Hideaki Anno on His Favorite Battlestar Galactica Stuffs

NAveryW · Insect Politician Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Age: 23

Or, as it's apparently called in Japan, Galactica Saga. Or just Galactica.

More here.

Anti-Goth says I'm late to this discovery, but it's not mentioned anywhere on the forums yet, so... now it is.

People will probably be most interested in this text:

Anno wrote:

「BATTLESTAR GALACTICA」はシリーズを通して、
あえてミニチュア特撮みたいな映像にしたセンス、
日本のアニメを研究した様なエッセンス、
SFマインドに包み込んだハードな逃亡ドラマ等に心が惹かれます。
９.11以降の米国でこのような作品が作られている事にも
心が動かされます。素晴らしいですね。

...and that he gives Admiral Adama as his first favorite character, citing his military strength and his weakness as a father.

soul.assassin · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:23 pm Post subject:

Very interesting.

Considering that the early 80's version of Galactica was aired on the US military's AFN Japan (then known as the Far East Network; its TV transmission reaches most of the Kanto plain -- I know this because I watched it back in kinder; my dad was in the Navy then and assigned at Yokosuka), it's not impossible that Anno got hooked on the show despite it's in English... and now I think Fuyutsuki might be his version of Adama.

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NAveryW · Insect Politician Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Age: 23

Fuyutsuki is Eva's version of Colonel Alec Freeman.

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soul.assassin

NAveryW wrote:

Fuyutsuki is Eva's version of Colonel Alec Freeman.

I know. Fuyutsuki might as well an amalgamation of both characters.

_________________
"It bugs me when people try to analyze jazz as an intellectual theorem. It's not. It's feeling." -- Bill Evans

BornIn1142 · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:21 am Post subject:

I find this positively fascinating and I really wish I knew what in particular he had to say about his favorites.

Liking Adama is kind of obvious for anyone; I'm more curious what drew him to Starbuck.

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"I'm afraid you can't create tragedy out of abnormal psychology." - Andrew Sarris.

Azathoth · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 10:21 am Post subject:

BornIn1142 wrote:

Liking Adama is kind of obvious for anyone; I'm more curious what drew him to Starbuck.

Starbuck is like Asuka grown up and become an alcoholic (which is to say Misato, more or less). I'm hardly surprised.

_________________
Perechin sat on a drawing pin and, from this moment, his life changed abruptly. From a contemplative, quiet man Perechin turned into a downright scoundrel. He grew himself a moustache and henceforth trimmed it extremely untidily, in such a way that the one side of his moustache was always longer than the other. And so his moustache came to grow somehow askew. It became impossible to look at Perechin. What is more, he would give a repulsive wink of the eye and twitch his cheek. For a certain time Perechin confined himself to petty and reprehensible tricks: he told tales, denounced people, and cheated tram conductors by paying them his fare in the very smallest copper coin and each time two or three kopecks short.
--Daniil Kharms, presaging Nasu

BornIn1142 · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 10:42 am Post subject:

Azathoth wrote:

Starbuck is like Asuka grown up and become an alcoholic (which is to say Misato, more or less). I'm hardly surprised.

That's my thoughts exactly, which is why I'm curious.

_________________
"I'm afraid you can't create tragedy out of abnormal psychology." - Andrew Sarris.

Azathoth · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 12:39 pm Post subject:

Eh? Anno loves Asuka so much he decided to make the whole show about her for no reason. I don't know if he's ever gone on record with his thoughts on Misato, though.

_________________
Perechin sat on a drawing pin and, from this moment, his life changed abruptly. From a contemplative, quiet man Perechin turned into a downright scoundrel. He grew himself a moustache and henceforth trimmed it extremely untidily, in such a way that the one side of his moustache was always longer than the other. And so his moustache came to grow somehow askew. It became impossible to look at Perechin. What is more, he would give a repulsive wink of the eye and twitch his cheek. For a certain time Perechin confined himself to petty and reprehensible tricks: he told tales, denounced people, and cheated tram conductors by paying them his fare in the very smallest copper coin and each time two or three kopecks short.
--Daniil Kharms, presaging Nasu

**Mr. Tines** · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 1:06 pm Post subject:

Azathoth wrote:

I don't know if he's ever gone on record with his thoughts on Misato, though.

