Kyokai no RINNE - I Asked Rumiko Takahashi, the Original Author! Part 1 & 2

Translation by: Dylan Acres

Rumiko Takahashi discusses Kyokai no RINNE as its third season got underway in Japan.

Part 1

Please tell us your frank impression of the anime Kyokai no RINNE as the original author.

Takahashi: First of all, it is very nice that it’s made easy for children to understand. Because I think anime is primarily for children. Ultimately, I’m very grateful that the voice actors play the characters so carefully.

Who is the most lively voiced character?

Takahashi: Well I never imagined the voice of Sakura, so I think it's her in that sense. Primarily, she’s very calm and her emotional ups and downs are not so pronounced in the original manga, but while staying true to those characteristics (Marina Inoue) also manages to play her very cute and attractive. So I feel like “you did it!”

Another voice actor said, "Because Inoue-san keeps to a standardized line others are able (in their performance) to go off and be more adventurous.” I'm very grateful that she's created that situation. ^[1]

In Kyokai no RINNE, voice actors who have appeared in past Rumic works also appear...
(Kappei Yamaguchi as Sabato Rokudo and starred in Ranma 1/2 and Inuyasha, Satsuki Yukino as Tamako starred in Inuyasha, and Megumi Hayashibara as Otome Rokudo/Ichigo starred in Ranma 1/2.)

Takahashi: Kappei-san is Kappei-san (laughs) I think he's like no one else (laughs). Kappei-san just has to be there. He creates a great sense of security I think? And I thought Yukino-san was "she's so good." She played a third year junior-high schooler in Inuyasha, but this time she plays a grandma without any problem. I think she does it so authentically. And Ms. Hayashibara also appears as a young girl. Actually, I wanted Ms. Hayashibara to come out and play roles in anime (since Ranma 1/2). I like her voice very much. After the end of Ranma 1/2 I hoped to see her again, but I didn't have any ideas who she could play, and then the right role just appears and I think it fits her perfectly!

Who is your favorite character in RINNE?

Takahashi: I wonder if I like Rokumon the most. There are times when I've had characters of that size at loggerheads with the main character. But Rokumon's not like that. Even though he's typically always close at hand with the main character I try to give them both cool things to do, though sometimes, I neglect the main character out of my own self-interest (laughs).
Hitomi Nabatame's voice is very good and it feels perfect. I think she’s doing exactly what the original manga says.

There are many animals with strange eyes in this series, but...

Takahashi: I can't help it if I were to sketch them more directly. I want to give them a bit of personality, and I think they are more interesting that way, so I draw animals like that. I don't have any particular models for the animals or any of the other characters, they are all figments of my imagination.

What is the most important thing in drawing Kyokai no RINNE?

Takahashi: The concept I’m dealing with in the manga is the death of people, but I don’t want to make it too dark, and maybe I’m just stupid but I do want to do it with respect. I wonder if it's because I want to become more comfortable about death. But the most important thing is to not feel depressed after reading it.

Part 2

Are you influenced by the anime?

Takahashi: Also, it may not be the same as influence, but when I see comments about the anime on the internet, I am happy to see that the character is accepted. ^[2] I don't look at any comments on manga. I'll just look at the half of the comment concerning the anime (laughs).

(Everyone involved bursts into laughter)

Takahashi: (laughs) This isn't concerning the online reaction, but I'm very happy to hear that many children are watching the anime. I hope that what I draw is something that can be enjoyed by children and families without thinking about anything that's too difficult.

Do you have any rules that you follow when you create a work?

Takahashi: I don’t think too much about future developments. Because even if you think about it, it may change as you draw. Even if I have set a certain goal, there are many ways to get there, and I don't want to limit myself to one specific route. In the end, I ponder ideas that I think I should drop but then I wonder if keeping it going would be good too. But isn’t it pointless if you’re the one drawing it and you aren’t interested? It's not fun if I'm drawing and worried about things "not going as I expected".

What is important in drawing manga?

Takahashi: At the end of the day the main thing is to not cause discomfort to the reader. By that I mean don't insult people in your work . I'll do things like "hitting" and "kicking" (in the manga), but I think there is definitely a "line that shouldn't be crossed," so I don't go near it. ^[3]

Were there any NHK anime that were particularly memorable for you?

Takahashi: There’s Future Boy Conan (未来少年コナン). I also watched Nintama Rantaro (忍たま乱太郎).

Do you have a favorite NHK program?

Takahashi: It would be General Clinic Doctor G (ドクターG). It’s simply fascinating. Also, I like art-related programs.

Who are the manga artists who influenced you?

Takahashi: Originally my manga influences were Fujio Akatsuka-sensei (赤塚不二夫) and Fujiko Fujio-sensei (藤子不二雄). Others are Tetsuya Chiba-sensei (ちばてつや) and Go Nagai-sensei (永井豪). Ryoichi Ikegami-sensei (池上遼一) is someone in who's footsteps I longed to follow. Actually, it's no exaggeration to say that I became a mangaka to meet Ryoichi Ikegami (laughs). ^[4]

What does manga mean to Takahashi-sensei?

Takahashi: It's really a part of my life, and I don't think I would do anything else if I stopped drawing manga. I've never wanted to quit . Anyway, I like to draw manga, so even though it's physically difficult, it's better than not drawing.

What is the most memorable work you have drawn so far?

Takahashi: I'm often asked this, but whatever I’m currently drawing is the most important thing at the moment. It is absolutely pointless to dwell on past works. So I don't.

Finally, do you have a message for the viewers?

Takahashi: I think the anime is best suited for people to just relax and feel comfortable watching it. I hope everyone enjoys it.

Thank you for your cooperation, Rumiko Takahashi! The third season of the Kyokai no RINNE anime is in its final stages.

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Footnotes

• [1] Rumiko Takahashi has spoken about her own difficulty in understanding Sakura and reading her personality.
• [2] This is likely the first acknowledgment Takahashi ever made in print that she had some understanding or involvement with the internet. Earlier interviews in English left a lingering impression that she was not much of a technophile when it came to computers.
• [3] This gives the wrong impression that Takahashi shys away from violence in her manga. While her violence is not over the top, she has had particularly brutal scenes in her work including characters having their eye gouged out, being nearly decapitated by a chainsaw and being hung upside down and having their throat slit.
• [4] Of the artists she has named Takahashi has frequently cited Tetsuya Chiba's Ashita no Joe as one of her all time favorite series. Ryoichi Ikegami (池上遼一) is by far Takahashi's biggest influence and favorite artist as she has professed many times. His work includes Crying Freeman (クライング フリーマン), Sanctuary (サンクチュアリ) and Wounded Man (傷追い人).

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