The animated feature film "The Camphor Keeper," based on Higashino Keigo's novel, which has sold over one million copies, will be released on January 30th. While many of Higashino's works have been adapted into live-action films and TV dramas, this is the first time they have been made into an anime. It has also been a hot topic that the film is being animated by a stellar cast, including director Ito Tomohiko, known for works such as "Sword Sword Art Online," "Erased," and "HELLO WORLD," and art director Takiguchi Hiroshi, known for "Weathering with You" and "The Hana and Alice Murder Case."
◇The scale and detail of camphor trees
-What is your impression of the work?
It's a story with a mysterious power, and I think it's a work that leaves a deep impression. After reading the original work, I naturally found myself reflecting on my life so far and the people I've been involved with. It brought tears to my eyes, and I felt like I had grasped something very important. It was an irreplaceable time that warmed my heart.
--The magnificent and mysterious camphor tree is impressive. It is the heart of this piece. How did you try to express it?
I think the camphor tree is one of the elements that symbolizes the extravagant fun of this film, making it a reality as a feature film, so I was particularly conscious of the scale and detail. In addition to its distinctive beauty, I wanted to express the camphor tree for this film while also cherishing the enveloping feeling I felt firsthand during location scouting.
--The camphor forest and the shrine seemed to connect reality and fantasy.
The shrine is a real place that was used as a reference for the filming location. It is not particularly distinctive in terms of splendor or mysticism, but rather I was drawn to the simplicity of the land. Its beautiful appearance made me feel that it would bring a sense of realism and imagination that suited the film. The forest that leads to the camphor tree is an original setting, but here too I was conscious of the relationship and balance between the shrine and the camphor tree, and kept the design to a bare minimum. However, I felt that the moon was actually an important element connecting each location, and the depiction of the moonlight shining into each space is, so to speak, a secret ingredient.
◇To give you a natural sense of realism
--On the other hand, the cityscape is realistic. The contrast with the camphor trees is striking.
In the world of this work, the camphor trees certainly exist as an extension of reality. The cityscape is also a familiar sight to many people, so I wanted people to naturally enter this world, and so I was conscious of making the city as realistic as possible within the scope of the illustration.
--I was impressed by how much greenery was depicted in the city. Was that an order from Director Ito?
Other than specifying the location, the director didn't give any specific instructions regarding the city. We incorporated elements of greenery, as you can see in many places in real life. However, there are differences in the vegetation and overall feel of the space between the city center and the suburbs, so we made a conscious effort to convey these differences.
--Director Ito described the art as "mysterious." Was that something you were conscious of?
I wasn't particularly conscious of it, but I always try and experiment with the way I express my work, so I think that was apparent this time.
--What was particularly difficult or challenging about this project?
I wanted to convey a natural sense of realism without destroying the worldview of the original work as much as possible. That was what I valued most. Quality and design are obviously important, but I felt that a proper understanding of the story was even more essential. I told the background staff that I wanted them to understand the story as deeply as possible. This is because I wanted the art staff to exude the honest feelings that each of them received from the work. The other art staff were working on other projects at the same time, and each had their own approach to the work, so I understand that there were some difficult parts. I am truly grateful for their cooperation despite this.
--Please give a message to those who are looking forward to the anime.
You may have an experience that feels like a switch has been flipped inside your heart. I hope you will come to the theater to see it.
Anima Mitsuru/MANTANWEB