Hideaki Anno wrote:

And there is a 29-year-old woman who lives life so lightly as to barely allow the possibility of a human touch. She protects herself by having surface level relationships, and running away.

Both are extremely afraid of being hurt. Both are unsuitable-lacking the positive attitude-for what people call heroes of an adventure. But in any case, they are the heroes of this story.

gwern · Sahaquiel Joined: 02 Jun 2010 Age: 82 Gender: Male

Oh, he's said more than that. Searching through http://www.gwern.net/otaku like usual, I find:

Quote:

Misato's name came from the hero of a manga.

"...in an interview, director Anno indicated that Misato's character design is modeled after Tsukino Usagi. The hair style (sans odango), especially the front, is almost an exact duplication of Usagi. He has even used the words "Misato is Usagi in her 29th years" (I am not quoting the words here, as I forgot the exact wording)."

"In the notes accompanying LD 0:2, it was stated that during the storyboard stage of episode 4, a staff asked Anno what Misato is like, and Anno replied that Misato is just like Tsukino Misato. [error; should be 'Tsukino Usagi']

When told that the American audience favors Misato ...

ANNO: I'm surprised. In Japan, the overwhelming favorite is Rei . They can't handle strong women such as Misato and Asuka .

From Newtype, which presumably is reliable

Quote:

... That Katsuragi Misato lets Shinji live in her apartment is also not merely from sympathy. If Rei and Gendou have exchanged smiles with the same mutual warmth, as peacefully as in a "husband and wife" relationship, Misato and Shinji have something spiritually like an "older sister/younger brother" relationship.

Shinji appears to be afraid of contact with others, and Misato can identify with this, since she continues to be troubled by the loss of her father in the Second Impact. Misato surely has experienced Shinji's feelings of hesitation and pain. Therefore, she blames herself for not giving his feelings enough support at this important stage.

Having just come through such a path herself, Misato is capable of throwing Shinji off without hesitation when his heart is in torment. Misato is shown in this story to be the one with the greatest understanding of Shinji, the one who wants to be his guiding hand. Also, Shinji is the one who truly understands her pain.

Less reliably (though claiming reliable sourcing), the Kaibunsho:

Quote:

... Anno said in some anime magazine that "Katsuragi Misato is modeled in part on my first love," but do you know who he was talking about? It's Hidaka Noriko, the voice actress for Jean in "Nadia and the Secret of Blue Water". (laugh) When the TV version of "Nadia" launched, Anno confessed his feelings to Hidaka Noriko. This is a famous story in the industry.

And there's a bunch of discussion of Misato in the Platinum Commentary, other Newtype pieces, Tsurumaki interviews, etc.

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Hyper Shinchan · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 5:27 pm Post subject:

The part about Misato being inspired by Usagi was mentioned by Sadamoto in the bonus disc of the Renewal as well but only in the regards of her hairs; in that interview he also said that he was inspired by Fujiko Mine from Lupin, he liked the fact that at the same time she seems to be in her 20s and in her 30s.

_________________
So let’s make a wish.
“Please let me redo again.”
No matter how many times
From the book “All About Nagisa Kaworu: A Child of Evangelion”.

gwern · Sahaquiel Joined: 02 Jun 2010 Age: 82 Gender: Male

Hyper Shinchan wrote:

The part about Misato being inspired by Usagi was mentioned by Sadamoto in the bonus disc of the Renewal as well but only in the regards of her hairs; in that interview he also said that he was inspired by Fujiko Mine from Lupin, he liked the fact that at the same time she seems to be in her 20s and in her 30s.

Gah... I don't suppose the Renewal disc's interview has any subs or transcripts floating around?

