Pompeo: The Cinéphile just opened in auditoriums in Japan on Friday. In light of Shogo Sugitani’s manga of a similar name, the anime film is tied in with making a true-to-life and is additionally CLAP’s first major enlivened work. Anime News Network addressed chief Takayuki Hirao by means of video call to become familiar with making anime under COVID-19, Hirao’s standpoint as a chief, and his amazing association with the film.
There isn’t a lot of data about this anime delivered at this point, so to begin with, could you sum up the story for us?
TAKAYUKI HIRAO: Pompo: The Cinéphile started as a manga that was delivered on the pixie. It’s set in America in a spot called Nyallywood, a reference to Hollywood. It recounts the tale of a filmmaker named Pompo and a hopeful movie producer named Gene. There’s likewise the wannabe entertainer Natalie. Pompeo prompts them and recognizes their abilities, and they make a film together called Meister. For Gene and Natalie, it’s their first time making a film, so will they succeed? That is what is the issue here.
Prior to doing this meeting, I had the chance to peruse the first manga. There’s a character named Corvette, and I was astounded that his #1 movie is Magical Sisters Yoyo and Nene, which you additionally coordinated. I’d prefer to ask what was your impression when you read that scene.
I, when all is said and done, had no clue about it until somebody acquainted me with the manga. I didn’t realize that sort of manga existed. I felt astonished when I found that a character in the manga calls Magical Sisters Yoyo and Nene one of his number one movies. I had no correspondence with the maker about it; another person advised me. So it was a finished fortuitous event.
So did it have anything to do with why you have chosen to coordinate this film after it was raised to you?
The individual who acquainted me with Pompo is a maker. He requested that I read the manga and mention to him my opinion about it. From that point, I was inquired as to whether I needed to coordinate the film. It wasn’t simply a question of whether it was fascinating, however, whether it has the topics I need to investigate as a chief.
One of the subjects that surfaced when we examined Pompo: The Cinéphile was the way it doesn’t have an unmistakable miscreant. In that sense, it’s like Magical Sisters Yoyo and Nene. That was something I loved about Pompo, which was one reason I chose to coordinate the film. It has topics that I need to communicate.
When I was perusing the manga, a specific line stood apart to me: “Individuals who have gotten away from reality will make a world only for them.” Does that line additionally sound accurate for you?
Well, in actuality, it is one of the integral reasons why somebody will have the inspiration to make a story. From that point onward, when you’re really attempting to make the story and convey it to others, I don’t believe that it’s sufficient without anyone else. That is my sincere belief. Relational abilities are significant, and you need to remember how others will see your work. In case you’re the sort of individual who can take advantage of what’s inside you and it’s acknowledged by everybody actually like that, then, at that point, you’re presumably a virtuoso.
How much would you be able to identify with the narrative of Pompo from the situation of a chief?
I can identify with the sensation of making things and the glad parts where they go around and cooperate collectively. It resembles the continuation of a school celebration. The movement has that feeling as well, so that part is relatable. It’s an optimistic picture, you know?
There was a different line in the first work that stood apart from me. “Indeed, even anime can become a film.” Can you concur with that perspective?
Is it accurate to say that you are discussing whether anime can bring you into a world and cause you to feel as though you’re truly there in the manner a film can?
Definitely, something to that effect.
By and by, that is something I focus on when I make anime. The facts confirm that contrasted with a surprisingly realistic film with genuine entertainers shot in a genuine area, an anime can’t portray a feeling of reality on a remarkable same level. Nonetheless, it tends to be simpler to pass on things like topics, imagery, and characters. Assuming the crowd can comprehend and associate with those things, I believe that is associated with the true-to-life experience.
There have been a couple of anime about making anime as of not long ago, yet not many about making a true-to-life film. Did you at any point have an individual interest in making surprisingly realistic movies yourself?
Better believe it. I’m an Osaka Designers’ College former student, and I generally had an interest in making it true to life. I at first considered getting into the entertainment world, however, that didn’t wind up working out. I wound up picking an activity since I like anime. Be that as it may, assuming we’re discussing individual interests, no doubt, I’ve generally had an interest in surprisingly realistic movies.
For the works you’ve been engaged with up until this point, have you at any point been cognizant about having surprisingly realistic impacts?
No doubt, I may have impacts. Albeit, that was the pattern at the time I turned into a chief. There was a development to make the compositing in anime look more like something recorded with a genuine camera, that is as yet proceeding right up ’til the present time. For instance, there are impacts duplicating a camera focal point, and the lighting is finished with thought to how shadows would show up if the Series were shot in a genuine area. My own work can be viewed as a feature of that pattern.
Concerning how that applies to this film, there are two sections to it: The principle story and the film-inside a-film. The fundamental story is made such that’s more picture-like, while the film-inside a-film is made as though it were shot with a camera. The thing that matters is that the previous is drawn in the wake of imagining it through the inner being, while the last is reproducing what can be appeared through a camera.
You’ve been engaged with various ufotable works. I feel that there are numerous ufotable works that hang out in a true-to-life way, so did you learn anything about making realistic anime at ufotable?
One of my enormous takeaways from ufotable is the manner by which to deal with music. Regularly with anime, there’s a sound chief. They’re typically the ones to choose which soundtrack to play at which times, however at ufotable they let me do all that myself. A few sentiments can’t be communicated through words alone, however, they can be communicated close by music. With the correct melodic decisions, you can improve the realistic experience twice or triple. That is the thing that I learned at ufotable.
Is there anything you’ve battled with making anime amidst Covid?
At the studio, we separate the work areas and hold gatherings by means of video meetings, in spite of the fact that I can’t exactly become accustomed to it (chuckles). At the point when you’re making movement or any sort of film, there is an astonishing measure of subtleties that you pass on to your group face to face while you’re chipping away at it. It’s sort of lacking when you do a video call. It’s harder for individuals to comprehend what you truly mean. There are times when the work takes more time to do, therefore.
I feel obligated to the staff of Pompeo. They’ve been not difficult to work with, and they’ve continued with the creation untiringly, so I don’t feel like our work has been significantly postponed. Everybody has a great deal of inspiration.
