Animax's Blog

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH PUPIL

Alternative rock band Pupil has been a regular fixture in ANIMAX's events, starting with the highly successful "Fashion Ability" last year. This has led fans to wonder "What's up?" and "Has Pupil sold their soul to Animax?"

Well, you can wonder no more as tomorrow night June 8 before "Music Station", ANIMAX will unveil the video of its official theme song "Set Me Apart" written and performed by Pupil.

I got to chat with Pupil guitarist Yani Yuzon about the making of "Set Me Apart"…

1. How did this collaboration between Pupil and ANIMAX start?

ANIMAX actually commissioned us to do the song. They were looking for a band that best exemplifies ANIMAX and what it stands for. If you think about it Pupil is off the beaten track. We're not obscure, but we're not pop. The Animax folks liked the sound of our first album "Beautiful Minds." They got us for some events first to build the relationship and to see the crowd's response to our music. We got really awesome response.

2. What inspired you to write "Set Me Apart"?

Since the song was commissioned, the Animax execs did not have to pick from the material that we already have. It's custom made for the channel. Ely Buendia and band manager Diane Ventura, all of us, in the process of making the song, we watched the channel a lot and to discover underlying themes in the shows that they have. It all boils down to "Be different", which is the catch phrase of the network. Obviously we didn't want to come up with a song that's entitled "Be Different". We needed to find something that would sound more like us, describing the lifestyle that the channel portrays. We just emailed back and forth, rough drafts, the demo, the final song, until we came up with the video. Then we did recordings. Everything you see here is by and large the product of email.

3. Who came up with the concept for the video?

Animax and the production studio in

Malaysia

asked us for a concept. The whole band had a meeting. Then we suggested that it's typical in a video that a band plays together. Let that be in the end. Instead, we divide the time of the video into vignettes where we're situated in different worlds. "Different Worlds" is another song off our album. We needed to capture this idea. As you will see in the video tonight, Ely was in an elevator that turned into a spaceship that turns into a robot. I'm a post futuristic gunslinger. Dok is like King of the Waterworld. Bogs is the urbanite drummer. Initially, I was going to be the water guy because I surf. But I always wore the hat. So they figured "You're better off as the gunslinger". I like guns and stuff.

We filmed here on green screen. Then All the footage was brought to

Malaysia

where all the post production took place. The post-prod was a lengthy process as you can tell.

4. Are you happy with the results?

Yes, I think the video was really well made. Very stylish. But the guys in the band tease me a lot though. They would say "Thanks that you made us extras in your video." I would say, "Why? We're all equal." We always joke about it. You'll understand when you see the video.

5. This has been a monumental job for you, especially since Ely Buendia is still recovering from a heart attack.

Yes, it took half a year until today to make the song and the video for "Set Me Apart". I am grateful that we had a lot of continued network support. The Animax guys stuck through with us through Ely's heart attack. They had faith in the band and how the band can be the voice that represents their viewership. They trusted that in spite of everything else. And I thank them for their trust and their patience.

"SET ME APART": THE AWESOME ANIMAX AND PUPIL COLLABORATION

Anime fans have long been curious and downright perplexed by the appearance of top Filipino alternative rock band Pupil in ANIMAX's recent events. Well, wonder no more!

Last May 22 at the Hard Rock Café, the ANIMAX and Pupil collaboration was revealed with the release of the 24/7 youth/lifestyle network's hard rocking theme song "Set Me Apart".

After treating VIPs, media representatives and winners of the Pupil Party contest to a sumptuous buffet, Pupil took to the stage to perform their greatest hits. Needless to say, they've got the crowd dancing and singing for more. But the BEST came at the end when Pupil performed live ANIMAX's official theme song Set Me Apart, which practically blew me away because of its hard rocking beat and meaningful lyrics.

According to guitarist Yan Yuzon, "Set Me Apart is custom made for the channel. Ely and band manager Diane Ventura, all of us, in the process of making the song, we watched ANIMAX a lot to discover underlying themes in the shows that they have. It all boils down to BE DIFFERENT, which is the catch phrase of the network. We needed to write a song that would sound more like us and aptly describes the lifestyle that the channel portrays. Set Me Apart is the result."

After the live performance, they showed the cutting edge music video for "Set Me Apart", not once but twice, because of the clamor from the audience, and with good reason.