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Hyper Shinchan · Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 6:51 pm Post subject:

gwern wrote:

Gah... I don't suppose the Renewal disc's interview has any subs or transcripts floating around?

Yes, there are subs. Brikhaus made them time ago for his custom extra DVD.
I've used them to make a patch that will apply the subtitles (edited and re-timed) to the original 11th disc of the Renewal Boxset.
I could upload the patch here later, I was already considering it, anyway I can give you the subtitles for now:
http://www.mediafire.com/?gi4b90bztw311p5

_________________
So let’s make a wish.
“Please let me redo again.”
No matter how many times
From the book “All About Nagisa Kaworu: A Child of Evangelion”.

gwern · Sahaquiel Joined: 02 Jun 2010 Age: 82 Gender: Male

Hyper Shinchan wrote:

Yes, there are subs. Brikhaus made them time ago for his custom extra DVD.

I actually PMed Brikhaus on 8 June asking for info on where to get a copy of that. (He hasn't replied.)

Quote:

I've used them to make a patch that will apply the subtitles (edited and re-timed) to the original 11th disc of the Renewal Boxset.
I could upload the patch here later, I was already considering it, anyway I can give you the subtitles for now:
http://www.mediafire.com/?gi4b90bztw311p5

Many thanks! Paging through the first few screens, looks like I can probably piece together a reasonable transcript from the subtitles. It's not terribly long.

EDIT: OK, I got around to it. (My first burst of enthusiasm was used up browsing it and seeing Sadamoto discussing how Misato was based on Usagi, at which point I just had to notify a Sailor Moon editor I know who was interested in the topic.) This is a rough text version, with minimal identification of speakers although it is hopefully clear enough:

Quote:

Signs Neon Genesis Evangelion
What does Misato mean to you?
(Mitsuishi Kotono as Katsuragi Misato)

It's a character you can't help but love.
But it's also a character I can't look directly at.
How should I say this? She's like someone who I'm walking side-by-side with.

What does Rei mean to you?
(Hayashibara Megumi as Ayanami Rei)

Um... She's someone who made me realize a part of myself that I hadn't known about.

What does Asuka mean to you?
(Miyamura Yuuko as Soryu Asuka Langley)

At first I didn't... how do I put it? I've never played a role of a character like her,
so I tried really hard to find ways to connect to her.
By now, she's already become a part of me.
Now, she's absolutely adorable.
Um, now, she's the... girly part of me that I haven't been able to express before.

Sign: Please predict the ending.

I think something will happen in the finale...
But even before that, something happens to the family, and...
There might be some significance in that, I believe.
But please ask the director for more information.
Let's avoid predictions.

Sign: (Avoid = ''yosou'' = prediction)

This is... hard. I can't even see what's ahead myself.
There will be lots of characters
and I honestly don't know what's going to happen to them.
So I have no idea what to expect.

Sign: Please leave a message to the fans!

My Asuka had a sad ending in the anime series, so
I'm hoping for something different in this movie.
So please have hope and come see the movie.
This movie was possible thanks to how popular the anime was.
I'm looking forward to this movie, as well as to working with the cast again.
I'll see you at the theaters.
This is a movie that'll be worth your time to come.
Please, as just a fling, or even in all seriousness, please come.
I'll be waiting for you.

Signs: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Special Preview
With all the anime fans watching.
It started without any warning.
"Evangelion."
What in the world is their goal?
This "Neon Genesis Evangelion?"

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

[Sadamoto:] Having a necktie or not, even with the same white shirt,
could change his whole character.
I drew him wearing a regular shirt, in just an ordinary school uniform
so he seems like an average character.
There's a character called Mine Fujiko in an old series called Lupin.
And when I was young, I was... err...
thought it was really interesting.
She looked like she's still 20, but she also seemed like she's in her 30s.

Image: (Usagi from Sailor Moon)

As for her bangs, well, I just stuck Usagi-chan's bangs on her.
It started as a joke.
But now having the voice actor, Mitsuishi-san and all, it's no longer a joke.

