The TV anime Chainsaw Man began broadcasting on October 11, 2022 (Tuesday). We interviewed Keisuke seshita of MAPPA, who is the animation producer for the anime.
MAPPA New Challenge Interview
The TV anime of the extremely popular manga Chainsaw Man, which is currently serialized in its second season in Shonen Jump+ (published by Shueisha) and has sold over 18 million copies in total, began broadcasting on October 11 (Tue.) on TV Tokyo and other stations.
This work is produced by MAPPA, which has produced many popular anime works such as Jujutsu Kaisen and Attack on Titan The Final Season, and is 100% funded by MAPPA instead of using the production committee method in which multiple companies invest. In addition, MAPPA’s challenging stance and strong commitment to anime production has attracted attention, as evidenced by the fact that the ending theme is performed by 12 groups of artists, changing each week, and the ending video is different every week.
We interviewed Keisuke seshita of MAPPA, the animation producer of this work. We asked him about how the company came to the decision to produce the work, the commitment of the staff and cast to the production, and the impressive words of the original author, Tatsuki Fujimoto, about the behind-the-scenes production process.
MAPPA new management style that can monopolize animation rights
-Why did MAPPA decide to fund 100% of the production cost ofChainsaw Man on its own, instead of using the production committee method, in which multiple companies fund the production cost?
We had in mind the idea of making a better visualization of Chainsaw Man. After discussing what kind of arrangement would be best for us, we thought that 100% financing by MAPPA would give us more freedom in terms of both business and expression.
This does not mean that the production committee method is not free. There are many productions that are being carried out under a team that understands the situation. However, our objective is to create the best possible visualization of “Chainsaw Man” in a form that will be most enjoyable for the viewers. In order to achieve this objective, we thought it would be better to pursue the creation of something interesting with only Shueisha and our company, rather than having multiple leaders from each company gather and create content with various ideas mixed together.
MAPPA first attempt at 12 different ending songs
The fact that the ending theme is performed by 12 groups of artists on a weekly basis was also made possible because of the in-house and funded nature of the project.
Yes, when we released the teaser video for Chainsaw Man in June 2021, we were contacted by many music labels.
While we were deciding on several options for the theme song, Director Nakayama told us that if we were going to do it anyway, he wanted to do an ending that would be in line with the content of each episode. When we were thinking about what to do, the company (MAPPA) told us that if we use the in-house financing method that was used this time, it would not be impossible to change the ending for each episode.
However, we felt that if that were to happen, the ending image would also have to be changed for each episode to be interesting, so naturally there was some talk from various quarters about whether or not there would be enough room at the production site. After discussing this with the director and the staff working on site, they said let’s do it,” and we were able to make it happen.
MAPPA 【Chainsaw Man】 wanted to hire new talent
-This is the first time that Ryu Nakayama, who is directing this project, has directed an animated TV series. I heard that seshita-san made the offer to him, what made you decide to offer it to Mr. Nakayama?
It was a simple reason that I wanted to work with the creators I am most interested in to create a new team for a work that I had been entrusted with. In the first place, we, the producers, equally consider what is the most desirable form to visualize this work for any kind of work. Then, we develop an image of the direction and expression, and request direction from those who can realize such direction and expression, or those who are good at it.
I thought about doing the same thing for Chainsaw Man, but since the original work had different characteristics from previous Jump works, I thought it would be more interesting to have someone new who does not have his/her own style direct the work rather than someone with a fixed style of direction and expression.
That is when Director Nakayama came to mind. From the time I started working as a new graduate, I was aware that Director Nakayama was an excellent animator. His animation drawings and the direction of several short anime he had produced were very excellent, and I had always wanted to work with him someday, so I offered him that this was the right time to do so.
MAPPA choice of voice actors
-The main character, Denji, is played by new voice actor Kikunosuke Toya, who is making his first starring appearance in a TV anime. As with Director Nakayama’s choice, you wanted to have someone with no set style play the role, is that the reason for your choice?
Yes, as you say. We decided on the cast members not by choosing from among the existing images of the characters, but by thinking through Denji is the voice of Denji and Makima is the voice of Makima.
