Makeine: There are so many failed heroines! Exclusive interview with director Shotaro Kitamura

Which girl captured your heart this summer?

Let’s take a look back at the heroines who brightened up this summer with their unique “kawaii” style!

We asked the director what is so attractive about these characters and how to convey cuteness!

Director interview Shotaro Kitamura

Shotaro Kitamura: Animation director and supervisor. Notable works include Kaguya-sama: Love is war~The never-ending first kiss~ (storyboard artist and supervisor), Exceed! (storyboard artist and supervisor) etc. The project is his directorial debut.

Describes a heartbreaking summer,
And bring everyone’s memories to the surface.

──Please tell us your first impression Makeine: There are so many failed heroines!

Kitamura: The first time I read the original novel was in and A-1 pictures. In doing so, I found that it had deep characters and a unique perspective that isn’t often seen in novels, so I found it interesting. Before reading this book, I couldn’t help but wonder why I was asked to star in such a cute, girly series, even though my specialty is drama. However, when I finished reading, I quickly understood.

──This is your first time directing a TV series. What approach did you take to this?

Kitamura: My stance on things is basically the same as when I was storyboarding and supervising individual episodes, but most importantly, I try to create something that resonates with the audience. When I’m storyboarding or supervising, I don’t have to come up with the story myself but use the scenes I’m given to decide how things will look and how people will feel. So this time as director, I imagined how I wanted the audience to feel after watching the show and then decided on every aspect of it, including the storyline itself.

──This article was originally published in Monthly Magazine new typefeaturing an original illustration of Lemon Burnt Salt. What do you think of the unique heroines in the story, such as Lemon, Haana Anna, and little Mary Chika?

Kitamura: I have to recommend the second episode to people who like Lemon. I loved the scene where Nukusui Kazuhiko pushed her down. Thanks to our character designer and lead animation director Tetsuya KawakamiHer technique, her facial expressions when she falls are all very well done. At the same time, Yanami’s expressions are so animated and adorable. I want people to think “What happened to her!?” when they see her comedic appearance. Finally, Komari is different from other heroines in that she takes a new step in life after ending her relationship. I hope viewers notice her efforts. Please look forward to dramas that are not centered on love!

─That Makene The anime is unique in that it has a lot of “failed heroines” but at its core it is a romantic comedy. What was it like working with a screenwriter to create a story like this? Masahiro Yokotani?

Kitamura: There are definitely some serious moments, but since this is a romantic comedy, we tried to make it ultimately make you laugh. This is our policy not only for each episode, but for the series as a whole. That’s why, in order to make the audience feel attached to the characters, we decided to focus on their relationships. Yokotani was a huge help in developing a storyline that delved into each of the heroines’ stories, ensuring that each episode had some sort of conclusion and never felt half-baked. Also, as a director, I was always thinking about how to convey a cheerful nostalgia.

—Do you think of that delightful nostalgia when you’re portraying the character?

Kitamura: We mainly remember two things. The first is the way the characters are presented so that they remain firmly in the audience’s memory. MakeneThe story begins where the heroines are heartbroken, but the experiences of Babo, Lemon and Mary are different. They are portrayed in a way that allows the audience to understand how they overcome heartbreak, further rooting for them. The second point we kept in mind was our depiction of “Toyohashi Summer,” which we hope will also awaken viewers’ memories of summers past. Of course, there are people who have not experienced the same experience as the heroine, but everyone has at least experienced summer [laughs]. Together with the duo responsible for the vision board, we refined our direction so that it was immediately clear that summer would be the stage for this story.

──So this is that kind of job Aoi Otani and Keigo AriharaPeople who are credited with working on vision boards actually do it.

Kitamura: Before we went to Toyohashi to scout the location, we discussed what summer means in Japan and layered it on that. Based on the photos we took during our expedition, we used trial and error to figure out how to depict summer in animation. We discussed with the art director how best to paint the background, Yuki Hatakeyamausing a vision board we developed with both of them.

─Lightings in classrooms and other buildings should be kept dim to a certain extent. Is this also done to evoke the atmosphere of summer?

Kitamura: Yes. Based on the vision board, we had many long discussions with the photographer and color designer. Following our direction, I also asked our character designer Kawakami to think about the character’s silhouette in advance when making the character. Also, I asked him not to change too much from the original design to keep the audience’s first impression consistent ijimulu‘s illustrations, and he ensured that their designs suited both comedy and drama. On the production side, three main animators oversaw the heavier cuts— Miura Takumitsugood at making interesting actions; Akane Takedashowing great enthusiasm for the role; and Harashima MiraiWe’re versatile and put a lot of effort into the family restaurant scene in the first episode. Everyone is fully invested in bringing this plan to life.

──What do you think was particularly difficult during the production process?

Kitamura: What I want to say is that Nukumizu Kazuhiko is depicted. Normally, the protagonist of a romantic comedy ends up with one of the heroines, but that’s not the case in his case, as he’s just a bystander to her loss. I believe I actually kept this in mind when I was storyboarding the first episode, because I felt that if this hadn’t been made clear from the beginning, the intrigue of the show would have been cut in half.

──The relationship between Nukusui and Hapami has further developed in the fourth episode.

Kitamura: Nukusui has been out there so far, but there is a scene where he gets something from one of the heroines. My idea in constructing these storyboards was to make the audience sympathize with him while also seeing the charm of Hapami.

──What scene do you most want viewers to watch again?

Kitamura: It should be the fireworks scene in the fourth episode. Miyawaki HinataOur Director of Photography helped create this scene, which I believe really highlights the beauty of the effects used on this project. The backgrounds in that episode were gorgeous too, so I hope fans watch it over and over again!

——Is there anything you want the audience to pay special attention to starting from the fifth episode?

Kitamura: Each of the heroines will be explored in greater depth, given their relationship with Nukusui so far. The story will continue to unfold in an impactful way, so it might be fun to put yourself in Nuku Shui’s shoes and relive everything from the first episode! In addition, I hope everyone will continue to support the heroines of this story!

Makeine: There are so many failed heroines!
URL https://makeine-anime.com/
X @makeine_anime

This interview was originally published on new typeSeptember 2024 issue.

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