Animation supervisor Mamoru Hosoda, who is known for his works such as "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time", "Summer Wars", and "Wolf's Child Rain and Snow", has officially released the latest theatrical version of the animation "Monster Child" on July 11 in Toho. This summer, Studio Maps, an animation company led by Mamoru Hosoda, presented to the audience a father-son story that depicts the lonely and lonely boy Kuta and the equally lonely monster Kusuru who meets and grows up.

Hosoda has depicted a variety of families in his works, but what kind of superintendent is included in the combination of the "suspected" family of monster and boy this time? Now, Yuichiro Saito, the representative director of Studio Maps and the producer of the film, will break it down one by one. Now let's hear what he thinks about this game.

Continue to portray the reason for "family".

――"Monster Child" depicts the story of a lonely boy who becomes a disciple of the monster Kusa in order to become stronger, and at the same time the fierce collision deepens the trust of each other, and the two become a new family form. Hosoda's works have depicted a variety of families so far, but are there any themes that have always been consistent?

Producer Yuichiro Saito (hereinafter, Saito): As you said, the works after "Summer Wars" have all been about family, but this time we tried to express Xiàn in a new form. Supervisor Hosoda is a person who holds the idea and philosophy that "movies are things that depict dreams", and he has always insisted on depicting real life and what happens around him through his own experience.

For example, the appearance of the extended family depicted in "Summer Wars" was conceived based on the beauty of the family and the impact on oneself that the superintendent felt when he went to his wife's hometown. The opportunity for the production of "Wolf's Child Rain and Snow" is the longing for his mother who died in the process of making "Summer Wars", and the longing for himself to become a parent.

――"Describe what is around you" is the origin of the motto of the superintendent. The birth of "Monster Child" should be the birth of Hosoda's superintendent's child, what kind of superintendent's thoughts are included in this work?

Saito: After the release of "Wolf Child Rain and Snow", the son of Superintendent Hosoda was born. In the process of protecting the growth of his children, the superintendent thinks about "what can adults do for the growth and future of children", and faces this question through the movie. The overseer once said, "The joys and problems that arise in one's own family occur in families all over the world, and if the problems in one's own family are solved, perhaps the problems of other families can be solved as well." With this in mind, the project for "Monster Child" was born.

"The growth of a teenager and the dark side of his heart" depicted by Supervisor Mamoru Hosoda

――This work depicts the darkness in the hearts of adolescent young people, led by Kuda. In the past works of Director Hosoda, there are many characters with cheerful and bright personalities, so what is the story of the birth of a character like this in this work?

Saito: In "Monster Child", a teenager becomes a young man, and finally an adult, and the story of growing up is a main thread. The dark ...... that children have in the process of growing up and forming their self-perception I think this can be said to be a manifestation of the inner contradictions peculiar to adolescence, and the uneasiness and questions about "who I am". For example, in the walls of my hometown, there are still holes in the walls of my high school where I tried to vent my frustration. Now when I see this hole, I sigh with emotion, "Ah~ It turns out that I also have such a period and the process of growth."

-- I had a similar experience (laughs). I can look back on it with a smile now, but it was very strict for myself at the time.

Saito: In a sense, the world of children is narrowly defined. It seems to us to be an indifferent thing when we grow up, but it is a serious problem for children to bring the world to an end. However, because of this, there are many important things that can only be learned during this period. Because of this idea, in "Monster Child", the darkness of characters such as Kutai is positively portrayed as "something that no matter who grows up".

――It's true that if you use darkness as the theme of the story, it's easy to go in one direction to determine whether it's good or evil, but in "Monster Child" it's definitely depicted.

Saito: We adults affirm and bless the inner struggle of children in the process of growing into adults. I think this is also one of the themes of the work: "What should we adults and society do about the growth of children and the future?" An answer to this question.

- I see. In the play, Duoduoliang and Baiqiufang, who are Xiong Che's fox friends and dog friends, their appearance of guarding the growth of Jiutai is impressive. The posture of the two of them, who are sometimes warm and sometimes stern, also has the feeling of "nosy neighbors in the old days" (laughs).

Saito: Exactly. Duoduoliang and Baiqiufang may be relatives and uncles who lack a sense of responsibility, or neighbors and brothers. They and Xiong Che warmly guarded Jiutai in different positions, blessed his growth, and grew up together. I found that looking at Tatara and Baiqiubo, Tong Guò actively participated in and protected the growth process of children who were not blood relatives, and perhaps experienced a fulfilling life of parenting that I would not have experienced before.