Sign: (Mitsuishi-san was also the voice actor for Usagi.)

One of my favorite bands is called the Buff Girl Team
and in one of their songs, there's this line ''a white girl in bandages.''
I had an image of her even before I started Evangelion.
Like a girl with a dark past.
I thought it'll be interesting to have a girl in bandages.
And maybe she'll have the antibacterial smell like hospitals.
If I had known her when I was 14, I would have hesitated to get close to her.
She's cute, but her world's the farthest away from mine.
But I end up admiring her.
In the anime, I designed her as kind of an idol figure.

Sign: (Anno-san = director)

I got a rare request from Anno-san
to make a hot girl. He wanted a sidekick girl for Nishimura Shinobu.
He wanted her to be really girly, so I took that and added my own ideas to her.
Matsushita Yuki-san in the drama ''He's there when I turn around'' is wearing...
not a miniskirt, but hot pants under her white lab coat.
That left a really strong impression on me,
so I thought I'll try making Ritsuko wear a miniskirt under her lab coat.

Sign: Character Designer: Sadamoto Yoshiyuki

Not just with designing characters, but when I'm making a Gainax story,
I can influence the story quite a bit.
For example, this time, my most influential work was called...
''Mind and Soul,'' one of the shows on NHK.
I got my themes from that, and I tried to convey my idea to the fans.
When they ask me why are the main characters are only 14 year-olds,
or why is it that only kids can ride in it, I actually didn't
think of a reason why at first, so I got those ideas, and others, from that show.
My very first characters were Gendo and Shinji.
I made those two quite easily.
I was aiming for a character that's both realistic and ordinary.
I wanted a character that'll be hard for others to make.

Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6

Q. What's the limit on developing human relationships in the anime world?

sign: Producer: Ueda Motoki

Evangelion is essentially a sci-fi anime emphasizing on the fighting,
so human relationships end up developing under those special circumstances.
The good thing is, it's really easy to understand.
The bad side is, it limits the development and only focuses on one side of the character.
Not just for fighting, but on normal days in between fighting days,
and on days before the fight, when everyone's really nervous,
by putting effort into writing about those days,
I believe we can develop human relationships in the plot.

Q. What role does school play?

Assistant Director: Tsurumaki Kazuya

By having it pre-exist,
it makes the story as a whole more cheerful... or rather...
less serious.
By inserting a school-setting, or a romantic comedy,
like more teenager-like aspects,
it makes it easier for the audience to connect to the story.
But actually...
parts of it have become like...
a school anime, and other parts have...
gone a bit off the original intent.

Chapter 7
Final Chapter

There are certain things that only work on a TV show.

Sign: Director: Anno Hideaki

In the closed world of animation, there's a
feeling of closure and suffocation among those who've been locked in together.
Some people feel it, and others don't.
At least I felt it.
And you want to express that feeling somehow,
but it's a little hard to do in movies.
That's where you realize there are some things only TV can do.
The main character this time is both an introvert and righteous.
He also tends to categorize things.
And those kinds of characters usually have something hidden.
Like a way to escape from that closure.
Not suicide though. Suicide is what's left after hope is gone.
It's not loss of hope.
Well, I don't think humans can lose hope.
We might be living, trying to see what losing hope is like.
So the question becomes, how can an introvert like him change?
Well, all the characters are introverts by nature.
Like they don't last long in team work.
Their loose human relationships are reflected in the movie.
Some people feel sympathy for them, and others might feel threatened by them.
But we're prepared for that. Well, we expect that.
''New Era'' becomes ''Neon Genesis'' in English.
The ''Era'' is translated using its alternate meaning.
On the other hand, its Japanese counterpart has another meaning.
This is done to express both meanings.
The word doesn't look very good in Katakana, so we used English
and Japanese to play on the pun.
This comes from our desire to make something new from the anime.
That's all.
It means both the new era and the new genesis that mark that.
That's what the title means.

