{"id":22704,"date":"2016-03-05T13:10:40","date_gmt":"2016-03-05T21:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/?p=22704"},"modified":"2018-11-04T15:00:53","modified_gmt":"2018-11-04T23:00:53","slug":"162a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/162a\/","title":{"rendered":"Nobuyoshi Habara interview"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Dengeki Hobbyweb<\/em>, February 21, 2017
\nSee the original post here<\/a><\/p>\n

Four more days to the premiere of Yamato 2202, Soldiers of Love<\/em>! Special interview with Director Nobuyoshi Habara!<\/h2>\n

Interview by Tetsuya Kobayashi, Dengeki editorial department<\/em><\/p>\n

Prior to the premiere of Yamato 2202<\/em> in theaters, a completion screening event was held on February 6, in which a wide range of fans new and old gathered to greet the new work with enthusiasm. We witnessed the enthusiasm of Nobuyoshi Habara just before the screening.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy initial assumption was greatly exceeded\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n

PROFILE<\/p>\n

Director at XEBEC. Mecha designer, character designer, storyboards. A multi-faceted creator and supervisor who works extensively in planning and animation. He has been active in the front line of the anime industry since 1983, and worked on recent masterpieces such as<\/em> Breakblade, the<\/em> Fafner series, and more. He participated in <\/em>Yamato 2199 as a storyboard artist and the director of episodes 9 and 19.<\/em><\/p>\n

Candid thoughts just before the screening<\/h3>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Today (February 6), the first chapter will finally be screened by fans for the first time. What is your honest feeling right now?<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> I\u2019ve been excited since yesterday. Everyone with expectations gathers together in one place. I have both anxiety and pleasure about how it will be received.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Of course, there are Yamato<\/em> fans from the past, but there are also young women who are fans of the voice actors, aren\u2019t there?<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> I\u2019m glad. The characters\u2019 representation is done very carefully. For example, a sense of distance between Kodai and Shima. I plan the visuals carefully, including slight gestures. You can appreciate it in that area. I\u2019d like you to play attention to the tense relationship with the new character, Keyman.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> It seems there was a pre-screening recently for interested parties. How was the reaction?<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> I watched the reactions from the front of the theater. They concentrated on it as they watched and gave a warm round of applause afterward. I remember feeling very relieved at the time.<\/p>\n

Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> was a direct hit on adolescence<\/h3>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> How did you see the original series?<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> I was about 11 years old during the broadcast of the first Yamato<\/em> TV series. I was hooked on it from the beginning. At the time, the word \u201canime\u201d wasn\u2019t yet common, and it was still called \u201cTV manga.\u201d It was a time when everyone stopped watching anime at about fifth grade, and you were judged if you said, \u201cI am still watching.\u201d<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> But then the big Yamato<\/em> boom arose, which also absorbed the adult generation, right in the midst of your adolescence.<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> That\u2019s right. I was 15 years old for Farewell to Yamato, Soldiers of Love<\/em>. I was a chuu-san (3rd year middle school), but in my heart, I was chuu-ni (2nd year middle school). (Laughs)<\/p>\n[Translator’s note: he\u2019s making a joke about chuunibyo<\/a>.]
<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> It was surely deeply carved into your heart.<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> Even if I see it now I\u2019ll probably cry. (Laughs) I love it. The first TV series and Farewell<\/em> are exceptional works for me.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

On Nostalgic, New, And Straight-Pitch Yamato<\/em><\/h3>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> How does it feel to become the director of a work for which you have such an exceptional special feeling?<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> Oh, yeah\u2026when it was decided, I was like, \u201cAre you serious!?\u201d If I did a timeslip and told myself \u201cYou\u2019ll direct Yamato<\/em> in the future,\u201d I wouldn\u2019t believe myself. (Laughs) Because I liked it so much, my feelings were strong and I wanted to burn those feelings into the film.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> You participated in 2199<\/em> on the staff, but how did you come to be appointed as the director this time?<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> When I first heard about a sequel being made, I never thought it would come down to me. Harutoshi Fukui hadn\u2019t signed on yet, and I wondered, \u201cIs there anyone who would be good to write it?\u201d I originally recommended my friend Hideki Oka who directs live-action works, mainly tokusatsu (special effects). I was well-known for having a passion for Yamato<\/em>, and after that I received an invitation and somehow I got in. (Laughs)<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Surely your \u201cYamato<\/em> love\u201d overflowed in every word when you recommended Mr. Oka. (Laughs)<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> Maybe. (Laughs) That\u2019s why I was surprised and said \u201cAre you serious!\u201d at that time. But rather than shrinking back, I embarked to face the challenge with my full strength once I got the news.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> So what kind of vision did you contemplate for this work?<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> At first, it was to make it similar to 2199<\/em>. I wanted to reproduce the good points of Farewell<\/em> and Yamato 2<\/em> as much as possible. But it can\u2019t be the same thing when it inherits 2199<\/em>. I was thinking about that when I saw the proposal written by Mr. Fukui. I thought, \u201cThere is such an approach!\u201d I was surprised and convinced at the same time. The first thing that surprised me was the title that was written.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> I wondered if it would be refined into a modern style with Yamato 2202<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> In addition, it is Soldiers of Love<\/em>. It\u2019s like, \u201cThrowing this kind of straight pitch in the present times!\u201d I thought I wanted to take it in this direction and include the spirit behind it.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> So, basically you\u2019re saying that initial direction of \u201cRecreating the good parts\u201d is really working out well.<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> That\u2019s right. There are also scenes that are deliberately reproduced, like when Yasuo Nanbu shouts \u201cIDIOTS!\u201d at Andromeda<\/em> from Hero\u2019s Hill. Various locations and positions are different from the original, but we arrive at a place where it properly meets the old work, and I think it was expressed well. In that vein, even as we tell our new story from here on, look forward to seeing scenes that will make you go \u201cA ha!\u201d<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> As represented by the Nanbu scene, the impressive handling of new concepts from 2199<\/em> was exquisite.<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> Regarding the handling of concepts from 2199<\/em>, as a result of proposals from Mr. Fukui, Mr. Oka, and assistant director Makoto Kobayashi, I arranged and incorporated various perspectives from the old work.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> There are many scenes that follow the old work even in terms of filmmaking.<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> That\u2019s right. One way is to show an angle that\u2019s very much like Yamato<\/em>, and timing where Yamato<\/em> looks its coolest. It shouldn\u2019t be too fast, and there are subtle places where it shouldn\u2019t be too slow. I\u2019m very careful with that.<\/p>\n


