"Eternal Yugure," an original TV anime produced by PAWORKS, the animation production company behind "true tears" and "SHIROBAKO," is currently airing on MBS/TBS's late-night anime slot, "Super Animeism TURBO." It's a full-scale love story set in a future world where AI technology has advanced. Protagonist Akira Himegami, who has pledged his love to his beloved, Ou Maki Towasa, wakes up from years of cold sleep to find a city devastated by war. An android named Yugure, who bears a striking resemblance to Towasa, appears before Akira, and they embark on a journey together, believing they will be reunited with Towasa, who is believed to be alive somewhere in the world. We spoke with character designer and chief animation director Yoshiko Saito about the behind-the-scenes production.
◇Tension over "one line"
-What were you responsible for in this work?
I was in charge of the animation character design and also served as the general animation director.
-What is your impression of the work?
I love science fiction and androids, so I was excited by the world view and story!
--What is the appeal of the characters drawn by character designer Aoi Tayama?
Although it is simple and has no unnecessary lines, it expresses the beauty of curves beautifully, and I was completely focused on that one line.
-What was important to you when designing the character for the anime?
The original draft was so complete that I thought it could be used as is! I was careful not to deviate from the sense of design of the teacher by using angles and clothing that weren't in the original draft. Not too exaggerated, not too drawn, but not too simple either... and the posture...!
-What orders did the director give you?
I'm sorry, but all I remember is being told, "Draw however you like!" Thank you for letting me draw freely!
◇Lots of new characters!
-What were you trying to express with the characters, taking into account the setting of the work?
The difference between an android and a human... I was very conscious of the posture and facial expression.
--What were your particular concerns when designing the three main characters, Akira, Yugure, and Towasa?
Akira is a "good-looking" protagonist, just as described on the website...hair is tricky. Towasa is incredibly important to Akira, so we wanted her to be special and cherish him so that the viewer could understand that. She has expressive faces. Yugure is an android, first of all. She has a face that looks so similar to Towasa that Akira, who is madly in love with her, mistakes her for him. But she's an android! And while this isn't limited to these three characters, we placed a lot of emphasis on healthy physiques throughout the series.
-Finally, please give us a message.
As the story progresses, many new characters will appear! We hope you will enjoy the story and find your favorite characters!
