Inu-Oh Director Masaaki Yuasa Talks Japanese History And Rock ‘N’ Roll – Exclusive Interview – Looper
Around the same time “Inu-Oh” premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year, Science SARU also released “The Heike Story” TV series, dealing with a similar point in history. Were these two anime designed to accompany one another?
I believe that the producing company, Asmik Ace, considered that because the “Inu-Oh” story/Heike clan story was maybe not that [well] known yet. So they want[ed] to make it happen around the same time so that everybody in the audience would have [an] easier [time] understanding both of [them].
Also, the author of “The Tale of Heike Clan: Inu-Oh” — before he released that book, he actually released another book that was the translation of the original Heike clan story from history.
Science SARU also recently made a sequel to your show, “The Tatami Galaxy,” though you didn’t direct the sequel yourself. Would you ever personally want to direct any sequels to anime you’ve worked on in the past?
I would accept it, but [the] thing is, [for] this “Tatami Galaxy,” the sequel in particular, I don’t think the timing was right.
As far as timing goes, I know you announced that after “Inu-Oh,” you were on a break from directing. How much longer do you expect to be on break, and do you have any ideas of what you want to make when you return?
It’s up to whatever happens. I’m not really determined to go one way or another right now, but I’m trying … Well, it doesn’t look like I’m working, but I am working, doing this promotional work for “Inu-Oh.” And I am planning other stuff for the future as well.
Out of all the anime you’ve worked on, do you have any personal favorites?
[That’s] sort of like, which child of yours do you favor?
I guess it might be easier to ask about other people’s anime or movies. Have you watched any movies or anime recently that you recommend?
It’s called “Sing a Bit of Harmony” in English. “Ai no Utagoe wo Kikasete” is [the] Japanese title. So it’s a musical, like “High School Musical,” with AI. It’s not produced using AI, but it’s a story of AI in high school, and they’re singing and dancing.
“Inu-Oh” will be available on digital platforms on December 20 and on Blu-ray and DVD on January 24.
This interview has been edited for clarity.