\nThe CG model of a fighter matches the shape of the mecha design, but a model with a slightly inclined nose was also prepared in order to reproduce the powerful flyby of the old work. This is a precise fusion of artistic intention and the latest technology!<\/em><\/p>\n

A hot “crew” gathers under Yamato<\/em>!<\/h3>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> It\u2019s been said that the outlook on Yamato<\/em> of those on the staff is going well, too.<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> That\u2019s already happening! We adjust the balance slightly in the storyboard stage to keep the distinctive Yamato<\/em> tempo.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Since everyone has a special feeling for Yamato<\/em>, it sounds like a passionate discussion.<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> Right! Passionate opinions come from the directors of each episode and many others. On the other hand, rather than saying \u201cNo, this way is better!\u201d as a director, I scoop up good opinions. \u201cOh, that\u2019s good!\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s good, too!\u201d<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> You had such opinions on the previous work, 2199<\/em>\u2026<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> I was a talker. (Laughs) Since it was great to say, \u201cI want to do this!\u201d for something I like, thinking back now, it was an easier place to be. (Laughs)<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> You also participated in the Director\u2019s Cut version of Yamato Resurrection.<\/em><\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> That\u2019s right. It was great to work with Tomonori Kogawa at that time. Partly due to that connection, it was possible for Mr. Kogawa to do the animation layouts for the Gatlantis scenes in Chapter 1.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> I could taste the unquestionable authentic feeling of Emperor Zordar from the beginning!<\/p>\n


\nAn upshot of Great Emperor Zordar that matches the Kogawa original! This fan offers tears of gratitude.<\/em><\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Assistant director Makoto Kobayashi also worked on Resurrection<\/em>, didn\u2019t he?<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> Mr. Kobayashi has made many versatile accomplishments since then. He designed many shots for Resurrection<\/em>. He added many effects to the photography, such as light shining on the Cosmo Pulsar. So the quality has really gone up. Sometimes the correct answer can\u2019t be derived from ordinary logic. You might say that makes him a kind of \u201cgenius.\u201d<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> I was surprised to see Mr. Kobayashi\u2019s \u201cArmor assault-type Zoellegut\u201d brainchild this time.<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> It surely has a Yamato<\/em> feeling when you see it for the first time. I was really surprised when he showed me a sketch.<\/p>\n


\nMakoto Kobayashi\u2019s brainchild, the \u201cArmor assault-type Zoellegut.\u201d The defense plan is for the \u201cplate\u201d to take
\na direct hit from the Flame Strike Gun. Penetrating it overflows with a <\/em>Yamato-like sense of wonder.<\/em><\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> The balance of the female characters was also exquisite. It is neither old-fashioned nor too inclined toward “Moe” ….<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> That\u2019s a very difficult and delicate part. This time I\u2019m trying to depict them as people living properly in the world. We\u2019re avoiding expressions that don\u2019t exist in reality. In that sense, it might end up feeling like there\u2019s too little of it in there, but if you want to look at Yamato<\/em> as being like that, then…<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Um, no. For everyone who loves Yamato<\/em>, I think there are more who burn for battleships than yearn for pretty girls, so on that point, I don\u2019t think you have to worry too much\u2026 (-_-;)<\/p>\n[Translator’s note: there\u2019s a pun going on here. Literally, the lines in quotes are \u201cBishoujo ni moeru (\u840c\u3048\u308b)\u201d, with \u201cmoeru\u201d being the verb form that gives us \u201cmoe\u201d, and \u201cSenkan ni moeru (\u71c3\u3048\u308b)\u201d, with \u201cmoeru\u201d here being the verb \u201cto burn\u201d.]
<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> Oh, there will be a lot of battleships, so don\u2019t worry about that. We\u2019re generous with that right from the first episode.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> It was certainly surprising to see a fleet war in the first episode. The action and the amount of information in the story is packed and breathless. But it seems hard to keep up this density for seven chapters\u2026<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> I\u2019ll fight to my death. (Laughs) It\u2019s really hard to choose one angle, because it\u2019s a work that I never thought of, even if I think I did. Nevertheless, thanks to the power of everyone on the staff, I think we\u2019ve made a film that greatly exceeds my original assumptions.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Please give your message to the fans will will see it now.<\/p>\n

Habara:<\/em><\/span> I think those who watched 2199<\/em> understand. It\u2019s great to see the impact on the big screen and hear the big sound of the theater! The fleet battle in chapter 1 is particularly good. I hope you enjoy watching it with good sound on a big screen.<\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Thank you very much!<\/p>\n

Return to the index<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22704","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22704","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22704"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22704\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25798,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22704\/revisions\/25798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22704"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22704"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}