**Possible Spoilers for Bakemonogatari**

– Listening to what you say, it sounds like you don’t particularly mind changes made from the manga to the anime.

Umino – I don’t mind at all. After all, I do think that some parts are better changed than not. I think it’s worth taking advantage of the fact that ‘what’s possible’ in manga is different to that in anime. If no changes are made, I feel that there is no point in working with other people to adapt the work. To leave it at, you drew it like this so we’ll do it in this way, may be less trouble but I’d be sad to see it made like this and it would be boring if it was done in this way.

– I also take part in each scenario meeting, but one of the main points brought up is how you’d arrange the anime in the style of Shinbo-kantoku. Whenever this is brought up I hope that the changes introduced will be able to give a positive surprise to those that have already read the manga.

Umino – You see, I’m rather more the type where I can’t see things from a broad point of view. Yes! It’s going to be made by Shaft! By Shinbo-san! Once this had been decided I thought “The character designer will definitely be Akio Watanabe-san!!”. I’m sure that the director will do what he has to do for the readers of the manga. I was so happy at the time thinking “I’m sure that Akari-san will become just like Hanekawa-san!!”, but the director properly told me “that won’t be possible”… I’m sure the director is on the side of the readers much more than I am (laughs).

– Quite dependable for the readers of the manga, isn’t he (laughs)?

Umino – Shinbo-kantoku said to me that everyone was expecting to see my pictures (for the character designs), so I thought what? Ahh, I see~!

– When visiting the exhibition of your original illustrations and such, we felt first hand how much everyone loves your pictures. With Shaft and Shinbo-kantoku changing certain areas to make it more interesting, whilst taking care and consideration to what made the manga so good, I feel confident in the anime’s production.

Shinbo – I’ve visited Tsukishima as well.

Umino – By the river?

Shinbo – I’ve looked around there and also the observatory, the Kawamoto house area, the red bridge and just the general area.

– Visiting the place in person, what did you think?

Shinbo – It thought it was a good place for when it fades to dusk. It’s a place that seems perfect for such a time.

Umino – If you walk a bit, there’s a river isn’t there? Sitting silently by the river fills in time, you know, with the passing boats and sound of water.

Shinbo – The observatory by Rei-kun’s flat, I could be there all day.

Umino – I also think it’s nice to have a place like that, so I feel jealous of the people who live in Tsukishima.

Shinbo – I also feel jealous for those who live in the tower block at Tsukishima (laughs). To think there would be such a place.

Umino – Just sitting by the river let’s you relax. There’s also a bench, so it’s a nice place to sit down. Surprisingly, there aren’t many places in Tokyo where you can be alone. It was good that I chose Tsukishima for the setting. First I was thinking of using Kamakura, but it was hard to get to to take photographs for reference. That’s why I chose Tsukishima. But when I went there to collect information, I thought that much of the scenery would make a great picture, what a lovely place…

Shinbo – It would be really nice to live around there, wouldn’t it?

– It’s definitely worth paying attention to the portrayal of Tsukishima in the anime. I’m also looking forward to the artwork.

Umino – I also love the backgrounds for the ‘Monogatari Series’ you see. Like the coast setting for when when Hanekawa becomes a white cat, the Harumifutou-like area used for the confrontation in her pyjamas, or the park setting. Also the backgrounds for the residential areas and the bridge were really cool. I’m really looking forward to how the backgrounds will turn out in the anime.

Shinbo – This time, we want to change the feeling of Rei’s room, the Kawamoto house and the shogi hall. I feel that each setting is different. The place where Rei lives alone feeling introverted, the shogi hall as the real place of battle, what is at the moment the fluffy image of the Kawamoto house. I want to make sure that each setting is distinct so that I can make the world into a sort of triangle.

Umino – Rei-kun lives in a place called Shinkawa. In Shinkawa there are a lot of warehouses and buildings, but not many people

Shinbo – Certainly the Kawamoto family live in a place that feels very nostalgic to the Shouwa era, with a candy store and such.

Umino – It’s so good, with the candy store right next to the red bridge.

Shinbo – On the other hand, Rei’s area feels much more suited to dusk. Maybe it shouldn’t really be that way but maybe that’s why he always returns there.

Umino – I know many male manga artists who feel this way, where they don’t want to live in an area with families. Watching them makes you feel warm, so you can easily be lead on by this, making it harder to write a hard and serious story. I heard that they prefer to live in an area full of warehouses, so I made Rei-kun live in an area a businessman might go to work form.

Shinbo – But, it’s very close to that bridge, isn’t it?

Umino – I thought it was a good location as you can go to the Kawamoto house just by crossing that one bridge. I made crossing this bridge something like Rei-kun’s on and off switch.

Source: http://3lion-anime.com/special/interview/vol01/?p=11

Image: http://3lion-anime.com/special/endcard/