Translation commissioned by @goldsword07, DO NOT REPOST in full, always include credits and a link to this post if you use or share any parts of it.
Question: Congratulations on completing Shingeki no Kyojin’s serialization! How do you feel now that you have finished writing the final chapter?
Isayama: There’s still some work left to do when it comes to putting together the final manga volume*, so I don’t actually know how a “life without deadlines" feels like yet (laughs), but by publishing the final chapter, I feel like I can finally breathe again. However, there are still several things that need to be done.
(*Translator’s note: usually, putting together a volume includes: fixing drawing mistakes, sometimes even redrawing certain scenes if the author wasn’t satisfied with how they looked/their composition, fixing text (both wording or simply changing the Japanese characters used), drawing omake/extra pages, like the High School Caste fake previews, which usually take up 2 pages, and so on. So, of the 8 extra pages he mentions below, probably only 6 at max will be used to add new original story content.)
Q: What?! What else is there to be done?
Isayama: At first, the draft for the last page of the chapter was neatly divided into 5 panels, but I was feeling quite indecisive about it. At the time, that last page was a scene of 3 people running towards a tree on a hill. After having a meeting about that with Bakku-san and my other editors, I decided on a last-minute change, and I turned it into the one that is now published in Bessatsu Shonen Magazine. The limit for each printed chapter in Bessatsu Magazine was 51 pages, but since up to 8 extra pages can be added in manga volumes, I want to finish up everything that I couldn’t draw in the printed magazine and add it in the final manga volume.
Q: As for the serialization, which spanned 11 years and a half, have there been any changes about the way you think about mangas?
Isayama: Up until recently, I had drawn as if sexism wasn’t a thing, but when drawing the Marleyan military, which was comparatively more modern, if I had added, with no explanation whatsoever, female soldiers like I did for Paradis Island, it could’ve given the impression that Marley was quite a developed nation. It would’ve felt out of place. That’s why, as long as I was drawing a story set in an era of the past, I couldn’t draw female characters as part of the top brass of the military, because it would’ve meant acting as if there was no actual history of gender discrimination at the time.
It might be a story set in a fictitious world, but if you don’t connect it in some ways to the real world, it could end up becoming a story people cannot relate to.
Q: The unraveling of events that led to the final chapter has been quite shocking. Especially when it comes to Eren…
Isayama: I have been frenetically checking any and all reactions to that. There are as many honest opinions as there are people, and they’re all correct. With how I portrayed that part, it’s not so strange that it was interpreted as if Armin accepted the massacre. My portrayal was lacking. Armin didn’t approve of the despicable measures taken by Eren, but he ended up benefiting from the mass slaughter, regardless of his intentions. Armin, who couldn’t possibly understand Eren, faced their last farewell with a firm “Thank you for becoming a mass murderer for us”, essentially conveying how he himself was also an accomplice. He wanted to feel closer to Eren, even if just a little. I realized the final stage in particular had too difficult themes, and my portrayal was inadequate. I deeply regret that I wasn’t able to fully express them in the manga proper.
I’ve been drawing this manga for 11 years and a half, and when I completed the manuscript I truly believed that “everyone will be happy with this”. I was conceited. I apologize to those who have supported me until the end but have felt let down by the ending.
Q: During these 11 years and a half of serialization, have there been any memorable events?
Isayama: I’m happy that I could deepen the relationship with my assistants, as “manga friends”. When the serialization started, everyone was in their twenties, but now some of them are married and have even become parents, and we have become close family friends.
Q: Was the manga becoming an anime a memorable moment, too?
Isayama: The anime adaptation can certainly be considered another part of Shingeki no Kyojin. Lots of people got to know this story through watching the anime. Personally, it was refreshing for me too, as I could experience the story anew. In addition to that, the characters were taken out of my hands - in a good way - by the directors and voice actors, they began moving as independent “existences”. It was a first and interesting experience.
Q: Do you have a favorite scene?