Not to give too much away, you'll be seeing the members of the band transformed into animated characters. Lead vocalist and guitarist Ely Buendia is transformed into a mecha pilot. Yani Yuzon is a futuristic gunslinger battling ninja ghouls reminiscent of the anime Hellsing. Bassist Dok Sergio is the King of Waterworld while drummer Bogs Jugo is a moody urbanite playing his drums in the middle of a busy freeway. The stylish video was directed by ANIMAX and produced by one of Malaysia's leading broadcast design and animation studios.

Indeed, Set Me Apart is the very impressive product of the collaboration between Pupil and ANIMAX.

According to Judy Chow, Director of Animax Marketing, "We've always had a partnership with Pupil. They supported a number of our events before like Fashion Ability and Love Is In the Air. I think they're a perfect fit for our channel, because they have a lot of inside values, which we would like to get across as well. The song is all about being different, having your own style, being an individual. And I think the band is very much like that. They constantly reinvent themselves, and yet they still stay true to their music. So we think they appeal to the youth, which is who our viewers are. I believe that's the true collaboration."

(Watch out for an exclusive interview with Pupil. Don't miss it!)

MUSIC IN ANIME

Music has long played an important role in anime. Writing and performing the opening (OP) and ending (ED) themes of popular anime has served as a springboard to a lucrative recording career for many J-artists. To further increase the fervor of fans for certain anime titles, the seiyuu or voice talents have sung in character albums, launching singing careers for them as well.

In recent years, music by western composers and artists has become prominently audible in anime soundtracks, ranging from classical to pop to alternative music.

If you've been mesmerized by Kimiko Itoh's haunting "Follow Me" from Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence, is actually set to Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo's second movement from Concerto de Aranjuez. Jazz versions of this tune were made popular by jazz legend Miles Davis and the James Last Orchestra.

Listen very closely to the whimsical ending theme "DuDiDuWa ~ LaLaLa" by Kotoko from The Adventures of Tweeny Witches. It is just a modern remake of the classic waltz "Beautiful Blue Danube" by Johann Strauss.

The dramatic background score of Gankutsuou/The Count of Monte Cristo comes from Pyotr Tchaikovsky's "Manfred Symphony" and Gaetano Donizetti's tragic opera "Lucia Di Lamermoor." Classical music lovers would readily recognize Robert Schumann's "Traumerei" as among the piano pieces that Eugenie Danglars performed in her first concert.

From classical to modern… Because of the success of anime in western countries, even popular composers and artists from the

U.S.

and

Europe

have contributed to the making of anime soundtracks and themes. A perfect example is award-winning composers Hans Zimmer and Mark Mancina, who wrote the brilliant score for Blood+.

Jean-Jacques Burnel, composer, vocalist and bass player of the British New Wave/Alternative Rock band The Stranglers, not only wrote the score for Gankutsuou/The Count of Monte Cristo, he also wrote and sang the OP and ED themes of this now classic anime, namely "We Were Lovers" and "You Won't See Me Coming", respectively.

British music icon David Sylvian wrote and sang the haunting ED theme "For The Love Of Life" for the anime suspense/thriller Monster. Popular Eighties New Wave band Duran Duran's debut hit "Girls On Film" was used as the OP theme for the Japanese release of Speed Grapher. Recently, the Red Hot Chili Peppers hit "Dani

California

" was used as the theme song for Death Note Movie 2: The Last Name.

Presently racing up the charts is "Inori ~ You Raise Me Up" by Korean American R&B singer

Lena

Park

. The song itself was written and composed by Rolf Lovland of the Irish band

Secret

Garden

, with lyrics by Irish novelist Brendan Graham. Even popular British soprano Sarah Brightman is all set to release "Be With You: Itsumo Soba ni", the theme song for the latest Pokemon movie.

Anime and music… It's a collaboration that is sure to enthrall anime fans and music lovers alike for years to come.

Where's the Continuation?

Are you one of those who have been left in a serious state of strangulation by certain anime that are so engrossing that you followed it religiously, only to discover that the very last episode left you hankering for more? I'm sure some of you have been requesting ANIMAX to please make/air second seasons of these anime, as Animax has been producing all these anime to begin with.

For now, there are NO reports from my sources that there will be a Second Season for "Alice Academy". Neither is there any news of continuations for "Detective School Q" and "Ouran High School Host Club".

There are rumors that there MIGHT be a sequel to "Fruits Basket", especially with the sell-out success of the final version of the manga. But this has yet to be confirmed.

What is definite is that you'll be seeing Season Two of "Emma: Victorian Romance" and "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya" this year.

