Umino x Shimura interview
From part 2 of a joint interview between Umino Chica (author of Honey & Clover and 3gatsu no Lion) and Shimura Takako (author of Aoi Hana, among other things). Trans by yrs trly. Uhh spoilers for Aoi Hana manga Vol. 4, I guess. ^^;
----
Q: Umino-san, you mentioned that Fumi is your favorite character in Aoi Hana. What do you like about her?
Umino: I like burdened characters--characters who carry burdens in their hearts (laugh). So there I was, wondering what this burdened girl was going to say to Aa-chan, and then she goes and opens up completely! Now I'm all, "What will Aa-chan do?"
Shimura: Meanwhile Aa-chan is sort of like, "I'm not sure what to say."
U: But even Aa-chan's "Huh" response is so cute. It makes me think "Oh, she's so going to fall for her..." (laugh). When I was working on HachiKuro, I always knew that if any of the characters went right for the heart of the matter, the story would go zooming forward. That was a scary prospect, so they all spent something like 8 volumes just dawdling, not getting anywhere, but when I saw Fumi-chan plunging ahead in Aoi Hana, I was like, "Wow!" That takes amazing courage, I thought.
S: It was scary.
U: I understand the scariness. That's why I thought you were so brave.
S: On the other hand, there are some people who didn't want it to happen...
U: Ah....
S: This isn't limited to Aoi Hana, but people who just want to see girls squealing and giggling together are going to resent a character who wrecks that kind of relationship. "But...but that's what I want to draw!" is what I'd say (laugh).
U: I see what you mean. With HachiKuro, I could feel the readers' desire for none of the characters to actually come out and say anything. But I thought, "I want to let them say it," so I suppose I betrayed my readers at that point. Or not betrayed, but felt that I had to write the ending I wanted to write, and take responsibility for that. Even though it's been a while since the series ended, I still see and appreciate seeing people talking about it heatedly on the internet, saying "I object to the ending," and I always think, "I really am sorry. I'd like to apologize in person, but I can't" (laugh).
---
I FOR ONE LOVED YOUR ENDING, SENSEI
PAY NO ATTENTION TO THOSE GOONS WHO DIDN'T
...I should prolly translate the rest of this.
----
Q: Umino-san, you mentioned that Fumi is your favorite character in Aoi Hana. What do you like about her?
Umino: I like burdened characters--characters who carry burdens in their hearts (laugh). So there I was, wondering what this burdened girl was going to say to Aa-chan, and then she goes and opens up completely! Now I'm all, "What will Aa-chan do?"
Shimura: Meanwhile Aa-chan is sort of like, "I'm not sure what to say."
U: But even Aa-chan's "Huh" response is so cute. It makes me think "Oh, she's so going to fall for her..." (laugh). When I was working on HachiKuro, I always knew that if any of the characters went right for the heart of the matter, the story would go zooming forward. That was a scary prospect, so they all spent something like 8 volumes just dawdling, not getting anywhere, but when I saw Fumi-chan plunging ahead in Aoi Hana, I was like, "Wow!" That takes amazing courage, I thought.
S: It was scary.
U: I understand the scariness. That's why I thought you were so brave.
S: On the other hand, there are some people who didn't want it to happen...
U: Ah....
S: This isn't limited to Aoi Hana, but people who just want to see girls squealing and giggling together are going to resent a character who wrecks that kind of relationship. "But...but that's what I want to draw!" is what I'd say (laugh).
U: I see what you mean. With HachiKuro, I could feel the readers' desire for none of the characters to actually come out and say anything. But I thought, "I want to let them say it," so I suppose I betrayed my readers at that point. Or not betrayed, but felt that I had to write the ending I wanted to write, and take responsibility for that. Even though it's been a while since the series ended, I still see and appreciate seeing people talking about it heatedly on the internet, saying "I object to the ending," and I always think, "I really am sorry. I'd like to apologize in person, but I can't" (laugh).
---
I FOR ONE LOVED YOUR ENDING, SENSEI
PAY NO ATTENTION TO THOSE GOONS WHO DIDN'T
...I should prolly translate the rest of this.