Isayama: As far as drawings go, the scene I like the most is the one in chapter 104, “Victors”, when the Jaw Titan claws at the Attack Titan. Besides the fact that I feel like I can’t draw anything better than that, there also haven’t been that many action scenes with titans after chapter 104.
Q: Well then, what about your best chapter?
Isayama: One of them is chapter 71, “Bystander”. I feel like that chapter exceeded my abilities at the time. I like the way it doesn’t feel like “Shingeki no Kyojin”, as the spotlight was on the life of a single character who isn’t involved with the original story.
Q: Chapter 69, “Friends”, also depicts some characters’ personal life.
Isayama: I like that chapter, too! At the time of drawing its draft, I flattered myself with words such as “Uh? Aren’t I so mature?!”. Normally, I would draw the main story’s continuation, but in chapters 69 and 71’s case, it felt like I was drawing stories that were complete on their own.
Q: With the start of the Marley arc in chapter 91, “The other side of the ocean”, both titans and modern times’ weapons made an appearance in battle.
Isayama: That battle scene was the time I had the most fun while drawing mangas, I was in a state of total concentration and full energy.
Q: How has Shingeki no Kyojin been for you?
Isayama: It’s as if youth has come a bit late, a third of my life has been packed into this work. …Of course, there have been hard times, too, but it’s been a chapter of my life that normally you wouldn’t be able to experience and even now I struggle to think it was real. Although I’ve been spoiled by my readers, I had planned to draw all the while accepting even harsh opinions.
Q: Finally, a message to the readers, please!
Isayama: Through Shingeki no Kyojin, I could connect with an unfathomable number of people. I’ve been happy to share this time of my life with my readers, which is something that, if I had had a normal life, I would have never experienced.
Also, now that the serialization is over, I have been freed, so I want to stroll around a small city with a can of One Cup sake in one hand. That’s what I would call freedom.
Hello there! I was just wondering if you could tell us if there is any added nuance in the Japanese version of what Levi said about what he wanted to tell Eren in chapter 136.
I’m feeling kind of desperate over this ereri crumb
Hii~
In japanese it’s “あのバカに言ってやりたいことはごまんとあったが、クソ”
which is literally how it was translated in English, but just to add a bit more spice: ごまんとある that was translated as “a whole lot” implies an extreme quantity, so much that it is impossible to count. It literally means “five thousands” but it stands for “countless”.
Also the curse is literally “shit”, but I think “dammit” works just as well. Not really worth mentioning.
Translator: yaboylevi
※ do not reupload in its entirety. credits with link to this post attached if parts of it are reposted.
Interview with Fugou Keiji Balance: Unlimited’s producer, Matsuo Taku.
Q: Tell us the whole story behind the transformation of Yasutaka Tsutsui’s novel “The Millionaire Detective” into an anime.
A: I personally am a big fan of Tsutsui’s works. In “The millionaire detective”, a multimillionaire man uses his money to boldly resolve cases. I believed such a setting would have been perfect as a form of entertainment such as anime. The novel was published 45 years ago. So, since the historical period was changed to be the modern times, another reason for this adaptation was to add fascinating parts in the form of technology and various gadget.
Q: What about Kambe Daisuke, the character the anime is centered around who also appears in the novel, and Katou Haru, an anime original character? Can you tell us a bit about their character design, the relationship between the two and their personality?
A: In the novel, Kambe Daisuke is a rich young man (t/n: bocchan, for those who know the meaning of this word. I associate with it the quality of being a bit spoiled because of being rich), gentle and quiet. When I thought of the setting of the story - modern times - and about what truly is entertaining in anime, I immediately wanted to have Daisuke be a “follow my orders!” type of guy. It’s my preference, sure, but the director Itou and the scriptwriter Kishimoto approved of it and started delineating the screenplay with this in mind.
By having Daisuke be such a character, we created Katou Haru, because we wanted to “have a common person stand beside such an eccentric man”. What the audience and we want to see is of course a buddy relationship, we reasoned. Katou ended up having a very active role, so we are very grateful that we decided to create this partnership! I personally am a great Daisuke fan, but, amongst the team, Katou is also super popular. I think it’s good that they are able be evenly popular!
