Interview with Takanori Aki (Good Smile Company), Planner of “Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet” 3/4

The fascinating world of figures

Ishikawa: This is not related to Gargantia, but I would like you to tell us how you ended up with this kind of Nendoroid and figure work.

Aki: It’s not like I started with figure-related work. Even in this company, in the beginning, there were voice actors here for public entertainment. I became a manager, and just when I was wondering what to do, among the talents we managed, there was Max Watanabe, the president of a figure company called Max Factory. He is a very charismatic person in the model world. He appears on TV and radio, and he also helped in writing books. As I was working with Watanabe, I had the chance to read some books about figures, and I was moved when I realized that their power of expression that makes you think they are beautiful and amazing, still belonged to the underground figure world. At that time, they were called garage kits, complete figures were rarely sold. With an example, they were the simpler versions of plastic model kits, where the legs and hands were thrown inside a box in an incomplete state, those were popular back then.

Ishikawa: In a condition like capsule toys?

Aki: No, bigger and more solid. Finishing up the figure, assembling and painting it yourself was quite popular through events, mainly WonFes. Completing a garage kit requires a lot of expertise, and if you’re not a very dexterous person, you won’t be able to make it pretty. Mass production was also very hard, so only very few finished products came out to the world. I also came to think that I wanted to boast about having this wonderful world to me. I gradually had more chance to work together with Watanabe, and before I realized it, I was doing nothing but making figures.

Ishikawa: Finishing up a figure yourself must require a lot of exercise.

Aki: Painting is pretty difficult.

Ishikawa: It would be a waste to only use it once, so having finished products with the painting already done is very convenient indeed.

Aki: There is also a kind of job called a finisher, which means you leave the completion of the figure to a pro who undertakes the assembling and painting of garage kits. However, if you ask a professional to paint it, it might cost tens of thousands of yen, so if you don’t love it so much it is out of your reach. The figures painted by a pro and those we produce have come close to the point where there isn’t much of a difference. You look at a picture and think, “I want this,” then make a reservation. If the thing delivered to you is almost exactly like on the picture, it’s easy to buy, isn’t it?

Ishikawa: Having a pro paint it is very expensive.

Aki: At that time, garage kits cost thousands, expensive ones even reached ten or twenty thousand. Moreover, since, unlike plastic models, they were rarely sold, you couldn’t afford to make a mistake. Since you can’t afford to fail, there is also the alternative of completing it after becoming apt at it. As a result, people piled them up without completing them. A customer having a finished product was rare in itself. Our feelings––that with our help, this problem could be solved––lead to Nendoroids.

**Chamber is better than Ledo?!**

Hirasawa: There is also a social structure aspect to Gargantia; it shows a change of leadership in the fleet, and how people and ships come and go.

Aki: Just like the world of anime.

Hirasawa: Exactly. We made it with special awareness to the anime industry and companies. So, Aki, as the leader of an organization, what Gargantia characters would you like to come to Good Smile? And what gets your attention with people you decide to hire?

Aki: Who would I like to come...I’d prefer Chamber the most.

Ishikawa: Outstanding, isn’t he? (laughs)

Aki: Isn’t he like a Doraemon that does everything for you? You just have to wish for it and it will come true. I’m not the very passionate type, I’m a very difficult personality who wouldn’t say, “I want to do this,” from himself. So, if there would be a time we wanted to work together with other people, I’d be charmed by a person who is very enthusiastic about accomplishing or wanting to make something, who has both the resolution and the power to make it happen. Wanting to do something for him, wanting to deliver these feelings, doing the things we can for that reason is company culture. That's why I'd want to come in contact with a person like that.

Hirasawa: How about the employees in reality? When you feel you want to work together with someone, is it because of his enthusiasm?

Aki: I think everyone is like that, you want to work with people who have the motivation. However, if I had to choose, I love unlucky-looking people.

Ishikawa: And why is that?

Aki: I like people who look like they won’t be rewarded even if they work hard, because it makes me want to do something (laughs).

Ishikawa: Just before, you said that if you had to choose someone from Gargantia, you’d work with Chamber. What if Good Smile was to employ Ledo? In the anime, he shows skills of adjusting a high-output laser weapon to carve the enemy’s claw and make a flute.

Aki: That’s good for survival...

Ishikawa: Survival?

Aki: Because this is a region that is said to be dangerous when earthquakes hit.

Ishikawa: You mean, Ledo is hopeless as a model sculptor?

Aki: Ledo...well, he doesn’t seem to listen to what people say.

Ishikawa: He’s very obedient!!

Hirasawa: If he was told that it’s his duty, he would do what you say, because he’s a soldier.

Aki: But don’t people who work hard just because it’s their duty or work hurt those around them? I still prefer people who do it out of enthusiasm.

Ishikawa: I guess you’re right. It’s better to be passionate and do the things you want.

Aki: Everyone will be happy.

Ishikawa: The reason Ledo only does what he is told is because that’s the only way of life he knows.

Hirasawa: I think Ledo will also realize that.

Ishikawa: He will.

Aki: That it can’t go on like this.

Gargantia x Tokyo Otaku Mode Special Site
Source: Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet Official Site

© Oceanus / Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet Production Committee