Movie version #26 real life action part (special rush edited version) [see http]

A dream?
Baka Touji
I see
I drank on the way home from work
and ended up sleeping with this jerk again.
Lately when we see each other that's all we do...
Men... You let them do it with you once and from then on that's all there is.
I wonder if they think about anything else...
Well, I guess if you do it once, then it's no different from a hundred times.
That idiot,
always dodging the issue like that and refusing to commit.
Even though we both know it's just convenient excuses to make do for the moment.
But things proceed and before you know it we're living together.
How did -that- happen?
A dream?
A bad dream.
I wonder if I'm balancing my stress...
Things could never work out with that man now...
absolutely impossible.
Well, I guess it's no use complaining about reality in your dreams.
And now of course the live-in couple is just going to start the peacemaking ritual again...
See,
they're getting ready.
Hi.
Oh, Ritsuko.
The upcoming vacation?
Sure, no problem. Okay, okay.
Really? But didn't you already have plans?
Canceled without a doubt.
There's no way I'd visit back home now.
They'd arrange some marriage meeting and I'd be done for.
What was that? Are you watching porno flicks at your age?
Not a chance. It's the neighbors -- the neighbors.
Like cats in heat,
Night after night -- it's like they don't have anything else to do.
Oh, how lively. Sounds like fun.
You're just saying that because you don't have to live with it.
But didn't you say that your neighbor had just gotten a new boyfriend?
That's right.
And they're already living together.
And they're so young.
It's their youth that lets them do it.
Men just want a mother figure who'll spoil them,
and women become intoxicated with the comfort that situation provides.
It's just two lonely people making a couple.
It doesn't look like it'll last long.
They'll probably hit the breakup battle stage soon.
Inference based on personal experience, huh?
Common sense!
Why do you think mothers don't let their children go?
Because mothers need their children.
Without a child a mother cannot exist.
This is the same thing -- it's so stupid.
Because you don't have a partner to say 'good night', you're just jealous, aren't you?
You're wrong!
Good morning.
Cold, isn't it?
Aah -- that neighbor lady. Wasting my time with pointless talk!
Shit! Now I'll never make that :31 express.
Jeez she pisses me off!
Why don't you just break up?
It's a lot easier that way.
Yeah,
I guess so.
Of course, that's just cheap methodology.
If you leave things vague and just try to put on a good face,
you'll only get hurt.
There's nothing worse than an obsessed/brooding man.
There's no telling what he'll do.
Just like a spoiled brat.
Senpai, did something happen?
So what's the problem?
You get romance and at the same time your sexual appetites are satisfied.
It's not romantic in the least!
You don't really know if it's love
until after you hang up the phone.
Huh? Really?
When you're doing it,
it seems like the purpose is just to overlap your bodies, and there's no warm, fuzzy feeling.
You're just ravenous toward each other.
Whenever we put a little distance between us,
I get confused and wonder whether I even really like him.
It's the same old pattern every time where I think that maybe
I'm just forcing myself to believe that I like him.
It won't last for long.
I have a pretty short stance.
You're pretty cold-hearted, but you just become attached pretty easily, don't you...
like a keeping dog.
And you're the type that recklessly and willfully causes men to misunderstand.
He's quick to say he's stupid as an evasion tactic.
He does it because he thinks that if the word "stupid"
comes from his own mouth he'll be forgiven.
He does it because he thinks he can always get my sympathy.
That's because he's afraid if he doesn't have excuses ready.
Because afterwards he'll only end up hurting himself.
He's a nuisance, seriously...
always ringing my cellphone at work.
But then, when he doesn't call I get really irritated and upset...
That's just selfishness on your part, isn't it?
Asuka
I'm not here.

Lots of interesting things here. I like Sadamoto's comments especially - now we have better sources on the origin of Ritsuko, Rei, and Misato.

Tsurumaki is more than a little funny - a bit off, you say, Kazuya? I never would have guessed.

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Deepak · Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 6:47 pm Post subject:

if asuka comes back as a ghost and starts playing cylon activation songs on the piano I will start worrying