Photo posted on Twitter by chichiroo2202
Harutoshi Fukui (general director), Naomichi Yamato (director), Hideki Oka (scriptwriter), Nobuyoshi Habara (director of Yamato 2202) on stage!
Official Report
(see the original post here)
On Wednesday, August 7th, a screening with “Yamatalk” was held at the Shinjuku Piccadilly theater to commemorate REBEL 3199 Chapter 1, Dark Invasion. This Yamatalk was held at short notice in the third week of release, but tickets still sold out. Despite the heavy rain outside, a large number of Yamato fans gathered at the venue.
Nobuyoshi Habara
Mr. Fukui began by saying, “Thankfully, there are many voices saying that they enjoyed the film, and I’m glad to hear that. We spend every day thinking about whether we can finish the second chapter (scheduled to open November 22nd) in time. We don’t want to disappoint those who enjoyed the first chapter.”
Yamato 2202 director Nobuyoshi Habara also participated. Regarding Fukui’s appointment as general director for this film, Habara said, “I thought it was only natural. Mr. Fukui loves movies, so I thought it would be better for him to do it. I thought it would be better for him to be in charge after coming this far.”
Habara laughed and said, “And so this film came to be. I was overwhelmed when I saw it at the preview screening. As a Yamato fan, I was relieved. It was made with great care. I thought the subtleties of people and the timing of the acting were well thought out.”
The remake series has been handed down over the past 12 years. Mr. Habara and Director Yamato have something in common in that they both turned a script written by Mr. Fukui into a film. But Director Yamato spoke about the difficulty of film production, saying, “There’s just so much information, we spend our days making adjustments to get it across to the audience…”
Naomichi Yamato
In response, Mr. Fukui said, “The person who was drawing the storyboard said, ‘Your script will fit within the time frame as long as you don’t do anything unnecessary.’ That person saw through it.”
Hideki Oka, who has been in charge of the scripts since the 2202 series, also pointed out, “That’s sharp. Fukui has the complete image at the writing stage, so if you just do it as is, it will be finished on time.”
Habara also reminisced, “his scripts are amazing to read between the lines. If you think something is supposed to go between this picture and that picture, and you put it in, it will become longer. I want to match it with the music, I keep showing more, and it keeps getting longer.”
Fukui also laughed and said, “I pack so much into it so you can’t play it at double speed.”
The speakers were asked questions collected from fans. When asked, “Why didn’t Yuki die after falling from that height?” Fukui laughed and said, “Because that’s in the original. I wondered why when I saw the original, too, so I’ll reveal the reason in the second chapter.”
Harutoshi Fukui
He continued and revealed some future developments; “Someone talks to Kodai, who looks dejected, saying, ‘That’s why I’m sure Mori-san…’ Then Kodai says, ‘Thank you,’ and disappears, not sure if he can hear him or not.”
After that, Yamato fans asked sharp questions one after another, such as, “Does Sanada-san have the ability to raise Sasha?” and “Kodai was given a thick file by Todo, but why was it on paper?” To which Fukui and Director Yamato gave their unique insights.
Then, as a “souvenir corner” for the day’s audience, they shared advance information about the battleships that will appear in the future, accompanied by written comments from their designers. First, the design of the Grodez was projected on the screen. In the original work it appeared in the climax, but in 3199 it is scheduled to appear from the second chapter.
Mika Akitaka, who was in charge of the design, said, “In the original work, it was a formidable enemy that cornered Yamato. Its silhouette is completely different from other ships. While retaining its hidden secret weapon, the Infinite Beta Cannon, we have put a lot of effort into making it a rival ship to Yamato, as requested by Mr. Fukui.”
Fukui also explained, “It is Yamato‘s rival. It will appear with regular crew members, including the captain, Lambell. When you think about it, Yamato has never had an enemy ship that could be considered a rival throughout the series.”
Forthcoming model kits, photos posted on Twitter by yamatototomoni
There was one more thing: a mecha design named after Arizona, which appeared in Yamato III, was also shown to the audience.
Fukui raised expectations, saying, “There is a hint of it in the second chapter, and it finally comes out in the third chapter. But I think it’s best to look forward to it through all seven chapters of the series.”
Junichiro Tamamori, who is in charge of design, sent this comment: “Anyone can see that Arizona is a cool ship. But it disappeared without ever being able to play an active role. The tragedy and regret are even greater than Andromeda in Farewell to Yamato. I wanted to clear up Arizona‘s regret. While fully respecting the charm of the design by Yutaka Izubuchi in his younger days, I did my best to breathe life into it as a ship that exists in the remake series. Mr. Yamato, Mr. Fukui, please look forward to Arizona!”
Additional note from Anton Mei Brandt, who was in the audience: Tamamori’s letter was quite funny. He spoke of reviving Arizona, the “beloved Yamato III ship that never got to do anything” (the audience laughed upon hearing this). They hinted at it making some kind of appearance next chapter, but that it would have much greater significance in Chapter 3. One of the panelists joked about potentially revealing Arizona‘s Captain, but then refrained from doing so. Something like “I wonder who’ll be the Captain, huh…”
Forthcoming novel in the “Dawn Chapter,” photos posted on Twitter by M.T. and chichiroo2202
Fukui also said, “Of course, there are weapons that can be seen from the outside, such as the Wave-Motion Gun, but there are also amazing secret weapons. There are weapons that you’ve never seen before.”
