Press Interview Script [STEM 1A10]

[Caller] Salutations, everyone. Thank you for joining us for our press conference with Japanimation
connoisseur Hakugaku Rei. Mr. Rei will deliver some opening remarks and then we will be very happy
to take your questions. I am sure you have been warned before, but if everyone could just turn off
their cellphones and put their beepers on vibrate, that would be great; and when you ask your
question if you could please identify yourself and your news organization. Mr. Hakugaku Rei.

[HakRei] Thank you for coming. I am flattered to think that you all value my critiques even though I
do not deserve such honor. I am not going to drag this speech any longer, so fire away the questions.
Thank you very much.

[Caller] Yes, sir; right here in the second row. There are microphones right in the audience.

[Q-1] Thank you. Welcome, Mr. Rei, to Akihabara. Im ____, a reporter who researches about genres.
So, intrinsically, I am only curious about what your favorite anime genre is, as someone who had seen
a whopping 839 anime series.

[HakRei] Well, I must say it is the psychological genre by far. I mean, there is nothing more
fascinating than mind games. Liar game, although it isnt an anime, is the very epitome of
psychological. Engaging in battles of wits, rather than brawn, doesnt that just make your heart race?
Whats more? Testing ones perspicacity, reading between the lines, trying to understand the
perspectives by putting ones feet in their shoes, decoding indescribably intricate ciphers, need I go
on? I am quite saddened by the fact that these psychological gems are a dying breed. The titles
Monster, Death Note, and Paranoia Agent are probably the best of their kind. Thank you.

[Caller] Yes, you in the front row.

[Q-2] Hi, name is ____, an aspiring freelance writer. You see, there have been some trolls who trigger
otaku by calling anime, cartoon. Their arguments are nothing short of plausible; however, I want to
hear the real truth behind this issue. So, can you tell me, what exactly is the difference between
anime and cartoon?

[HakRei] Its quite simple, really. Before I discuss the differences between the two, let me note that
both anime and cartoon are animations. They are basically the same thing, except for their origins.
Any animation made in Japan is considered Japanimation, or anime for short. In contrast, any
animation made by Westerners is called cartoon. For instance, Spongebob Squarepants is irrefutably
not an anime because it was made by Westerners, hence it is a cartoon. Similarly, Fairy Tail isnt a
cartoon but an anime because it wasnt made by Westerners. Also, the Japanese have styles of
drawing character eyes evidently different from the Westerners. That should be ample explanation.
Thank you.

[Caller] Yes, you over there.

[Q-3] Hello, youre looking at the President of the One Piece Fan Club, _____. I have sensed that quite
a lot of the otaku today have been griping about the anime and mangas absurd length. They say that
the series has become a drag. The question is: Do you have the same opinion or not?

[HakRei] Interestingly enough, no. I myself have read only the first 805 chapters of One Piece. I read
those 805 chapters in less than a month. And I must say that it is just as interesting as before.
Theoretically speaking, I suppose that the anime, which takes much longer to consume than the
manga, may be a bit of a drag, given the fillers thrown into the mix. On a side note, I noticed that the
series has quite improved on the fanservice front, at the expense of some humor. With Luffy being
stupid as ever, with the rest of the cast improving gradually, I fail to see how it can be a drag to
indulge in this masterpiece written and drawn by a brilliant mind. I hope that answers your question.
Thank you.

[Caller] You at the back, yes.

[Q-4] Hi, name is _____, from Toho Co. Ltd., I am sure youve heard of the latest breakthrough anime
movie entitled Kimi No Na Wa. According to MAL, it has topped all other anime in existence in terms of
ratings. Do you think it deserves the rating of 9.4 from MAL or is it plain overrated?

[HakRei] Ah ha ha, yes. Ive seen that Makoto Shinkai film. Let me give a quick review of it. Lets
seeKimi No Na Wa. opens with a radiant comet traversing over the night sky, splitting apart into
various meteors that illuminate and streak the heavens. Stars and celestial imagery often feature in
Makoto Shinkais films, and the brilliance of the opening set piece could be dismissed as eye-candy.
However, its significance is not fully understood until much later. To speak of names, one does not
invoke Makoto Shinkai in conjunction with the phrase happy ending. To say that he has made his
fame off producing romance anime is only half the story, as his works exploration of themes such as
distance and unrequited love often impart a wistful and bittersweet aftertaste. Byousoku 5
Centimeter, his most famous title to date, is both loved and reviled for its directorial willingness to
defy the sort of resolution that viewers have come to expect out of the romance genre. While Kimi No
Na Wa. continues to incorporate motifs and concepts familiar to past Shinkai works, it reflects a
maturation of his artistic vision to tell a tale of love and determination that transcends time, distance,
and even apocalyptic odds. The film centers on two characters, Mitsuha Miyamizu a schoolgirl in
rural Japan who dreams of going to the city, and Taki Tachibana, an aspiring architectural student in
Tokyo. With the passing of a rare comet, the two start imagining out of body experiences in which their
consciousness swaps with each other while they sleep and dream. This leads to no shortage of
comedic moments, as the two characters take turns exploring and manipulating their alternate lives
and bodies. As the nature of their dreamlike, out of body experiences is revealed, the two resolve to
meet each other. But in their attempt to do so, a dark truth of their relationship emerges, accelerating
the story and replacing the comedic elements with a suspenseful quest to find each other and
ultimately, race against time. Kimi No Na Wa. weaves a complex, multilayered narrative that
explores the struggle of human emotions against fate. You can feel Mitsuha and Takis determination,
confusion, and desperation as they toil against temporal reality, a journey that leaves viewers equal
parts thrilled and emotionally exhausted. Makoto Shinkai reaffirms his place at the forefront of
animation, as the films stunning backgrounds and fluid motion easily make this one of the most
visually ambitious anime of the past year. Superb art direction and character designs with the
assistance of Masayoshi Tanaka give the film a modern, colorful aesthetic. Though some might be
repelled or jaded by segments that feel like emotional manipulation especially when considering
Shinkais past filmography Kimi No Na Wa. succeeds in delivering an engrossing experience,
complete with magnificent set pieces, laughs, and heart-wrenching, gripping drama. This film the
culmination of Shinkais skill in exploring the melancholy aspects of love and distance, is just as much
a lesson on the value of finding happiness through unshakeable resolve, initiative, and overcoming
doubt and hesitation. But thats not all; there lies some huge flaws which made me think that this
anime is overrated. The unexplained development of the two main characters is perhaps the most
major flaw that the film has got. If you look at it from a logical standpoint, Taki and Mitsuha should
have just been friends first, not having romantic feelings towards each other already. Thats all. Thank
you.

