July 7, 2002
Shoji Kawamori Interview
by LizzardShoji Kawamori made an appearance at Anime Expo 2002 to help promote his latest work, Earth Girl Arjuna. Kawamori and his sponsor, Bandai Entertainment, were kind enough to grant Lizzard ten minutes for an interview for her Escaflowne fan site, "Tsubasa no Kami". The site has been offline for several years, so the interview is being re-posted here. Lizzard thanks to Jerry Chu (Bandai Entertainment Marketing/Producer), Ken Iyadomi (Bandai Entertainment Vice President/Producer), and of course Shoji Kawamori for finding time in their busy convention schedule to sit down for a chat.
As Kawamori does not speak English and Lizzard does not speak Japanese, the interview was conducted with the assistance a translator. In order to streamline this transcription, she has made the translator "invisible" - Kawamori's responses are given directly in English. Please note that due to the limited time available, Lizzard was unable to follow up on most of Kawamori's tantalizing comments. For example, she would have liked to press him for sequel ideas, but it just wasn't feasible.
LIZZARD: It's a great honor to meet you. Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me!
KAWAMORI: You're welcome, you're welcome.
LIZZARD: I have five questions for you, submitted by fans on the Internet via my Escaflowne web site. The first question - how involved were you in the production of the Escaflowne movie, and how was that different from your work on the TV series?
KAWAMORI: I was involved with the movie's planning, at the beginning. I wasn't really involved much with the movie's script, but I did give the story its initial direction.
LIZZARD: Second question. As I'm sure you noticed at the Escaflowne panel last night, many American fans are upset that Hitomi does not stay with Van at the end of the series and movie. Are you disappointed by this reaction, or did you expect it?
KAWAMORI: [laughs] I feel the same way as the fans - I'm disappointed that they must go their separate ways. But sometimes that's what has to happen.
LIZZARD: Yes, I agree.
KAWAMORI: My reaction was shared by the director of the movie, but we felt that it was for the best.
LIZZARD: I liked the ending.
KAWAMORI: [laughs] Me too. If they had stayed together, it wouldn't have been an appropriate ending.
LIZZARD: Third question. If there was ever an Escaflowne TV series or movie sequel, what would you like to see done with the story?
KAWAMORI: [evil grin] Oh, I'd want to do something very different.
LIZZARD: [laughs] OK then. Fourth question. How did your work on Macross influence your work on Escaflowne? Did you bring any ideas with you?
KAWAMORI: It wasn't really so much my work on Macross that influenced me as all of the experiences I had after working on Macross. I visited many spiritual places, and went to Nepal and Tibet. Those experiences led to many of the ideas in Escaflowne.
LIZZARD: Last question. Which Escaflowne character do you most identify with? In other words, who are you the most like?
KAWAMORI: Dornkirk.
LIZZARD: Dornkirk? [scoots chair away from Kawamori] Scary!
KAWAMORI: [laughs] In his younger days, I mean.
LIZZARD: Oh sure, in his younger days.
KAWAMORI: You know, before he went insane.
KEN IYADOMI: That is really weird.
KAWAMORI: [laughs] Well, I suppose if not Dornkirk, then Dryden. Dryden in the TV series.
LIZZARD: (thumbs up) Good choice, good choice. [holds up Sock Ally doll] But not Allen?
KAWAMORI: [laughs] No, I'm not very good at sword fighting. [pretends to wield a sword]
LIZZARD: Well, I won't take up any more of your time. Thank you very much for answering these questions.
KAWAMORI: [speaking English for the first time] Thank you very much!
