(L) Denno Coil (TV Series!)

[Sonhex]

Originally Posted by wao

And I think if I'm not wrong Animage is the magazine that covers this show more than the others. If my memory serves me right it's the stakeout of Yuichiro Oguro, the guy behind WEB Anime Style (aka the if-you-read-any-magazine-then-read-this mag for sakuga otaku). That mag tends to have more interesting interviews and stuff like that, I think. And I won't be surprised in the least if Oguro wants to pimp this show. :P...

I suppose the fact Animage is published by Tokuma probably helps a ton too. Actually it looks like it's Iso who's interviewed in Animage March according to the website info. Gah, I hope I can find it somewhere...

EDIT: Well would you believe it. Here's the scans, curtesy of Manuloz...

http://img267.imageshack.us/my.php?i...e32318bpo5.jpg
http://img261.imageshack.us/my.php?i...te32331jy1.jpg <-- ha-ha Isako is tsundere!

and a bonus storyboard pic (some great expressions):

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/119/date30421sb8.jpg

[wao]

Ah, I checked this only later...

Well how do you like that, instead of one transfer student, both of them are transfer students!

So I translated the second picture Sonhex linked. I put in some effort to these translations but they're still rather clunky and amateurish...

Spoiler for Saving space:

Amazawa Yuuko 天沢勇子 (aka Isako)
A mysterious girl who transferred over to Ooguro City in search of something. Becomes Yasako's classmate.

Okonogi Yuuko 小此木優子 (aka Yasako)
Moved over to Ooguro City because of her father being transferred over, and gets involved in all sorts of incidents.

Caption: "In a mysterious town, what will the two Yuukos encounter?"

Stuff at the bottom:
It is a future not far from now, where "Dennou Megane" (Computer spectacles) have become a commonplace object among children.*
On one summer's day, the sixth-grader Yasako moves to Ooguro City where her grandmother lives. There, she got to be friends with a set of characteristic people, starting with another transfer student, Isako. How will the adventures of these young boys and girls over the span of one summer, in a mysterious world where computerized space (電脳空間) and everyday life curiously mix together, change Yasako and Isako?

"Dennou Coil" - the anime that's been the topic of discussion as the debut original work/directorial/script production by Mitsuo Iso, already noted as an animator.
While being a "naive" drama delicately following the casual emotions and everyday lives of our young female leads, at the same time it is also has a sci-fi element that is filled to the brim with stimulating visuals, making this an anime with a seemingly unusual taste.

How will the world of Mitsuo Iso's creative imagination turn out through the hands of the recently-released set of solid staff and cast? With the promise of a new visual experience led on by Yasako and Isako's story, it's hard not to be full of expectations for "Dennou Coil".

*I get the feeling they're implying that it was actually somewhat distributed among them, but I'm not really sure about this

Now that interview. Man, that's a lot of words, and it's getting late... so while it pains my fangirl heart, I'll skip the Iso-pimping in the introduction - after all, it's done so much more eloquently and convincingly over at Ben's site.

OK, here goes nothing. It's awfully late and everyone knows I can't write well, let alone translate well, so do pardon any gaffes and awkward sentences. I do wish I could replicate Iso's style of speaking so we'd get any nuances, but oh well. Please don't shoot me if you think this is a crap translation If you can do better I implore you to correct it or make another version....

(Comments are in brackets), emphasis is mine for easier reading

Spoiler for saving space:

---Please tell us how the story of "Dennou Coil" came about.

Iso: At first, I had completed some textual material based around key images, in the style of a project proposal. This was six years ago. I had brought this around to various production companies, but it wasn't rated very highly and the proposal practically fell through. However, this time around I had the opportunity to present this to the producer Sanae Mitsugi (see here she's the head of the visual media section of Tokuma right now, IIRC.) from Tokuma Bookstores, and there was talk of realizing this project as soon as possible, which has continued till the present. I think of it as an extremely fortituous meeting.

