RIP Satoshi Kon
I've been meaning to make this for a few days but it still makes me so sad. :( I really can't believe. But I just read a full translation of his last letter, which was posted to his official site after his death from pancreatic cancer was announced, and oh my god, it made me bawl. So horrible.
http://www.makikoitoh.com/journal/satoshi-kons-last-words
The part about his unfinished work especially killed me:
My biggest regret is the film "Dreaming Machine". I'm worried not only about the film itself, but the staff who I was able to work with on the film. After all, there's a strong possibility that the storyboards that were created by (our) blood, sweat and tears will never be seen. This is because Satoshi Kon put his arms around the original story, the script, the characters and the settings, the sketches, the music...every single image. Of course there are things that I shared with the animation director, the art director and other staff, but basically most of the work can only be understood by Satoshi Kon. It's easy to say that it was my fault for arranging things this way, but from my point of view I made every effort to share my vision with others. However, in my current state I can only feel deep remorse for my inadequacies in these areas. I am really sorry to all of the staff. However, I want them to understand, if only a little bit. Satoshi Kon was "that kind of guy", and, that's why he was able to make rather weird anime that was a bit different. I know this is a selfish excuse, but think of my cancer and please forgive me.
I haven't been idly waiting for death, even now I'm thinking with my weak brain of ways to let the work live even after I am gone. But they are all shallow ideas. When I told Maruyama-san about my concerns about "Dreaming Machine", he just said "Don't worry. We'll figure out something, so don't worry."
I wept.
I wept uncontrollably.
Even with my previous movies, I've been so irresponsible with the productions and the budgets, but I always had Maruyama-san figure it out for me in the end.
This time is no different. I really haven't changed.
:(
I was listening to the soundtrack to "Millenium Actress" (which seriously, after Fritz Lang's "Metropolis", ranks as my second favorite film of all time) while I was studying, and when "Actress in Time Layers" came on I had to stop because I couldn't stop picturing that incredibly intense and amazing scene from the movie, probably some of the coolest 8 minutes ever animated.
(Spoilers for the movie)
http://www.makikoitoh.com/journal/satoshi-kons-last-words
The part about his unfinished work especially killed me:
My biggest regret is the film "Dreaming Machine". I'm worried not only about the film itself, but the staff who I was able to work with on the film. After all, there's a strong possibility that the storyboards that were created by (our) blood, sweat and tears will never be seen. This is because Satoshi Kon put his arms around the original story, the script, the characters and the settings, the sketches, the music...every single image. Of course there are things that I shared with the animation director, the art director and other staff, but basically most of the work can only be understood by Satoshi Kon. It's easy to say that it was my fault for arranging things this way, but from my point of view I made every effort to share my vision with others. However, in my current state I can only feel deep remorse for my inadequacies in these areas. I am really sorry to all of the staff. However, I want them to understand, if only a little bit. Satoshi Kon was "that kind of guy", and, that's why he was able to make rather weird anime that was a bit different. I know this is a selfish excuse, but think of my cancer and please forgive me.
I haven't been idly waiting for death, even now I'm thinking with my weak brain of ways to let the work live even after I am gone. But they are all shallow ideas. When I told Maruyama-san about my concerns about "Dreaming Machine", he just said "Don't worry. We'll figure out something, so don't worry."
I wept.
I wept uncontrollably.
Even with my previous movies, I've been so irresponsible with the productions and the budgets, but I always had Maruyama-san figure it out for me in the end.
This time is no different. I really haven't changed.
:(
I was listening to the soundtrack to "Millenium Actress" (which seriously, after Fritz Lang's "Metropolis", ranks as my second favorite film of all time) while I was studying, and when "Actress in Time Layers" came on I had to stop because I couldn't stop picturing that incredibly intense and amazing scene from the movie, probably some of the coolest 8 minutes ever animated.
(Spoilers for the movie)
Click to view