Isayama Hajime’s Interview on Mikasa Ackerman
From Gekkan Shingeki no Kyojin, Volume 3
[Translation: @yusenki; Editing: @fuku-shuu ; Image: @clevergirlraven]
After I first moved to Tokyo, there was a period when I worked part-time at an internet cafe in a shopping district, on the late-night shift. Because it was so late, there were lots of times when huge crowds of drunkards surged in. That fear I possessed from the unpleasant feeling of not being familiar with them ended up becoming a big influence in the SNK story. Also at that time, one of the clients I met [by chance] became the model of Mikasa. She covered her face with a muffler late at night, and I thought this look of hers was endearing [cute]. When she came to the store, I felt something and quickly started to sketch on the memo pad I had in my hand. The sketch from that time was the original drawing of Mikasa.
I am sure that the customer who became Mikasa’s model was Asian - or perhaps should I say she must be Japanese. However, as you may know, in SNK, Eren and the other characters’ races have yet to be revealed. Only Mikasa’s race as someone of Asian descent has been noted. Of course, there is further meaning involving the story’s plot, but that is to be revealed in future. But when you get to the core of it, her conception is because the lady who served as model for her was Japanese, and that’s why Mikasa is an Asian [laugh].
I got Mikasa’s name from the old Japanese navy’s battleship “Mikasa.“ I followed the legend that if you name the female character with one of the battleship names, your work will become famous. For example, Neon Genesis Evangelion’s Ayanami Rei & The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya’s Yuki Nagato. There are some parts of Mikasa that are unrefined, yet on the other hand, she has a brave personality. I think these are influenced from the heroine of Berserk, Casca. At that time while drawing, I didn’t realize it - but after a while, I realized that Mikasa resembles Casca.
It is quite generic that a heroine is usually a woman who motivates a man. However, I don’t really like that way of thinking. There was a time when my head actually filled up with the idea of Mikasa turning that kind of character development around. That is the reason that she became a strong woman who excels in combat. In reality, there are differences between the skeletal structure and muscle count of men & women which cause the difference in their potential strengths. However, if that fact is just reflected in the manga normally, it wouldn’t be interesting anymore.
For Eren, rather than a lover, Mikasa’s presence is more like a mother to him. The love towards a mother is considered valuable [precious], however at the same time, there are annoying parts as well [laugh]. Just like towards one’s actual mother, Eren will start to grow up when he becomes independent [move away/not dependent on] from Mikasa, I might draw this scene one day.
