Interview with director Nobushi Aramaki

"Apple Nuclear War Alpha" is an animated film based on Shirou Masamune's manga work "Apple Nuclear War" as the original work, will be released nationwide on January 17, 2015, will describe the series of protagonists Dina and Brienos arrive at the ideal city of Olympus, directed by Nobushi Aramaki, and Yasuki Nakata is the theme song. Recently, some Japanese media interviewed director Nobushi Aramaki and Yasuki Nakata. The following is a translation of the full text of the interview, let's listen to what they think of science fiction movies and what kind of feelings they have for her.

"Focus on how to transition the work smoothly to the ending theme song"

――In every "Apple Nuclear War" film shot by director Nobushi Aramaki, the soundtrack is one of the highlights of the work. You've also collaborated with "BOOMBOOMSATELLITES" and Harumi Hosono before, so first of all, I would like to ask you why you asked Mr. Nakata to produce the theme song for the zuò movie this time?

Nobushi Aramaki: I've been a fan of Nakata for a long time, so I invited him to join the system this time. But in the beginning, we just planned to play CAPSULE's music in the movie, but we didn't expect it to develop into a theme song that was even in charge of him. To be honest, I was really surprised to get the Nakata zuò theme song (laughs).

――Mr. Nakata, did you know about "Apple Nuclear Wars" for a long time?

Yasuki Nakata: Of course I do. IN 2004, I BEGAN TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS WORK FROM THE TIME ARAMAKI FIRST PRODUCED ZUÒ APPLE NUCLEAR WAR. If memory serves, I originally heard it from Ghibli's Suzuki zuò people.

- Yes, that's right! At that time, you and Ghibli collaborated on "Portable Airport" and "Flying City Project" directed by Yoshiyuki Momose.

Yasuki Nakata: That's right, I went to see "Apple Nuclear Wars" when I was interested, and at that time, I thought that "every second of this movie is full of innovation." And in terms of music, there are many musicians who I know well participate in the production of zuò. That's one of the big reasons why I paid attention to this movie.

――At what stage did you start working on the zuò theme song?

Yasuki Nakata: When I got the video of the ending song, there was already a soundtrack in the clip. There are few jobs that are usually encountered with such a high degree of completion. Thanks to this, I'm able to DJ with all the notes in mind. In that sense, my job is actually quite simple.

――After all, sometimes we encounter a movie that suddenly plays an ending theme song that is completely different from the previous music. In this way, it may destroy the afterglow left by the ending of the work.

Yasuki Nakata: That's true (laughs). I just don't want that, so I'm thinking about how to transition to the end theme song.

"A world where people are tired"

――Counting this work, Director Aramaki, you have already created three "Apple Nuclear Wars", why do you want to start making a new story after seven years?

Nobushi Aramaki: "Appleseed Nuclear War" (2004) and "EXMACHINA" (2007) both gave me a sense of perfect satisfaction at the time, but as time went by, I began to wonder if there was a new breakthrough in the two works. Thus, the prequel work of this time was born. Recently, it has been very popular in Hollywood to shoot prequels, but I can't say that I was influenced by Hollywood. This work depicts a world where a great war has just ended, everything has perished, and people are exhausted. The background of this story is also very much in line with my own state at the time.

――I don't think this is something to always be happy about (laughs).

Nobushi Aramaki: That's true, but I'm just telling the truth (laughs). In recent years, I have pursued the theme of "realism" in my own works, and in the process, I have a vision in my mind, and this scene can be said to be the key point of this work: in the world of nothingness, I can feel the existence of people. This feeling is closely related to people's strong feelings, so I wanted to appear in the world of "Apple Nuclear Wars". So, this time "Apple Nuclear War Alpha" is completely different from the works I have made so far, and it gives me a very new experience.

-- Compared to 10 years ago and 7 years ago, CG technology has advanced dramatically, thanks to the two Hollywood blockbusters "Avatar" and "Rise of the Planet of the Apes", and now the term "motion capture" is still available.

Nobushi Aramaki: Ten years ago, I had to start with that word in everything I did, and I was really tired (laughs).

――As you just said, this new work is not so much about experiencing technological progress as it is about expressing your thoughts. Is that what you mean?

