So here is the complete Mashima interview, at the event Japan-Expo in this moment in France, i translated entirely in english, it was very difficult but i hope you like it!!!! (i try to publish the videos soon i can, because the videos format is not good :s)



- Q = is for Question

- A: is for the animateur / festival presenter,

- M: is for Mashima (answer)

- Q.A: is for animator question

- .PQ: is for public question

Good reading, it’s very long , i also put some pictures to accompany the interview, it more attractive to read. ;)

Part 1

Mashima: It all started when my grandfather when i was little, he used to collect the manga on the street (manga put in the trash) so he brought them back to the house and made me read . I started like this.

ANIMATOR QUESTION : And how your passion for drawing is she arrived ?right after?

M: It was from the moment i started to want to make my own characters that i felt something in me that was born.

Q.A: Did you said, one day, you could do anything but mangaka?

M: Yes, ofc, there were other jobs that i wanted to do! when i’ve read Sherlock Holmes, i wanted to become a detective but … (laughter Mashima, public laughter)

Q.A: So, what are your inspirations, the music, the movies you see, manga, what has influenced you the most?

M: My biggest influence is Dragon ball when I was little!

Q.A: But why precisely Dragon ball ? what did you inspired in this manga?

M: because Goku is super cool!

(Applause in the room)

Q.A: Can you just tell us how you work? how you create a FT volume? it takes how long, how many assistants do you have? We explain the process just a little …

M: I’ll explain how i spend one week.

- My week starts on Sunday which is the day that i reserve for my story board, which is the basis for the continuation.

- Monday I make an editorial meeting with my editor, based on the story board that i prepared the day before,

- It is Monday in general that i completely finished the story board after consultation with the editor,

- On Tuesday, i attack the sketch,

- And then Wednesday, Thursday, Friday is inking (black line) ,

- It remains on Saturday, i do the work still, i devote Saturdays to other work, and when I do not, it’s my day off,but there is a very long time i’ve not taken a day off! (laughter in the room).

QA: And your assistants follow the same pace you?

M: My assistants come the Wednesday that is currently or have done inking, 3 sometimes 4 days depending on the workload.

Q.A: And how many are they? what are they doing?

M: EUMM … for now I have four assistants :

-two who are responsible for backgrounds

- and two who are responsible for finishing.

Q.A: So, what is your secret to keep this pace? like Lucy, you call your spirits to help you?

M: If i can do it, it’s because I know I have all the support of my readers (me off :*-* <3) it’s my secret (applause in the room)

Q.A: Who is your favorite character and why?

M: Actually it depends moments, this is not always the same person …

Q.A: How is it possible?

M: It’s quite simple, when I make a passage in which I put forward a character more than others, generally, this is my favorite character, is this one that I like the most!

Currently in the publication in Japan, it’s Lucy who is forward, so it’s Lucy who is my favorite character

Q.A: Speaking of Lucy, the female characters are really strong, why is it so important for you to put powerful female characters?

M: It’s quite simple, I only have strong women around me (shouts and applause in the room)

Q.A: How do you manage to create as many charismatic characters?

M: Eummm … first thing, I think every character I created a little bit of me, a little bit of my personality, for example, Natsu is me when I was little, feels that influences the personality of Natsu, Lucy wants to be a novelist, that’s my part a little artist in me, that is expressed.

But sometimes I’m like Happy I just want to be in a corner, doing nothing and daydreaming! (Laughter in the room)

Q.A: This is what you want to do every Saturday afternoon?

M: (laughing Mashima) Yes that’s for sure that I would like !!

Q.A: The manga is a success in France and in other countries, how can you explain this success?

M: Eummm … this is a topic we often discuss with the editorial staff because we would like to know it, one wonders, but we feel that through the world, there are many, many people who support the adventures of Lucy and Natsu, the fact it is all the time trying to give the best of themselves, and we think that having characters who always give the best of ‘themselves, is perhaps one of the secrets of success around the world.

Q.A: Is it because you also give the best of yourself through this manga?

M: MERCI (Mashima speaking in French and said thank you)

(Applause room)

Q.A: You were came to France in 2009, why come back this year?

M: The first thing about the fact that I came there several years ago, is that I have had such a warm welcome from my fans that I told myself that I had to come back!

(Applause room)

Q.A: Do you have a special memory that you have of France?

