Under read more because its long but very informative
Q: Kill La Kill is finally announced. What was your initial concept like?
N: It started when Imaishi drew a Womens Team (onna gumi) at a bar.
Q: Womens Team?
N: We were first considering a gender bent version of the manga Mens Team (Otoko Gumi). I submitted an idea where thered be girls wearing uniforms that have powers, fighting each other.
I: So I drew a pic of Womens Team then and there, and I began to think itd be rather fun while drawing a character with handcuffs (lol).
N: In all these school clubs, the members would have uniforms with different powers. And we thought wed do a battle manga-thing where the main character beats those rivals one by one. The theme for TTGL was to depict a mans growth and maturation, but this time we went for the concept of a battle manga-thing, the likes of those from WSJs Golden Age.
Q: So it took a while from production to the announcement.
I: When we were doing Panty and Stocking, wed planned for a work that can be made immediately, but it ended up being dragged out in light of the TTGL feature film. We thought we can get to this (KLK) soon as well, but
making an original work does take time. Significant time needs to be invested in conceiving and developing each character personalities/sentiments.
N: In the meantime, Imaishi even made a whole company
I: Hahaha, and also directing the special effects for BRSs CG
N: And I was doing Forze, too.
Q: Forze was centered around an academy like KLK, correct?
N: Thats right. Actually KLK came first. When we were talking about having a high-school girls battle show, they told us that they wanted Forzes MC to be a high schooler too, and we were like Oh no, theyve overlapped. KLKs motif is on a high school in the Meiji era; and Forze is an American high school. I made this distinction within myself, and I couldnt disclose it to anybody for a long time, until now (lel).
Q: So while it took time, did the script-writing progress well?
N: Not at all. After wed decided on a 2-cour series, I submitted the script for Episodes 1-4
and Imaishi said THIS ISNT THE KIND OF WORK I WANT TO DO! and ripped it apart.
Q: This sounds familiar. Did that happen during TTGL, too?
N: During the show (leo). Six years ago, Imaishi ripped up the finished script for Episode 1 while screaming The drill in my heart wont spin with shit like this!
I: Did I really say that? Its like my words are getting blown out of proportion (lel)
N: This time, it ended up with I cant wear sailor uniforms with this kind of story! while ripping up 4 episodes worth of script.
I: EHH~? Does that mean I have to wear a sailor uniform if I OKd the script?
Q: Hahaha. So there was a big turnaround in direction.
N: TTGL had one draft denied, but this time it was 4. The acceptance rate fell! (lel)
I: Im sorry. Havent got used to it, have you (lel
N: But no question, the script is very interesting.
Q: So with this major directional change, what were the effects on the story?
N: Initially we were making a battle-manga type show, but it changed to character drama. The battle-show planned for a complete story ended up becoming a work where regular characters development/drama will be thoroughly explored. The work coincidentally became much more interesting from there.
I: The heroine (Ryuuko Matoi)s personality changed, too.
N: Ryuuko was initially a completed character. But after the changes in script, she became the type of character where one would get involved in incidents by circumstance, and we made it so the viewer and the heroine would discover whats happening in this world at the same time. Ryuuko therefore became a character with much more vitality.
I: We thought wed go all out with the best elements from shonen manga. We decided to make this work one where the audience can feel strongly about the main character with a diversity of emotions.
Q: Did the whole series structure change as well?
N: Its still changing here and there.
I: And that makes it vastly different from TTGL. TTGL didnt change very much from the first planned structure. But KLK is going beyond that.
N: With KLK, the whole staff (with me included) submit ideas, like Hey, this would be cool, and the series layout keeps changing. Its really a live production. If anything, its quite similar to the experience I had when I was producing weekly manga. With weekly manga, you keep developing/making things in the direction the characters are moving, so its really fun. KLK gave me that vibe.
Q: How did you undertake the script writing?
I: Just a few people. Actually, Nakashima wrote most of the 2-cour script. The Nakashima concentration in this script is very high!
