Wow! 19 00:01:01,094 --> 00:01:03,028 things like creating the story were exactly the same process as the previous work. 20 00:01:03,263 --> 00:01:07,467 Everything, both the well-done parts and the parts lacking something, 21 00:01:07,467 --> 00:01:08,201 Everything, both the well-done parts and the parts lacking something, Amazing! 22 00:01:08,201 --> 00:01:08,601 is my own responsibility. Amazing! 23 00:01:08,601 --> 00:01:09,803 is my own responsibility. 24 00:01:09,803 --> 00:01:10,370 is my own responsibility. An airplane! 25 00:01:10,370 --> 00:01:10,970 This was almost my first experience creating animation with others. An airplane! 26 00:01:10,970 --> 00:01:12,005 This was almost my first experience creating animation with others. That's right. 27 00:01:12,005 --> 00:01:13,406 This was almost my first experience creating animation with others. 28 00:01:13,406 --> 00:01:15,008 This was almost my first experience creating animation with others. You two are building this yourselves? 29 00:01:15,008 --> 00:01:15,175 This was almost my first experience creating animation with others. 30 00:01:15,175 --> 00:01:15,275 This was almost my first experience creating animation with others. Yeah, we've been working on it little by little 31 00:01:15,275 --> 00:01:15,475 Yeah, we've been working on it little by little 32 00:01:15,475 --> 00:01:16,776 So, since I didn't know what was needed in that case and had to feel everything out, Yeah, we've been working on it little by little 33 00:01:16,776 --> 00:01:18,011 So, since I didn't know what was needed in that case and had to feel everything out, since our eighth grade summer vacation. 34 00:01:18,011 --> 00:01:20,914 So, since I didn't know what was needed in that case and had to feel everything out, We've been working at that factory back there 35 00:01:20,914 --> 00:01:22,482 So, since I didn't know what was needed in that case and had to feel everything out, to get parts and advice from Mr. Okabe. Right? 36 00:01:22,482 --> 00:01:23,950 it was simply a lot of work. to get parts and advice from Mr. Okabe. Right? 37 00:01:23,950 --> 00:01:24,084 it was simply a lot of work. 38 00:01:24,084 --> 00:01:24,918 it was simply a lot of work. Yep... 39 00:01:24,918 --> 00:01:26,252 it was simply a lot of work. It's still far from complete though. 40 00:01:26,252 --> 00:01:27,687 It was a lot of work not because each one of us wasn't capable at all, It's still far from complete though. 41 00:01:27,687 --> 00:01:28,588 It was a lot of work not because each one of us wasn't capable at all, 42 00:01:28,588 --> 00:01:30,023 It was a lot of work not because each one of us wasn't capable at all, It's amazing... 43 00:01:30,023 --> 00:01:30,156 It was a lot of work not because each one of us wasn't capable at all, 44 00:01:30,156 --> 00:01:30,657 It was a lot of work not because each one of us wasn't capable at all, Hey, 45 00:01:30,657 --> 00:01:30,924 It was a lot of work not because each one of us wasn't capable at all, 46 00:01:30,924 --> 00:01:31,758 It was a lot of work not because each one of us wasn't capable at all, this is really 47 00:01:31,758 --> 00:01:32,492 It was a lot of work not because each one of us wasn't capable at all, amazing! 48 00:01:32,492 --> 00:01:33,193 It was a lot of work not because each one of us wasn't capable at all, 49 00:01:33,193 --> 00:01:33,493 but it was rather the opposite. 50 00:01:33,493 --> 00:01:35,195 but it was rather the opposite. Thanks... 51 00:01:35,195 --> 00:01:36,029 For example, in the key animation and background art fields, Thanks... 52 00:01:36,029 --> 00:01:37,564 For example, in the key animation and background art fields, 53 00:01:37,564 --> 00:01:41,227 the abilities of Tazawa-san and Tanji-san are far more powerful than mine are. 54 00:01:42,769 --> 00:01:52,144 It was a lot of work figuring out how to draw out such abilities or how to use them. 55 00:01:52,378 --> 00:01:58,010 I think we'll be able to create a much, much better movie in a better production system. 