(JINROH script writer)
Interviewer: Kenji Kamiyama/Go Arai (assistant)
| ARAI | We'd like to start your interview now. |
| OSHII | Sure. |
| KAMIYAMA | I'm honored to be selected as your interviewer. As you may know, I was once a part of JINROH team. Today, I am happy to meet with you once again. This interview is for the IG website use only so I'd like you to tell us something new. Let me start from the pre-production of JINROH. When exactly did you plan the project? |
| OSHII | Uh... I did Ghost (G in the S) about a year and half ago, so that'll make it 3 years ago. |
| KAMIYAMA | 3 years ago... and what? |
| OSHII | I planned the project then. |
| KAMIYAMA | You mean the feature "JINROH"? |
| OSHII | Yeah, well, not really. It wasn't going to be a feature at that time. They wanted to make a OVA based on a story called "Kenrou Densetsu." It was right after I did "Pat 2". I was wandering what to do next. Then I thought this would do so I brought it over to Bandai. |
| KAMIYAMA | You mean the comic book? |
| OSHII | Right. There were 6 episodes and they've always wanted to make it into an anime, so why not do an anime of 6 episodes? At that time, IG also wanted to do a series with me, so it was coincidental. I brought over the plan to Bandai myself. But when I showed up, they showed me "Ghost." |
| KAMIYAMA | As to tell you why not do Ghost first? |
| OSHII | Right. "Kenrou Densetsu" was still at pre-production. They wanted me to be the director for all 6 episodes, then I thought of the perfect man for the position. Okiura should do one entire 3rd episode called "Stray Dog" or something. I asked him and he said that he'd love to do it. I don't remember about the other 5 episodes, but Okiura was supposed to do the 3rd. In the meantime, I was told to do "Ghost." |
| KAMIYAMA | So you ended up doing Ghost instead of Kenrou. And how did Kenrou become the future project JINROH? |
| OSHII | Well, Manga Entertainment wanted to do another project after Ghost has become such a big hit. Then we thought about doing JINROH together. Manga knew about Kenrou, which had been translated into English and published in the states. |
| KAMIYAMA | That's how you've decided to do a feature. |
| OSHII | They wanted nothing else but feature. But since I couldn't do it alone by myself, Bandai has suggested me to use Okiura. |
| KAMIYAMA | So is it Bandai who had selected Okiura-san? |
| OSHII | Well, it was sort of mutual. Ishikawa from IG wanted to go with Okiura and so did Bandai. If he was going to become a director eventually, he should do his debut project with us. That was Bandai's request as well. |
| KAMIYAMA | Bandai said that? |
| OSHII | Oh yes. Manga also agreed after discovering that he was the chief animator and character designer for Ghost. Then I asked what I should do, and they told me to stay out of the way! So I begged to let me do the script at least and everybody at Bandai made a wry face. |
| KAMIYAMA | You mean about you writing the script? |
| OSHII | Yeah, they've already appointed Ito to do the script. Ito didn't want to do it so he refused. I knew he was going to refuse it because he once told me that he didn't want to write a story that had dogs in it, especially after he wrote "Akai Megane." Well, so they asked me to do the script after Ito refused it. You see, I never wanted to do a script-only project, but I figured that since Okiura was going to be directing, I thought I could do it. Plus I honestly wanted to write one myself. Ishikawa was very happy to have me do the script perhaps because of the right schedule. Since I was the original author, nobody needed to argue with anybody else. The script always turns out the best if it's written by the original author. Then Bandai gave us the "go-ahead" sign sometime last June when I was still working on Ghost. I got the script done at the end of July. |
| KAMIYAMA | Did you talk to Okiura san while writing the script? |
| OSHII | the synopsis... |
| KAMIYAMA | From Okiura san, you mean? |
| OSHII | This is the way to go... he said something like that. |
| KAMIYAMA | So, what was his synopsis like? |
| OSHII | He always wanted to do a drama, a serious one that is... follow the royal road kinda thing. He told me that the feature will become the real drama. |
| KAMIYAMA | So, your intention of directing the feature had disappeared by then. |
| I gave up. | |
| KAMIYAMA | If possible, did you want to direct it yourself? |
| OSHII | Very much so, especially when I wrote the script. Honestly speaking, I still think that I should've done it myself. I didn't want to give it away to anyone else. |
| KAMIYAMA | When did you first encounter Okiura san. |
| OSHII | I don't remember too well, but as far as I recall from Patlabor. |
| KAMIYAMA | Which Patlabor? |
| OSHII | The Movie. |
| KAMIYAMA | 1 or 2? |
| OSHII | Was it one? Or was he not there during one? |
| KAMIYAMA | I don't think he did one... (I did some research afterwards, and yes! He was in one. Excuse me for my misunderstanding.) |
| OSHII | I remember clearly for Pat 2. I mean, I remember appointing him for Pat 2. I had a very hard time. |
| KAMIYAMA | You mean appointing him? |
| OSHII | No, the final production, not the story itself. The animation part was a big work. |
| KAMIYAMA | You mean Okiura san's animation? |
| OSHII | Well, Kise was really satisfied with his work. Okiura's scenes are famous among the animators for being the NO key animation, while it's very simple, the final products look good too. In that sense, I knew the name. And I finally got to see and prove it myself. His key animation and layout works were simply amazing. I told myself that I will be using his talent in my work sooner or later. |
| KAMIYAMA | So the fact that Okiura san was appointed as the director was not only Bandai's request, but you also wanted to see him direct your work! So what made you decide so? |
| OSHII | First, he's always been interested in directing. Secondly, there was no one else. |
| KAMIYAMA | No one else? |
| OSHII | No on suitable for a director. I couldn't find anyone from IG or close to IG. I thought about Kise at first but he had absolutely no intention. |
| KAMIYAMA | So Kise san basically has no intentions or interests in directing. |
| OSHII | Absolutely not! 100% NO! So I thought that he couldn't be appointed. At IG, there aren't many young talents who can do a feature direction. Only the oldies like myself, Nishikubo and Yamazaki are there to do it. I had always been seeking some interesting people that I can give this chance to, then Okiura came to my mind. |