---Please let us hear about the "spectacles" that are such an important item in this show, as well as the idea of "Ooguro City" as a backdrop.

Iso: If I were to describe the background of this anime in one phrase, it would be "a time when spectacles that can see ghosts are being sold". But those spectacles are actually "Dennou Megane". They can connect to the Internet, and overlay images, virtual pets and so on over our actual, real space. This technology is actually being developed in real life, but within the anime it's designed such that it's gotten to the point where it's as commonplace as mobile phones and has successfuly integrated into scenes of everyday life.

However children, being undaunted by complicated things, use them (the spectacles) to be able to see spirits which they were otherwise unable to see in the world which they were immersed in. If I were to try explaining it, they're used as magical spectacles, as well as playthings. Because it's become a half-real, half-Internet world, there's a certain kind of unusual spatial presentation where you have, say, children stumbling across a computer virus hidden on a street corner. When one comes into contact with the virus, the spectacles will break and so on, but there's no bodily harm done. There's also no way to feel the fur* and such of (virtual) pets. That feeling of distance in being unable to touch what you see before your eyes is one of the things I wanted to accomplish with this work.

*The word used is 毛並み, which seems to imply more of exterior appearances and hence breeding (that's how it's used, anyway, according to sanseido) but I guess since Iso said "feel" he must be referring to its physical fur?

The city of Ooguro is nationally the second-best computerized city in terms of infrastructure for those Dennou Megane. But at the same time it also houses many old buildings. The name of the location Ooguro City was actually a component I decided upon before even coming up with the title of the anime. It doesn't actually exist in real life, but it's the name of one of the Seven Lucky Gods (see here, it's pronounced there as "Daikoku") and hence gives an impression of abundant happiness.
To balance it out, however, I made it a placename while also being aware of the unlucky connotations brought about by the name's origin* and the kanji "kuro" (black). In that way, it might be charming in how it approaches a "wet" (as opposed to dry) atmosphere consisting of that bit of uneasiness lurking in reality** as well as Japanese culture and spirituality.

*I don't know how the name "Daikoku" originated, is it something unauspicious? Anyone knows?

**Don't quote me on this but I think he's referring to how there's alternative "dark" meanings to things just like how Ooguro/Daikoku is a god of fortune and prosperity but it's got an unlucky "black" in its name.

---What about the main characters like Yasako, Isako etc.?

Iso: Yasako's pretty much a normal child, but inside she's not exactly what you'd call simple. Isako's burdened with something heavy, but in contrast she's trying to live a simpler life. However, this is reflected in a cold personality that only serves to increase the distance between her and other people, resulting in her opposition with Yasako, who attempts to befriend her. Both of them possess the normal side of them everyone sees, as well as another facet that's only momentarily visible. The supporting characters Fumie and Daichi also come across as simple and silly types, but I thought it'd be good if they could also be portrayed as characters that display glimpses of other characteristics.

---This show features a rather impressive staff and cast, doesn't it?

Iso: The voice actors are all pretty much lead role-class, and should be able to provide substance to the characters. As for the animation, there's an amazing staff gathered here and furthermore I am absolutely thrilled and delighted as much as I could be by their response to the material. In particular, the sakuga chief Toshiyuki Inoue (see here, here and here) is greatly supporting this with his large amount of work.

---Considering your taking on many roles at one time, is there anything in particular at the workplace that gives you a hard time?

Iso: At any point of time it's all full of things that must be done seriously or not at all, so conversion* is really quite a trouble. In particular, having come to understand that film and script cannot come exactly from the same brains (or mindset?), converting takes quite some time to do.

* To be honest, I don't know what he means by conversion (切り替え) I assume he means converting written ideas and script into images and moving film, but really... I'm not sure.

---Finally, what would be the theme you would like to put across through this anime?

