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Interview by Shinzo Inoue<\/em><\/p>\n Published by Animate Times November 30. See the original post here<\/a><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The remake series of the timeless masterpiece Space Battleship Yamato<\/em> has been running since 2012. The latest work, REBEL 3199<\/em> Chapter 2: Red Sun Sortie<\/em>, is screening in movie theaters nationwide. Before the premiere, Animate Times<\/em> conducted an interview with Makoto Furukawa, who plays Alphon, and General Director Harutoshi Fukui.<\/p>\n Here, we delve deeper into the character of Alphon and talk about the work and story as a whole. In particular, the topic of Alphon wanting to understand human emotions and the future of the main character, Susumu Kodai, is a must-read. Please read it after watching the movie.<\/p>\n Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> The second chapter has finally started screening, so please tell us how you feel now.<\/p>\n Furukawa:<\/em><\/span> Alphon appeared in the first chapter, but it is from the second chapter that he speaks and reveals his true face. I hope you’ll be able to fully experience what kind of person Alphon is. Personally, I’m a little nervous about the reaction from those who have watched it. As a whole work, the mecha are cool, including the battleships drawn in CG. On top of that, it depicts a new human drama. I hope you\u2019ll be immersed in the movements of each force and character.<\/p>\n Fukui:<\/em><\/span> In the first chapter, we added various elements to the original work, but the general flow was faithful. From the second chapter onward, we enter a “no idea where we’re going” mode and move forward at full speed. I hope you\u2019ll follow along and not get thrown off.<\/p>\n Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> I think you have more to say than in the first chapter, so could you please tell us again about your impression and appeal of Alphon?<\/p>\n Furukawa:<\/em><\/span> When I was recording the second chapter, I had the opportunity to ask Mr. Fukui about Alphon’s background. I felt that he was a character worth digging deeper into.<\/p>\n Alphon doesn’t really understand emotions, including his own, and doesn’t have a real sense of them. As a character with such a background, he learns human emotions while being confused by the emotions that well up within himself and the emotions directed at him when he meets Yuki. By experiencing human emotions for the first time, such as sadness and amusement, it feels like painting in color on a blank canvas. I think that’s one of the things that makes Alphon so appealing.<\/p>\n Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> He looks like a mature, fearless man, but the fact that such a character is moved by human emotions he’s experiencing for the first time gives him an unbalanced charm.<\/p>\n Fukui:<\/em><\/span> Just like in the original work, Alphon starts by picking up Yuki, who was separated from Kodai, but there are parts that feel like they were providing service to female fans at the time. On the other hand, I think modern female fans want to face someone like Alphon on an equal footing.<\/p>\n That’s why, while in the original work Alphon stares at the awakened Yuki and asks at her bedside, “Have you awakened?”, in this work Yuki is already awake, and after searching for a nearby weapon, she hides behind the door, waiting for an opportunity to ask Alphon and the others, “Who are you!?” It’s already different from that point on.<\/p>\n This time, Yuki is not content with being cared for. Even after being pinned down by Isidore, and Alphon admonishing her that she should take good care of her flesh and blood, she starts searching the house to get information about them.<\/p>\n It’s a situation where it seems like she could run away if she wanted to, but her principles of action and what she values have changed. This is an area where the difference between the Showa and Reiwa eras is clearly visible, and I feel that Yuki’s state of affairs is also influencing Alphon.<\/p>\n Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> As a member of a generation that doesn’t know that time, it’s very interesting to hear you talk about Yamato<\/em> today in light of the historical background.<\/p>\n Fukui:<\/em><\/span> If Alphon was portrayed exactly as he was back then, I think people would probably feel a sense of aversion, so there is definitely a difference in the sense of the times.<\/p>\n Furukawa:<\/em><\/span> In that sense, I get the impression that each human drama is based on an equal relationship. For example, from Yuki’s perspective as a prisoner, it’s a very upsetting situation, but the relationship is only possible because it’s Alphon. If a woman is held captive by a man she doesn’t know, she has no choice but to somehow escape, or conversely, to be defiant.<\/p>\n However, if you think about it, the advantage is with Yuki, because Alphon is interested in her. Even if there is a physical threat, Yuki can show Alphon her determination to do something about it. That’s why she searches the house and tries to escape somehow.