Shunji Iwai, Yuhei Sakuragi, and Yuki Kaji take the stage for "Even If the World Ends Tomorrow" Special Talk Show Report

A special talk show for the animated film "As the World Ends Tomorrow" was held at Shinjuku Piccadilly on Wednesday, February 6, 2019.

The anime film "As the World Ends Tomorrow," released on January 25, 2019, is an original work by animation studio Crafter Studio, directed and written by Yuhei Sakuragi, who directed his first TV series with the TV anime "Ingress.
⇒Schedule of Animation Film Screening

A special talk show was held at Shinjuku Piccadilly on February 6 (Wed.).
Director Yuhei Sakuragi, Yuki Kaji, and special guest Shunji Iwai, the film's director, took the stage for a special talk show. The official report has just arrived.

Special Talk Show Official Report】 ※Titles omitted

To commemorate the release of the animated feature film "As the World Ends Tomorrow," a special talk show was held at Shinjuku Piccadilly, the movie theater in Shinjuku where the story takes place, on Wednesday, February 6. The talk show featured director Yuhei Sakuraki, who made his feature film directorial debut with this film, Yuki Kaji, who voices the main character, high school senior Makoto Sama, and director Sakuraki, who was the CG director for "The Hana to Alice Murder Case," and Kaji, who also worked on the film "Do You Watch the Fireworks from Below? Do you want to see it from the side? (Hana to Arisu no Murder Case), and director Shunji Iwai, who has been a big fan of the film for a long time, joined the panel to discuss the film.

Director Iwai began by congratulating Director Sakuragi on his directorial debut. Iwai, who also has a deep knowledge of anime, revealed, "I actually had the rare experience of watching the first episode of 'Mobile Suit Gundam' in real time (laugh)," and also commented on the parallel world structure depicted in the film, "It's my favorite genre. I wished I had been invited to participate in the planning stage," he said enthusiastically, to the delight of the audience.

Director Iwai also spoke highly of Director Sakuragi's 3DCG techniques, saying, "I think the modeling has evolved considerably. He added, "The action scenes were amazing, and surprisingly, how to cook ordinary, casual acts?　I think there were more hurdles and struggles with everyday movements," he analyzed.

Director Sakuragi nodded in agreement with Director Iwai's words, "I think that will continue to be a challenge for CG in the future. Director Iwai also noted the growth of the young directors, saying, "The drawings are better than in the past, and while there is no right answer to creating animation using 3D, I am deeply moved that we have finally come this far.

In reference to Sakuragi's directorial debut, Iwai was asked about his feelings when he made his feature film debut with "Love Letter." He confessed, "I had made my own decision, which still holds true today, to give myself a score when I finish a film.

Then, no matter what other people say, I say, 'Well, that's okay. Love Letter" was a hit in Asia, but I still give it a score of 74 to 75. I've always been a little bit of a good girl, but not a good girl. I have seen directors of my generation who debuted earlier than me change both their people and their films after receiving awards, and I have seen them change their identities because they were recognized for their work, and they could not come back to where they were. Don't try to make a masterpiece. It's something that people make, so you should be prepared to say, "This is about as good as it gets. Mr. Kaji seemed to be impressed by this as a life lesson.

Mr. Kaji was impressed by this life lesson. "In our work, we tend to find ourselves saying, 'That was all I could do at the time, but now I think back and realize I could have done more. But I think there is a charm that only comes out at that time, including the good, the bright, and the bad. I strongly agree with Director Iwai's words, "It's true that the score never changes, and you can't get that point again.

Mr. Kaji also asked Mr. Iwai, "The realistic portrayal of reality and the raw and honest nature of the actors in Iwai's films are appealing, but what do you find interesting and appealing about people?　What do you find interesting and attractive in people? Iwai replied, "It's difficult!
Director Iwai grunted, "It's difficult (laugh)." He then mentioned up-and-coming actress Nanana Mori, who appears in his latest film "Last Letter," and said, "She also plays the main role in Makoto Shinkai's new film ("Weather Child"), but she came to my audition last year and I can't explain what it's about, I can't explain what it was about her, but she had a particularly good vibe, and I thought, 'She's the only one who can do it. I called Yukisada and he said, "She's good, isn't she? I called Yukisada and he said, "She's great." Since the role is that of an ordinary high school student, it would be enough to pick up an ordinary high school girl, but on the big screen, if it is too ordinary, the audience won't see it (laugh). (Laughs) "There has to be something that keeps them captivated for a long time," he says.