56 00:01:59,552 --> 00:02:01,488 I think it depends on what the person's distinctive quality is. 57 00:02:01,488 --> 00:02:01,688 The More Refined Shinkai Style I think it depends on what the person's distinctive quality is. 58 00:02:01,688 --> 00:02:05,225 The More Refined Shinkai Style For example, suppose my distinctive quality is in character movement drawn in the key animation. 59 00:02:05,225 --> 00:02:08,094 The More Refined Shinkai Style Since they were all directed by Tazawa-san, 60 00:02:08,094 --> 00:02:11,264 The More Refined Shinkai Style and since they were drawn by key animation people under Tazawa-san's direction, 61 00:02:11,264 --> 00:02:14,367 The More Refined Shinkai Style they're already totally different from the ones in "Voices of a Distant Star." 62 00:02:14,367 --> 00:02:14,400 The More Refined Shinkai Style 63 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,002 The More Refined Shinkai Style But a lot of people said things like, 64 00:02:16,002 --> 00:02:19,639 But a lot of people said things like, 65 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:27,046 "lt shows Shinkai's voice more and more," or, "lt was good." 66 00:02:27,046 --> 00:02:34,787 As for the story itself and the directing of the scenes that go with the narrative monologue, 67 00:02:34,787 --> 00:02:41,361 as I said earlier, they were already all decided at the time the animation storyboards were created, 68 00:02:41,361 --> 00:02:45,198 so all that was left after the storyboards were the pictures 69 00:02:45,198 --> 00:02:48,301 and they'd be improved more and more with everyone's effort. 70 00:02:48,301 --> 00:02:51,571 The basic directing was, of course, done all by myself, 71 00:02:51,571 --> 00:02:54,974 so my distinctive quality probably showed up a lot in it, 72 00:02:54,974 --> 00:02:56,776 and what was left was improving the pictures. 73 00:02:56,776 --> 00:03:00,647 In that sense, I think the project was reinforced. 74 00:03:00,647 --> 00:03:05,518 For example, in key animation, Tazawa-san copied characters from "Voices of a Distant Star" 75 00:03:05,518 --> 00:03:09,622 saying, "I'm doing this because I'm participating in Shinkai-san's project," 76 00:03:09,622 --> 00:03:11,891 even when he's far better at it than I am. 77 00:03:11,891 --> 00:03:13,893 He researched a lot, like, "Shinkai-san's pencil touches are like this," 78 00:03:13,893 --> 00:03:15,828 or "The eyes are drawn like this." 79 00:03:15,828 --> 00:03:21,634 I think Tazawa-san put an effort into matching the worldview of this movie 80 00:03:21,634 --> 00:03:28,267 by drawing the characters in certain ways. 81 00:03:28,608 --> 00:03:29,642 As for background art, 82 00:03:29,642 --> 00:03:37,350 Tanji-san drew first as a test and I looked it over. I'd ask him, "Please do this part this way," 83 00:03:37,350 --> 00:03:45,024 and we'd go back and forth so many times over the lnternet. 84 00:03:45,024 --> 00:03:47,093 We also had meetings in person. 85 00:03:47,093 --> 00:03:51,427 So we took time and gradually reconciled our drawings. 86 00:03:51,898 --> 00:03:59,973 Because we worked that way and because Tanji-san's drawing ability is very strong, 87 00:03:59,973 --> 00:04:05,511 the drawings created by Tanji-san and others in Background Art 88 00:04:05,511 --> 00:04:10,216 made me feel like, "lsn't this something that I drew?" 89 00:04:10,216 --> 00:04:15,421 And it had almost the same touches as mine. 90 00:04:15,421 --> 00:04:19,759 And then, I did the color adjustment during compositing. 91 00:04:19,759 --> 00:04:26,432 So our reconciling, the staff having their spirits high, 92 00:04:26,432 --> 00:04:30,270 and their working to maintain unity were the really important factors. 93 00:04:30,270 --> 00:04:32,872 As for the music, I've been working with TENMON-san for a long time, 94 00:04:32,872 --> 00:04:36,535 so I didn't have any complaints or any worries. 95 00:04:37,944 --> 00:04:39,846 From the start, 96 00:04:39,846 --> 00:04:39,979 my image of the main character, Hiroki's, voice was Hidetaka Yoshioka-san. 97 00:04:39,979 --> 00:04:44,484 About Casting my image of the main character, Hiroki's, voice was Hidetaka Yoshioka-san. 98 00:04:44,484 --> 00:04:47,854 About Casting When the time came to talk about casting, 99 00:04:47,854 --> 00:04:52,492 About Casting I told CoMix Wave that my image of Hiroki was Yoshioka-san. 100 00:04:52,492 --> 00:04:54,494 About Casting Well, I didn't think they'd actually get Yoshioka-san, since he's an actor. 