Interview with Makoto Ishiwata, Mechanical Designer of “Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet” [4/4]

The curiousness of the robot’s “area”

Ishikawa: Among the robots I’ve seen until now, among other things, Chamber’s lower half is quite big. Was there any special reason for that?

Ishiwata: Well, in short, it’s because I like robots with big thighs.

Ishikawa: I see. So even until now, you were making robots with bigger thighs, or more like bigger hip measure?

Ishiwata: Yes. But even rather than hip measure, I think the legs are what make a robot sexy.

Ishikawa: Robots, sexy?

Ishiwata: After all, they don’t even really need legs (laughs) if you think realistically.

Ishikawa: I guess so.

Hirasawa: There are even people who call legs a decoration (laughs).

Ishiwata: Because robots having human form is interesting. And if it comes to that, I think having legs, or more like sexyness, becomes important. Well, it’s basically that rather than robots with big manly calves whose center of gravity is facing toward their ankles, I like those with a silhouette of broad, womanly hips that continue into thinner legs.

Ishikawa: You put a lot of effort in “liking” (laughs). So that explains his thighs. I thought it wasn’t just a matter of taste, but that it also had a functional aspect. Do you also put importance on functionality?

Ishiwata: In Chamber’s case, yes. Not sure if its functionality, at first it was different, but there’s a hole open here, right? I thought it might be good if fire came out from there or something...

Ishikawa: From the front part?

Ishiwata: Front and rear. Since fire makes it closer to reality. They have a different role now, however.

Ishikawa: What kind of role?

Ishiwata: Now, they serve as inputs.

Ishikawa: Inputs?

Ishiwata: They serve as energy intake holes.

Ishikawa: Where does Chamber’s energy come from?

Ishiwata: Well, that’s...

Ishikawa: A secret?

Ishiwata: Well, the energy, that’s a good question...

Hirasawa: As Ishiwata previously said, Chamber himself is ultra high tech to the point that he gathers the material in the air through an opening called a “quantum intake,” and converts it into energy.

Ishikawa: But if that’s the case, he can’t get fuel in space, can he?

Hirasawa: Oh, he can.

Ishikawa: Really?

Hirasawa: Yes. Because there are particles in space, too.

Ishikawa: I see. So he operates by taking in substance from the air.

Hirasawa: Exactly.

Ishikawa: That means unlimited energy.

Hirasawa: That is an example of adjusting the design in accordance with the plan. According to the plan, Chamber flies through space with Ledo and starts a life far, far away. If he could only operate with some specific kind of energy, he would shut down in the middle, and that would cause problems in the story, too. Plus, even presuming that he works with fuel from Earth, in the case of robots, the moment we put in an operating scene, especially a repair scene, they become more like vehicles rather than characters.

Ishikawa: I see.

Hirasawa: So that being the case, we decided that such a thing would shake Chamber’s position as a character. So instead, we shaped it so that the Galactic Alliance has technology that permits him to operate autonomously. If he can take in energy for himself, there is one thing less to draw in one season, and it is easier to concentrate on the drama. Plus, this way, Chamber stands as a character.

Ishikawa: Amazing! You thought about more things than I imagined, I’m surprised.

Hirasawa: That’s right (laughs).

Ishikawa: Now I totally feel like I came here to learn.

Hirasawa: You and the readers both learn, isn’t that good? Just one thing to add, if Gargantia had two seasons, we might’ve put in an operating scene. Even if there was a part of repairing Chamber, it might’ve induced attachment and would’ve been good, but having only one season, we couldn’t really take the time for Chamber’s operation.

Ishikawa: Oh well, I’m very unfamiliar with designing and such. My mother works in that field; I wish I had inherited her talent. I was also told by our art teacher that I don’t have talent for pictures and modeling (laughs).

Thank you very much.

Gargantia x Tokyo Otaku Mode Special Site:
http://otakumode.com/sp/gargantia

Source:
http://gargantia.jp/#kaito_1 (Japanese)

© Oceanus / Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet Production Committee