Interview with Shinya Ogura, Setting Researcher/Designer of “Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet” 2/4

From Murata

Ishikawa: The project of Gargantia started two years ago, how long after did you join?

Ogura: I joined in the first year, probably.

Hirasawa: That seems about right.

Ogura: Before my participation, the project had already been going on for a year, and I think that by that time, it was already decided that Ledo would be a spaceman. When it came to elaborating on that, I think I was introduced to the staff by director Murata like, “There’s a guy called Ogura.”

Hirasawa: Yes. The scriptwriting team, starting with Urobuchi is also well-versed in sci-fi, but we thought it would be nice if we could ask a person with knowledge so deep that he could make an entire world to participate.

Ishikawa: In Gargantia, is there anything in particular you fixated on?

Ogura: Maybe the question of whether I could create visuals in Gargantia never seen before. You see, there are a lot of anime with space battles. I thought about what I should do to create something different from the others and how I could draw such a thing... Even though Murata ordered me to do those things, I made efforts to propose my ideas in a way of stating, “That’s too average, how about something like this?”

Ishikawa: It must have been hard because of the challenge of the unknown...

Ogura: Yes, it was.

To the point of surprise

Ishikawa: The materials you showed me now...

Ogura: Are you surprised?

Ishikawa: Yes! You built it up even including small details...

Ogura: That’s right. Among the presently active anime directors, Murata is a person who makes pretty rational decisions, from screen setting to portrayal. It’s very fast, because he replies to arguments with arguments, but since I have to come out with something without gaps, this job can be quite difficult.

Ishikawa: I was especially surprised at Chamber’s design. I heard that even his flight is elaborately detailed.

Ogura: In the beginning, it was decided that the ring of light will come out either in front or above. Murata, on the contrary still asked me, “What is this thing?”

Ishikawa: And you didn’t really know what to say (laughs).

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

Source:
http://gargantia.jp/#kaito_2 (Japanese)

© Oceanus / Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet Production Committee