Iso: That no matter what, there will always be a distance between people, and even between things that seem within ones' reach. And that one must walk down a long, thin and winding road before they reach one's heart. There's tons of obstacles. It's in fact like the roads in towns of old. But I also intend to include this with the feeling that there's no road that's unconnected to the rest and eventually one must reach somewhere. However, this is something one only comes to right at the end, so I never conciously thought of it as a "theme". I would be most happy if this anime was viewed with an amusing and yet strange sort of lightheartedness, and a feeling of 'nantonaku'*.

* To save myself trouble: nantonaku typically implies sth along the lines of "somehow or the other". Like "Somehow or the other it'll work out".

Do read those interviews with Inoue I linked, I just reread them and those are honestly very refreshing and insightful words that I'm grateful to have seen...

EDIT: Well that's fast, going by http://item.rakuten.co.jp/guruguru2/tkca-73185 as well as http://www.discstation.co.jp/VSSHOP/...?ns=TKCA-73185 it seems like they've already set a tentative release date for the soudntrack - 23rd May. But isn't this anime premiering in mid-May anyway? That's the fastest release I've seen for a soundtrack... Maybe the music will be so awesome and beautiful that they know people will want to get it ASAP?

[Sonhex]

Huge thanks for the translation wao. Work prevented me from replying sooner, but I've taken time to read your translations now. The more I read about this, the more excited I become (and can't wait for May to arrive). I few comments I picked out:

Originally Posted by wao

...While being a "naive" drama delicately following the casual emotions and everyday lives of our young female leads, at the same time it is also has a sci-fi element that is filled to the brim with stimulating visuals, making this an anime with a seemingly unusual taste.

We're looking at a sci-fi slice-of-life then. Fantastic and that comment seems to fit in with the nostaglic look of the art and the emphasis on character rather than sci-fi motifs.

Originally Posted by wao

Spoiler for saving space:

---Please tell us how the story of "Dennou Coil" came about.

Iso: At first, I had completed some textual material based around key images, in the style of a project proposal. This was six years ago. I had brought this around to various production companies, but it wasn't rated very highly and the proposal practically fell through. However, this time around I had the opportunity to present this to the producer Sanae Mitsugi (see here she's the head of the visual media section of Tokuma right now, IIRC.) from Tokuma Bookstores, and there was talk of realizing this project as soon as possible, which has continued till the present. I think of it as an extremely fortituous meeting.

---Please let us hear about the "spectacles" that are such an important item in this show, as well as the idea of "Ooguro City" as a backdrop.

Iso: If I were to describe the background of this anime in one phrase, it would be "a time when spectacles that can see ghosts are being sold". But those spectacles are actually "Dennou Megane". They can connect to the Internet, and overlay images, virtual pets and so on over our actual, real space. This technology is actually being developed in real life, but within the anime it's designed such that it's gotten to the point where it's as commonplace as mobile phones and has successfuly integrated into scenes of everyday life.

However children, being undaunted by complicated things, use them (the spectacles) to be able to see spirits which they were otherwise unable to see in the world which they were immersed in. If I were to try explaining it, they're used as magical spectacles, as well as playthings. Because it's become a half-real, half-Internet world, there's a certain kind of unusual spatial presentation where you have, say, children stumbling across a computer virus hidden on a street corner. When one comes into contact with the virus, the spectacles will break and so on, but there's no bodily harm done. There's also no way to feel the fur* and such of (virtual) pets. That feeling of distance in being unable to touch what you see before your eyes is one of the things I wanted to accomplish with this work.

*The word used is 毛並み, which seems to imply more of exterior appearances and hence breeding (that's how it's used, anyway, according to sanseido) but I guess since Iso said "feel" he must be referring to its physical fur?

The city of Ooguro is nationally the second-best computerized city in terms of infrastructure for those Dennou Megane. But at the same time it also houses many old buildings. The name of the location Ooguro City was actually a component I decided upon before even coming up with the title of the anime. It doesn't actually exist in real life, but it's the name of one of the Seven Lucky Gods (see here, it's pronounced there as "Daikoku") and hence gives an impression of abundant happiness.
To balance it out, however, I made it a placename while also being aware of the unlucky connotations brought about by the name's origin* and the kanji "kuro" (black). In that way, it might be charming in how it approaches a "wet" (as opposed to dry) atmosphere consisting of that bit of uneasiness lurking in reality** as well as Japanese culture and spirituality.