M: I can tell you a funny story … my first coming to France, i was not there for years, so I told myself, it is imperative that I go see the “Mount Saint-Michel”

(OFF me : it’s a famous abbey in France)



So I’m going to see it, and I was so excited, so alone in my euphoria, when i went to the gift shop to bring back a gift, I buy a gift that had no relation to the Mont Saint-Michel, it was rather a gift that came from England (laughter in the room) in more, it was super heavy!

Q.A: And now you want to return for buy a real French gift?

M: Yes well on! it is my intention (laughter Mashima)

Q.A: You have an idea of ​​the gift you want to buy?

M: Eum … I have no precise idea but if you have any advice for me, do not hesitate!

Q.A: FT is now, celebrating ten years, how do you keep intact the desire to continue this adventure?

M: All I can tell you, really, it’s because I know there are many readers who follow the adventures of fairy tail that I keep intact this desire!

The characters have evolved so much that there are times when they hardly need me, to advance in the story, and sometimes, I say to myself: oh yeah !!! Natsu gets to do this !!! the characters have evolved, readers have grown up, and also the work grew by itself

Q.A: Why did an ellipse of 7 years, how did you get this idea?

M: I wanted marked the minds! a high point in the series, but mostly I wanted to surprise readers, it’s here, I had the great idea of ​​the ellipse.

Q.A: Ten years for FT, did you imagine one day that he could continue so long?

M: Honestly I told myself, if I get to 10 volumes (two years of publications) I would already be very happy!

Q.A: And it’s a success after 10 years!

M: Yes indeed, the fact that everyone continues to enjoy reading FT, i could not continue without it anyway!

Q.A: You have a great career ahead of you, have you noticed changes in the manga industry?

M: First thing, when I started, the manga was not as well known abroad, particularly in France, and in France today is a huge success and that’s one of the midst of change ,

One feature of the edition of the environment in Japan, we say that it is an environment in crisis, and at the same time, there are more and more young people who come bring their story boards for show them to publishers … so that’s quite paradoxical, but it is a fact,

Q.What: Did you meet some? feel that some will have a long career as you?

M: There are many! there are also those who come of your country, and i’ve to do a drawing battle tomorrow! and I must not lose against him !

Q.A: What do you do in your free time, you play video games? your hobbies?

M: Basically, I listen to music, and I much play to a game: Overwatch (scream in the hall, applause) and I do all the time crush !! (Laughter in the room)

Q.A: What is your favorite music genre?

M: I do not know if you know this kind of music in France but it is something that approximates the Punk rock (scream in the room and laugh Mashima)

Q.A : What are do you doing,if a young person came to you, and he showed you these story boards, what advice would you to make it even better?

M: I would like to find the right advice that fits him, and what I would say is to really finish the end of its idea, its history! I would warn the fact to stop in the middle and to move something else, I would say going to the end of your story!

PART 2/ NOW PUBLIC QUESTIONS

.P Q: Hello !!!

M: Bonjour (Mashima responding in French to say hello)

.P Q: Do you know, at present, how will end fairy tail? or at each new arc you do not know at all how it will evolve?

M: On the end, I do not just make you great revelation here, but I can just tell you that the story is in its heyday, and I hope you enjoy what follows!

(applause)

.P Q: hello!

M:Bonjour (hello in French)

.P Q: At the beginning of the manga, you talked about the mage Zeref, but after only several volumes that we really seen his importance, did you actually planned from the beginning of ft, the link with Natsu or not at all ?

M: Yes indeed, since the start, I knew that Zeref would be reused because it is a great character!

.P Q: Hi, complicated question, a technical about dragons, You talk about your inspirations with Dragon ball, but this dragon are very oriental, rather that in FT, who are very “occidental”, so why choose these dragons of this design? what do you like about this dragon style?

M: It’s simple, it’s because I like dragons that you have in the West so I inspired it!

.A Q: So you have done a lot of research on dragons for do this?

M: Yes, I collected many documents on this!

.P Q: I have the impression that in FT, whenever there is an opportunity to show the female form see (laughter and applause in the room), free, or it’s just an impression ?

M: (Mashima laughter) It’s very simple, it’s because I love this kind of drawing !!! (applause)

The problem is that in France, you summers very open! but in other countries, very often, when I put a little too much, it bawl out me (public laugh) !!

.P Q: Why did you stop so suddenly Monster Soul?

M: It was established from the contract, we knew it would be a short series, it will be held to respect the established contract, the hero has more techniques he uses as natural disasters and c ’ was difficult to make it last very long …

.P Q: Hello I would like to know if there will be clarification on the lives of some characters like Jellal with Paradise Tower or as Rogue and Sting, before entering Saberthooth?