101 00:04:54,494 --> 00:04:58,294 Well, I didn't think they'd actually get Yoshioka-san, since he's an actor. 102 00:04:58,498 --> 00:05:04,170 But unbeknownst to me, the staff at CoMix Wave tried hard and moved forward with the deal, 103 00:05:04,170 --> 00:05:07,697 and by the time I realized, it was like it was decided to go with Yoshioka-san. 104 00:05:07,807 --> 00:05:12,879 As for Masato Hagiwara-san and Yuuka Nanri-san, the other two main characters, 105 00:05:12,879 --> 00:05:16,749 I got tons of voice samples from the casting agency. 106 00:05:16,749 --> 00:05:21,654 When I heard them and chose solely according to the images of these two characters' voices, 107 00:05:21,654 --> 00:05:26,648 it turned out I liked Hagiwara-san for Takuya and Nanri-san for Sayuri. 108 00:05:26,793 --> 00:05:32,595 So they were both my first choices and my request got through with good timing. 109 00:05:33,733 --> 00:05:35,802 Since Hagiwara-san and Yoshioka-san are very close to my age, 110 00:05:35,802 --> 00:05:37,437 About Hidetaka Yoshioka-san Since Hagiwara-san and Yoshioka-san are very close to my age, 111 00:05:37,437 --> 00:05:41,741 About Hidetaka Yoshioka-san I myself felt a strong affinity with them, so it was easy to work with them. 112 00:05:41,741 --> 00:05:49,782 About Hidetaka Yoshioka-san Yoshioka-san is kinda shy and when I talked with him, 113 00:05:49,782 --> 00:05:50,316 About Hidetaka Yoshioka-san we both felt shy, but he's calm and kind. 114 00:05:50,316 --> 00:05:52,785 we both felt shy, but he's calm and kind. 115 00:05:52,785 --> 00:05:57,848 He's someone who makes you feel good when you talk to him. 116 00:05:58,057 --> 00:06:00,593 I'm glad that we could have him in the movie. 117 00:06:00,593 --> 00:06:03,396 I don't feel this movie could have been successful 118 00:06:03,396 --> 00:06:05,489 with anyone other than Yoshioka-san. 119 00:06:06,599 --> 00:06:08,668 Hagiwara-san is very friendly, 120 00:06:08,668 --> 00:06:09,268 About Masato Hagiwara-san Hagiwara-san is very friendly, 121 00:06:09,268 --> 00:06:14,874 About Masato Hagiwara-san and he's got a totally different aura than Yoshioka-san. 122 00:06:14,874 --> 00:06:17,610 About Masato Hagiwara-san How should I put it, he has a mischievous side, 123 00:06:17,610 --> 00:06:21,547 About Masato Hagiwara-san but he's also kind and sensitive, like Yoshioka-san. 124 00:06:21,547 --> 00:06:21,681 About Masato Hagiwara-san 125 00:06:21,681 --> 00:06:23,182 About Masato Hagiwara-san Compared to Hiroki, we set up Takuya's role to be a little more complicated. 126 00:06:23,182 --> 00:06:29,489 Compared to Hiroki, we set up Takuya's role to be a little more complicated. 127 00:06:29,489 --> 00:06:34,961 Takuya had a twisted mind, contrary to Hiroki, 128 00:06:34,961 --> 00:06:40,600 but he also had something very straight deep in his mind. 129 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:48,974 So I think it was a little difficult role, but Hagiwara-san played the role splendidly. 130 00:06:49,208 --> 00:06:52,812 I think he showed a very cool performance 131 00:06:52,812 --> 00:06:57,408 that stood out in a different direction than Hiroki's. 132 00:06:58,918 --> 00:07:00,987 Nanri-san was actually a lot like Sayuri. 133 00:07:00,987 --> 00:07:03,356 About Yuuka Nanri-san Nanri-san was actually a lot like Sayuri. 134 00:07:03,356 --> 00:07:05,224 About Yuuka Nanri-san 135 00:07:05,224 --> 00:07:07,026 About Yuuka Nanri-san The other day, Tazawa-san met Sayuri, 136 00:07:07,026 --> 00:07:09,562 About Yuuka Nanri-san no, not Sayuri-san, he met NANRl-san for the first time. 137 00:07:09,562 --> 00:07:09,929 About Yuuka Nanri-san 138 00:07:09,929 --> 00:07:13,232 About Yuuka Nanri-san He also said, "Oh, she's like Sayuri." 