Post by Mlle Bienvenu on Oct 10, 2005 5:22:16 GMT -5
Regarding current circumstances, recent development, and what will happen in "Hagaren" from now on, we went directly to Arakawa-sensei for an interview! Also includes "scribbles" that we had drawn mid-interview.
--First, please tell us your recent condition.
Arakawa: My work came to a pause, so I returned home for the first time in 10 months. It had been a long time since I saw Densuke (a dog) too, so I played with him. Though his appearance is completely different, he was the dog that became the origin of Den's name.
--The story has been a series of rapid developments, but what are the episodes that you particularly put careful thought into?
Arakawa: The one that I thought "I finally got to draw it," was the Colonel VS Lust battle. To tell the truth, that episode was decided from the first serialization. Things like the military guys getting codenames, and Havoc being stabbed too. When the Colonel's ignition cloth gets wet and cannot be used anymore, it was also decided that they would use Havoc's lighter, so from his first appearance I had him smoking cigarettes. I had also decided on Lust becoming his girlfriend.
--That's also the episode in which Colonel Mustang does great things.
Arakawa: I was thinking that this would be the Colonel's highlight scene, so I didn't have him doing much until then. Though he's been called "useless," it was only because he didn't have a highlight scene until then...... but by then "useless" had become completely established (laughs). From Second Lieutenant Ross's episode, and when Envy was disguised during the Hughes murder, I had a plan.
--Recently there are more new characters, but which character is Sensei's [Arakawa's] favorite?
Arakawa: Barry was fun to draw. In the beginning, Barry was supposed to die at the 5th Laboratory. But while drawing him, I thought "I can use him!" and when I let him live instinctively, he ended up being involved in the military episode very well. Though it was the first time I let a character that was supposed to die live on just by instinct, Barry became an expanded character beyond what I expected. Incidentally, Barry's wife was a beautiful person who looked a little like Lust.
--Barry wanting to cut Lust established that idea.
--In contrast with the introduction of new characters, there are also departing characters.
Arakawa: Recently, Second Lieutenant Ross has gone to Xing, and Havoc got injured and is going to retire. I really don't like drawing scenes where people are in pain and cry. If they're crying out of joy it's alright, but if not it's also hard for the person who draws it. Though that scene has various meanings, among them, one is that I wanted to draw the difference between the Colonel and the Fuhrer. The Fuhrer who can easily throw away his pawns, and the Colonel who can't. That difference is very important. Though I can't tell whether I drew it well or not myself, I had a lot of trouble with the draft. It was a very important event for Ed and Al.
--Chapter 40 was "The Western Sage," yes?
Arakawa: At that stage of the plot, I thought the drafts would be difficult, so I confined myself in the editorial department for two days making them. The editor came by many times to see, worrying "it's not done yet" "it's all white." (laughs)
Chapter 40 was something like the turning point of "Fullmetal Alchemist." That was the first time that Ed and Al honestly talked to each other about what they each were thinking. When injured in the 5th Laboratory and hospitalized, there was also an episode where the two examined their purpose, but that wasn't enough at all. Naturally, Al cannot cry about his armor body, but in that incident I directed it so he seemed like he was crying. I guess that means I finally was able to let Al cry.... [ZOMGFTA!!! Note: This was chapter 44, not 40. We know because it was this turning point that inspired us to start scanlating the manga. We think this is a typo, because we are of the stubborn belief that Arakawa-sensei would NEVER make this kind of mistake. EVER.]
--Come to think of it, whenever something important happens to Ed and Al, Winry is always by their side.
Arakawa: That's right. The one watching over both of them is Winry. To tell the truth, out of those three childhood friends, the one with the hardest time is Winry. Ed and Al should talk more often, but neither of them say anything. Though Winry understands both of their feelings, since she's not a real sibling, she can't cut in between them.... But, I think it's great that Winry's there. You could say she's a buffer, or that for the drawer she's an existence to be thankful for. Really, I was thinking that I'd introduce her in Chapter 3. But the editor told me it was "still too fast." "Why is it fast?! And I thought I'd finally be able to draw a girl!" I opposed like a rebellious child, and instead there was born a coal mine where lots of old men show up. Eventually I wasn't able to introduce Winry until Volume 3, and I still feel bitter!
--However, thanks to that Yoki was born.
Arakawa: Certainly, if Winry had been introduced in Chapter 3, then there may have been no Yoki (laughs).
--Now that the story has met the turning point, please tell us a little about the development from here on after.
Arakawa: There may be times when the episodes after this each get longer or shorter, but near the end I'm thinking of running swiftly to the conclusion.
--In other words, that means in order for Ed and Al to return to their former bodies, they will continue progressing more than they are now.