M: I think I can not would reveal the past of everyone, but if it is the characters that you would like preciously know the past, this is part of the things on which we thought

(off me: so you know what to do Juvia fans * - *)

.P Q: Thank you very much for the manga, it’s great, I’m a big fan, I wanted to know after how long you’ll stop FT? counting the spin-off, and the involvement you have, how long will we still have FT?

M: EUMM … if I answer you I think I’ll spoil the fun (laughter from the room and Mashima)

.P Q: Hello, I would like to know if you plan to make further “Mashimarran”? (off me : I did not understand the word, I’m sorry I tried to correct that later)

M: That’s a very good question, EUMM is a very good question to which! I would like to answer but I cannot just answer (laughter Mashima)

.P Q: Hello ,episodes are finished for a few months, I wonder if it is possible to know the date of recovery?

M: There one will do : without comment (laugh). But I hope you have patience and you wait with pleasure the recovery!

.P Q: The way you write your scenario is divided into several arc, more or less and I noticed that a recurrence is that you apply to each item tell a while to find a explanation later. Do you think it’s important to the story that all the mysteries are resolved or you preferred to keep some mystery?

Small bonus, if there is a link between Plue and Plue Rave?

M: For Plue, I think there is little chance that they meet. I have a real desire not to leave unsolved mysteries in the manga, but as I have a slight tendency to forget to provide answers to some questions, if that’s the case, let me know! so I’m trying to fill that void! Just last week I drew a storyboard to compensate for a lack of it!





PAUSE/ to start the live drawing and questions at the same times

.Animator says: we will ask questions at Mashima while he draws because he was eager to meet you and hear your questions !!

.P Q: First of all I would like to tell you that you made a great job! I had a question, since the beginning of the manga, you always choose the number 7, is it a coincidence or something like that?

M: Actually in Japan, we often speak of “Lucky seven” so the “Lucky 7”, and it’s just a number that I like, and I tend to use!

.P Q: Why did you choose a heroine for the main character, because often we take a generally male hero?

M: For me, in FT, the main characters are Natsu and Lucy. There were already a lot of characters in the guild, and I told myself that it would be nice to put forward, a girl.

.A Q: It is true that you is very present on social networks, do you think it is to maintain contact with your fans?

M: Yes, quite, this is really very important for me

.A Q: Do you have an anecdote in relation to this social network?

M: What’s funny is when I do disappear a character in the manga, I get usually after a photo of me somewhere that was a little edited or cut not very benevolent (laughter in the room)!

One of the most fun, it was a parody in which I represented death with a scythe, and where I was going to knock at the door of each character to pick them up (laughter in the room)

(off me: i’ll post here later the link whose spoken Mashima, because I not find this picture for the moment!if you konw send me the link please ;) this excerpt is important because the image in question is for couples here is the picture link :)

.P Q: Hello, how did you find the inspiration for the tragic past of the characters, like Grey with Oul, and Erza with Paradise Tower?

M: I always thought, I always ask myself for what could make it even more attractive character, and to give them more depth. This, I find my inspiration.

.P Q: Have you ever known the blank page syndrome? and if yes, how did you manage to get away?

(Off me : there is laughter in the room, because it is a little boy who asks this question, and as we could not see him because he was too small, Mashima’s request to get him on stage, ( applause) Mashima rises to greet him and shake his hand, the boy is dressing up as Natsu, Mashima then mimics a boxing movement to beat that against him (like he is dressed in Natsu outfit) laughter in the room)

M: To answer your question, No I have never experienced the blank page syndrome!

.P Q: First of all, thank you for this manga, now you talk a lot of Ankhseram god associated with Zeref and Mavis, he will importance later in Fairy Tail?

M: No, normally it is only in a parallel episode, I do not think reuse in the future.

.P Q: Do you think Fairy Tail will be the work of your life? or what you intend to create something even more unbelievable more later?

M: eumm the next manga that I would draw , the day where i’ll start, I would draw carefully to make something even better than Fairy Tail!

(Applause)

(The presenter is shocked because Mashima already completed its drawing Natsu, but there is still a lot of time (10 to 15min), so Mashima will continue to draw other characters in this drawing)

(Applause)

.P Q: What do you think of all fanfictions that circulate on the web?

M: I’m very happy! (Clap and scream in the room) and somehow, it profits me basis for reflection because sometimes I see very talented people, and I think: ah yours! it is a way to draw and it’s very interesting!

.P Q: In Volume 51, you made Zeref said: we’ll talk about my relationship with Mavis and your education with Igneel later, but you think provide such information in which episode, approximately?

