In the 1960s, the ultimate arrogance, "The Moon and Lycra and the Vampire Princess" supervised an interview with Akira Yokoyama
October 2021 Japan's shin "Moon and Lycra and the Vampire Princess" is a science fiction fantasy anime adapted from the light novel of the same name by Keisuke Makino. In this article, the animation supervisor Akitoshi Yokoyama conducts interviews about the charm of the game and his exchanges with Keisuke Makino.
After the end of the world war, two superpowers are opposed to each other. In the Federation of Soviet Republics that want to develop the universe, the romance of vampires and human beings struggling is super pure, dramatic, and blood-boiling.
Irina, a vampire girl who is discriminated against as a "cursed race", is taken to a base as an experimental subject for manned space flight. Initially hostile to humans, Lev was in charge of monitoring her, and the two gradually opened up as they trained together. The story begins with a special relationship, and the plot of the two hearts gradually moving together is unfolding, which makes people's chests warm!
In addition, Irina, who for some reason strongly wants to go to the moon, is also charming to overcome many difficulties. In fact, Irina's special ability as a vampire is not much higher than that of humans. When flying into the universe, she will have a fatal weakness, and in order to overcome the weakness, she will pay blood and sweat efforts. Lev, who desperately assisted Irina, was also very handsome!
Let's cheer up the enthusiasm of the two of us who rushed to the universe with blood, sweat, and tears!
——When you read the original novel, what did you think was the charm of this work?
Yokoyama: The development of the universe based on historical facts, and the depiction of the socialist countries that existed in the past, are very attractive. Then, the protagonists Irina and Lev have "yearning for the universe", which also highlights their charm. Originally, my yearning for the universe was relatively strong, so it was still more resonant.
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Yokoyama: I want to delicately describe irina's changes in feelings for Lev. I want to show the deep bond between like-minded people who transcend countries and races.
——Mr. Keisuke Makino also served as the screenwriter coordinator of the anime (series composition). What kind of communication about animation?
Yokoyama: I suggested to Makino-sensei to "reconstruct the rhythm of the anime version." Specifically, we discussed the balance of the first and second volumes of the original novel, making it 7 to 3 or so, and asked the teacher to build the overall framework. Irina, the sun-hating vampire, and her training are carried out at night, but if there is no depiction of sunlight at all, the picture will always be dim. So I asked the teacher to discuss the appropriate activity time. In addition, the teacher was also explained to the teacher some of the physical abilities and descriptions of Irina that I thought of, and the teacher helped to reject some things that could not be done, and set a ceiling on Irina's behavior.
- Please talk about the relationship between Irina and Lev.
Yokoyama: Originally, they had their own biased intelligence and environment, anger against humans, and fear of vampires. However, with the development of the plot, in the process of direct contact between the two, they will know the real appearance of the other party and open their hearts.
——What was your impression when deciding to voice Irina by Miss Emi Hayahara?
Yokoyama: I don't think I can afford to fail (laughs). Leaving that aside, Miss Hayashi Hara delicately and convincingly performed Irina's emotional changes, which surprised me very much. Seeing her acting skills, I also discovered a new side of Irina again.
Tell us about Irina's abilities as a vampire.
Yokoyama: "No sense of taste, very good sense of smell", "Afraid of the sun, with night vision in the dark", "Resistant to cold", etc. are more like vampire styles. In addition, I personally think irina's instinctive instincts are excellent.
- Irina is a vampire, which gives the story a big plot development. What does she think of herself as a vampire?
Yokoyama: Nature. It feels like a contradictory collection of both self-denial and self-affirmation.
——In addition to this work, what other impressive works have "Vampire" appeared?
Yokoyama: I watched the movie "Hell Stolen Corpse thief" when I was a child. This is a film in which parasitic cosmic creatures continue to attack humans, causing psychological shadows.
——This work is based on the competition for cosmic development during the Cold War between East and West in the 1960s, and seems to have some classic mechanical depictions.
Yokoyama: Regarding mechanical depictions, audience friends should pay attention to the vending machines and side tricycles where Lev and Irina drink carbonated water. In terms of art settings, the training facilities for many astronauts are a highlight.
——Please say a few words to the readers and friends who are looking forward to the start of the animation.
Yokoyama: The stage of the story of this game is the socialist country that was elevated from 1959 to 1961. However, some of the problems we face now are projected. Because of the wealth of information and education, it will be difficult for us to see the truth. I hope that the audience can take what happened to Irina and Lev not as someone else's business, but project it on their current self. This is an animation produced by the arvo animation company production staff and related people together. It will show the audience the ultimate pride of the 1960s!