<\/p>\n This time, Alphon treats Yuki as an equal and wants to understand humans. That’s why, even though he should have the data on how to communicate with Yuki, he’s conflicted about not wanting to do so emotionally, which is why the story and dialogue flow that way. He asks things like, “What will you do after I tell you about Dezarium?” and “What will you do if I kill Kodai?” It’s really interesting how the human drama expands as the relationships between the characters become equal.<\/p>\n Alphon’s current situation is similar to people from different cultures living together under the same roof. Among them, there are people who want to go back to their country and people who want to know about their country. In fact, he wants Yuki to stay. In this situation, he tries various ways to communicate, but Yuki has a strong will to return to Kodai. On the other hand, Alphon wants information about humans and this world from Yuki, and personally, he wants to know her feelings. I think that’s what this second chapter is about, so I hope you’ll watch it with that in mind.<\/p>\n Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> If you dig deeper into Alphon’s feelings, a different side of him will come to light.<\/p>\n Furukawa:<\/em><\/span> Actually, he’s in a state similar to adolescence right now.<\/p>\n Fukui:<\/em><\/span> Yes. But with his appearance and vocabulary, he doesn’t look like that. He maintains the line that makes him seem “cool,” but when you look deeper, that’s what he’s about. In this second chapter, when Yuki says she can’t cooperate, he makes the effort to ask her, “Is that as a soldier, or as a woman who loves a man named Kodai?” You wonder, what kind of dumb question is that? (Laughs)<\/p>\n Everyone: (Laughs)<\/p>\n Fukui:<\/em><\/span> But for some reason, when Furukawa-san speaks in his voice, it sounds like a legitimate question, and when Yuki tries to answer it, he stops her and says, “You don’t have to answer.” That was probably something he said on the spur of the moment, because depending on Yuki’s answer, their relationship could end. I think what makes Alphon interesting this time is that he seems like a complete being, but actually…<\/p>\n Furukawa:<\/em><\/span> I think of Alphon as a man who is not used to dealing with emotions and is easily swayed. He doesn’t know what to do with Yuki, so he asks her questions, even if they’re dumb. Personally, I like that about him. You can dig as deep into his character as you want.<\/p>\n Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Regarding the voice recording, in an interview for Chapter 1, you mentioned that you “constructed Alphon’s character while discussing it with Mr. Fukui.”<\/p>\n Fukui:<\/em><\/span> That’s the part Mr. Furukawa mentioned earlier. Actually, I haven’t told him anything about the developments that will come after this. This time, I haven’t told any of the actors what will come after this, not just him.<\/p>\n For example, if there is a character who has a secret and I don’t want the others to know about it, I will call that person and say, “Actually, this is what you’re talking about, but please don’t tell anyone.” I want them to act without constructing their acting in advance as preparation for the developments that will come after. The same goes for Alphon. We’ll find out soon why Yuki won’t leave Alphon’s side, but I don’t think I’ve told Furukawa-san about that yet.<\/p>\n Furukawa:<\/em><\/span> After hearing that, I’m getting scared of what’s to come…<\/p>\n Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Is there anything that left an impression on you during your discussion with Mr. Fukui?<\/p>\n Furukawa:<\/em><\/span> I was impressed by the details of Alphon that I heard at the first recording. Until then, there was no information about him in this remake series other than the materials I received at the audition, and the lines from when I read the beginning of the script for Chapter 2.<\/p>\n Although the character Alphon is human, he has little experience with emotions. That’s why he wants to know emotions and understand humans better. In that context, I was directed to express a desire to learn about humans rather than wanting to possess Yuki.<\/p>\n There’s no doubt that he hides Yuki for a purpose, but apart from that, he is interested in humans. On top of that, he’s also interested in Yuki, a woman, and has an aggressive side that wants to learn about different cultures and the opposite gender through her. Although he should have an ideal communication template to a certain degree, he is confused and hurt when he is told to connect the dots, and there are aspects that come out because he is emotionally immature.<\/p>\n For example, there’s an exchange where Yuki says “I’m going to kill you” and I reply “I guess so,” but I thought it would be better to put sadness into the line that follows, “I’d rather be hated than not be thought of at all.” However, taking into account the direction, I wanted to make it clear that I was also feeling a little bit of fun. My thinking has changed to one where the joy of learning something new coexists with the loneliness.