N: Actually, we wanted to have the battles with special powers thing for the whole story so we considered having a lot of writers to provide some quality variety. But then, the character drama started getting intense, so
then Ill write the next script, .. and the one after that, and after that too. Before we knew it, Id done most of the writing. It was like TWENTY-FOUR.
I: It was a pleasant surprise to have had Nakajima write almost all of the episodes script.
N: Forze had just finished, so I was able to really concentrate on the writing. Right now, I can finish a whole script in a week; its like a weekly KLK manga. You can fully enjoy the Imaishi-Nakajima combo.
Q: What sort of action do you want to do this time?
I: Hand-to-hand combat (or basically fighters literally throwing themselves at each other). We only had three episodes of that in TTGL. Ive always wanted to do an all-out battle between characters with Nakajima at the helm (writing).
N: Yes, its like the Yoko vs. Adiane fight (from the TTGL film) for the whole thing.
Q: Sushio-san was in charge of character design, correct? How did you find his work?
N: Im really excited from seeing all those facial expressions. I want to see them moving already!
I: Sushios characters give off even more appeal when theyre moving. Hes not a very rational character himself; he blows up when hes excited. Im counting on that.
N: Weve got some really cool characters lined up.
Q: What sort of characters are Matoi Ryuuko and Kiryuuin Satsuki?
I: Ryuuko and Satsuki are developed through their clashing. Initially, Ryuuko was a bit gloomy/introverted character, but we gave her a brighter personality because Satsuki is cool and hard as ice.
N: Both of them are main characters. Their universe has uniforms that match an individuals talents/skills and give them respective powers, and Satsuki is trying to rule the Academy with that uniforms power. Ryuuko resists this movement. Itll be a sculptured drama centered around both of them.
Q: So in this sculptured drama, who is/are your favorite character?
N: There will be Four Emperors again. Theyll last long!
I: You went there (lel).
N: They wont be one-shafted emperors this time
probably.
I: There are no throw-away characters. Theyre packed tight in the story, and deleting some of them is inconceivable.
N: Some characters will develop immensely by themselves. Its wonderful to have characters like that being born.
Q: Any films, books, or novels that were brought up during the script-writing?
N: I got a lot of feedback about different kinds of works from everybody this time.
I: Nakajima presented some mainstream classics from the 70s, and we present works from the 80s influenced by them. And then we get ideas influenced by both of those.
Q: I see that you two make a great team. What do you like about working with each other?
I: Ever since TTGL, Nakajima balances out my irresponsible and childish impulses with adult rationale and reason, while keeping things fun. Not only that, that fun approach fits me very well. So the work is made really easy. Id like to work with Nakajima loads more in the future, if he doesnt mind.
N: With Imaishi, I can go full throttle with my style. And the folks at Trigger can make that into a excellent work. Its really too much fun. I almost want to do both Gekidan*Shinkansen and Trigger at the same time.
I: Thats wonderful to hear!
N: Personally, KLK is just too much fun. If I were me, I wouldnt be able to get over watching this!
I: Nice line there! If I were me! (ROFL)
N: Imaishis team appreciates these jokes. Normally, people would be just confused.
I: I want to match that If I were me I cant get over it! phrase with an illustration and make it talk!
Q: Production has started too. What are you both looking forward to the most, at this point?
N: The afurekos (off-recording). The cast is superb this time too. This is going to be pretty damn interesting. Really looking forward to having those people voice the characters and give them life.
I: Production finally started, and artists besides the main staff are working on the Ryuuko and Satsuki characters. Id like to see how theyll show even more facial expressions.
N: This is a work where you get the fun from a manga-movie kind of thing. In terms of Trigger, its a work thatd express both the spirit of Inferno Cop and the imagination behind Little Witch Academia.
I: The spirit of Inferno Cop? Umm
itd be better not to create misunderstandings (lel). Well, lets go with the FULL MIGHT OF TRIGGER.
N: We believe itll be an excellent work!