Quote:
Originally Posted by Washi
(Post 3325919)
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/houko/133520.jpg
Recently, I've been agonizing quite a bit over anime. It's been bothering me for probably over a year now, in fact.
But still, in the minor aspects that I have dealt with the industry, I've had to talk about it in a number of places. But the more that I talked about it, and the more that I thought about it, the more dismal my feelings toward it became. That's how things have been.
"Maybe anime is just no good anymore"
That thought has popped up in the back of my mind countless times now.
But if I were to just give up and leave now, my conscience would be too heavy. Not to mention it would be unfair to anime as a whole, which is a part of what made me who I am today. I've finally gotten to a place where I can think that. Although it might just be stubbornness.
So although I'm prepared to face the worst case scenario, I'd like to participate one more time in an anime production as a director.
This may in fact just become a personal battle in the end. And if this fails, I am already prepared to retire. However, there's still a part of me telling me that there's still something I have to say, and in my own words. Call it faith if you like, but that's what has given me the courage to one more time, at least one more time, try to make an anime.
I don't know what'll happen from here, but I honestly hope and dream of a day when anime will shine.
See you in "Fractale".
--Yamamoto Yutaka
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Personally, I read it as more of a heavyhanded muse than a pledge.
Preparedness to retire (and over in the game industry, you have people saying those kinds of things from time to time) doesn't necessarily imply a commitment to follow through on it. It's a bit similar to saying that you're prepared to sacrifice your life for your product.
The other question is the meaning of success or failure. Is it critical? Commercial? Artistic? Ratings based (it's noitaminA, so a show could be a money loser but still be considered some kind of success based on relative viewership)? Focused on niche success or something broader? There's no clear definition except for what's currently in Yamakan's mind, or what he establishes after the fact.
In that way, I can't interpret it as anything more than doublespeak. He might truly be thinking about exiting the industry, but the statement would be equally valid even if he weren't.
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