Possibly the Quickest Interview in the World!? Keiji Inafune and Eiko Tanaka on the “RED ASH” Kickstarter Project

FEATURED
Jul. 07, 2015 01:13 PDT

The Red Ash Anime

TOM: Mr. Inafune spoke about how the characters are crucial components for the success of RED ASH. How do you plan on bringing out the best of the characters on the anime side of the project?

Beck of "Red Ash THE ANIMATION -Magicicada-"

Call of "Red Ash THE ANIMATION -Magicicada-"

Tyger of "Red Ash THE ANIMATION -Magicicada-"

Tanaka: I plan on continuously providing new and beautiful images and perspectives that fans can experience the animation through. I was thinking about what would make the RED ASH animation interesting for everyone, and what I came up with actually ends up putting the game and the anime against each other. What I think is that games are more interactive and allow fans to enjoy the content together with their characters. Animation, on the other hand, are more unidirectional and do not offer as much activity. While both genres can stir emotions and really touch the hearts of the fans, the feeling is completely different in each genre. What is really special about animation is its ability to move its viewers with powerful and touching images, and I think that is possible through focusing on specialized images and designs. Continuing to concentrate on maximizing the quality of the images in the animation is what we need to focus on.

TOM: That’s is a great realization that comes only from working on a unique project like RED ASH.

Tanaka: The animation side of the RED ASH project has two main themes. One is to make Beck, Call, and Tyger as attractive as possible, and the other is to take fans on a sort of treasure hunting. You can also call RED ASH a “treasure hunting animation.”

TOM: A “treasure hunting animation.”? I’ve never heard that term before. Can you tell me more about what it will be like?

Tanaka: As I said earlier, the RED ASH project involves everyone who is currently working at STUDIO4℃ and also creators who have worked with us before. We have assembled a team with incredible talent who are specialized in different methods, and everyone is working to create their own unique stages in which characters can hunt for the hidden treasure. Although the characters are originated from the same idea, the images and emotions that each creator produces are always different. This means that the way the story progresses also differs. We are developing parallel worlds to pl ay through to hunt for the hidden treasure as we continue to work on the project, and we are taking the very best from each world that we create.

From This Point On

TOM: I know I asked you this during our Mighty No. 9 interview as well, but do you think you will be starting on another series after this Kickstarter project succeeds?

Inafune: Well, the story for this project is quite grand, so I do want to take my time with it. I feel like I want to work on a piece where I can really dig down into each character, and I want to start thinking about what to do next as well. Anime and video games each have their unique appeal, and I would really like to have fans completely immerse themselves in and also enjoy the world of RED ASH. As for the future, it would be awesome if a cycle where anime was released when games were under production, and where games were released while anime was being created could exist. If a cycle like that could be generated while the RED ASH fever is still hot, I think that the result would be great for both producers and also for the fans too.

Tanaka: The wish of the anime side is to create a RED ASH movie and show it in theatres around the world! It would be incredible if we could take it that far!

TOM: To conclude, please provide a message for the fans.

Inafune: This is my second Kickstarter project, and there are probably some people out there who don’t think that things will go well two times in a row. However, I will make this project a success. In fact, I only think about what I want to do after the project becomes a success. Kickstarters may be about investing in something that one may find rewarding in the future. To me, they are all about supporting those who continue to challenge themselves. Kickstarters serve as a form of affirmation of the value of a good challenge, and I will never give up on my challenges. Continuously working hard and putting in my best effort is my way of giving back to the fans for everything they have provided me with. Mighty No. 9 will be released this September, and RED ASH will definitely not betray those who have supported our project. No matter what, we will deliver the greatest product to everyone! Please continue to support both the RED ASH video game and the anime as well!

Tanaka: There aren’t many opportunities for Japanese animators to truly experience having the world turn its attention towards them. Therefore, I am confident that making this project a success will be extremely encouraging and stimulating for us. I can confidently say that STUDIO4℃ has never produced anything that we didn’t put everything we had in. We are looking forward to seeing how we can make the RED ASH project the best that it can possibly be. I am sure that the result will be something that all fans can enjoy, so please continue your support!