Celebrating twenty-five years together, the two comic artists behind it Taokeng Made The long-awaited return arrive Animation Expo 2025 is far away. Apart from their anniversary, the anime news network has plenty of opportunities to talk to them. An’s first interview Be with them twenty years ago. At that time, they were still there Prism color palette,,,,, Honeyand Rose. Now they are known for these champions and the famous “Cool and Spicy” series, Shugo Chara!
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Talked with two artists, Banri Sendo and Shibuko Ebara, who made up TaokengThey discussed their time in Los Angeles, their comic creation process, and their style of collaborative work.
Taokeng Hosting is also Special exhibition for the 25th anniversary From July 18 to August 14, 2025 in Tokyo. Animation Expo Special previews are provided for attendees and many comic panel replicas are provided. But there is more to be available at the exhibition, including a first peek behind the scenes TaokengThe creative process includes their drafts, plot boards and ultimate art.
Throughout your career, spanning two and a half years, you have painted comics for different genres like shōnen (Zombie loan/Honey), shōjo ((Shugo Chara!), and his ((Rose). Which type is the hardest to write?
Taokeng: There is no particularly difficult or easy type. If we are going to discuss something challenging, Shugo Chara! It is challenging to aim for children to read and to ensure that we don’t communicate anything wrongly. We are very careful not to mix things that are considered moral with things that are considered wrong.
As a quick follow-up, Rose Handle hikikomori character. Is this difficult to write?
Taokeng: We think this is just a personality trait. Hikikomori was not widely regarded as a major social issue at the time and did not really consider what to consider or discuss in discussions with the editor.
English-speaking fans are most familiar Shugo Chara! and Rosethere are sequels Shugo Chara! Jewelry clown (2024-) and Rose Girl 0 (2016-2019). How did you decide on the story of the sequel? Specifically, did you decide to make a sequel?
Taokeng: about Rose Girl 0we initially had the idea of creating derivatives and naturally evolved from there. As for Shugo Chara! Jewelry clownthanks to the enthusiastic support of many fans, we received a quote for the sequel a while ago. We let the idea brew for a while and eventually get serialized.
Shugo Chara! Jewelry clown Technically it is also the second sequel, because it already exists Shugo Chara! kindness?
Taokeng: encore Mainly connected to the main series without interruption and as it is positioned as a derivative Rose Girl 0we wrote it in one go, and we didn’t really think it was divided into two parts.
Have you ever disagree with the story or the character when developing a new story?
Taokeng: Well, we often clash about ideas, but we always see it as an opportunity to come up with better things. We exchange opinions and talk until we are all satisfied and through the process, the story becomes more refined. It’s definitely hard when we disagree, but by hiring what the other person really wants to express, we create something stronger. People sometimes think we are fighting, but that’s not the case at all. If so, Taozi and Keng would have gone their different ways long ago. (laugh)
Who is your favorite character Shugo Chara!?
Taokeng: As an author, it is difficult to choose one. But if we had to do that, it would be Amu-chan, because she is the main character that both of us sympathize with the most.
for Shugo Chara! Jewelry clownAMU is older, but she is still the cool and spicy girl we know. Why did you initially choose to represent her with a “cool and spicy” personality?
Taokeng: We started with the story and then developed the characters. The idea is to create a character who has the version of herself she wants to be and then consider how to express the gap between her ideal self and her current self.
We didn’t make her a completely honest, straightforward girl, and we hope she feels a little disconnected – someone covers things up, suppresses things and poses on the front lines. But at the same time, we don’t want this to feel negative. We hope she meets cool people – maybe a little far away or hard to approach – but it’s still admirable.
She is often considered cool or amazing, but deep down, she really wants to be as cheerful and fit as everyone else. We try not to make her too serious, but instead give her a personality gap that makes her look formed from the outside.
Because she is still young, she has been worried about how others see her – she is the kind of child who even thinks about it when she is at home. If she is a little unusual, it may be because the audience noticed the “gap” of her personality from the very beginning.
From your first published comics to your recent ones, are there any other stories or genres you want to explore?
Taokeng: Well, now we are very focused on Shugo Chara! Jewelry clownwe don’t have much room to think about anything else. But these thoughts often pop up in our minds, so maybe sometimes it comes into our minds.
Fans can participate Taokeng The 25th Anniversary Exhibition held in Tokyo until August 14, 2025! Tickets are being sold here You can find more information about the exhibition Official website.