If you're asking me what series I want to watch new episodes of, here's my list…

1) Zipang (My Dad's dying to find out what happens to the poor crew of the Mirai)

2) Fruits Basket (I want to see Hatori and Haru again.)

3) Detective School Q (Because I want to see Ryu wearing a dress.)

4) Alice Academy (Mikan is a delight to watch!)

5) Slam Dunk (Why didn't they animate the Inter High Championships? Grrr.)

6) Tactics (I want to see more of the story of Kantarou and Haruka. Groan.)

7) Emma: Victorian Romance – Second Act (Because I want to see gorgeous Max the Butler!)

8) Ouran High School Host Club (26 episodes is not enough!)

9) FAKE (Why just one OVA? Why not make it into a series?)

10) Hellsing (Because I could never get enough of Alucard.)

New Boy's Love Magazine in Japan

It cannot be denied that the Boy's Love genre is one of the most popular among female manga and anime fans.

Mediation, a publisher in Japan will be launching a new Boy's Love magazine called "Hug" this May 12. The fans of this genre are looking forward to "Hug"'s release since the maiden issue will contain "Border" by Kazuma Kodaka ("Kizuna") and the highly anticipated "FAKE Second Season" by Sanami Matoh, the sequel to her popular FAKE series which was originally published by the now defunct Biblos and translated into English by TokyoPop.  As a preview of the new series, Matoh has recently been publishing new chapters of FAKE in the re-release of the original manga. Lead characters Detectives Dee Laytner and Ryo MacLane are both sporting stylish new looks for the upcoming sequel.

From Clovers to Lions

If you were one of those who got hooked to the bittersweet romance manga and anime "Honey And Clover", you'll be very happy to learn that artist Chika Umino will be starting a new manga that is tentatively titled, "Sangatsu no Raion" or "The Lion of March".

According to Umino, "'Honey And Clover' is a story about a world I already knew without having to extend myself, whereas 'Sangatsu no Raion' is a story based on researching and hearing various stories about worlds I don't know."

More "Kyou Kara Maou" OVA News!

If you're a "Kyou Kara Maou"/"God (?) Save Our King" fan, you might as well save up your mucho dinero this early. October 26 marks the release of the first volume in the five-part "Kyou Kara Maou OVA". A special live event is planned for February 24, 2008 in Nippon Seinen-Kan in Tokyo, which would feature a talk show style interview with the original Japanese seiyuus. Plus, the voice talents will even be performing a vocal drama onstage live.

Also in conjunction with the release of the first OVA, there will be a special DVD Box of the first 11 episodes of the series. Set to hit video shelves on September 28, the DVD box has a lot of freebies including original cover art and postcards by original character designer Matsumoto Temari and animation character designer Kudo Yuka and a special CD of the live vocal drama performance from the 2004 Maou Birthday Festival.

The Monster Hit that is "Monster"

Before "Death Note" became a huge hit, there was another manga and Madhouse anime that fans (including yours truly!) followed greedily, despite its daunting length. I'm talking about Naoki Urasawa's brilliant medical suspense thriller, "Monster".

To those of you who haven't heard of it, "Monster" is about a brilliant surgeon named Dr. Kenzo Tenma who is faced with the moral dilemma of choosing which critical patient he should operate: a politician who will be funding the hospital he works for or a little boy who had been shot in the head. Unfortunately, his choice will lead him into a life of a fugitive, being pursued by both the police and a mysterious organization, whose members wish to rule the world.

"Monster" recently garnered two nominations for Best U.S. Edition of International Material–Japan and Best Continuing Series at the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. For the former category, "Monster" will be facing stiff competition from "Walking Man" by Jiro Taniguchi, "Antique Bakery" by Fumi Yoshinaga, "After School Nightmare" by Setona Mizushiro and "Old Boy" by Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi.

Death Note Triumphs Anew!

The two live action films of the hugely popular "Death Note" saga continue to reap accolades. The first "Death Note Movie" recently won The Pegasus ("Le Pégase") audience award at the 25th Brussels International Festival of Fantastic Film in Belgium. "Death Note: The Last Name" was the runner-up. Ironically Director Shusuke Kaneko attended the festival as a juror. "I was surprised when my own name was called out." Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Hideo Nakata, director of the original "The Ring" Trilogy will be directing the "Death Note" spinoff, tentatively titled "L", which is scheduled for release in 2008. Ken'ichi Matsuyama will be reprising his role of genius detective L, together with Erika Toda as Misa Amane. Death Note Movies Trivia: If you've watched the movies, you would've seen Takeshi Kaga's passionate portrayal of Yagami Souichiro, Light's father. Kaga has tried his hand at being a voice talent ("seiyuu"). He dubbed the voice of Jirarudan in "Pokemon 2000 – The Movie" and took over the Dr. Kiriko role (in place of original seiyuu Hayami Shou) in "Black Jack: Two Doctors of Darkness."

