Drifting.

Introduction.

Posted on January 30, 2018 by lompatlompat

Hello. I’m learning Japanese, and this is where I put my translation of interviews, bits, etc that I find interesting and that time allows me to translate. I will mostly do translation on these following titles:

DRIFTERS and other works by Hirano Kouta
Golden Kamuy (my translations for this series are here)
Nagai Go’s works such as Mazinger Z and Devilman
Getter Robo
Houshin Engi and other works by Fujisaki Ryuu
Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2199 and 2202
Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu (The Legend of Galactic Heroes)

If you find something you think would be interesting to translate, do drop me a line! Please note that I will do the translation during my spare time, so updates might not be quick. Thank you!

Gundam Unicorn/Narrative drama CD: Return of the Lion

Posted on October 21, 2019 by lompatlompat

The boxset of Gundam Narrative came with a drama CD, 獅子の帰還 (Return of the Lion), featuring Riddhe Marcenas. The story somehow connects Unicorn and Narrative, occurring mainly in the final months of 0096 and in January 0097. There are 11 tracks in the drama CD, and each track corresponds to a different scene that might be set on different dates. The story goes back and forth in time and it might be a bit difficult to follow. Fortunately, the Gundam Narrative booklet comes with information about the time when each track happens so that we can keep, ahem, track.

I’m not too good at listening and I unfortunately haven’t found the script to this drama CD. (It is said that the first prints of Gundam Unicorn re-release earlier this year came with the script, but I *check own boxset* didn’t get that.) So here I’m just going to write down overview of things that I am sure of. I will return to update it every time I understand more bits of the dialogues. If you find mistakes or want to add something (or two, or many…), please leave a comment. If you have the script, so much better…

And a bit of warning: I might sound like an overjoyed fangirl here.

Tobita Nobuo on auditioning for Camille Vidan role

Posted on October 18, 2019 by lompatlompat

I know it’s a bad habit of mine to buy books and magazines, read them, think that “I’m going to finish and translate this later”, but then I never do for various reasons including I just forget about them. Including this Camille Vidan mook. It’s actually very interesting and rich in content, but here I just want to post about Tobita Nobuo‘s story of auditioning for the role.

Tobita got the role through audition, but he wasn’t even thinking that he’d get accepted, moreover as the main role, thinking he’d flunked it. Here’s what had happened: Usually, during audition, they’d be asked to read some lines. But at that time, they were also given one minute to speak about the thing they liked right there and then. So Tobita just said, “Even though the first Mobile Suit Gundam ended so well, why are you making a sequel?” He really liked the ending of the first Gundam. Moreover, Tobita said, nowadays many anime sequels are made, but at that time only a few titles like Uchuu Senkan Yamato had sequels. That’s why he thought “Why bother (with a sequel for this one)?”

Even as he left the studio and was on his way home he already regretted it, “Why did I say something like that?” So when about a month later a manager from his agency told him that he’d been chosen he was like “No way!!” He thought it must be wrong because he was being cynical about the show in the audition. Instead of being happy, he was feeling confused “Why me?”. But he was chosen, and the rest is…. history.

Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu Die Neue These: The Stage (October 2018)

Posted on October 31, 2018 by lompatlompat

I think it’s pretty clear that I’m a fan of Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu, with the novels as my main source. I also read Fujisaki Ryuu’s manga and liked the previous stageplay incarnations of Gineiden (mainly because my favourite singer Kawamura Ryuuichi acted as Yang Wen-li). I have only watched the Ishiguro anime a little, but I was excited with the launch of Die Neue These, which mostly follows the novels. The new anime even re-wrote some parts to make the story and characters, in my opinion, even better and more updated than in the original novels: take Jessica’s character, for example. So when Die Neue These The Stage was announced, I got even more excited! I’ve never watched a 2.5D performance live – it’s always DVDs and live viewing. This time, I thought I! Must! Come! And watch it live!

GINGA EIYUU DENSETSU DIE NEUE THESE: Umehara Yuuichirou (Kircheis), feeling accomplished as a seiyuu five years after debuting

Posted on March 22, 2018 by lompatlompat

Since the original novels are a legendary work that’s celebrating its 35^th year of publication, right now my biggest astonishment is “I can perform in a work that was unthinkable for me!” I didn’t even dream that I would get the role when I was accepted for the audition. The audition started with selection process through recorded demo, and then at the studio twice. At the recorded demo stage, because I thought “I’ll fail”, I didn’t put my hopes high, but as the audition progressed, I felt it’s a waste if I failed here. I grew fond of the character, and gradually I felt more and more wanting to play him (Kircheis). In the last audition, I was paired with Miyano-san, and it was really fun. The director found it hard to choose between our pair and other pairs. I thought that it would be nice if I could act alongside Miyano-san again, so I was really glad when we got through.

GINGA EIYUU DENSETSU DIE NEUE THESE: Interview with Takeuchi Atsushi (mecha designer/special effects supervisor)

Posted on March 12, 2018 by lompatlompat

Note: There are parts of this interview that, although I understand and can express in my native tongue, I find hard to find the words for in English. This caused some parts of this translation to be, in my opinion, not smooth. I would be very glad if you could give me correction or suggestion that can make this translation better! The original interview is here.

Please tell us how you joined the production of Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu Die Neue These.

It started when Production I.G. producer Kuroki (Rui) offered me to do the mechanical designing. He wanted me to be involved since the start of the planning, so I joined from the brainstorming stage.

GINGA EIYUU DENSETSU DIE NEUE THESE: Interview with Tada Shunsuke (director)

Posted on March 2, 2018 by lompatlompat

For a start, please tell us the story of how you became the director of Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu Die Neue These.

I’ve been a fan of Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu since I was in school. The official poster in an anime magazine made me interested, so I went to watch the first theatrical movie, My Conquest is the Sea of Stars, and it was beautiful. From the theater, I went straight to a bookstore in Shinjuku and bought the original novels as many as possible and went home. Ever since I became a director, I have always wanted to try producing a work that’s set in an expansive universe like Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu. I also told Production I.G.’s CEO Ishikawa (Mitsuhisa), “I want to try making a work set in an expansive universe even for only once.” (laughs) At that time, I wasn’t expecting that Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu would be adapted into anime again, I just thought I wanted to try being involved in the production of a work like that, even only as an episode director. Later, that day, CEO Ishikawa asked me, “Do you want to direct Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu?”

DEVILMAN crybaby: Interview with Uchiyama Kouki (Fudou Akira) and Murase Ayumu (Asuka Ryou)

Posted on February 15, 2018 by lompatlompat

This interview was published in CONTINUE 51. Below I will use Ucchi for Uchiyama Kouki and Ayu for Murase Ayumu.

Actually Uchiyama-san has once appeared in CONTINUE 7 years ago. (Showing them CONTINUE vol. 44.)

Ucchi: Waah—are you publishing pictures of that time (laughs)

Ayu: Oooh, let me see. Whoa, you look so young!

Ucchi: I think I still have this at home. Such a long time ago.

GINGA EIYUU DENSETSU DIE NEUE THESE: Interview with Takagi Noboru (series composition)

Posted on January 31, 2018 by lompatlompat

Please tell us how your participation in the production of The Legend of Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These was decided.

I happened to find that Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu was published in Kindle version, so I read it, thinking “Ah, how I miss this.” Afterwards, I received an e-mail from Production I.G producer Kuroki (Rui) asking me “Are you interested in Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu?” I replied “I’m re-reading it!” (laughs)