Opening the Apocalypse Hotel with CygamesPictures President Nobuhiro Takenaka, Director Kana Shundo, & Screenwriter Shigeru Murakoshi

Among the remains of Tokyo, the remains of the Ginza district are the charming Gourd Hotel. The staff work hard to provide expert services to guests. The only question? Humans left the earth behind.

this Hotel Revelation The anime opened the door to audiences in April and quickly attracted attention for its perfect blend of comedy and emotional moments. The series plays a group of robots, trying to manage a hotel abandoned by customers and adapt to new visitors outside the planet.

We’ll talk to it cygamespictures President Nobuhiro TakeakaDirector Kana Shundoand screenwriter Smith Murakami Regarding making an alternative version of Tokyo’s high-end Ginza area, how the team connects the robots to the audience, and whether the studio has more original anime to work.

When did you first start drafting your thoughts behind it Hotel Revelation? What was the process of developing a story for this original project?

screenwriter Smith Murakami: I think it is takeaka-san around 2020 cygamespictures Come close to me. How to create a story varies from work, but in this case, I first heard Takeaka-san discuss the concepts and project suggestions he said: “I want to make a story about the form of alien life run by robots on the planet where humans disappeared.” Then I created a holistic plan of what a good starting point is and what events would be interesting. During this process, I received [Sōtarō] WADA-SAN, responsible for each plot script, [Director Kana] Shundo-san, and decides the details.

What attracted you after being an assistant director of other anime projects Hotel Revelation As a director?

director Kana Shundo: The decisive factor in my participation is the proposal and Izumi Takemotooriginal character illustration. During the proposal phase, I have read the summary of 12 episodes and think they are highly polished and fun for entertainment. I’ve found it too Izumi TakemotoThe original character illustrations are very attractive. I think these designs have a nostalgic feel, but never out of date, and it exactly matches the original animation project.

As a director, do you have to overcome any specific challenges while doing your work? Hotel Revelation?

Shundo: In past projects I only considered the plot I was responsible for, but when I started working as the director of the project, I had to think about all 12 episodes at the same time and work at the same time, which was hard. Deciding on prioritizing and making decisions within a limited time is always a challenge. Until the end, I caused trouble during the production period due to my own shortcomings. However, thanks to the staff, we were able to complete 12 episodes of TV series.

As President cygamespicturesI’m sure you are responsible for various tasks in the studio. Can you talk to us about your participation Revelation Hotel?

cygamespictures President Nobuhiro Takeaka: I have been involved in the production of the project from the early stages and oversee its overall progress as a production manager. I was allowed to make vague suggestions about the beginning and end of the story and provided some random ideas in the scene session. I think my character is “joking.”

How do you know Hotel Revelation Is it a popular project with the green light? What does the story or character attract you?

Takeaka: I usually decide whether a project is feasible in the initial feed stage. Regarding this work, I think this project will succeed once we solidify Android’s setup in a vision of post-apocalyptic world and ending. If I thought the project would work in an early stage, I wouldn’t decide to continue with the project.

Although the story takes place in an apocalyptic world, the basic idea is to make it an interesting animated series. This is a movie about sadness and joy being two aspects of the same coin that can be interpreted as depending on the audience. This is also because the protagonist is not a human. But I am fascinated by the idea of ​​expressing such a thing.

Most people think that robots are “machines” that lack emotions. How about it Hotel Revelation Use their characters to emotionally connect with the audience?

Murakami: Although the real robot is an “emotionless machine”, the robot at the work is programmed to “manage hotels according to the owner’s beliefs.” This is related to their goal, namely, “maintaining the hotel until the owner returns.” So it’s clear what they want to do and what obstacles they face. I think that when viewers see robots perform their duties so diligently, they feel brave and attach to them as much as they have feelings. I also think they are left behind, and their ridiculous designs play a big role in helping the audience feel attached to the robot.

How do you describe the protagonist and the hotel management robot Yachiyo?

