The all-new anime "Prism Rondo," written by manga artist Yoko Kamio, known for the popular manga "Boys Over Flowers," and featuring original story, character designs, and scriptwriting, is now available exclusively on Netflix worldwide. Set in London in the early 1900s, the story depicts the love between a nobleman and a foreign student, as well as the struggles of young people. Kamio said that love with an aristocrat was "a theme I had always wanted to depict." We spoke to Kamio about the thoughts she put into the work and the source of her own vitality.
◇The role of entertainment: creating uplifting works
"Prism Rondo" depicts the struggles of young people striving to achieve a sparkle like a prism. Ichijoin Riri, a Japanese girl aspiring to be a painter, travels across the ocean to England and enrolls at St. Thomas's College in London, where she meets Kit Church, a gifted art student and the son of a wealthy nobleman. Aiming to be the best in the school, Riri develops a burning rivalry with Kit, but Kit, who was only interested in painting, begins to resonate with Riri's straightforward and pure desire to become a better artist. The anime will be directed by Nakazawa Kazuto, known for "B: The Beginning," and produced by WIT STUDIO.
The planning for "Prism Rondo" began around five years ago during the coronavirus pandemic.
"The world was filled with suspicion and uncertainty, and it was a dark time. I felt that entertainment had a big role to play, and I wanted to create a work that would cheer people up, with an uplifting protagonist, so that's where it all began. When I first heard about it, I was told, 'I want to make an animation in the style of a shoujo manga,' and when you think of shoujo manga, you think of a main character who is surrounded by cool, handsome boys. I tried to keep that in mind when I wrote it."
The relationship between the bright and cheerful Nariri and Kit, the son of a noble family, is reminiscent of Makino Tsukushi, Domyouji Tsukasa, and Hanazawa Rui from "Boys Over Flowers," but Kit is the son of a noble family with vast lands and enormous wealth who is also involved in politics. The love story between an aristocrat and a commoner is a theme that Kamio has long wanted to depict.
"Sakurai (Daiki), who planned and produced the story, suggested to me, 'What do you think about a story about a girl in her 20s in the Meiji era who travels alone to France to study painting?' So I said, 'I want to write about a love affair with an aristocrat, so why not set it in England?' That was one of the reasons why the setting became England."
When asked why he wanted to depict a love story with an aristocrat, Kamio smiled and said, "After all, it's a dream."
"The manga, novels and TV dramas I read as a child are like that, but for example, 'Pride and Prejudice' is a story about an aristocrat and an ordinary girl, and it was something I dreamed of. I always wanted to draw something like that."
◇A youth ensemble drama that could only be depicted in anime
This is Kamio's first time working on an original story and script for an anime, and he said, "I had heard that so many people are involved in creating an animation, but when I actually got involved, I was surprised at how amazing a project it was." Kamio not only wrote the scripts for all 20 episodes and the original ideas for all the characters, he also checked the storyboards for all episodes, attended the dubbing for all episodes, and participated in the production as a staff member.
He said that in producing "Prism Rondo" this time, there were some things that were not changed from the previous manga expressions, and some things that could only be depicted in a 20-episode anime.
"Regarding romance, it's a universal theme, so I didn't change the way I expressed it much. I wasn't particularly conscious of targeting the younger generation. However, I was conscious of differentiating each of the boys who appear in the story and giving them their own unique personalities. Kit started out as a slightly more childish character, but as the story progressed, I decided to change him into a cool, slightly edgy, genius-like character."
In addition to Riri and Kit, many other unique characters appear in the series. Peter, an honor student and Kit's friend, experiences setbacks while those around him pursue their dreams. Peter is also a character whose character image changes along the way.
"Riri and Kit are the type to go all out for the things they love, but I thought that having someone like Peter in the story would really bring realism to the story. He says that he wants to do it but gives up because he doesn't have the talent. By having him in the story, it's like each character really stands out, rather than just being centered around love. In girls' manga, the main theme is love, but this time, 'Prism Rondo' is both a youth ensemble drama about people chasing their dreams and a story of growth. I was really happy that we were able to depict each of the characters' lives in the end. In 'Prism Rondo', we were able to do things that you can't do in girls' manga. I think this was possible because it's a 20-episode animation."
◇ "No matter what anyone says, I'll keep doing what I love."
Even after the huge success of "Boys Over Flowers," Kamio has continued to attract support from a wide range of readers, serializing a new series, "Boys Over Flowers Next Season." He has also taken on the challenge of writing his first anime original with "Prism Rondo." We asked him about the source of his vitality as he continues to create.
"I don't have much physical strength (laughs), but I love creating things. I've loved creating things and thinking up stories ever since I was a child. I also love reading novels, movies and other creative works, and it's become like my life's work to express them myself," she says.
She says her bible is the work of novelist Seiko Tanabe, saying, "Most of her stories are about women in their 30s, and when I was a teenager I used to read them and think, 'When I turn 30, I want to be like this person.'"
Kamio, who says he "loves to create," seems to link with Riri, who is absorbed in creating things in "Prism Rondo."
"One thing I have in common with Riri is that we both work hard at what we love. No matter what anyone says, we both continue to do what we love. I guess that's something we have in common. I'm not as cheerful and innocent as her though (laughs)."
Kamio began drawing "Prism Rondo" with the aim of creating "an uplifting story with an uplifting protagonist." Perhaps because many of the characters aspire to become artists, staff members who empathized with the characters often told him, "Please make this character happy."
"I was told that a lot (laughs). I think Prism Rondo is my story, and also your story."
"Prism Rondo" is imbued with the hope that it will bring light to those who watch it. When you finish watching it, you may feel that it is "your own story." (Shiroinu/MANTANWEB)
