Our Last Crusade Producer Opens Up On Anime Productions and BTS

Kosuke Arai, the producer behind many famous anime works like BOFURI, Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out, and The Last Crusade, opened up about animation production in a recent interview.

Behind the gorgeous anime that we all love is the hard work and patience of a lot of staff and cast members. It is a long and rigorous procedure that sometimes goes unappreciated, and Arai is here to unwind it for us.

1. What is He Role Of a Producer Behind an Anime’s Creation?

The producer is the team leader of the business side of the anime, while a director is the leader of the creative side. Interaction is necessary on both ends for a good and appealing anime.

Deal negotiations, finding business partners, and fund collections are some of the tasks the production committee deals with.

Producers also need to interact with the broadcasting companions, marketing team, and plan for other opportunities to increase the sale of anime merchandise.

2. Why Was Our Last Crusade selected To Be Made Into an Anime?

Arai laughs as he comments that personally he finds the characters cute, especially Alice. The elaborate settings and plot of the anime built by Sazane sensei (creator of Our Last Crusade) were very appealing.

Arai and Sazane sensei have interacted with each other in the past, and Arai had brought up how he wants to feature Alice and Iska and that he wants to make a classic fantasy anime out of the series.

3. How Much Time Does It Take To Make an Anime From Scratch, and What Are Some Interesting Facts Behind It?

Our Last Crusade anime took 2 years to be completed. A lot of time was also spent on script meetings. The time needed for making an anime depends on the kind of movements involved in it.

In cases like Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang, the movements are relaxed, and it takes a year to be made. However, action-oriented anime can need 2-3 years to be produced.

Arai says that one fun part about the whole procedure is the wrap-up get-together thrown after each project is completed. All the directors, producers, cast, and staff involved meet up to enjoy speeches, food, and have fun together.

4. What Is The Difference Between Adapting a Manga Into an Anime and a Light Novel Into an Anime?

When adapting from manga, the content is visualized, and thus it is easier for animators, directors, and other staff to create the anime settings.

However, working with light novels allows the most freedom for the creative team. A lot of original ideas can be worked into the project, unlike a manga, which only allows limited adlibs.

Another important difference is the workload involved. The work volume is much more with novels as picking out important events is harder, and one has to keep reading the work from time to time.

5. How Do Western and Japanese Fans Differ?

Arai seems pleased as he remembers the screening of Our Last Crusade where he screamed with the fans while waving pantie shaped fans. He claims that excitement for anime is equal in both audiences.

However, Western otakus outwardly express their love for anime more. Arai keeps the western audience in mind while he produces an anime. Numerous meetings have been held to make the anime more appealing to western otakus.

6. What Are The Essential Traits Needed To Be A Producer, and Can Foreigners Join The Anime Production Line?

Kosuke Arai replies that the two traits necessary to become a producer are “humbleness” and “hunger.”

Humbleness is required as it is a team effort, but at the same time, a person should compete to do their best and make connections and deals for the project.

Overseas fans are also welcome to the industry since anime is produced for a global audience.

7. About Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World

Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World anime is adapted from the light novel series by Kei Sazane and Ao Nekonabe. It is animated by Silver Link.

The Mechanical Utopia and The Paradise for Witches have been fighting wars for two centuries.

However, the successor of Black Steel and the Ice-Calamity Witch meet by chance, which causes a collision of ideas and views. How will they change this battle-hungry world?

Source: Funimation

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