*I don't know how the name "Daikoku" originated, is it something unauspicious? Anyone knows?

**Don't quote me on this but I think he's referring to how there's alternative "dark" meanings to things just like how Ooguro/Daikoku is a god of fortune and prosperity but it's got an unlucky "black" in its name.

---What about the main characters like Yasako, Isako etc.?

Iso: Yasako's pretty much a normal child, but inside she's not exactly what you'd call simple. Isako's burdened with something heavy, but in contrast she's trying to live a simpler life. However, this is reflected in a cold personality that only serves to increase the distance between her and other people, resulting in her opposition with Yasako, who attempts to befriend her. Both of them possess the normal side of them everyone sees, as well as another facet that's only momentarily visible. The supporting characters Fumie and Daichi also come across as simple and silly types, but I thought it'd be good if they could also be portrayed as characters that display glimpses of other characteristics.

---This show features a rather impressive staff and cast, doesn't it?

Iso: The voice actors are all pretty much lead role-class, and should be able to provide substance to the characters. As for the animation, there's an amazing staff gathered here and furthermore I am absolutely thrilled and delighted as much as I could be by their response to the material. In particular, the sakuga chief Toshiyuki Inoue (see here, here and here) is greatly supporting this with his large amount of work.

---Considering your taking on many roles at one time, is there anything in particular at the workplace that gives you a hard time?

Iso: At any point of time it's all full of things that must be done seriously or not at all, so conversion* is really quite a trouble. In particular, having come to understand that film and script cannot come exactly from the same brains (or mindset?), converting takes quite some time to do.

* To be honest, I don't know what he means by conversion (切り替え) I assume he means converting written ideas and script into images and moving film, but really... I'm not sure.

---Finally, what would be the theme you would like to put across through this anime?

Iso: That no matter what, there will always be a distance between people, and even between things that seem within ones' reach. And that one must walk down a long, thin and winding road before they reach one's heart. There's tons of obstacles. It's in fact like the roads in towns of old. But I also intend to include this with the feeling that there's no road that's unconnected to the rest and eventually one must reach somewhere. However, this is something one only comes to right at the end, so I never conciously thought of it as a "theme". I would be most happy if this anime was viewed with an amusing and yet strange sort of lightheartedness, and a feeling of 'nantonaku'*.

* To save myself trouble: nantonaku typically implies sth along the lines of "somehow or the other". Like "Somehow or the other it'll work out".

Do read those interviews with Inoue I linked, I just reread them and those are honestly very refreshing and insightful words that I'm grateful to have seen...
...

Wonderful interview, gives a real insight into the ideas behind Dennou Coil and Iso's approach in general, not to mention some of themes we can expect to be covered (distance, friendship, choices etc...) Interesting that it seems Yasako and Isako will have a turbulent relationship (or at least Isako will be the obstinate troubled one).

There's also some really cool ideas in there - living computer viruses and sentient virtual pets that you can only see with the Dennou Megane. I guess Densuke (the fat dog) is one of these virtual pets. There was an image (http://img293.imageshack.us/my.php?i...te30419id1.jpg) posted by Manuloz on Ben's site that shows Densuke only partially visible through the glasses. Yet we see Densuke being hugged by Kyoko, so these pets must have some physical presence or maybe it's just the way their program reacts to the physical world. Or something. Will be fascinating to find out how they're tackling these themes in detail.

The character page on the website have been updated btw, showing us Daichi and Oyaji - I have no idea what he's meant to be.

[wao]

OK, so the music is by Tsuneyoshi Saito... and just recently some fans found out by checking CD sites that the OP ("Prism") and ED ("Sora no Kakera") will be performed by Ayako Ikeda (池田綾子).

I don't know anything about her, but here is a PV of one of her songs. Sounds pretty generic, but with a more interestingly composed and arranged song I can see her voice fitting in well enough.