Nobushi Aramaki: That's right. When the story coincides with the new vision in my mind, I think something may be born that hasn't been there before.

Yasuki Nakata: The world depicted in the film is very realistic. The story of the work is not limited to the picture, but can give the impression that this kind of thing is happening somewhere in the world. The audience experiences not only the story, but also the future of the world itself.

"I want to create a time that people can indulge in"

――Last year, we had an interview with you, and you said that you have a special affection for science fiction movies, right?

Nobushi Aramaki: I love seeing the future that people envision

――Mr. Nakata, what did you think when you made the zuò theme song?

Yasuki Nakata: The music at the end of the film is different from the soundtrack of the main part of the film, which is to give the audience a time to think and indulge in the afterglow of the story, so that the audience can recall the story they have just seen, think about it and extend their imagination. That's why when I was making zuò, I was making zuò music with this in mind.

――Mr. Nakata's recent works are often low, slow-paced.

Yasuki Nakata: It's not good to listen to fast music when you're thinking about things (laughs). If it's too fast, the mind will be focused on the music.

Nobushi Aramaki: I think it's good that my impression changed in the middle of the process, because at first the atmosphere was low and negative, but then it became as if the scenery in front of me was wide and cheerful. There are so many variations in the whole song, which I think is very good!

――Is there a particular reason why the movie "Apple Nuclear Wars" has always used electronic music? Or is there no particular reason for it, it's just that electronic music is just used?

Nobushi Aramaki: I guess I guess it's all electronic music. Of course, if there's a reason for that, it's that I listen to this kind of music a lot.

――In terms of chronology, do you like to listen to YMO (a Japanese music group formed in 1978)?

Nobushi Aramaki: Of course I liked YMO, and a little further on, the German electronic music group "KRAFTWERK" also liked it. I usually like to listen to music and work at the same time, and most of them listen to this kind of electronic music at this time.

"Every time I come into contact with super high-performance electronics, I feel very excited"

――As far as I know, Mr. Nakata is only in charge of the theme song this time, but he has also tried to write a soundtrack for an entire movie or TV series. So, there is a difference between creating your own personal music under the name of CAPSULE and creating film music, right?

Yasuki Nakata: Of course it's different. In the case of ordinary solo music, even if it is an album, each song must be a complete and independent finished piece. But movies are different, only when the music and pictures are combined to be considered a finished product. I am very happy to make music for films, and I listen to some movie soundtracks myself in my daily life. You see, doesn't ordinary pop music have such a basic structure as ** and repetition? But the soundtrack is different, it allows me to take the time to slowly unfold a story. Therefore, although the music was originally composed to set off the story and performance, when it is taken out and enjoyed, it has its own unique taste.

――If you had the chance, would you like to create film music again in the future?

Yasuki Nakata: Of course I have to do it if I have the chance. Nowadays, you may think that I am a person who specializes in composing and singing music, but in fact, I embarked on the path of music because I like to create pure music. The reason why I mainly write singing music now is because I discovered one thing in high school, "Ah, it's hard to make your debut without a lead singer" (laughs).

――I think Mr. Nakata has already watched "Apple Nuclear Wars Alpha", what do you find most exciting?

Yasuki Nakata: This is a rare work for mechanical control. Whenever a high-performance machine appears on the stage, don't the characters make a very surprised sound? When I look at them, I get excited (laughs). In my daily life, too, I love electronic products that have super performance. Whenever I come into contact with or learn about these products, I feel very excited.

Nobushi Aramaki: This kind of affection is very precious (laughs).

"As an active producer, I want to show the world what we are capable of in the future."

- The "Apple Nuclear Wars" series has always influenced Hollywood science fiction films, but for some content that can only be expressed with animation and CG, Hollywood science fiction masterpieces spend tens of billions of yen on budgets to make zuò, and they will invest the latest technology to make zuò movies. It can be said that the world is now in the midst of a kind of science fiction movie boom. What do you think about this, director Aramaki?