[Caller] Ok, you over there.

[Q-5] (Thank you. Hi, Mr. Rei. Yours truly is a veteran journalist working alone.) Ive gotten wind of the
fact that the anime industries today have been teaming up to take down anime piracy sites, which
they claim engender a huge loss in profit. So, can you give us your opinion regarding the ongoing
anime piracy ban? Do you think such a thing is a detriment to the anime industry?

[HakRei] (As expected of a veteran, you weave good questions.) Ill be frank, I really doubt that these
anime pirates can be wiped out, especially not when VPNs and file-hosting services exist. But I
suppose that thats beside the point. Anyhow, I believe that they, the anime industry, claimed to have
had a huge loss of 560 billion yen in the past year in China. These Chinese pirates are probably the
best of the best. Dont get me wrong, it is not like I support piracy but I think that piracy has
significantly widened fan-bases. Sure, the publicity gained might not completely offset the loss from
piracy but the difference should be reasonable enough. Ergo, things should be left as is, instead of
spending money on futile things. Thats all. Thank you.

[Caller] You there, go on.

[Q-6] Its me again, so, Im curious about one more thing, well, two things actually. Do you think
anime is for kids? If so, is it a bad influence to them?

[HakRei] It depends on the anime. Assuming that by kids, you mean the ones less than 13 years of
age, anime rated G for general are the ones completely appropriate and safe for them. Those kinds of
anime are relatively rare though, compared to their PG13 and R17 counterparts. The most common
anime are usually PG13, and may portray some bad ideas that a kid might imitate, its nothing too
serious though. But if it is R17, which most certainly includes mind-rending situations, gore galore,
profanity and occasional partial nudity, you would most likely want to keep it out of kids reach. I cant
stress it enough; just let the kids watch the anime tailor-made for them if you are a safety freak.

[Caller] Yes sir, you.

[Q-7] This might seem like a silly question but are there really benefits in watching anime? Some
people even claim that anime is Satanic.

[HakRei] Nah, its not silly at all, but perhaps the Satanic part is. There are lots of benefits in
watching anime. Anime doesnt just entertain people or kill time. Enhanced creativity, better sense of
humor, life lessons, stress reliever, and learning of Japanese language and culture, it would be fair to
consider them as benefits, yes? Now let me elaborate each part a bit. Your creativity is enhanced
because anime is very versatile, virtually any story can be expressed through this medium. Next, the
jokes portrayed in anime have their laugh-inducing factor amplified by the sheer ability of anime
characters to express their emotions clearly. Life lessons, it depends on which anime one is watching
and how one interprets the show, I guarantee you though, that some anime have quotes that cut
really deep. That aside, anime also serves to relieve stress. I am not talking about escapism but more
on reducing the psychological worries. Last but not least, by anime, you learn a bit about the Japanese
language and culture. The clothes they wear, the houses they live in, the trains they ride on, the food
they eat and cook, their eccentric traditions, need I go on? My point is that one shouldnt jump into
conclusions and embrace the anime fandom.

[Caller] Okay, you over there, sir.

[Q-8] I am sorry if this seems a wee bit too personal. But its not every day you get a chance to ask a
great anime aficionado such as yourself. So, why do you watch anime?

[HakRei] Its fine. Lets see. The main reason I watch anime isescapism. Yes, and I am not in the
slightest bit ashamed. Imagine having a really decent and happy life for your first 12 years of
existence. Only to have it turned upside down due to a certain incident that put one of your parents
unable to move well anymore, thus engendering unemployment and of course its consequent which I
dont need to mention. Whilst taking care of the aforementioned parent, this other parent also falls ill.
Like it couldnt get any worse, some more pitiable incidents follow. With nowhere to go, it is only
understandable to go to the route of anime fandom. With the benefits I mentioned one question ago;
it is like killing two birds with one stone. A really sagacious decision, wouldnt you think so?

[Caller] Uh-oh, were running a bit late, one more question it is. You over there, if you would please
make haste.

[Q-9] Ok, quick question, lets say 25-40 years from now, would you still watch anime?

[HakRei] Eh, that goes without saying, yes! Just kidding. Who knows? Maybe if my eyesight does not
deteriorate much then Ill do so. Otherwise, I dont think I can bear watching something I wont
understand. This means, when I age by that much, I would probably be focusing more on manga. I
sure hope that 3D CGI does not take over the anime industry until then. 2D drawings are still the best.
I believe that will be all. Thank you.

[Caller] Alright everyone. That concludes our press conference with the Japanimation connoisseur of
great renown, Hakugaku Rei. Once again, thank you.