Also, a bit of info on Yuuko I missed out the last time - when Yasako moves into Daikoku, it appears she is made to join the "Coil Computer Investigation Agency" (コイル電脳探偵局) after meeting up with Fumie. Sounds fun!

BTW I noticed this some time ago but kept forgetting to mention it - not is just Densuke a virtual pet, it appears you can have other virtual things too, if you've noticed that promo pic with Isako and Yasako standing in front and that temple gateway in the back, there's some kids kicking a ball and another guy reaching out to something and those things have that lined look which means they're virtual.

Reminds me of Zettai Shounen (which is a good thing).

...and god, I can't believe Real's seiyuu is going to do a little tanned kid's voice

[Shinndou]

Originally Posted by wao

...and god, I can't believe Real's seiyuu is going to do a little tanned kid's voice

From Amy Lee-like clone to little asian kid? Why not, as long as she can pull it off.

On a side note, I'm really interested and captivated by the idea of a world and setting where the real "norma-looking" worlds blend with virtual reality. I hope this show will be really inspiring under that aspect.

[wao]

BTW if anyone has a clear version of http://img293.imageshack.us/my.php?i...te30419id1.jpg (specifically the interview section) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me/us where to get it. Or send it to me. Through PM or on this forum or through email. Please. It is an interview with Sanae Mitsugi, the producer of the show. I would like to read and hopefully translate it. If there's already a translated version out there I would love to read it too...

There's cast and staff interviews in this month's Animage, according to the official site. Which is good - I was going to buy it for the Iroha spread in it, and this is a bonus to buy it. Animage is a better magazine than Newtype and Animedia, I think... I've not read that much of all three but Animage tends to have better writing and interviews and furthermore it has some juicy stuff on the Shows That Matter, usually.
Of course I will scan it in once I get it .

Which, hopefully, would be next Friday. Hopefully.

EDIT: More news on related merchandise,

The book - this was announced some time back, but it's going at 860 yen on the 19th of April under the label "Tokuma Novelize Edge" and it's authored by a "Yuuko Miyamura".
I really don't know if it's the same as that seiyuu, but yes they have the same name. Exactly the same name, if I'm not wrong.
It's described as a "juvenile" short story, maybe it's for kids?

The manga - fresh news. If you go here, they mention at the bottom that there's a comic version in the works to be serialised in Ciao! Comics (Shogakukan), and I think that is one of those shoujo-manga mags... by shoujo I mean... ah heck, you can go look at their list of titles in English. I see Ask Dr. Rin, Mirumo de Pon!, and... Utena o_O Uh, basically, quite a large amount of frilly and girly and cute.

I can understand why some fans were hoping it'd go to IKKI or something...

EDIT2: Also, I'm sure someone here has it - anyone has a reasonably large, full version of that old promo picture with the temple and the bunch of people plus Isako and Yasako in the foreground? The one with the "ortp://" thing, it used to be on the tokuma page before it got updated.

[wao]

Oh wow, another double post.... Why do I have a feeling of deja vu here?

Anyway - I scanned in cast interview from April Animage! It comes with some new pictures of the characters.





This is just 33.3% of the original size. If you'd like a larger version please ask me and I'll upload it.

They're actually nice interviews to read and talk a leetle bit more about the characters themselves, but I don't have the time to translate them now .

EDIT: One last thing -


This is a larger version of the picture on the official site. There was an announcement about the soundtrack in Animage and this picture was there. I think you can see the other characters in there who haven't been otherwise shown yet. I think it's Daichi's gang - but surely Haraken isn't the one on the fence?
How cute though, Fumie's sort of reluctantly (?) sitting there with Oyaji. Even though she and Daichi argue so much! Heh.

In other news, there's also this thing floating 'round on the web...
http://coil.atwiki.com/
I doubt anyone in this thread has much to contribute but if you do, it'll be greatly appreciated.