(Off me : the audience booed this question and shout “spoiler”, as some French fans have not read this part, because we have offsets from the outputs of Japanese volumes, again, scanstrad should not be disclose to Mashima, so it was frowned upon to ask this question)

(Meanwhile, Mashima had just added Lucy to the drawing, the fans shout “Lucy” and applaud)

M: To answer the question, I do not know if you read fairy tail zero, but there are many in answers, but I do not know if it is already released in France

(off me: I think the Japanese translator / french (the interpreter) to voluntarily transform the question with Mashima is why this answer is not really clear)

The translator(the interpreter) then took the floor and said us that he did not think Mashima know the numbers of the episodes in link with chapters he writes.

P Q: Hello, many people here know that FT is about to finish, unfortunately is over

(off me: I want to clarify that this is an affirmation of the person asking the question, and it generalize a rumor is false for my part I had already you explain this in a previous post;))

Have you an idea of the next manga you plan to do after Fairy Tail?

M: I have no precise ideas, but trust me, it will be a good manga.

P Q : Gray will give an answer to Juvia or still make her wait?

(Laughter in the room, scream and applause)

M: eummm …. then i think everyone longed to know what was in his heart, what are those true/real feelings, so yes, yes… might be expected,

(scream and applause)

Animator: ah love, love …

.P Q: How did you learn to draw? alone? or you have taken private lessons?

M: personally , i did not go to school to learn to draw, but the most important is to draw every day emphatically and show our designs to the people around us , for have opinions, c ’ is very important.

(Applause)

.P Q: Hi, we often see the power of friendship that this can liberate or develop the situation, would there other themes that you love pass through your work?

M: Yes, yes! with the exception of friendship … the flame inside oneself (as Natsu)

.P Q: Hi, it’s an honor to be in the same room as you, and it’s not really a question but a request , would you give me this drawing that you are doing? nothing ventured nothing!

(Fans yelling and boos, because they want too the Mashima drawing haha XD)

M: personally, it’s do not mind at all! but I think there are people here in the room that would be much less happy than me!

.P Q: We came in cosplay team, FT is our life and we would like to know what your favorite arc? and also whether one day, a character will really die ?

(Some boos and others applauding in the audience)

Cosplayers take the stage and Mashima got up to greet them, *

M: There are many, but the scene I preferred is that of Erza in Tartarus arc with the pandemonium, this is one that I really prefer!

To your question a bit embarrassing, I can not say anything, but you’ll be surprised in the next chapters !!

(Mashima then said: thank you very much in French = je vous remercie beaucoup *-* so cuteeeee)

.P Q:Happy could become human as Carla?

M: No, I dont think, he wouldn’t be very cute like that!

(Mashima then draws Happy shaped “human”



(Laughter and applause)

Mashima is currently finishing his drawing Natsu, Happy, Lucy, Erza and Gray,

The animator is trying to explain that it is the end and we can find this drawing on the stand with other goodies)

It is then cut by the audience screaming and applauding warmly because Mashima is being added at the last moment Juvia next to Gray * - *

The presenter thanked Mashima and applause litter the room,





OK my opinion about this interview:

Mashima’s just amazing, I mean, it’s a person who loves the fans, he shows it, shows he likes to please and listen to the hugely demand of these fans, it ’ is a workaholic and has a lot of humor

On the issue of fan service, I found her very funny answer! he likes women! and likes drawing this kind of thing! no offense to some but he loves that!, you knew the answer now XD

It is interesting that Mashima talking about Sherlock Holmes, because it means he loves riddles, (I love that too) which confirmed my idea that actually Mashima had perhaps put an enigma in fairy tail!





Now a lot of informations were given, but I think mashima did not reveal to true answers some questions

Some important things to remember:

Yes he wants to solve all the mysteries of the manga, so NO!! this is not the end of fairy tail and you must STOP now this rumor ! Fairy tail still has long years to go !! (If you want to see the list of unsolved mysteries: click here)

- Lucy is indeed regarded as a main character, previously mashima always said that was natsu and not lucy, now he said Natsu and Lucy! they’re a duo, one does not go without the other, which proves the importance in Lucy mostly now,

He talks about his favorite character is currently lucy because the arc is centered on it, yet the bow as we see now is focused on Zeref / Mavis on eileen, erza ect … but not Lucy ! it was the case for the other previous arcs, this sentence is very important because we will be a revelation concerning the future for lucy(perhaps in the scan 500?) or maybe we may see the famous moment of the meeting Zeref / lucy that mashima drawn was on the hidden cover of a volume?





