A new anime adaptation of "Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube," a manga by Okano Tsuyoshi and written by Makura Sho, which was serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" (Shueisha) from 1993 to 1999, is being broadcast nationwide on TV Asahi affiliates every Wednesday at 11:45 pm (excluding some regions). This marks the first time a new anime adaptation of "Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube" has been produced in approximately 26 years. A sequel to the original manga was produced even after the serialization ended, and the start of a new serialization for the first time in approximately four years has also been a hot topic. How did "Nube," which continues to be loved even in the Reiwa era, come about? We spoke to Makura and Okano to find out.
◇Combined with another project
--How did the "Nube" serialization begin? Were the occult and monsters popular at the time?
Makura-san, the human-faced dog was popular at the time. However, that wasn't really the issue. The two of them serialized in "Jump", but it ended in a short period, so they started talking about teaming up as if they were using scrap materials.
Okano and I both had the same editor, and since our shows were both cancelled, we decided to pair them up.
I said that Magura-san used discarded items, but it's actually a kind gesture from the editor in charge.
Okano: At first, it wasn't a story about monsters. My editor told me to make a manga about a hero who is an adult who protects children, a bully-like protagonist. The first project I came up with was a manga about a detective in the juvenile division.
Makura: When it comes to depicting juvenile delinquency, there are many delicate issues. At the time, Oda Mudo was popular, and there was talk of a manga about exorcism, so I combined them.
Okano: Originally, we combined two different projects.
What does it mean to protect children, Makura-san ? This led to the idea that the "teacher" became the main character.
-Have you always liked yokai?
Makuru: When I was a child, I was naturally interested in things, but I wasn't an occult fanatic or anything like that.
Okano: I had read manga by Shigeru Mizuki Mizuki and Kazuo Umezu, but that was about it. It wasn't like I was going to draw horror manga!
Makura: Back then, there was no internet, so I scoured Jimbocho for materials. Unlike now, there weren't that many, so I bought everything I found and studied it.
◇At a time when being passionate was considered old-fashioned and uncool
--Among the various elements of the series, such as horror, battle, and sex appeal, Nube's passionate interaction with his students as a teacher is also appealing. The scenes where he teaches moral lessons are also memorable.
Makura-san, I think that's just Okano-sensei's temperament. Up until then I had been drawing dark gags and I liked drawing bad adults. At first, I drew Nube as someone who skips class to play pachinko, but then I was told that that wasn't the case.
Okano: I was 25 at the time, the same age as Nube. However, I had no idea what it was like for a man my age. When I first saw Nube's setting, I couldn't understand the feelings of a young man. I tried to incorporate all the images of the teacher I admired as an elementary school student, without including any of the emotions of a young man. I think that passion was old-fashioned at the time. It was a time when passion was considered old-fashioned and uncool.
Makura-san: I was a little embarrassed to portray it so straightforwardly as "I'll protect my children!"
--The elements of both Ms. Makura and Mr. Okano came together to create "Nube."
That's right, Makura-san . I would have been too embarrassed to draw it on my own. It was a fresh experience. I felt good after reading it. People accepted the straightforward character, and I was able to make progress as well.
--A new series has started, but will the core of the story remain the same?
Makura-san hasn't wavered on that point. Even if you're pathetic as an adult, you can do anything as long as you don't bully children. Nube has shown many different sides to him so far.
◇It was a struggle when the series first began…
-What was the response when the series first began?
Makura: It was a tough time at first. I was worried that the show would be cancelled for the first year.
Okano-san , you didn't get any color pages for the first anniversary of the series. I think it was only after the anime project started moving forward that you started appearing on the cover.
--The 1990s are said to be the "golden age of Jump." There were many popular works.
Ms. Makura's number one choice was "Dragon Ball," which was so overwhelming that it was no contest (laughs). I was hovering around the middle to the back (of the popularity rankings).
Okano-san, the time Tamamo first appeared was a close call. If a lot of new series had started (in Jump), the series might have been cancelled.
Ms. Makura was lucky enough to get through that.
--The Heisei version of the TV anime began in 1996.
Around that time, Okano's popularity had stabilized and he began appearing on the cover.
Makura-san, things have changed since the anime began. I've gotten cocky (laughs). From then on, I've been able to try all sorts of different things. In the beginning, I was worried about my ranking and was cautious, but sometimes it's more fun to just do what you want, so I started messing around a lot.
-Did the anime receive a lot of attention?
The only thing that's changed is that Makura-san's family members have been asking him for autographs more often.
Okano-san was often asked for autographs by local elementary school students. He even drew pictures at his child's kindergarten sports day. The kindergarten teachers dressed up as Nube and Yukime, but it seemed like they weren't very well known among adults, and a father sitting in front of me said, "Don't you know that anime?" (laughs). However, he was popular with children.
◇ Trust the staff of the new anime
-Are you also involved in the new anime, which is the first in about 26 years?
I've looked at all of Makura-san's storyboards and scripts. However, I haven't had much to say. The people on set are very enthusiastic, and I think we can create something better if we let them create freely.
Okano-san and Makura-sensei go to the dubbing session almost every time.
Even Makura-san has never had an opportunity like this!
Personally, I think Okano could have been a little more erotic (laughs). But that's a difficult time. I like how you've drawn the children so cutely. And they move so much. Things that I thought would never move at all actually move beautifully.
Makura-san, digital is amazing, isn't it? There are a lot of cuts, and it's fresh. I feel like I'm watching something new. It's no fun to make the same old thing. The staff's personalities come through, and everyone has a strong love for Nube, so I trust them.
-- "Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube Kai" began serialization in "Saikyō Jump" and "Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube PLUS" began serialization in May this year on the manga magazine app "Shonen Jump+". Will you continue these in the future?
As long as there are voices asking me to continue, I would like to continue.
Okano: That's right. I would like to go overseas.
Makura-san has been to Taiwan before, but she has never been invited to America. I would like to see a Hollywood version.
--Listening to you talk, it seems like you two make a great team...
We're not that close, Makara-san (laughs).
--If you can say that, does that mean you're good friends?
I'm sure Makura-san will feel relieved.
Okano-san is quiet when he's being interviewed separately.
It's hard to talk to Makura-san alone!
"Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube" is the story of a young teacher, Meisuke Nueno(Nube), who is assigned to Domori Elementary School and solves a series of incidents with the power of the "demon hand" that resides in his left arm. The Heisei version of the TV anime aired from 1996 to 1997, and a theatrical anime and original video animation (OVA) have also been produced. This is the first new anime to be produced in about 26 years, since the OVA "Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube: The Greatest Fierce Battle in History! The Demon Attacks!!" released in 1999.