139 00:07:13,232 --> 00:07:13,366 About Yuuka Nanri-san 140 00:07:13,366 --> 00:07:15,501 About Yuuka Nanri-san Just like Sayuri, she seems smart and has long hair. She's very cute. 141 00:07:15,501 --> 00:07:22,134 Just like Sayuri, she seems smart and has long hair. She's very cute. 142 00:07:22,208 --> 00:07:24,744 Really, she was just right for Sayuri's image. 143 00:07:24,744 --> 00:07:31,851 I created Sayuri with an image of something like a symbol of first love no longer in reach. 144 00:07:31,851 --> 00:07:38,086 Personally, I thought Nanri-san's voice was just right for that image. 145 00:07:39,025 --> 00:07:41,127 At the voice-over site, 146 00:07:41,127 --> 00:07:42,161 An Anecdote in the Recording Studio 147 00:07:42,161 --> 00:07:51,270 An Anecdote in the Recording Studio we asked Yuji Mitsuya-san to join us to assist in directing voice actors. 148 00:07:51,270 --> 00:07:55,641 An Anecdote in the Recording Studio When I rambled on, like, "l want them to act this way," 149 00:07:55,641 --> 00:07:57,877 When I rambled on, like, "l want them to act this way," 150 00:07:57,877 --> 00:08:03,683 he heard it and instructed the voice actors precisely. 151 00:08:03,683 --> 00:08:07,587 In some cases, he gave examples using "Tacchan's" voice from "Touch". 152 00:08:07,587 --> 00:08:12,388 I think that rhythmical process made for a lively worksite. 153 00:08:13,292 --> 00:08:15,428 I've talked a little about my attachment to the scenery as well 154 00:08:15,428 --> 00:08:16,395 Perfectionism Towards Portrayal of Scenery I've talked a little about my attachment to the scenery as well 155 00:08:16,395 --> 00:08:21,234 Perfectionism Towards Portrayal of Scenery in the interview in the movie theater program booklet. 156 00:08:21,234 --> 00:08:26,038 Perfectionism Towards Portrayal of Scenery I think everyone has a difficult time during puberty. 157 00:08:26,038 --> 00:08:29,942 Perfectionism Towards Portrayal of Scenery I had various difficulties during that time, 158 00:08:29,942 --> 00:08:31,344 I had various difficulties during that time, 159 00:08:31,344 --> 00:08:36,449 but I feel that I was always saved by the beauty of scenery. 160 00:08:36,449 --> 00:08:42,054 I clearly remember that I used to look outside from the train every day not to miss a thing 161 00:08:42,054 --> 00:08:46,787 because there was always something to note. 162 00:08:46,893 --> 00:08:51,464 When I had difficulties, I was often cheered up by scenery like that. 163 00:08:51,464 --> 00:08:59,038 So I'm constantly wanting to put such feelings into the movies. 164 00:08:59,038 --> 00:09:01,666 If this movie's turned out that way, I'll be happy. 165 00:09:02,542 --> 00:09:04,477 I don't know if I succeeded, 166 00:09:04,477 --> 00:09:04,710 but I was trying to expand the scope in this movie. 167 00:09:04,710 --> 00:09:06,812 Things That You Tried in This Movie but I was trying to expand the scope in this movie. 168 00:09:06,812 --> 00:09:14,554 Things That You Tried in This Movie I wanted its worldview set up to be broader than the previous movie. 169 00:09:14,554 --> 00:09:17,790 Things That You Tried in This Movie Also, since it was longer than the previous one, 170 00:09:17,790 --> 00:09:19,225 Things That You Tried in This Movie I wanted it to delve deeply into the characters, especially Hiroki, as much as possible. 171 00:09:19,225 --> 00:09:25,255 I wanted it to delve deeply into the characters, especially Hiroki, as much as possible. 172 00:09:25,998 --> 00:09:28,801 So I wanted to put foreign elements, 173 00:09:28,801 --> 00:09:32,872 for example, something like the world events or the adults surrounding them. 174 00:09:32,872 --> 00:09:37,543 I wanted to put such background in the movie from the beginning. 175 00:09:37,543 --> 00:09:42,014 But as people who saw the ending realize, 176 00:09:42,014 --> 00:09:47,954 even Takuya dropped from the story later on in the movie. 177 00:09:47,954 --> 00:09:49,422 It's only Hiroki and Sayuri at the end. 178 00:09:49,422 --> 00:09:52,491 All that's left is the Tower that seems to symbolize the world. 179 00:09:52,491 --> 00:09:57,430 These three are left in the world and the story continues with these three. 