The first part of a conversation between director Kenji Nakamura, who is working on the all-new film trilogy "Mononoke: The Movie," based on the popular TV anime "Mononoke ," and director Seigo Yamashita, who is working on the original anime " Jujutsu Kaisen Mononoke " and is currently garnering attention for his first feature-length film, "Super Kaguyahime!". The two, whose styles and careers are seemingly different, shared their thoughts and shared their desires for each other in a frank discussion, starting with story structure, character expression, and target audiences.
Director Yamashita was exposed to Director Nakamura's work in his youth and has always wanted to talk to him. The completion of "Super Kaguyahime!" prompted this conversation to come to fruition. Director Nakamura watched "Super Kaguyahime!" and said that his impression of Director Yamashita, that he was "fashionable and smart," had "changed." The two discuss passionately, touching on specific scenes that captured their hearts.
Midway through the conversation, Director Yamashita asked, "What makes a good story?" and the conversation immediately went to the heart of the matter. Director Nakamura said he shares the same concerns. Director Yamashita said of characters, "I think entertainment is when they change from the impression you had at first," and touched on the fun of following inner changes rather than plot. He went on to reveal that "that's what a story is to me." The conversation then turned to the topic of story structure and character conflicts that occur in the creative world. Director Nakamura said that in recent years, he has felt strongly that "it's better to follow people." He went on to cite "Super Kaguyahime!" as an example, saying that Yamashita embodied this idea, citing the way the story progresses, "the story progresses at the rhythm of the characters."
Director Nakamura also talks about how to "place values," such as "avoiding bias toward gender or age" and "wanting to create a feeling that everyone has human rights." As the conversation expanded, he casually mentioned that he "slightly avoids romance," to which Director Yamashita immediately responded, "Can I dig a little deeper?" Director Nakamura also touched on the "aversion" he had in his youth, giving us a glimpse into the true feelings that only fellow directors can draw out. The second part of the conversation is scheduled to be released in March.
" Mononoke" is an anime produced by the reunion of staff from the popular episode "Bakeneko" of "Ayakashi," which aired on Fuji TV's anime slot "Noitamina" in 2006. It was first broadcast on Noitamina in 2007. The story depicts the supernatural tale of a medicine seller who appeared in "Bakeneko" confronting a Mononoke. The "Mononoke the Movie" is set in the inner palace, where the passions of women swirl, and the medicine seller pursues the true identity of the "Mononoke." The first chapter, "Karakasa," was released in July 2024, and the second chapter, "Fire Rat," was released in March. The third and final chapter, "Snake God," will be released on May 29th.
"Super Kaguyahime!" is a musical anime inspired by the classic "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter." Aya Sakayori, a 17-year-old high school student who leads an incredibly busy life juggling part-time work and studies, encounters Kaguya, who appears from a rainbow-colored gaming telephone pole. Studio Colorido, known for "Penguin Highway," teamed up with Studio Chromat, led by director Yamashita, to produce the anime. Music was provided by a stellar lineup of Vocaloid producers, including ryo from "supercell," kz from "livetune," 40mP, HoneyWorks, Aqu3ra, and yuigot. The film debuted as a "Netflix movie" on January 22nd, and following strong sales, began screening in theaters on February 20th. Despite only being released in 19 theaters, it has proven a hit, grossing approximately ¥291.22 million and attracting approximately 148,000 viewers in the first four days of its release.