Nobushi Aramaki: It's true that some directors who are active in Hollywood have publicly stated that they are fans of "Apple Nuclear Wars", and I have been influenced by their work myself. However, for example, in the case of "Pacific Rim" and "Godzilla", they do express their amazement and respect for the original Japanese works after watching them, and the same is true after watching them myself, but isn't that the same as saying, "You Japanese people have really made good works in the past"? Of course, we have to thank them for their appreciation of us, but as an active producer, I really want to show the world what we are capable of in the future. That's why I've been working as a director. I don't want to compete with Hollywood, but I think it's important for us to keep creating new works that will surprise them. Well, at the end of the day, I'm just doing something that interests me (laughs).

Yasuki Nakata: When we put the finished works on the market, of course, the publicity power of Japanese works is not as strong as that of foreign masterpieces. However, since entering the era of shujù, I feel that the essence of making zuò is very similar, both in Japan and abroad. If you look at the music field that I am familiar with, I can say that it is exactly the same in Japan and abroad. Therefore, I think that even if there is still a gap between Japanese cinema and the world, it is only a matter of time before this gap is filled.

Nobushi Aramaki: Mr. Harumi Hosono also said this, first of all, musicians use computers to create music, and then gradually transition to film directors using computers to create films.

Yasuki Nakata: Of course, there are some differences in large-scale music events such as concerts, but in the case of ordinary creation, what musicians do in the production room is the same in Japan and abroad. This transformation has eliminated not only the distinction between Japan and abroad, but also the distinction between professionals and amateurs. In the past, if you weren't making music as a profession, you would never buy equipment, and it is precisely because you have equipment that you are a professional that you are professional, but now that's not the case.

Nobushi Aramaki: In the CG world, there has been a gradual change. But after all, there is still a big gap between an amateur and a professional team in terms of production ability, so there will be no obvious changes for the time being. However, I believe that the gap will become smaller and smaller in the future.

"Unconditionally excited about the future"

――After listening to what they said, I felt that technological progress has had some positive effects on modern creation, but on the other hand, the "Apple Nuclear Wars" series continues to depict a dystopian world as before.

Yasuki Nakata: For me, the so-called science fiction, whether it depicts darkness or light, as long as it describes the future, I am full of excitement. No matter how ruined and desolate New York may become, I know a certain amount of knowledge about the present New York, so I am naturally curious and excited about the New York in the work (laughs).

――Mr. Nakata, your feeling of "unconditionally excited for the future" has a deep connection with the music world you have created so far.

Yasuki Nakata: The society in which I was a child was an era of "long live science." At that time, no matter how much energy was wasted, as long as it could be solved with science, everything would be solved. In my heart, I still clearly remember the feeling of that era. Science doesn't need to calculate the cost (laughs).

-- That was the time before human introspection.

Yasuki Nakata: That's right! That's why I like science fiction movies so much. Because in reality, science can't be abused like it used to, but at least let me relive the feeling I had when I was a kid in the movie.

Nobushi Aramaki: When I watched Mad Max 2 as a child, I thought that the future world was desolate, and if I lived in that world, I would definitely not survive, but despite this, I still felt that the world was full of charm. Also, when I was a kid, I wanted to be a reinforcement person. If you become a strengthener, you will definitely be able to run first place in the athletic meeting (laughs).

――When you say that, it reminds me of Brienos, the enhanced person who appeared in the "Apple Nuclear Wars" series!

Nobushi Aramaki: That's right. So, even though the work depicts a dystopian world, in the depths of the work is our passion for the world of the future!

This is the end of the translation of this interview, Tencent Animation will continue to send you more and more exciting animation information in the future, please pay close attention to this channel!

"Apple Nuclear Wars Alpha" information synopsis

Release date: January 17, 2015

Region: Nationwide

Story: After the World War, New York is in ruins, and Dina, a former SWAT female player who survived the baptism of war, and her partner and former lover Brienos are still fighting the enemy. In the midst of a never-ending battle, the two of them fervently hope to live a peaceful life in Olympus, the ideal city of mankind. At this moment, a young girl suddenly appeared in front of them. The girl claims to be from Olympus and is currently being hunted by an unknown enemy. In their joint actions with the maiden, they discover the secret hidden in the maiden's body - a great power that can destroy the world and the earth. Stronger enemies are closing in on them, and the future of humanity depends on the two of them!