180 00:09:57,430 --> 00:10:01,801 While I wanted to put background in on purpose, 181 00:10:01,801 --> 00:10:08,074 even moreso, I also wanted to show something truly pure. 182 00:10:08,074 --> 00:10:12,408 So I think those two coexist in this movie. 183 00:10:13,613 --> 00:10:15,715 At the end of this movie, having Hiroki's last phrase as a boundary, the end credits come in. 184 00:10:15,715 --> 00:10:22,221 Thoughts That You Put lnto the Last Line At the end of this movie, having Hiroki's last phrase as a boundary, the end credits come in. 185 00:10:22,221 --> 00:10:22,288 Thoughts That You Put lnto the Last Line 186 00:10:22,288 --> 00:10:28,894 Thoughts That You Put lnto the Last Line I had Hiroki say that phrase there not because I intended to do it directing-wise from the start, 187 00:10:28,894 --> 00:10:30,229 Thoughts That You Put lnto the Last Line but because I started wanting him to say it while I was creating the story. 188 00:10:30,229 --> 00:10:34,495 but because I started wanting him to say it while I was creating the story. 189 00:10:34,934 --> 00:10:38,671 In "She and Her Cat" and "Voices of a Distant Star" too, 190 00:10:38,671 --> 00:10:46,339 I always wanted to end with a phrase that made the story take a step ahead of the screen world. 191 00:10:46,612 --> 00:10:49,615 There's a relationship between the people who watch and the story that is watched. 192 00:10:49,615 --> 00:10:53,185 I think there are certainly things that stories give to people who watch them. 193 00:10:53,185 --> 00:10:55,921 I didn't want stories just to be stories. 194 00:10:55,921 --> 00:10:58,924 I've constantly tried to have the story step out of the movie after watching 195 00:10:58,924 --> 00:11:02,917 and I've always wanted that one step. 196 00:11:03,262 --> 00:11:09,935 So maybe that determination was stronger than before 197 00:11:09,935 --> 00:11:15,066 and that made the phrase at the end of this movie stronger than ever. 198 00:11:16,776 --> 00:11:18,744 Suffering through it and humming songs, 199 00:11:18,744 --> 00:11:20,546 About the Lyrics of the Theme Song Suffering through it and humming songs, 200 00:11:20,546 --> 00:11:22,615 About the Lyrics of the Theme Song I did even the lyrics too. 201 00:11:22,615 --> 00:11:23,182 About the Lyrics of the Theme Song 202 00:11:23,182 --> 00:11:25,618 About the Lyrics of the Theme Song From the beginning, I always had an image of the song, like, 203 00:11:25,618 --> 00:11:28,721 About the Lyrics of the Theme Song "l wanna play music like this," after Hiroki's phrase, or rather, 204 00:11:28,721 --> 00:11:31,090 About the Lyrics of the Theme Song around the same time as his phrase at the end of the movie. 205 00:11:31,090 --> 00:11:33,259 About the Lyrics of the Theme Song So as a result, by doing the lyrics myself, 206 00:11:33,259 --> 00:11:34,055 So as a result, by doing the lyrics myself, 207 00:11:34,694 --> 00:11:40,166 I was able to put what I wanted to say in the lyrics 208 00:11:40,166 --> 00:11:47,106 as the words that go beyond what happened in the movie and connect to the future. 209 00:11:47,106 --> 00:11:51,944 So thinking back afterwards, I think it was good that I did it myself. 210 00:11:51,944 --> 00:11:55,903 At first, I was thinking, "Oh, no, I can't do it and I don't wanna do it." 211 00:11:55,981 --> 00:11:58,784 But thinking back now, 212 00:11:58,784 --> 00:12:03,222 I think it was a matter of course that I should take the responsibility 213 00:12:03,222 --> 00:12:07,522 as a man who wrote the screenplay himself, to finish up by doing the lyrics. 214 00:12:08,994 --> 00:12:10,896 I tried to show visually what l couldn't express in words. 215 00:12:10,896 --> 00:12:15,968 A Message to Viewers I tried to show visually what l couldn't express in words. 216 00:12:15,968 --> 00:12:17,503 A Message to Viewers So, by watching this movie, 217 00:12:17,503 --> 00:12:21,874 A Message to Viewers not just the images but, of course, the music too, 218 00:12:21,874 --> 00:12:22,508 A Message to Viewers if there are people who feel even a little something, I'd be very happy. 219 00:12:22,508 --> 00:12:27,502 if there are people who feel even a little something, I'd be very happy.