Regarding ankhserum, Mashima here that contradicts him, he says: it was only for a special episode,but ankhserum appeared several times and is a major character for the story, because he contradicts the previous questions he said he wants to reveal all mysteries before concluding his manga, so there is no logic, in addition, for those who read my theory (link here) the title of fairy tail is: ankhserum!

it was anticipated that Zeref would be an important person and he know the end of fairy tail from the beginning, so it’s obvious that we will know who is ankhserum ;)

Mashima simply says “i like the number 7”, yet he himself says, he would have loved to be Sherlock Holmes, you can guess that the number 7 wasn’t just a random number (j ’ have received many messages about this, I will soon post my theory about the number 7 which I think will surprise you completely;))

PS: you know when Mashima came to France? 7/7!!! so there is not random;)



Mashima also talk of an upcoming manga, it is interesting to see that he does not that: i’ll stopped after fairy tail! in these words, I felt like he already knew what he wanted, and that these publishers also knew it can be the following of fairy tail, or a link I do not know, what is certain, c is that Mashima will be there yet a long time, and that’s good news!

Mashima sees fanfictions, pictures and drawings of couples, and that’s great news, because even if sometimes you do not see our images retweet, mashima may have seen your work and I find it beautiful <3

Great news, Mashima ask these fans:

- Remind him some mysteries to past that have not yet been revealed (exemple, like the moment with Gray want talk to Juvia during the battle against the dragons at gjm, or how happy to have survived thanks to the “happy afro vs jackal bomb” lol)

- Tell him what the past of a character that we would like to know (so here, JUVIA FAN GO GO !!!!!! GOGO!!!!hurry up! come on and let’s go! (always with respect, and without harassing the author)

Maybe put a list up or we can sign or a survey, to show the desire to know the past to juvia (or other character)

For the resumption of the anime, no date has been telling us, but confirmation that

anime will resume, this is good news, and I think (and hope yet) that the break concern the development of the characters we have not seen during one year elipse, (eg follow for several episodes of the juvia life and gray before and after they live together, but especially soften the juvia suffering for not been just a “springboard "for bringing the avatar arc and finally see the apology gray to her)

Happy about, again, this is connected to my theory (click here to view)

he said well, that’s a willingness on his part qu'happy not become human as Carla, but I think now you know Mashima, and it is never without a reason, not just a pleasure, as he says they want to solve all the mysteries, and not becoming happy human just because it’s minion is for me very strange and confirms that he is hiding something else;)

Finally, I will conclude with the best, although recess, gruvia!!*-* XD

Two things :

- Mashima to talk about the feelings hidden deep in the heart of gray, TRUE FEELINGS,

This is very important, he did not simply say: yes, juvia will have an answer,

or, I would let you discover …. as it was able to respond to previously questions

Throughout the live drawing, mashima has continued to draw without stopping to answer questions, but there, when the question is about juvia and gray, mashima stops, he fiddles with his pen (he pondered carefully for this question) they understood well the cries of the public, and they speak as gray, he knows his character, the tsundere side within him (as he previously said each character are a part of him)

the gray response will be a part of him that we do not know or just little, it still shows the sincerity and kindness he has for juvia and reminded me when Gray thank juvia to be always at his side)

We’ll have our answer, we will have a great moment, I do not know when and how mashima manage to give us this magic moment, BUT WE WILL !!!!!just be patient!

I find that "true”, but especially the fact that after this mashima question is decided to add Juvia in the drawing,IS A MUST !!! she was not supposed to be there, I mean, it was a drawing of the team main (lucy, natsu, erza, happy gray,) it would have been more logical to draw wendy? !!!

the conference was complete the animator was saying goodbye, mashima had his translator beside who repeated what he told the animator, so why mashima did you doing juvia draw alongside gray?

The previous question had an impact for him, he wanted to show us and he knew juvia, gruvia and have a lot of fans, but also love this duo, otherwise it would not draw, so thank you, thank you Mashima thank you for everything! gruvia and lively GRUVIA IS REAL!!!

I hope these images, and this interview you have more, it took me a whole day and I’m going to rest because it’s 40 °at home, and I’m exhausted! XD but between fans it’ s priceless ! thank you to my subscribers and a big thank you to : Rym S., Sara, Chantal , Madison Davis, et 마에바

without who I could not have broadcast these images, I never thank them enough for giving me their agreements to share with you all <3

<3 take care my watchers<3



Nina

© Hiro Mashima





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