VOICE ACTING WITH ANIMAX: A DREAM COME TRUE FOR AN ANIME FAN!

Next to creating a manga or an anime, anime fans dream of becoming a seiyuu or voice actor. One such fan is Louis (not his real name), who is living his dream as one of the Animax voice talents. He is a member of the core group chosen to dub the Animax shows following the network's decision to go English. Louis has voiced a wide range of characters, both young and old, starting with Ginji Amano in GetBackers, Ranma Saotome in Ranma ½ and Capt. Shwanhelt Bulge in The Galaxy Railways.

Forum critics (who have no experience in dubbing) have the erroneous belief that voice acting is easy, that the dubbers just march into the studio and record. As Louis explains, this is not true. "People have to receive some special training before they can go into the dubbing career. The basic training is how to synchronize (speak/act) with the characters’ dialogue.

Firstly, you have to adjust your own speaking tempo and response quick enough in order to speak simultaneously as the characters do. Secondly, you must have the same mood as what the characters expressed in the stories and I think this is the hardest part. Thirdly, you have to adjust your own voice in order to match the characters’ age."

Before the voice actors record their parts, they undergo a "rehearsal", which entails watching the episode first. Says Louis, "This is very important. Without rehearsal, we cannot grasp what we need to perform. We do the rehearsal inside the studio together with the script."

Recording is done either individually or together with the team, depending upon the scene and could take from a few hours to a whole day. One difficult aspect of recording is timing their voices with the character's speaking on the screen. "This is the integration of reaction: your understanding the content of the dialogue, the coordination of your brain, eyes, and mouth. The rehearsal itself can make you better adapted to the dubbing situation."

Louis explains that voice acting is a challenging profession. "I have to dub different characters. Each character is new to me. Some of them are very demanding in skills and feeling."

Of course, Louis has his own favorites among the characters he had done. "I enjoyed doing the voice of Albert in The Count of Monte Cristo because it gave me the opportunity to do a serious character who portrayed a lot of emotions. He was innocent, and was forced to grow up quickly as a result of the situation he found himself in. Which of course is quite different from InuYasha, who’s a definite favorite of mine, because he’s more brash and sure of himself even in the face of mortal danger. Doing the voice of InuYasha really allowed me to let loose with my acting, and try to represent his personality through voice alone.

"The most challenging, the most difficult, character I’ve done so far has to be Yusuke Urameshi from Yu Yu Hakusho. Like InuYasha, I really had the ability to pour myself into the role, but on the other hand Yusuke had a lot more introspection. Sometimes, especially later in the series, there was a real human side to the character. Quiet and endearing. I found it challenging to portray so many sides of such a complex character."

Among the Animax projects he had been involved with, Louis enjoyed working on Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex.  "The most memorable project we’ve worked on so far is definitely Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and its sequel 2nd Gig. Unlike most of the anime I’ve worked on, this particular show is more like an animated television drama. This really gave the actors the ability to be a lot more serious about their characters in a dark, gritty show. The other great part about it is that the animation style and background that Shirow Masamune has created has both deep dramatic elements to it, as well as high-octane action. The double dose of drama and action really makes this project stand out in my mind."

The Animax dubbers have been receiving criticisms from certain fans who prefer the anime subtitled. However, for Louis and the Animax voice talents, they do not allow these criticisms to faze them and, instead, they learn from these constructive comments.

"A dubbing talent should be open and should not be afraid to face criticisms especially those constructive opinions," says Louis. "In fact this is good. It helps to improve your dubbing skills. We should be humble. If we think we are excellent and flawless, then we will make no progress. If this is the case, it would be a pity for ourselves."

(Rory would like to thank Animax Asia's Marlene Ee for her assistance in helping secure this interview with Louis. I do hope I'll get to interview the gentleman who dubs Black Jack and The Count of Monte Cristo as well.)

(For those who want to read the complete transcript of Rory's interview with Louis, you may visit her blog at http://animaxcafe.multiply.com)