#for everyone experiencing in person and for the rebroadcast for us all later!!

[rainbowcaleb]

Friends at London have fun!!!! Idk if I’ll be muting the tags or not 🤔 I do love a certain genre of spoilers but perhaps it’s best not to be flooded with them 😂

[tominostuff]

Tomino Yoshiyuki & Hosoda Mamoru talk Ideon

February 2014: Tomino and Hosoda got together for a discussion in celebration of the first TV rebroadcast of Ideon in high definition on WOWOW (Japanese broadcast station). 

Original Japanese transcript: https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1394807331

Mr. Tomino “Mr. Hosoda is an enemy I must defeat” 

The first words out of Tomino’s mouth as soon as the recording began was “Mr. Hosoda is an enemy I must defeat.”

He continued with context behind this statement, “There is a way to work hard and diligently with your peers from the same generation. If you continue to do this as you approach your 60s, however, you begin to clearly see that you’re getting older. That’s why it’s an issue if young talent doesn’t emerge.” 

To this Mr. Hosoda responded, “Folks from my parent’s generation spoke to me through the shows from my childhood. Those creators that I looked up to back then continue to create work even after I, myself, have become a creator. As someone from the younger generation, I find great pleasure in this fact.” in a slightly apologetic manner. 

After that, Mr. Tomino went on to discuss various topics ranging from changes in animation he experienced from his early days to the present to filmmaking theories from the vantage point of “Internet video culture” etc. Of course, there are moments where they discuss Ideon. 

There is a copy of this interview on niconico: https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm22942897 

Written interview following the recording: 

The effects that Ideon can have on modern society  ――First off, what are your impressions after the recorded interview?

Hosoda: I saw Ideon on TV when I was in my first year of middle school, the films in my second year of middle school. At that time, I never dreamed that I could talk about Ideon with Director Tomino himself, so I'm very honored. 

Tomino: You would think that with WOWOW and cable TV stations becoming so commonplace, it would be natural for things to be rebroadcast, but that's often not the case. Therefore, I'm really grateful that my work will be broadcast in such a situation.

In this conversation, I learned that Ideon is now a stepping stone for anime directors to enter the industry. To that I can think, “I did well” and also reaffirm that “Hosoda is an enemy I must defeat,” so of course I am happy. Because without interview opportunities like this, I wouldn’t even have a place to express my happiness. 

Hosoda: That’s right. If this cross interview hadn’t happened, I would’ve just been saying “Incredible!” as I watched Ideon on WOWOW by myself (laughs). 

Tomino: In that sense, I'm really grateful for this interview opportunity, and I want to tell the fans, "In life, you should put in your best effort while you have the chance."

What is the reason and significance of Ideon being broadcast on TV now? ――Do you have any impressions about Ideon being broadcast on TV?

Hosoda: There aren’t many opportunities to look back at the TV series. It’s easy to take the shortcut and just watch the movie versions, A Contact and Be Invoked. This time, you can experience watching Ideon all the way from episode 1 through the movies with the image quality that matches high-definition TV, not the image quality of VHS or DVD. This is an amazing opportunity. 

Tomino: Ideon is a unique series that has never been blessed with such an opportunity so as you said, this chance is certainly valuable. 

Hosoda: Since A Contact exists, it’s tempting to use it as a shortcut….if possible, it may be better to skip A Contact when you watch (laughs). 

Tomino: You’re right! Cancel the broadcast of A Contact immediately! 

Everybody: (laughs) 

――34 years have passed since Ideon broadcast in 1980. How does modern society look from Mr. Tomino's point of view? Also, I would like to hear about the significance of broadcasting Ideon after 34 years.

Tomino: This is going to become a question of “what is intelligence?” but I feel that the political economy has deteriorated in every aspect over the last few years. So when it comes to airing an Ideon-like story right now, there is a part of me that doesn’t consider this a simple rerun of a past show. Rather, I would like you to watch Ideon and reconsider the current situation of adults.

For example, our personal computers that we use in our daily lives cannot be used without entering a password. Don’t you think it’s strange that there are tools that you can’t use without entering a password? Because I bought that laptop exercising my own rights in the form of cash yet I still need to enter a password. In a worse example, when you are using software, sometimes you get a popup saying “Click here to make it easier to use.” I don’t think this can be considered a “tool” anymore. But is there anyone who has complained about it until today? 

If this situation progresses, you may be told by a manufacturer that they hold the copyright to your work because you used their software to produce it, even though you made it yourself. What would you do if you were told that?

Looking back at the current situation, the reality is that we are infringing on our personal territory. I think it is dangerous for everyone to be calm against such a reality. As the times progress, the way of looking at things and attitudes have become very vague. With that in mind, it can be said that the intellectual level of humankind has deteriorated in the last 20 years.

――So in that sense, the work Ideon appeals to young people today?

Tomino: I believe so, yes. 

Hosoda: Some work have fluctuating value depending on changes in society while others remain relevant even as the world changes. I think Ideon is a work that doesn’t change, so I think people today of any situation or cultural background can enjoy it equally. 

The two masters discuss each other’s influences ――How was Mr. Hosoda influenced by Ideon?

Hosoda: I wonder if there are other works that deal with such huge themes as Ideon does, including all movies and television. If you look through various works by tracing the history of movies, movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey (released in 1968) would pop up but I personally watched Ideon first and A Space Odyssey afterwards. 

Through watching animation, you can have a second encounter with the history of live-action film. Knowing Ideon first will give you a better, deeper understanding of film history.

I feel that these encounters are connected to the current movie-making me. 

――Mr. Tomino, what kind of points do you want to refer to from the works of Mr. Hosoda's generation?

Tomino: Since you saw my work first and later watched 2001: A Space Odyssey, you must have thought about "what that means.” When I watched 2001: A Space Odyssey, I felt that there was something missing in the movie, and thought about how to complement it, so I made Ideon. I am able to create work like this because I am a craftsman who creates through combining things rather than from a writer’s standpoint. 

In my case, thanks to the genres of TV animation and giant robots, I was able to [create Ideon] using 2001: A Space Odyssey as a base. However, because I was able to pull that off, I experienced the history of my deterioration from there.

Also, just as Ideon was made under the influence of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Director Hosoda's work gave me a new kind of inspiration, "Oh, current animators are doing things in this way." That's why I have to get stubborn and think of Hosoda as the enemy.

――As the pioneer yourself, it seems like a difficult feat to admit to younger people that you’ve acknowledged them as a threat?

Tomino: Perhaps I had such a time. At this age, I just think I'm great in the sense that I’ve matured enough to say things like that (laughs).

At the same time, I'm really grateful that there are people close to me that I can say such things to. When you hate people, those feelings of hatred eventually come back to you. That's why people have to love everyone.

Hosoda: The things that Ide was trying to eradicate were those kinds of (feelings of hate), isn’t it? 

Tomino: That’s right. 

Mr. Tomino discusses now, Gundam and Ideon ――What kind of positions in Mr. Tomino‘s heart does Ideon and Gundam take respectively?

Tomino: It is thanks to the existence of Gundam that I have had a somewhat stable life so I am frankly grateful on that end. On the other hand, Ideon is a work that gives me pride, “the Tomino who made such a thing is amazing.” If Gundam was the only thing that existed, the statement at the beginning of the interview, “Hosoda should be defeated” would’ve been a message filled with hateful intentions. It would've not been said from a place of joy as it is now.  …..Wow! I answered this question well (laughs).