The original setting of the story and the characters have been changed, brand-new characters have appeared, the stage has become the modern times… It’s a bold reboot of the original novel but I have faith that I am the biggest fan of the novel and of Tsutsui, so I will protect the important core of the original book, while creating a new “Millionaire Detective”. Ever since the early stages of its planning down to the screenplay and storyboard, Tsutsui let the animation team do whatever we wanted. We’re very, very grateful!
Q: Thrilling action scenes and fast paced dialogues between Katou and Daisuke… the audience has every reason to be excited. Other than the writing of this original story, are there any other parts that you focused on?
A: Flashy action scenes, cutting-edge gadgets, the feel good pace of the production, the way Daisuke x Haru’s relationship as partners hits bumps in the road while it evolves, a story where you can’t predict what’s gonna happen next… These were the points we paid particular attention to. The setting and the world-building aren’t particularly difficult to visualize, the most unbelievable thing is that someone like Kambe Daisuke would appear in our society, really… So I hope for the audience to have fun watching the show!
Q: The stylish design is also a highlight of the show, but are there things, when it comes to themes and highlights, that you have collaborated on with the anime staff, starting from director Itou-san, from the perspective of the design and animation?
A: First on our priority list was making the show as entertaining as possible for the audience, which was the script planning phase’s main focus. When it came to planning for its visual parts, it was completely director Itou’s territory. Since the script meetings and the initial stage of the planning it’s been 3 years and a half, so it’s only natural that director Itou has come up with the best photography production possible. I really love director Ito’s works so I’m excited to find out what there’s in store for us! I personally didn’t cooperate when it comes to animation/design: when all is said and done, it’s the result of the creators’ hard work and talent, first of all the director.
Producer comment, EP 1
My favorite parts were the moment Daisuke appears when you go “the King is here….! (cry)”, and the amazing screen when HEUSC is used for the first time, and also the wicked smile on Daisuke’s face when he pushes on the accelerator.
Producer comment, EP 2
Suzue’s identity which was teased with [???] until this episode’s broadcasting, the multimillionaire Kambe residence, Kambe’s final exciting role as expected…. These are all personal highlights. Suzue is a wonderful character that appears in the novel as well, so we decided to have her play very active roles. I believe we managed to add originality/individuality while preserving the important parts of the novel.
Interview with Miyano Mamoru and Oonuki Yuusuke - Newtype (2020/5/10)
Translator: yaboylevi
Follow my fkbu only blog if you'd like :)
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Q: Only 2 episodes of Fugou Keiji Balance:UNLIMITED were broadcasted but can you tell us your impression of the characters that you two play? First of all, the billionaire son of a distinguished family, Kambe Daisuke, who was assigned to the Modern Crime Prevention Headquarters. What’s your opinion of him?
MIYANO: Daisuke, who is voiced by Oonuki-san, is the type of character that constantly makes you change your opinion of him. If you look at him through Kato’s eyes, at the beginning he was someone you couldn't like. But Daisuke was transferred to his same division and Kato ended up having to teach him the ropes. Daisuke, in his own way, is facing cases earnestly, but it seems like Kato still hasn’t understood this. There are still lots of things that weren’t revealed about Daisuke, so I’m curious about that.
OONUKI: Daisuke knows nothing of the real world, he’s a bit clueless, or more like, he has always lived in a world of wealth, so he just does things in his own way. His air of arrogance and wealth was quite hard to portray in the beginning. But thanks to being alongside Kato, he will learn various things, so from now on, he will grow as a person. I’m looking forward to that.
Q: So, what about the hot-blooded detective Kato Haru, who was once part of the First Division, and is now working at the Modern Crime Prevention Division?