Arakawa: Because I hate for the tempo of the story to get bad, I create one climax in each chapter, make that the focus, and cutting the unneeded things is the direction that I've drawn. Particularly recently, I'm having trouble because every month I don't have enough pages. I'm even cutting the episodes that I wanted to put in...and when that happens, the percentage of Ling-tachi's appearances have become limited. Though really I want to let them appear more. From now on, they'll do more. ...Surely. (laughs)
--Ling's fans will be looking forward to what comes next. Seeing what characters will be drawn in the color frontispieces is also a pleasure.
Arakawa: I was so busy during the time the anime was being televised, I couldn't draw very elaborate frontispieces, but recently I've been drawing various things. The color frontispiece of the coach running in Chapter 42 (expected to be released in GC [Gangan Comics] Volume 11) was also something I've been wanting to draw for a long time!
--Though Al regained his memories and is now able to transmute without a circle, who is more skilled at alchemy, Ed or Al?
Arakawa: I wonder who? They both have their strong and weak points. Even if their ability is the same, each person has their own tastes coming out in their transmutations. Though he was killed by Scar immediately after appearing, the Silver Alchemist Comanche-san's hobby was probably making all sorts of strange weapons, too. But at home, he's a good grandfather, telling stories to his grandchildren while being suspicious of them. Though it's been touched on a little in the story, he was injured in the Ishbal war, and retired. Later on I also plan on drawing more concerning the Ishbal war, so I've been going to hear stories from people experienced in war, and I've been making various preparations starting now. I'm from a generation that hasn't experienced war, so not knowing what true war is myself, I was constantly in conflict whether it would be okay to draw war from a viewpoint so used to peace.... I think even from now, this will probably be a conflict that will continue for a long time.
--The secret of Scar's alchemy; Mustang and the military guys' past; it seems the episodes the readers are curious about might appear.
Arakawa: The thing to pay attention to is... yes, Major Armstrong's older sister I think. She's really a General, and currently established in the north, so soon the setting of the story will start to shift to the northern region. At the border of the large northern country Drachma there is a fortress, so I'm thinking of drawing the story there. Also pay attention to Hohenheim's whereabouts. After visiting Resembool, where has he gone?
--Ed also has to pass on his mother's last message...
Arakawa: The next time they meet, Ed really might hit Hohenheim. "Should I hit him with my right automail arm, or with my left that could feel the sensation of the punch..." things like that (laughs). Other characters, like Scar and Mei Chan and the Fuhrer, will be doing a lot more from now. Everyone please look forward to it!!
--Thank you very much for today.
(February 2005)
--First, please tell us your recent condition.
Arakawa: My work came to a pause, so I returned home for the first time in 10 months. It had been a long time since I saw Densuke (a dog) too, so I played with him. Though his appearance is completely different, he was the dog that became the origin of Den's name.
--The story has been a series of rapid developments, but what are the episodes that you particularly put careful thought into?
Arakawa: The one that I thought "I finally got to draw it," was the Colonel VS Lust battle. To tell the truth, that episode was decided from the first serialization. Things like the military guys getting codenames, and Havoc being stabbed too. When the Colonel's ignition cloth gets wet and cannot be used anymore, it was also decided that they would use Havoc's lighter, so from his first appearance I had him smoking cigarettes. I had also decided on Lust becoming his girlfriend.
--That's also the episode in which Colonel Mustang does great things.
Arakawa: I was thinking that this would be the Colonel's highlight scene, so I didn't have him doing much until then. Though he's been called "useless," it was only because he didn't have a highlight scene until then...... but by then "useless" had become completely established (laughs). From Second Lieutenant Ross's episode, and when Envy was disguised during the Hughes murder, I had a plan.
--Recently there are more new characters, but which character is Sensei's [Arakawa's] favorite?
Arakawa: Barry was fun to draw. In the beginning, Barry was supposed to die at the 5th Laboratory. But while drawing him, I thought "I can use him!" and when I let him live instinctively, he ended up being involved in the military episode very well. Though it was the first time I let a character that was supposed to die live on just by instinct, Barry became an expanded character beyond what I expected. Incidentally, Barry's wife was a beautiful person who looked a little like Lust.
--Barry wanting to cut Lust established that idea.
--In contrast with the introduction of new characters, there are also departing characters.
Arakawa: Recently, Second Lieutenant Ross has gone to Xing, and Havoc got injured and is going to retire. I really don't like drawing scenes where people are in pain and cry. If they're crying out of joy it's alright, but if not it's also hard for the person who draws it. Though that scene has various meanings, among them, one is that I wanted to draw the difference between the Colonel and the Fuhrer. The Fuhrer who can easily throw away his pawns, and the Colonel who can't. That difference is very important. Though I can't tell whether I drew it well or not myself, I had a lot of trouble with the draft. It was a very important event for Ed and Al.