Now the meaning of making zuò royal road entertainment movies

――Not only the theme of "family" runs through past works, but "Monster Child" is the embodiment of all the essence of Hosoda's works up to now. The sweet and sad youth group portrait of high school students described in "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Space" has indeed been inherited in the communication between Jiutai and Kaede; The fight scenes of Xiong Che and others are flashbacks of the fierce action shots of the fighting king KINGkazuma and lovemachine in "Summer Wars".

Saito: I see, I guess it's a work from the heyday of entertainment (laughs). But it can't be said to be entirely true. When Supervisor Hosoda launched the project, he took on another challenge, "The goal is to create the king of animated films that allow children and adults to enjoy summer together."

――In this way, "Monster Child" is a royal animated movie.

Saito: Until now, summer animated films have been royal scripts in which a teenager encounters something unthinkable or goes on an adventure in another world, and becomes a grown-up. So in this hot summer, we wanted to challenge a lot of animated films with a lot of refreshing and crisp action. Including Hosoda's works to date, there are many recent Japanese films with women as the protagonists. In this trend, it is very meaningful to challenge the new royal road with a boy as the protagonist.

――Not only the story, but also the places that appear in the work have a different feeling from the previous work. In the past, Hosoda's works were mostly based on the countryside, but this one is based on Shibuya, a symbol of the city.

Saito: Shibuya is currently developing for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in preparation for the picklesports, and I have the impression of being a "street that changes constantly". The vitality and compulsion that arise from change is the reason why new cultures and values are constantly being created. In this sense, I think the theme of "growth" and Shibuya's "change" are synonymous, and the stage of "Monster Child" is not thought of by anyone other than Shibuya.

A luxurious cast that breathes soul into the characters

――Looking back at Hosoda's work, I am often surprised by the high similarity between the faces of the actors and the characters on the stage. For example, Hiroshi Yakusho, who played Kuma Toru this time, and Lily Franky, who played Baiqiubo, gathered together with a luxurious cast, so what kind of criteria were used to distribute the roles?

Saito: The most important thing in assigning roles is to "find all the possibilities until you meet someone who has a soul that can resonate with the characters in the movie." There are various forms of methods used, such as selection, but this method has been implemented since the production of "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time".

――This uncompromising attitude is the only way to create a high degree of synchronization between the actor and the character.

Saito: "The faces of the characters in the movie look alike the faces of the voice actors", "Did you draw them?" Such a voice is often heard in the previous work and in this work. I think this is a testament to the resonance between the characters and the actors in the movie. For example, Kuma Toru's charm and heart are also similar to the charm and essence of Hiroshi himself.

Highlights of the work recommended by producer Saito

――I just talked about the secrets of the production, but please tell us a little bit about the scenes and highlights of the movie that impressed you personally.

Saito: That's a tough question...... I think Hosoda's works have the function of being like a mirror, and I think that the viewer can find a variety of pleasures depending on their memories and outlook on life, but this is purely my personal opinion.

One of the scenes that impressed me was the scene where 9-year-old Jiutai made up her mind to chase the bear and ran down the alley. This scene symbolizes the "beginning" of the teenager opening the door of adventure and stepping into the unknown world. This is probably the fun of children and adults enjoying summer animated movies together. I was really excited when I watched it!

――Thank you very much. Finally, please send a message to the audience.

Saito: This is a story about the growth of Toru Kuma and Kuta, and it is the story of the relationship between the two who reach the level of parent-child and become a new family. Then, it is also a refreshing new royal road animated film that is just right for the hot summer. Please come to the theater to watch the movie.

【Work Information】

Theatrical anime "Monster Child"

On July 11 (Saturday), it will be released nationwide on the Toho series

Supervisor and Script: Mamoru Hosoda

Planning and production: Studio map

Voice Actors:

Hiroshi Yakusho, Aoi Miyazaki, Shota Someya, Suzu Hirose, Kazuhiro Yamaji, Mamoru Miyano, Katsuhei Yamaguchi, Keishi Nagatsuka, Kumiko Aso, Hana Kuroki, Sumire Moshishi, Hyakka Ohno, Masahiko Tsukawa, Lily Franky, Hiroshi Oizumi, etc

Theme Song: Mr.Children "StartingOver" (TOY'SFACTORY)