MIYANO: Kato has strong beliefs. He is a person who holds his ideals of justice very dear. He used to be the ace of the First Division but fell down all the way to the Modern Crime Headquarters. Because of that, he’s frustrated at the fact that he can’t do the things he wants to do. He’s a character who’s got a certain realism as part of the middle management (T/N: middle management people are not part of the top managers, they are their subordinates, but they are in charge of the actual workplace and have their own subordinates they are responsible for).
OONUKI: To someone like Daisuke who knows nothing of the everyday life of a normal person, Kato is someone who will make him grow more aware. I’m curious about how their relationship will evolve.
Q: As recording proceeds, what kind of opinion have you gained of this series?
MIYANO: Even if I’m the one saying this… our duo is pretty good, right?! (laughs) It feels really good! Daisuke and Kato’s personalities are opposites, but when we perform together, it feels just right.
OONUKI: Thank you. As for me, I really like the music in this series, it’s reaaaally cool! Music starts with such perfect timing that you unintentionally go “Wooh!”.
MIYANO: I totally get it!
OONUKI: Also the character design chosen by Sasaki-san is so cool. In the story, there is also a mystery that will be unveiled a bit at a time. The direction of Director Itou-san is also very stylish and exciting. And amongst it, there are parts that make you laugh, too. The balance is really nice, every recording session is fun!
MIYANO: At the end of every episode there is a receipt showing how much Daisuke’s investigations cost, and that’s exactly the type of entertainment the directing is going for.
Q: Miyano-san, Oonuki-san, the cast gathered in your group of voice actors is also quite amazing. Is there someone who left a strong impression on you when you were recording together?
MIYANO: Every character has a very strong individuality, so they all have a great presence, but I never thought in my life as a voice actor that I’d have the chance to record alongside Kamiya Akira-san (T/N: Cho-san’s voice actor, also Conan's Kogoro's VA and City Hunter's Saeba Ryou). I was so happy it felt like a dream. The weight and dignity of each of Kamiya-san’s words are just that great.
OONUKI: I also wanted to talk about Kamiya-san. There are certain lines he said that are so very impressive they just remain with you. I was deeply moved by their power, the core of his voice.
MIYANO: He’s a very modest person and it was a precious experience to be able to be in the same workspace and witness the wonderful form of such a role model. Also, Shioya Kozo-san, who voices the chief, was also great. He made the chief sound kind but you also feel like he’s someone who is a lot wiser than everyone else (laughs). You will worry if this guy is okay, but at the same time, it feels like there is something hidden in his past… Even Cho-san, who at first glance sounds like an empathetic detective, the way he’s voiced by Kamiya makes it sounds like there is more to him after all. Each character has their own backstory, there is still a lot that hasn’t been revealed yet.
Q: I’m also curious about the AI butler that Daisuke has.
OONUKI: Through HEUSC, a terminal in the form of an earring, Daisuke can give out orders. Of course, payment of billions of yen, but speaking of technology, I’ve heard it’s also able to make gadgets a reality. I’m looking forward to all sorts of cutting edge gadgets that will appear from now on.
Q: At last, what are you two looking forward to, in regards to future developments?
MIYANO: I want to see more cooperation. This story is centered around Kato and Daisuke’s work partnership, but the scenes where they cooperate are still very few. I’m excited about future developments from now on.
OONUKI: When it comes to Daisuke, it seems like there is "something" concerning the Kambe family, so I’m looking forward to finding out what this mystery is.
MIYANO: (Once that secret comes to light) I want to see the moment in which the calm and collected Daisuke is shaken.
OONUKI: Oh, he will definitely get upset. (laughs)
MIYANO: So yeah, I am looking forward to recording for the second half of this season (T/N: he doesn't mean a second season or a second part, it's just that they still haven't dubbed half of the episodes).
Fun Fact: The old man yelling at Daisuke in EP1 is a cameo: he’s supposed to be Tsutsui-san (the author of The Millionaire Detective novel).
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Translation of the front page (sooo much pandering, read till the end ahah)
One is unheard of, while the other is hot-blooded, one is an unconventional man and the other has a one-track mind, one is eccentric and the other is driven by common sense.