For this reason, we took the proper amount of time for auditions, and the voice actors went through several selection processes, including tape auditions and standing auditions. After that, we decided on Mr. Toya for Denji, Ms. Tomori Kusunoki for Makima, Ms. Fairouz (Ai) for Power, and Mr. Sakata (Shogo) for Aki.
-I think you mentioned at the time of the cast announcement that you chose people with ground voices that were close to the character’s voice quality. What points did you keep in mind during the audition?
I paid attention to what kind of vocalizations they usually use to speak. Before the audition, the voice actors would always come” to the booth where the staff was and greet” the staff by saying, Thank you for your help today. When Ms. Toya or Mr. Sakata said please say hello, I remember a sense of tension running through the members of the staff in the booth, as if someone with a sense of potential had entered the room …….
Mr. Tatsuki Fujimoto’s smile motivates MAPPA
-Did the original author, Mr. Tatsuki Fujimoto, give you any advice on the content of the anime?
There is timing to communicate with Mr. Fujimoto from time to time, but among them, he said, As for my intention, the biggest thing is that I want to see good images. If it is better for me to put my stamp on some document, I will do it right here and now I remember what Fujimoto said. I think he was probably joking, but I thought it was a very Mr. Fujimoto-like opinion without discovery (laugh). That is why I always ask for Mr. Fujimoto’s opinion when deciding on the design and cast of each character, checking storyboards, visual expressions, and so on.
-How was Mr. Fujimoto’s reaction to seeing the production process?
Mr. Fujimoto does not say much as you might imagine, so we do not receive detailed feedback or requests from him. However, when he checks the video in the process of completion at the timing of postrecording or sound recording, his face sometimes relaxes when he sees a character with a particularly good performance or movement, and he smiles and looks happy, which makes me happy as a person on the spot.
As the side that is entrusted with the original work to produce the animation, we try to adjust as much as possible to what Mr. Fujimoto, who created Chainsaw Man from scratch, and Mr. Rin (Shihei), the editor in charge, think Chainsaw Man should be. That is why we, as animation producers, are motivated by the fact that the original author, Mr. Fujimoto, is pleased with our work.
-Does that mean faithfully reproducing the original work?
Inevitably, we have to add some elements that are original to the anime in order to achieve the length of a 30-minute anime. Manga is expressed in terms of time axis with pictures and frame layout, but video must be expressed in terms of real time axis. Therefore, rather than faithfully reproducing the original work, we are working with the idea of making the original work look more faithful when it is adapted to anime.
Director Nakayama, screenwriter Koji Seko, and I had a lot of discussions about how much space and length we should use to develop the story in order to visualize the tempo and atmosphere of the original work.
MAPPA commitment to Chainsaw Man
-As a producer, what are the points that you are particularly focused on in the animation ?
I would like to say everything, but what Director Nakayama and I look at in particular in detail is screen design. We are very particular about the atmosphere and appearance of the images.
-What kind of screen design did you aim for in this anime?
In the screen design of Chainsaw Man, we aimed for a more realistic and cinematic layout. This is a concept that we discussed from the beginning when we decided to produce the animation.
-Finally, please tell us Mr. Seshita’s view on how you think Chainsaw Man, with such a high level of MAPPA’s enthusiasm, will affect the animation industry in the future.
As a person involved in the field, I put energy and care into the production of all the works that Our Company has been in charge of, not only Chainsaw Man. So I don’t think of it as just because it’s Chainsaw Man.
Based on this premise, what I hope to convey as my intention from Chainsaw Man is that it is good from both the business and viewer’s perspectives to seriously aim for the best form of visualization as a company. And, I want the people who create the images and the environment in which the images are created to be considered important in any case.
If we are just worn out by the work, creativity will be depleted and many things will be worn out. On the other hand, if the environment is one that creators can enjoy, we believe that creativity will change dramatically.
The more people and environments are cared for, the more we on the production side can focus on creating content that viewers can enjoy and making it bigger. I hope that this anime will be a kick-start to this understanding.
Thank you for watching. See you soon.
chainsaw man. (World’s largest number of translations)
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