With the theatrical release of Royal Space Force on the horizon, then-Bandai President Makoto Yamashina gives us the backstory of Bandai's entrance into movie production, and breaks down the differences between his and the younger generation and how this relates to the reception of the movie.
A comprehensive list of Sugino's anime industry work, and other Japanese resources that contain interviews.
"I went back and forth to America over the span of a few years and designed these characters. But ultimately I got dropped from [Nemo]. It was really quite unfortunate."
"When the production for Tomorrow’s Joe 2 was confirmed, we pleaded with the company president to let us just focus on Tomorrow’s Joe 2 instead of working on two shows in parallel. We wanted to do it justice. But we were told it would be a waste of resources from a business perspective. That rejection caused a rift, and I left with Dezaki to form a new company."
"Yes. I distinctly remembering meeting with (Isao) Takahata several times in Sakuragaoka. We’d have two hour meetings just to talk about 30 shots."
Tokyo Movie also adapted Attack No. 1. Initially with Aim for the Ace! I was told to adapt it just like they had done for Attack No. 1. But it became very clear that if Dezaki was helming the adaptation of Aim for the Ace! then it was not going to turn out like that.
"I barely got published in two [gekiga] magazine volumes. I have those volumes stored away. No one has seen them. (Osamu) Dezaki was under the impression that none of my submissions got picked up for publication, but I proudly informed him otherwise."
Heisei Etranger 