“However,” Director Yamato laughed, “it’s still a long way off.”
Finally, Habara said, “I took over from Director Yutaka Izubuchi, and I’m happy to be able to see Yamato from various directors. I’m glad to be a Yamato fan. 3199 is carefully made, so I’d like to accompany you all to the end.”
Director Yamato said, “The series has been going for 12 years now. There are customers who have watched it many times more than I have. I’m working hard to present a decent image, so I hope you’ll continue to support me.”
Fukui also sent a message to the audience, saying, “Since things have come to this, I will do everything I can to deliver it to you.”
Additional comments
Published on Twitter by piyopenta
The Yamatalk was so much fun!
Fukui’s scripts → There are so many shots.
“Kids these days can sometimes watch things at double speed, so I’m not going to let them do that!”
He’s cramming it in like that. But because of that, Director Yamato and the staff are apparently having a hard time…
The questions corner:
① How is Yuki okay after that fall? Apparently the reason will be revealed in a certain character line in the next chapter.
② Is Sanada feeding Sasha something decent? He might be doing better than you’d expect. Maybe characters that haven’t appeared yet are helping out! It was also mentioned that Starsha seems to have amazing housekeeping skills.
③ What’s your favorite scene from the original Be Forever?
Habara: The attack on the intermediate supply base
Director Yamato: When Yamato takes off from Icarus. (That’s why he’s been working hard on the animation from early on!)
Fukui: The part where Kodai tries to jump off after Yuki has fallen.
This time, it was Mr. Fukui who invited Mr. Habara, and it’s been five years since they last met, so it turned into a kind of 2202 reunion. Fukui asked Habara to help with 3199, saying, “We need a veteran’s godly animation!” He’s busy with another job now, but he’ll do it someday.
“I’m looking forward to it!”
When asked question ③, Habara said, “The intermediate supply base is cool, right? That bright music, even though it’s a massacre scene! It’s cool!” (Everyone laughed)
The scene where Yuki falls was retaken in detail, and when Domon appears, Fukui made a request about the timing even though the CG was already done.
“If we change the timing there, we’ll have to redo the CG again.” (crying)
Why is the file that Saki hands to Kodai on paper? because Kodai wouldn’t be exhausted by it if it wasn’t a thick stack of paper. Apparently there was a retake, saying “it should be thicker.”
Photo posted on Twitter by operaparis2010
Nobuyoshi Habara “I’m excited!”
Harutoshi Fukui’s charm is “deep between the lines”
Published at Mantan Web; see the original post here
Nobuyoshi Habara praised 3199, saying, “It’s amazing. I was thrilled when I saw it at the preview screening. The timing of the acting is really well-crafted.”
Fukui smiled and said, “I’m relieved.”
Habara said about Fukui being the director, “He loves film, doesn’t he? I thought it might be better for him to be in charge and pour all his feelings into it.”
He commented on the appeal of Fukui’s scripts, saying, “In 2202, the lines were amazing. They’re very deep. If you try to show Yamato instead, you end up not explaining enough.”
Mr. Fukui said, “Mr. Habara’s way of making things is production-friendly. Nowadays, there are a lot more shots. I learned that by doing it.”
Habara recalled his memories of Be Forever Yamato. “I was 16 years old then. I saw it in my hometown of Fukuyama. I felt that Be Forever was a different kind of film than the previous ones. It had a unique adult feel. I was fully prepared to become an animator, so I watched it thinking, ‘Is this where Yoshinori Kanada comes in…?’ He was very detailed. And that scene with Mamoru Kodai Mamoru was shocking and scary.”
Habara, a “Yamato fan,” said with a smile, “I’m really happy to be able to see Yamato made by various directors.”
Backstage with week 4 handout, photo posted on Twitter by the Yamato Production Committee
“Yamato’s rival” Grodez, Arizona has an “amazing secret weapon”
New mecha unveiled in Yamatalk
Published at Mantan Web; see the original post here
The design drawings of the Grodez-class annihilation battleship and Arizona were unveiled.
Regarding Grodez, designer Mika Akitaka commented, “Mr. Fukui requested that we make it a rival ship to Yamato, so we’re working on it to meet that request.”
Fukui nodded and said, “Yes, it’s a rival,” and Hideki Oka said, “It’s a mecha enemy that Yamato has never seen before. It will play an active role.”
Regarding Arizona, designer Junichiro Tamamori commented, “I wanted to clear Arizona‘s name. I did my best to breathe life into it.”
Fukui hinted at future activities when he said, “You’ll see signs of it in the next chapter, and it finally comes out in chapter 3. I hope you’ll look forward to it throughout the series. It’s also equipped with an amazing secret weapon.”