Murakami: There was a time after we started planning the project, Yachiyo was a character that stood out because of “looking ruthless” and “making decisions calmly.” But when we consider this story and consider the latest advances in AI and robots, we start thinking: “If the story was set in the near future, would it be better if the character’s mindset is more humane?” But, for the protagonist alone, that’s not enough. Then, Takeaka-san advises: “What if the robot is equipped with unknown extensions?”

We also tried a story where the robot “showed a response that deviated from the hotelier’s plan.” By doing so, we were able to give Yachiyo a “mystery” that set her apart from other robots of other types. I think it helps her get the appeal she needs to be.

Shundo: I’m trying to see Yachiyo-san as a working woman, not a Moen character. However, because she is a hotel-run robot, she is inflexible and too serious. She is somewhat separated from our human values, and I hope this is portrayed as her unique personality and charm.

Hotel RevelationAfter the social bankruptcy, the environment of Tokyo’s high-end Jinza District. How did the team make the area recognizable as “Ginza” in this sci-fi story? Can viewers discover landmarks? Is Ginza attractive as an environment compared to other wards in Tokyo?

Murakami: When we first created the story situation, we envisioned an actual bell tower as the hotel’s setting, and the commercial facilities in the area would also be the environment, so if you visit Ginza you will recognize many landmarks. But everyone involved in the visual production thought about how to express the “ginza-ness” of the town’s landscape, and the interior of the hotel where the robot lives inhabits a retro and elegant space, while also having the cutting-edge and traditional feel that the area must provide.

The reason why it was chosen for the environment is that, as mentioned in the series, the region’s traditions date back to the Edo era, but have also been at the forefront throughout history, such as Western culture, the influx of department stores, an attractive area with nearby Tokyo Bay.

Takeaka: For “Ginza-ness”, we used the symbolic building of Ginza as the environment and then set the hot spring in front of the Kabukiza Theater. But we left everything else to the director.

The reason we chose Ginza is that this is a high-rise building that expresses the feeling of collapsed civilization to a certain extent and is close to the sea. I also think that if we cause sea levels to rise, we can create a sandy beach near Kinza. Finally, there is no swimsuit plot. One of the charms of Ginza is that it can be called “Zagin”.

Shundo: I want to create a ruined and green landscape while keeping a large amount of cityscapes intact. To achieve this, I created an environment that escaped the Earth due to a mysterious virus.

I use Ginza Wako Department Store as a model for Gingarou Hotel, a very famous landmark. Not only is the building beautiful, but its location facing the intersection is breathtaking. I also think that the Kabukiza Theater on display in the first episode is a monument that has a harmonious feel in the skyscraper Cityscape and is very similar to Ginza.

From Asimo and Pepper to Alter 3. Hotel Revelationor a more fantastic approach?

Murakami: As I mentioned before, when studying this story, we both looked at the current situation of AI and robots and were influenced by how much functionality we could provide to robots. Personally, though, I still think the work is highly fictional entertainment. So, in this regard, I’m not completely rooted in reality, but rather, as Yachiyo saw it, it takes a fantastic approach.

Takeaka: I believe it was drawn in a fantastic way. It depends on the sensitivity of the director and designer.

The previous one cygamespictures The anime series includes other media combinations, such as mobile games. Now, follow Bang Brave Bravern,,,,, Hotel Revelation is another 100% original IP for the studio. Can viewers look forward to more similar projects from the studio in the future?

Takeaka: It takes a lot of time to create the original work. If possible, I began to feel like I was going to focus on adaptation. But I’ve been hearing a lot of feedback from both inside and outside the company and they look forward to our original work. So my feeling that we should continue to create original works has been rekindled.

We have started several original projects. I hope to continue to create exciting and innovative projects.

What would it be if there was a task in your life that could be assigned to a robot?

Murakami: I think it changes from time to time, but as of answering this question, I would say dealing with things. Even if you try to do unused content regularly, you often find yourself unable to throw them away. So it might be a good idea to deal with them quietly without paying attention.

Shundo: I want a robot that can work while I sleep so that my work can last 24 hours a day.

Takeaka: Cost calculation.