Over the Sky | Image Gallery | Artbooks | Last Exile Aerial Log | 055
Murata: Both of them, that’s right. Their works were already completed the way they were. The side views of the vanship that I had drawn were combined into three-dimensional drawings that eventually got converted into CG solid models, which is something I myself could not really do.
IN: They are like a human CAD, the way you describe them.
Suzuki: Take whatever you can think of in the world, there are people who, starting from a single photograph of it, can quite easily recreate its three-dimensional model in their head and draw it from any perspective.
Murata: I cannot do that, usually (laugh).
Chigira: Mr. Maeda at one point drafted a scene depicting the taking off and landing from the rear deck of the Silvana from a certain perspective. He started to figure out in which way to draw it, thinking hard about it, then after a while he exclaimed “Ah, is it that?” since he had understood it. That sounds like coming up with the solid model inside your head (laugh).
Murata: Although this makes it harder to draw the characters, I can draw them from any perspective since they are my creation. But being able to do the same with a mecha from a single view is something I consider fascinating although beyond my ability.
IN: The emotions brought by the power of the visuals contributed a lot to the appearance of this world.
Chigira: Well, when I saw that kind of dedication, I decided I could concentrate on the story.
IN: Do you think there is something missing?
Chigira: Well, it’s a shame that after Alex was crucified with the roses we could not place a scene where he could meet Claus. We envisaged a scene where Alex could tell Claus “Your father was a great vanship pilot” but there was not enough space to fit it in so we omitted it.
Murata: Really disappointing. Alex respected Claus’ father so much that it was a pity we had to leave out a scene with Alex showing how regretful he was.
IN: With that, maybe Alex’s decision to entrust Claus with all the Mysteria might have been better understood. After all it’s Alex’s will that a carrier pigeon is sent at a later moment or that Claus is given the message tube, although no word from him is attached.
Chigira: Sure, they were on the same ship, however it was a huge ship, an unknown place where it appeared so unnatural for the two of them to meet, so I left it out although I was holding back my tears.
Suzuki: Alex is a taciturn character after all.
IN: An extremely taciturn one indeed…
Murata: But he can talk (laugh).
IN: The fans are still firmly rooted. It seems like the opening of an invitation-only event.
Murata: I’d better go, before they spot my face.
IN: Since Mr. Murata is so popular, he is recognized wherever he goes so he cannot move freely.
Chigira: Yeah, so what if I go before they find out (laugh).
(Everybody laughs)
If a second season is produced, will it solve all the mysteries…
IN: I was annoyed by the fact that there was no catharsis for Dio, do you think his death was a waste or do you have any regrets on that…
Chigira: The screenplay required that, after Dio had noticed that Lucciola was not there, the scene ended with him falling to the ground, but maybe it was inadequate…
Suzuki: Doesn’t the DVD liner add to that, which implies that Coccinella and the others rescued Dio?
Chigira: That’s right. At the cast party I declared to the voice actors that in case of a sequel it would most likely be about Dio’s counterattack (laugh). Moreover Al would be three or four years older, which means she would change a lot. That’s because as girls grow older, they change the most.
IN: Is there any chance it will be serialized?
Chigira: It’s a secret (laugh).
IN: By the way I’m pretty confused by some age inconsistencies, so how old is Al?
Chigira: She is 9 years old.
Murata: Isn’t she 11 years old? (Note 6)
IN: Isn’t the daughter of Mad-Thane younger than her?
Chigira: She is absolutely 9 years old.
IN: Indeed, an incredibly good military nurse for a 9 years old girl.
Murata: Eh? Wasn’t she 14 years old? (Note 7)
Suzuki: Well, a different take on this came into play from the producers’ side… Mr. Murahama also said about Sophia that “the viewers won’t like her if she is older than 20” (laugh).
