Oshii: I’m not salty, I’m relating to him. I love Mr. Tomino. Actually, Miya-san (Miyazaki) loves him too. They were often talking on the phone. Miya-san and Mr. Tomino actually get along quite well.
–What?!
Oshii: Isn’t it interesting? Miya-san hates Mushi-Pro so he hates Dezaki Osamu and Ashita no Joe. But he loved Tomino with Mushi-Pro roots. Miya-san likes people who’ve suffered and he knows Tomino had a hard time at Mushi-Pro so that’s part of it. Both Miya-san and I love Tomino but Tomino himself tends to be self-depreciative. He always says things like “I am just someone who couldn’t become a novelist; In the end, all I’m doing is making ads for toy shops.” He continues to hold these negative perceptions towards anime. When I joined the industry, those feelings were still there but I hated it. “Why do we have to hold these complexes? We should be able to have confidence in our work” is how I feel. So I love him but if you ask me whether I want to meet with Tomino I’d be a bit hesitant.
We’ve gotten in a fight before. We met when Mr. Tomino came to see my older sister performing a play at the Robot Museum in Ueno (2007). We were practically screaming at each other “SHUT UP!”
So I thought I’d never see him again but later Tomino came up to me and hugged me, “Oshii chan~~~ Sorry for before” in a cat-like voice. I had no choice but to say “Okay okay, get off me.” and make up with him.