"Eternal Yugure," an original TV anime produced by PAWORKS, the animation production company behind "true tears" and "SHIROBAKO," is currently airing on MBS and TBS's late-night anime slot, "Super Animeism TURBO." It's a full-fledged love story set in a future world where AI technology has advanced. The protagonist, Himegami Akira, 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 to composer Tokuda Masahiro about the behind-the-scenes production.
◇Aim for a song that is large and enveloping
-What is your impression of the work?
At first, I thought "Eternal Yugure" was a human drama depicting the relationship between androids and humans. However, when I actually watched it, I felt that it was more than that, and that it had a depth that brought to light the question of "what is love and what are values?" There are many different forms of love in this day and age, and I think this work is like a mirror that reflects that. For that reason, I think it will be a work that will give viewers a chance to think again about "love."
-What orders did the director give you?
The director told me, "I want you to express the subtleties of emotion with the piano and the heightened emotions with string instruments in a world where people from all over the world are mixed together." He also suggested incorporating the hammered dulcimer as an "instrument that connects the past and the future." I was struggling to figure out how to portray a worldview that spans a wide range of eras and cultures, so this idea was a great help, and I was also impressed by the beautiful choice of instrument.
-What did you think about the "core" of the work and how did you express it?
I thought the "core" of this piece was "the feeling of people wanting to connect with each other." Therefore, I aimed to create a piece that would layer universal and warm sounds, and would embrace a wide range of values, neither denying nor affirming them.
--Although the setting is in the future, the devastated world somehow feels nostalgic. The music also evokes a sense of nostalgia.
While depicting the future, the underlying themes are "love" and "humanity." For that reason, I was conscious of making sure the core of the sound wasn't too futuristic. By weaving in traditional sounds such as hammered dulcimers and classical instruments, I tried to make it familiar to the viewer and avoid making it too difficult to understand. Perhaps the result is what gives it a nostalgic feel.
◇Differences between music production for anime and live-action
-What has been a challenge?
The biggest challenge was balancing a futuristic worldview with a warm nostalgia. Electronic sounds alone would be too cold, while acoustic sounds alone would be too old-fashioned. Finding that balance was difficult but stimulating, and I think it was a challenge to create a new sound, with a folk-like feel but also electronic sounds.
--What are the differences between music production for anime and live-action?
This is exactly what I'm finding most difficult right now. There are many elements that are different from live-action, such as how to add music, how long it plays, the scale of the composition, and how it unfolds. Because the visual expression of anime is abstract, the music needs to strongly complement the emotions of the characters and the worldview. I'm also not used to layering sounds, cutting out sounds, and so on, and I'd like to ask Director Tsuda and Sound Director Kohei Yoshida for advice on various things.
-Finally, please give us a message.
As the director said, this is an anime that shakes up "transformations in values." I'm sure the story will surprise everyone and live up to their expectations. Personally, I hope you'll enjoy the final scene of episode 1 (it's difficult to name as there is an episode 0 in between) along with the music. And I would be delighted if you could watch until the final episode.