The brains who use freely infinite assets, and the brawn whose shoe soles grew thin because of constantly running around. Different in everything, the two detectives met on the crime scene. The two of them chase criminals in different ways. Where one of them gathers testimonies by bribery, the other is persistently on the lookout and gains information through his own efforts. A brand-new button-down shirt and a worn-out layered one.
One is the cool and collected Kambe Daisuke, who dashes forward with the classic car he just purchased. The other is the emphatic and hot-blooded Kato Haru, who rushes up to it with all of his strength.
The two butt heads, and have different opinions, each with their own way of dealing with things, they finally reach the truth. Their way of living, their acquired way of thinking, their chosen way of doing things, they’re different up until now.
But because they are so different, they fit together well.
The two of them, who may look too far-removed and yet they could be so close*, can face any case. When they establish an emotional bond and take each other’s hand, the door to the hidden truth will open quietly for sure.
*It’s an expression impossible to translate. It is used for a relationship between a man and woman who may seem too different to get along but they unexpectedly end up happy and married. lol
I started it late (cuz I'm at work lol), but...Marina Inoue is a treasure!
1. when talking about the Eren "I wasn't needed" scene, she said "there's no way Eren is someone not needed to Armin and Mikasa, he's the person who saved them!"
2. when talking about the ocean: "Seeing the ocean wasn't Armin's personal dream, it was his dream with Eren, who is the person he looks up to, his friend, his family", and then she almost ends up crying. They stop here because otherwise it would become spoiler (they're emotional due to what's been happening in the manga).
3. "ISAYAMA-SENSEI, IT HURTS!!!"
So basically, #protectMarinaInoue.
(Also, let me take this chance to say that nobody yet knows what the end of the manga is, even though there's been mistanslations running wild lately.)
Hello Vi! I hope you don't mind but I saw you comparing Zekek's words about Xaver watching over him to Levi's about Hange and you pretty much confirmed they were the same? But I also read that Levi's line is ambiguos so that it isn't clear whether he's talking about Hange watching over him only or over all of them. Could you please confirm this?
Hi! I don’t know how I feel about people not following me on twitter but still reading my tweets (jk, i know, uncomfortable (follow me if you can, yo :D )), but I’ll reply anyway.
The two lines are the same: 見ててくれ
Levi’s line’s direct object is unclear simply because there is no object. But there are more than one person that Hange left behind. There is a cause that involve many people. So, in my opinion, it is better translated as “look over us/watch us”. Translation always involves adaptation based on context, and by me, it makes more sense for Levi to ask of Hange to keep watching them - it’s a throw back to Hange bringing up dead comrades watching them fight for their cause from the afterlife just a few moments before.
Levi doesn’t seem to believe in such platitudes but he’s emotionally hurt and exhausted and maybe he let a bit of it get to him. I’m not sure if he feels hope at the idea that Hange and all the other comrades are watching over them (probably yes, if they win; no, if they fail). For me it almost looks like a way for Levi to convince himself letting Hange go was the right choice because Hange will get to see it all. And also a way for Levi to give himself the strength he needs to go on. If someone’s watching full of expectations, he can go on fighting.
The Japanese have interpreted both as “look over me (just levi)” and “look over us (the remaining SC)”. ‘Cause, again, there is no object. For me, it’s fine both ways, because after all Levi was having a private conversation with Hange (mostly unspoken), and even that “watch” was a private mumble I think. Still, I believe it makes more sense for him to ask Hange something that includes all of them, as Hange’s sacrifice was for them all.
The same cannot be said for Zeke, because Zeke was alone in his fight, he was calling out to a single important person in his life to watch over one of his most dangerous actions. It was a clear “Watch me!”. But the feelings maybe are kind of the same as Levi’s: they wish that someone important to them - who’s dead - would look over them and give them strength and maybe even in this way sort of protect them by being by their side spiritually.