On the other hand, he added, "There are some people whose "something" is determined at birth, but there are others who are not. Such people can look at their own faces in the mirror and think, 'I don't like this part,' but they can love it, and it becomes a characteristic of them. If he or she doesn't like it and doesn't show it, it becomes unnatural. Can you love the parts of yourself that you don't like?　Sometimes it's more attractive to be honest and expose them." Mr. Kaji nodded deeply at this deep philosophy, saying, "I'm learning a lot from this.

Director Sakuragi also commented, "I am attracted to the way Mr. Iwai portrays young girls. You are always good at portraying young women. When asked, "How do you choose your lines and gather information? On the contrary, recently, I've noticed that people I thought were in their 20s are sometimes the same age as me through Twitter because of stereotypes. （Maybe I don't see (young women) as that cute. I see them as weird, and there are so many things I pick up from weird people," he revealed.

In closing, Director Iwai commented to Director Sakuragi, "Now that he is finally making his debut as a feature film director, I think he will be able to use 3DCG to show the world the unique aspects of Japanimation. （He encouraged the director, saying, "It's hard to get people overseas to see live-action films, but people can easily see anime films, so please do your best.

Director Sakuragi said, "Director Iwai was the first "director" I worked with up close, and he showed me his methods, what not to break and what to protect. I feel like I can do my best!" The audience responded to Iwai's words of encouragement with warm applause.

Campaign Information

Ashiseka ticket stub campaign

A ticket stub campaign titled "ASHISEKA Ambassadors" will be held from February 1 (Fri.) to February 2 (Sun.)!

From February 1 (Fri.) to March 31 (Sun.), 24 winners will be selected by drawing from among those who tweet a photo of one "As the World Ends" movie stub that was viewed during the period of February 1 (Fri.) to March 31 (Sun.), along with a comment that promotes this film and the fixed hashtag. Please check the details below.

For details, please see below.

<Prizes

Prize A: Your wish may come true... Special good luck charm signed by ASHISEKA cast (20 winners in total)

Yuki Kaji x 5

Marei Uchida x 5pcs

Yoshiki Nakajima x 5pcs

Ayaka Senbotsuki x 5pcs.

Prize B: A script signed by 6 main cast members (2 winners)

*Signed by Yuki Kaji, Marei Uchida, Yoshiki Nakajima, Aoi Yuuki, Ayaka Sengi, and Inori Minase

Prize C: Poster signed by 6 main cast members (for 1 person)

(Signed by Yuki Kaji, Marei Uchida, Yoshiki Nakajima, Aoi Yuuki, Ayaka Sengi, and Inori Minase)

Prize D: Original book signed by director Yuhei Sakuragi (for one person)

<How to enter

You can apply with a person who has a public Twitter account and one ticket stub. Please see below for application details.

Please refer to the following for details!

Please take a picture of a ticket stub for "Even if the world ends tomorrow" that you saw during the period of February 1 (Fri.) to March 31 (Sun.), and send it to the following address,

(1) A photo of the ticket stub

2) Hashtag "#Ashiseka Ambassador

(3) Your message of support for the film

4) The prize you would like to win

Please post a tweet with the following information.

We will contact you by direct message if you win.

Please note that your entry will be invalid if you do not specify the hashtag and the prize of your choice.

<Caution

Please note that the entry will be invalidated if you do not specify the hashtag and the prize you would like to win.

Entries with photocopied or fraudulently obtained ticket stubs will be invalid.

Film ticket stubs cannot be reissued.

Entries will not be valid if your Twitter account is set to "Private".

Only the ticket stubs of the movie with the title of the movie and the date and time of the viewing will be accepted for entry.

We will ask you for the necessary information via direct message after you have been selected.

Transfer or resale of the winning ticket or prize is strictly prohibited.

We will not accept the return or exchange of prizes.

Personal information will be used only for this campaign. Personal information will be used only for this campaign and will be destroyed after the campaign is over.

The sponsor (Shochiku) will not be held responsible for any errors, network interruptions, loss of data, malfunctions, or falsification of submitted information when entering this campaign.

The sponsor (Shochiku) will not be held responsible for any damage caused by problems with the equipment used for submitting entries to this campaign.

The contents of this campaign are subject to change without notice. The organizer (Shochiku) will not be held responsible for any damage to the equipment used to enter this campaign.

Prizes will be shipped in April 2019 or later.

Information on the works】 ※Honorifics are omitted.

Even If the World Ends Tomorrow

Now on view

＜Introduction

Shin has tended to keep a closed mind since his mother died when he was a child.

His childhood friend Kotori has always watched over him.

Now in their third year of high school, they are about to take their first step forward, when suddenlyanother "I" appears from another Japan.

The birth of an action love story by up-and-coming director Yuhei Sakuragi!

<Staff> (Japanese only)

Original Story : Crafter

Director/Screenplay : Yuhei Sakuraki