Matsuo (abbr. as M below): The highly-anticipated Gintama anime has returned. What are your thoughts?
Sorachi-sensei (abbr. as S below): I already knew at the end of last season that there’d be more anime. Ah, it’s back. That’s how I feel. (lol)
M: Indeed, it’s only been half a year since the last episode last time. Gintama fans must be excited.
S: Actually we wanted to have more original material before it returned, so we wouldn’t have to air reruns. (lol) Oh well… It’s probably because of many things.
M: What is the most memorable part of the anime for you?
S: It’s gotta be Kaien from the Renho arc.
M: Yeah, that was really awesome. It wasn’t Gintama anymore. It became some mecha show.
S: I feel like Sunrise did their best for that. The quality was really high. I didn’t specifically ask them to do that, but they must’ve put in a lot of effort.
M: Have you ever told the anime staff that you’d like them to do something a certain way?
S: I’ve never said that. As long as they’re happy when they work on it. So please also let me work on whatever I like.
M: Well, is that why the voice actors always have to say some crude lines? (lol) Speaking of which, you’ve also voiced for Gintama, haven’t you?
S: I didn’t want to. I was tricked into putting my voice out there.
M: Wait, what happened? (lol)
S: The anime staff asked if I wanted to visit the recording studio. I was really interested, so I went with my first editor.
M: That’d be Oonishi-san, right?
S: Yeah. So when I was at the recording studio, they suddenly said, “Since you’re here, why don’t you record a couple lines?” Why do I have to voice my own lines?
M: It’s really sudden. (lol) You didn’t object?
S: It wasn’t a situation where I could object. Everyone was looking at me with an expression that said “You will, right?” Then my editor patted my shoulder and said, “Sorachi-kun, looks like you have to.” I was tricked. Adults are dirty. So I decided that I’ll never go to the recording studio ever again.
M: Do you have anything to say to the representative of the anime staff, Director Fujita?
S: Sorry I revealed your divorce in the last episode.
M: …Hey, that wasn’t sincere at all! That was completely cruel. (lol) Well then, say something to the Gintama fans.
S: The Gintama anime is fun, but the original work is more fun. Please buy the Jump Comic Gintama.
M: By the way, JC Gintama vol. 46 is out. Thank you, Sorachi-sensei, for making time for this interview.
*
M: Hello Director Fujita.
Director Fujita (abbr. as F below): Hello.
M: Please tell us why we should watch Gintama.
F: Yes, I believe anyone who’s read the original work will know, that if you read the story about Ichiko and her fortune energy and Momiji…
M: …Um… Director Fujita. I think you got the wrong show. Fortune energy and the god of poverty and so on have nothing to do with Gintama…
F: Oh, sorry. I mixed up the shows I work on.
M: (thinks: Is this director really OK?!) Uh, so please tell us one more time what’s great about this show.
F: Right, it’s how we show Gin-san entering the ZONE during a basketball match. That part doesn’t lose to the manga.
M: …No, wait… Gin-san wasn’t called the “Generation of Miracles” during the Joui war era… It’s gonna be troublesome if you keep talking about other shows…
F: Oh, sorry. I work on so many shows that I’m getting confused.
M: (thinks: Wait, Director Fujita has absolutely nothing to do with that show.)
F: Alright, I’ll stop joking. The Kintama arc is all about the story between Gintoki and Kintoki.
M: (thinks: Oh thank god, we’re finally back to normal.) Nakamura Yuuichi-san is voicing Kintoki in the Kintama arc. His voice must be perfect for Kintoki, right?
F: Yes, because Kintoki is a gentle and candid man, and I think his voice gives that impression.
M: What’s it like at the recording studio?
F: A lot of characters show up in the Kintama arc, so it’s very lively. I think it’s great for the show that people are having fun in the studio.
M: The Kintama arc will only get more interesting. Going back to Kaien in the Renho arc, Sorachi-sensei was really impressed. What was it like back then?
F: It was comparable to the most difficult of difficulties. It was as hard as the battle scene toward the end of the 4 Devas arc. We had to put in a lot of effort.
M: It was a lot of work.
F: Yes, but not many of our staff members knew how to draw robots properly. We had to ask a lot of the other studios before we could finish it.
M: It seems like the anime is on a tight schedule like the manga is. Speaking of which, the anime has some original episodes. Were you inspired by Sorachi-sensei’s style when you made them?
F: Even if we try to imitate Sorachi-sensei’s unique style, it’s hard to get across the feeling of the manga. Which is why we try to create content that’s unique to animation. So we’re aiming for things that Sorachi-sensei can’t do.
M: That must be why there’s some classics in the anime-only episodes. Well, do you have anything to say to Sorachi-sensei?
F: Nothing specifically. He revealed my divorce in the last episode, so if I get my hands on something about him, I’ll reveal it in the anime.
M: Looks like someone’s seeking revenge. But I’m also a bit happy about that. Finally, say something to the readers.
F: DVD vol 1 for Binbogami ga is out.
M: Excuse me. I’m gonna be angry.
F: Joking. (lol) The last episode ended in that manner, I really don’t know how we should return. But we’ll do our best.
M: Thank you very much. The Gintama anime is airing every Thursday at 6PM on TV Tokyo. Please don’t forget to watch it.