[Sonhex]

Thanks for the scans! I do like Honda's energetic sketches, so full of character and life, can't wait to see those in motion ~ one day soon we'll get a jaw dropping promo (hopefully).

Um, I don't think that's Haraken on the fence, he doesn't wear a hat (at least not in the images we've seen so far). Maybe it's Akira? She hasn't appeared on the site yet last time I looked, so not sure what she might look like. And yeah, Humie looks really bored in that last one, how cute

[Keitarou]

Can't wait till its finally going to air. One of my favourite animators, Mitsuo Iso, as director and on the script, it's impossible for this one to go wrong. Now I just hope that Madhouse will pay attention to that project like they did on Kemonozume, a treatment like every other of their series in the last two years had would prove to be disastrous. I'm also expecting a line-up of Japan's top animators on every episode, setting a new standard.

Thanks for the scans and interview, wao.

[wao]

No problem. Speaking of trailers - there's going to be one at the upcoming Tokyo Anime Fair 2007, at the Tokuma Shoten booth. Just like past years I'm dead sure someone will secretly take a video of it... I hope....

I guess I will go put on my zomg-translate-crappily hat and see what I can make out of the cast interviews. Nothing substantial, but still.



...And I've had no luck getting February Animage, curse you Kino for not doing backorders! I am so desparate for it!

[Shinndou]

Nice, the character design shown in those scans seem to have a sort of retrò feeling, like some of 80's/beginning of 90's anime series used to have. I like it. And I wish I could see more background art (I am a sucker for that), I am really curious to see how the "world" described so far is actually portrayed like.

[duckroll]

Originally Posted by wao

No problem. Speaking of trailers - there's going to be one at the upcoming Tokyo Anime Fair 2007, at the Tokuma Shoten booth. Just like past years I'm dead sure someone will secretly take a video of it... I hope....

If no one releases a video on the two business days, I'll capture the trailer when I'm there on the 24th.

[duckroll]

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/anime/coil/

Starts May 12th. 26 episodes.

[wao]

Woot! Thanks for the offer and thanks for the news too! We'll be waiting to see it excitedly

[Sonhex]

Great news about the air date and the possible trailer. I trawled through the TAF coverage and only found one measly image of the Denno Coil stand. Here it is:



That's all I found so far

[wao]

Thanks for the pic, anyway. I really can't wait to see that trailer, but well. All I've heard so far is that it doesn't feel like it's aimed at otaku or pandering to fans, but can be enjoyed by anybody. Yay!

[Haohmaru]

More screens from TAF http://ruliweb.empas.com/ruliboard/r...b_news&main=hb
Is that a Devil May Cry trailer I'm seeing O_O. Can't wait to see that too. That baseball anime looks pretty cool too.

[Tsuka]

Denno Coil opening (screener)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDfBBWP49p0

[wao]

YES! Thank you, thank you, thank you and thank you. Even more thanks to the person who uploaded it!


...Wow, I totally didn't expect it to be liek that though! It definitely feels like much more than a mere children's show. It has more of a SF element than I thought - but in exactly the sort of way I like, in that it's so cool how the children are just on the streets and there's those digitized "patches" appearing at their feet.

Even the song itself is different from what I thought it would be. It's got a feeling of adventure and coolness but yet it's not like some mech OP or anything either. Although it does end a bit funnily...

My favourite part is the beginning, especially the bit where Haraken's turning around and sees a shadow of a head going down the stairs. But best of all, I'm really reassured by the backgrounds - from what I can see, they look great, just as I was hoping for this anime. If Zettai Shounen could have great backgrounds, so can this!

I do wonder what those circle things are though. They remind me of those large diagram things I remember seeing in Eva and Aquarion - the name escapes me now. Was it some Jewish thing? I have a feeling there'll definitely be some sort of big story behind this whole thing (especially if there's 26 episodes). But how it will turn out remains to be seen.

Anyway, good OP. Looking forward to this even more!

[monir]

I liked how the song started but need to hear a cleaner version before formulating an opinion. Thanks for the link Tsuka!