--Chapter 40 was "The Western Sage," yes?
Arakawa: At that stage of the plot, I thought the drafts would be difficult, so I confined myself in the editorial department for two days making them. The editor came by many times to see, worrying "it's not done yet" "it's all white." (laughs)
Chapter 40 was something like the turning point of "Fullmetal Alchemist." That was the first time that Ed and Al honestly talked to each other about what they each were thinking. When injured in the 5th Laboratory and hospitalized, there was also an episode where the two examined their purpose, but that wasn't enough at all. Naturally, Al cannot cry about his armor body, but in that incident I directed it so he seemed like he was crying. I guess that means I finally was able to let Al cry.... [ZOMGFTA!!! Note: This was chapter 44, not 40. We know because it was this turning point that inspired us to start scanlating the manga. We think this is a typo, because we are of the stubborn belief that Arakawa-sensei would NEVER make this kind of mistake. EVER.]
--Come to think of it, whenever something important happens to Ed and Al, Winry is always by their side.
Arakawa: That's right. The one watching over both of them is Winry. To tell the truth, out of those three childhood friends, the one with the hardest time is Winry. Ed and Al should talk more often, but neither of them say anything. Though Winry understands both of their feelings, since she's not a real sibling, she can't cut in between them.... But, I think it's great that Winry's there. You could say she's a buffer, or that for the drawer she's an existence to be thankful for. Really, I was thinking that I'd introduce her in Chapter 3. But the editor told me it was "still too fast." "Why is it fast?! And I thought I'd finally be able to draw a girl!" I opposed like a rebellious child, and instead there was born a coal mine where lots of old men show up. Eventually I wasn't able to introduce Winry until Volume 3, and I still feel bitter!
--However, thanks to that Yoki was born.
Arakawa: Certainly, if Winry had been introduced in Chapter 3, then there may have been no Yoki (laughs).
--Now that the story has met the turning point, please tell us a little about the development from here on after.
Arakawa: There may be times when the episodes after this each get longer or shorter, but near the end I'm thinking of running swiftly to the conclusion.
--In other words, that means in order for Ed and Al to return to their former bodies, they will continue progressing more than they are now.
Arakawa: Because I hate for the tempo of the story to get bad, I create one climax in each chapter, make that the focus, and cutting the unneeded things is the direction that I've drawn. Particularly recently, I'm having trouble because every month I don't have enough pages. I'm even cutting the episodes that I wanted to put in...and when that happens, the percentage of Ling-tachi's appearances have become limited. Though really I want to let them appear more. From now on, they'll do more. ...Surely. (laughs)
--Ling's fans will be looking forward to what comes next. Seeing what characters will be drawn in the color frontispieces is also a pleasure.
Arakawa: I was so busy during the time the anime was being televised, I couldn't draw very elaborate frontispieces, but recently I've been drawing various things. The color frontispiece of the coach running in Chapter 42 (expected to be released in GC [Gangan Comics] Volume 11) was also something I've been wanting to draw for a long time!
--Though Al regained his memories and is now able to transmute without a circle, who is more skilled at alchemy, Ed or Al?
Arakawa: I wonder who? They both have their strong and weak points. Even if their ability is the same, each person has their own tastes coming out in their transmutations. Though he was killed by Scar immediately after appearing, the Silver Alchemist Comanche-san's hobby was probably making all sorts of strange weapons, too. But at home, he's a good grandfather, telling stories to his grandchildren while being suspicious of them. Though it's been touched on a little in the story, he was injured in the Ishbal war, and retired. Later on I also plan on drawing more concerning the Ishbal war, so I've been going to hear stories from people experienced in war, and I've been making various preparations starting now. I'm from a generation that hasn't experienced war, so not knowing what true war is myself, I was constantly in conflict whether it would be okay to draw war from a viewpoint so used to peace.... I think even from now, this will probably be a conflict that will continue for a long time.
--The secret of Scar's alchemy; Mustang and the military guys' past; it seems the episodes the readers are curious about might appear.
Arakawa: The thing to pay attention to is... yes, Major Armstrong's older sister I think. She's really a General, and currently established in the north, so soon the setting of the story will start to shift to the northern region. At the border of the large northern country Drachma there is a fortress, so I'm thinking of drawing the story there. Also pay attention to Hohenheim's whereabouts. After visiting Resembool, where has he gone?
--Ed also has to pass on his mother's last message...
Arakawa: The next time they meet, Ed really might hit Hohenheim. "Should I hit him with my right automail arm, or with my left that could feel the sensation of the punch..." things like that (laughs). Other characters, like Scar and Mei Chan and the Fuhrer, will be doing a lot more from now. Everyone please look forward to it!!
--Thank you very much for today.
(February 2005)