<\/p>\n Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> What do you think about Yuki, who confronts Alphon like that? Tell us your impressions of interacting with her and what you think is the appeal of her character.<\/p>\n Furukawa:<\/em><\/span> I’m happy to be able to interact with Kuwashima-san, but I think this time around Yuki is super scary. She’s like a “wounded beast,” so to speak.<\/p>\n Just like when we first met, I get the sense that she feels a mission to \u201cnot give you guys even a single thing.\u201d When we’re in the same recording booth, I really feel that sense of foreboding and rejection.<\/p>\n From Alphon’s point of view, Yuki seems aggressive, but for those of you who have followed the series so far, you can see her dignity and her pride as a Yamato<\/em> crew member. A woman with such dignity is really cool, isn’t she? She has a strength and radiance that makes you admire her, so I think she’s ready to fight when she interacts with us.<\/p>\n It will be interesting to see what kind of expression Yuki will show when she reunites with her Yamato<\/em> comrades, and what choices she’ll make on the way there, so I hope you\u2019ll look forward to her future work.<\/p>\n Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> What impression do you have of this Yuki, Mr. Fukui?<\/p>\n Fukui:<\/em><\/span> I’ve known Kuwashima-san for a really long time, so I have complete trust in her. Even the breathing she ad-libs conveys her murderous intent. So I’m watching her interactions with Alphon, thinking, “It must be easy for him to do it.”<\/p>\n Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> And not only Alphon, but also characters from Dezarium such as Isidore, Ranbel, and Skuldart have made their full appearance.<\/p>\n Fukui:<\/em><\/span> In the original work, they were “fake people from the future,” but this time they seem to be real. If you pursue that realism to the extreme, it becomes clear that they came to Earth 1,000 years in their past with an incredible spirit of self-sacrifice. On the other hand, there’s also an aspect of pressure to conform, which is similar to modern Japan.<\/p>\n For example, if someone shouts “This is amazing!” and it goes viral, there’s the situation where if everyone else doesn’t agree, they’ll be pushed out of society. I think that when you look at Dezarium from the other side, you\u2019ll see that side of them. And what’s worse, Dezarium acts with that in mind. I’m going to depict that part from now on, so please look forward to it.<\/p>\n Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Mr. Furukawa, is there a Dezarium character that left an impression on you?<\/p>\n Furukawa:<\/em><\/span> Maxim. He worries about the future as a person on the Dezarium side, and I was surprised that he’s the character who has the deepest connection with Alphon, not Isidore or Ranbel.<\/p>\n As comrades with the same goal, they end up accepting each other, but I also get the impression that Alphon and Maxim want to do completely opposite things. Alphon takes on rough work because he cares about his country and planet, while Maxim is a calm person who wishes for peace and happiness for the children. I can’t seem to link the two in my mind.<\/p>\n He’s not the type to go to the battlefield himself, he takes a position like a civil servant. I think he’s more like a patriot who thinks about how the environment of the children will change by being settled on Earth now, and whether they can remain in harmony with the people of Earth.<\/p>\n Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Also, Kodai was portrayed in a very painful way in this work. It’s complicated that not only the characters around him, but also the viewers have no choice but to look at him with pity.<\/p>\n Fukui:<\/em><\/span> He really is at rock bottom. He’s been through a lot of hardships in the previous remakes, but this time he’s been through the worst.<\/p>\n Daisuke Ono, who plays Kodai, also said to me, “Can’t he at least hold Sasha at the end?” However, if he holds her there, he won’t be able to move. I said, “What he’s most afraid of is being unable to move from there.”<\/p>\n The reason is that he’s unable to face his own present. Because of this, he makes superficial decisions and ends up losing Sasha. He suggests that they chase after her right away, but he’s immediately confronted with the reality that he’s not the captain of Yamato<\/em> right now.<\/p>\n If one button is misplaced, a chain reaction of failure might continue from there. And in today’s Japan, where once-in-a-thousand-year disasters strike every year, anyone could be exposed to the experience of losing everything.<\/p>\n In particular, there are many Yamato<\/em> fans in their late 20s and early 30s, so when that happens, they start to worry about their health, and inevitably many have experienced the loss of a family member. I think the people who are closest to the kind of crisis in life that Kodai is facing now are the Yamato<\/em> fans from the early days.