The second season of the TV anime " The Apothecary Diaries ," based on the light novel by Natsu Hyuga , which originated from the novel submission site " Shosetsuka ni Naro, " is being broadcast every Friday at 11pm on Nippon Television's anime slot "FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT (Fura-ani)." Akinori Fudesaka served as assistant director for the first season, which aired from October 2023 to March 2024, and became director for the second season. " The Apothecary Diaries" has been a hot topic for its beautiful visuals that carefully express the emotions of the characters. We asked Fudesaka about his particular attention to visual expression.
◇ Accurately convey emotions
The light novel version of "The Apothecary Diaries" is published by Hero Bunko (Imagine Infos), and the comic adaptation is also gaining popularity. The total number of copies of the original series has exceeded 38 million. The story is set in the glamorous harem of a certain continent, where a young poison taster named Maomao and a handsome eunuch named Jinshi become embroiled in an incident that takes place in the harem, which is full of conspiracies and rumors.
Norihiro Naganuma, who was the director of the first season, became the general director of the second season. Fudesaka-san went from assistant director to director, so what has changed?
"When the director starts an anime production, he creates the framework and the path, and directs the production on site. The assistant director's job is to receive exactly what the director wants and give it shape. Anime is made by many people, and there is a director for each episode, and they all work simultaneously, so it can be difficult to convey the intentions in the smallest details, and sometimes things get missed. I think it's also the assistant director's job to run around to various places and complement the direction the director is aiming for. Since "The Apothecary Diaries" has a solid world created by Natsu Hyuga sensei, we are trying to animate it accurately. There is no doubt about that. The direction has been decided, and I want to cherish the original work and make the fans happy. I'm thinking about what to do to achieve that."
Fudesaka-san may be in a position to best understand the visual expression that Naganuma-san aimed for in the first season. One of the major attractions of "The Apothecary Diaries" is the mystery. Although various hints are spread throughout the story, it is easy to understand and can be understood naturally. On the other hand, there are also subtle hints that you will notice when you look again, making it worth watching. The balance is excellent.
"You can read the original novel or comics at your own pace, and you can quickly go back to any part that interests you. With a TV anime, the images flow in a one-way direction. Some people are familiar with the original work, while others are encountering the work for the first time through the anime. We give careful thought to how we reveal information and lay out the plot twists. ' The Apothecary Diaries' has both a great story and appealing characters. This is something I'm particular about when making an anime, but I try to express that the characters really live in that world, and that each of them has their own life. Each has their own life, their own way of living, their own way of thinking, their own way of feeling. The idea is that we're capturing that with the camera. In order to accurately convey the events and emotions that are occurring, I try to convey that through camera angles, colors, backgrounds, filming processing, and sound."
◇ Layout and color
"Accurate" may sound easy, but it is also difficult. "The Apothecary Diaries" tries to convey the characters' emotions "accurately."
"It's certainly a difficult point. Since I'm originally an artist, I pay particular attention to camera angles, composition, and lens choice. The character's feelings change depending on the lens position. I try to create a layout that conveys what the character is thinking and feeling, even when the video is paused."
The beautiful visual expression moves us emotionally. The reason we are drawn into the world of the film is probably because of the attention to detail, not only the lens and composition, but also "the length, dialogue exchanges, camera changes, etc."
"I found myself crying while correcting the storyboard (laughs). The story is well-woven with attractive characters, so I'm trying to show the emotions and thoughts of the characters and connect them together. By properly showing the relationships between the characters on screen so that there's no disjointedness, I want viewers to feel like this world and space really exists, and immerse themselves in the experience."
The colors used in the evening and at night are also impressive. Not only the background but also the characters change color depending on the scene.
"This is an area that Naganuma-san was particular about in the first season, so we're also taking great care of it in the second season. To ensure that the emotions and relationships of the characters are conveyed through the screen, professionals such as Misato Aida, color designer, and Katsumi Takao, art director, are in charge of controlling it. We don't just use normal colors or interior colors, but change colors depending on the emotions of the characters. Regarding the lighting, I decide on it using the same logic as the screen layout, but I consult with them about the colors depending on the scene. For example, if it's evening but the atmosphere is a little tense, and I want to add a bit of the dangerous color red, I will shine a reddish light on the scene and then change the color accordingly. It is possible to light the entire scene red just through filming processing, but we are aiming for more than just that."
It may be an attention to detail that is hard to notice, but delicate emotions are expressed through the accumulation of small details, and Fudesaka says, "It's best if the story flows smoothly, so it's fine even if you don't notice it."
The second season will have many dramatic developments. Fudesaka said, "It's difficult to get the balance right. I'm sure those who have read the original work are wondering about that scene, but I want to convey the appeal of the original work without overdoing it. I'm trying to continue from the first season without wavering on that point." His delicate visual expressions are sure to continue to stir emotions naturally.