<\/p>\n Kodai has always been a symbol or mirror image of young people since the first film, and is the type of protagonist who grows with us. This time, he has grown into a fine young man, has a job, and it seems like everything is going smoothly, but just then, an unexpected event trips him up. How will he bounce back from there? He hit rock bottom this time, so the question is how he will start over from now on. I hope you’ll watch Kodai’s appearance from Chapter 3 onward.<\/p>\n Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> In the midst of all this, the scene where Ryusuke Domon shows his strength by taking Kodai’s place is also memorable. What was your intention in having him play an active role this time?<\/p>\n Fukui:<\/em><\/span> This time, Domon is portrayed as a presence that makes Kodai think, “Maybe I don’t need to be here anymore.” Someone you’ve admired as a junior colleague becomes someone who pushes you down. Even if they don’t mean it, it’s a situation that everyone faces when working in a company.<\/p>\n One line from Domon that I remember particularly is, “Kodai-san, you’re late!” In fact, in the original script, he was supposed to say it after communication with Kodai was cut off, but when I saw the order of the images, I thought, “I’ll let Kodai hear it.”<\/p>\n For Domon, it was something that came out spontaneously, and he shouldn’t talk to his superiors like that, but he thought he should still make him hear it. And we purposely didn’t show Kodai’s reaction when he heard it.<\/p>\n Furukawa:<\/em><\/span> Wow… So there was a little twist to cloud Kodai’s mood there.<\/p>\n Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> There’s also a scene where Kodai finally meets Alphon, but what was your impression of Kodai in this episode after hearing what was just said?<\/p>\n Furukawa:<\/em><\/span> As Alphon, I felt a lot like, “I’m happy to meet the person Yuki treasures more than anything.” Although Alphon is not aware that his feelings for Yuki are romantic, he still likes her to some extent. Looking at Alphon, Fukui-san said, “There’s a part of him that doesn’t want to lose.” That’s why I had mixed feelings about that encounter scene.<\/p>\n However, even from the outside, I think it’s normal to feel pity for Kodai, and I think he was treated quite badly. As Fukui-san said, Kodai’s comeback awaits from Chapter 3 onward, so there will definitely be a time when Alphon will face him resurrected. I’m looking forward to that moment, but at the same time I’m a little scared.<\/p>\n Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> In the original work, Kodai and Alphon never met, so I’m even more excited for the future of the remake series.<\/p>\n Fukui:<\/em><\/span> That’s right. I thought it would be a waste, so I decided to have them meet right away this time. However, I was worried because I couldn’t make them travel between Earth and space frequently, and then I thought, “That’s it! Alphon is a Dezarium, so he can make use of a spare body.”<\/p>\n Interviewer:<\/em><\/span> Finally, please give a message to Yamato<\/em> fans who are looking forward to the release of Chapter 2.<\/p>\n Furukawa:<\/em><\/span> I feel that there is a wide variety of people paying attention, from those who have been watching since the remake started to those who have been supporting the series since the original. Alphon is a very interesting character who’s supposed to be far from human, but has a human-like feel. I think you\u2019ll enjoy it more if you know this beforehand.<\/p>\n On top of that, in this second chapter you\u2019ll learn more about the changes in the relationship with Yuki and the new characters, and about Dezarium, the organization that will be Yamato<\/em>‘s enemy. The plot will make you want to see Chapter 3, so I hope you\u2019ll continue to follow it.<\/p>\n Fukui:<\/em><\/span> As usual, this time, there is a summary of the story so far (shown in theaters). Various information has been organized, so as long as you remember two points – that the protagonist is separated from the heroine, and that a mysterious enemy has come to Earth – I think you’ll be able to understand the story even if you’re new to it. Yamato<\/em> fans, I’d be happy if you would invite people to the theater who haven’t seen it yet.<\/p>\n Also, those who happen to come across this article may be wondering, “Is Yamato<\/em> an old anime?” But the story depicted there is one that reflects modern-day Japan more than any other anime. I hope you\u2019ll take a look.<\/p>\n <\/br><\/p>\n\n![](\"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault-images\/dec24\/ATinterview02.JPG\")
<\/p>\n<\/div>\nAlphon is a character who wants to understand humans<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nKodai is in a tragic situation. The comeback story begins in Chapter 3!<\/h3>\n
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