Interview with George Iida, the original author of 'NIGHT HEAD', and the feeling of answering the old work in the animation 'NIGHT HEAD 2041'



Today, from midnight on July 14, 2021 (Wednesday), the animation ' NIGHT HEAD 2041 ' will start broadcasting in the '+ Ultra' frame of Fuji TV. This work is a new work of the popular late-night drama 'NIGHT HEAD' that was broadcast from 1992 to 1993, but instead of rebooting, a new story of the Kirihara brothers will be spun on the stage of 2041. George Iida, who is also the original author, is in charge of the series composition and screenplay. This time, I have asked a wide range of questions, not limited to new animation, such as the thoughts put into the new work about 30 years after the drama broadcast and the story when the drama was produced.

'NIGHT HEAD 2041' official website
https://nighthead2041.jp/

GIGAZINE (G):
It was tweeted that Mr. Taichi Hashimoto of Slow Curve talked to Mr. Iida five years ago, and that it was two years ago that the book reading, which was compiled into 12 books with Mr. Shirogumi, started. Is Mr. Iida in charge of the script for all 12 episodes?



Mr. George Iida (hereinafter, Iida):
Of course it is.

G:
When I asked Director Takamitsu Hirakawa, he said that he had originally had 24 episodes and summarized them into 12 episodes. The work of halving seems to be insanely difficult, but ...

Iida:
It was hard already! (Laughs) That was the hardest part. After all, I wanted you to make a 2 cool animation with 24 episodes. Although I wrote it, it ended up being 12 episodes, and the choice of which episode to drop was the most difficult. Work like 'I made it so much, but do I have to drop this episode?' Is a bit painful ...

G:
So that's it…….

Iida:
This time, it's not a reboot of the old 'NIGHT HEAD'. As you can see from episodes 1 and 2, I was thinking of putting it in as an essence, and I put in a story that I liked. So I came up with a new idea, but it was difficult because I had to drop it.

G:
You said that you first talked about it five years ago, but how did the project start?

Iida:
'I want to do'NIGHT HEAD'with animation.' They were the generation who were watching the drama on time, and they said, 'If you do'NIGHT HEAD'now, young people will find it interesting.' I was happy to say, 'That's right.'

G:
So, was it decided from the beginning that we would make it for people who didn't know 'NIGHT HEAD'?

Iida:
I agree. I can't decide for myself whether or not I will receive it in my teens and 20s. I want to believe that, but I don't know what it really is because the generations are far apart. Those who are currently making anime told me that they would definitely receive it, so I believed that I would receive it and thought about a new story.

G:
As the word 'not a reboot' mentioned earlier, just looking at one episode shows that the content of the drama is not simply replaced with animation. However, it looks like 'NIGHT HEAD' insanely, but was that something you wrote with the aim? Or does it feel like this happened naturally?

Iida:
I don't know what it's like 'NIGHT HEAD' anymore (laughs). But I wrote it naturally.

G:
Then, that's what happens naturally.

Iida:
That's right, I have no choice but to answer that. I think it would be a genius if there was someone who could calculate and write something like 'NIGHT HEAD' (laughs)

G:
The atmosphere was so unchanged that I wonder if there is something like a point that only the original author can understand.

Iida:
However, at that time, I was saying something like 'change will come' in the work, so I thought that if I wanted to do it again in this era, I would have to put in an answer to it properly. After making various things for 30 years, if I were to release a new 'NIGHT HEAD' now, without knowing it, I would say 'What was that? Is there a change? From now on?' I wonder if I have to draw an answer from the front to the question, 'Will you wake up? What the hell is that?' I take it quite seriously.

G:
When the staff commented, Mr. Iida commented, 'The work of creating a completely new story set in the near future was a higher hurdle than I had imagined.' What was the reason for the high hurdles?



Iida:
It's the work of writing once, changing the background, and writing it all over again. It was already hard.

G:
The new stage is in the near future, but is this Mr. Iida's idea? Or was there a pretense of 'in the near future!' At the time of the talk?

Iida:
I don't remember that.

G:
Did it become the near future while writing?

Iida:
No, when I started writing the first episode, I was in the near future. I feel like I had a meeting myself, 'Isn't it easier to make a story in 2041 or a little earlier?' I also think.

G:
Why is it '2041' in the near future?

Iida:
As you can see from the first episode, there was a background that Supernatural was totally banned, and I was convinced that it was around 2041. Even so, I started writing about 5 years ago, but now it's 2021. Doesn't it feel like you're becoming a world like this?

G:
Around that, Mr. Iida tweeted, 'I have been thinking about the theme for five years, but over time, I feel that the world is approaching the story I was thinking about.' Is not it?



Iida:
I feel continuity. It's too extreme. The strange thing about the world today is that there is a situation in which the media is willing to tell a lie.

G:
Okay.

Iida:
We grew up in an era without the internet, but today's young people have been watching the internet since they were born, so there is no sense that television is absolute. Therefore, the lie will be revealed soon. It's true that people in their 50s and 60s have been rubbed in as if the TV was correct, but it doesn't work for people in their 20s. Because it hasn't been rubbed in. However, I feel that the media continues to lie as if they didn't know that it wouldn't work. I feel that the reality is closer to 'NIGHT HEAD'.

G:
I started writing the story five years ago, so it was around the time when there was no new Corona.

Iida:
That's right. So it feels really strange. At that time, the US presidential election wasn't there yet. When this happens, I feel that it is just before the reality turns over, or that it is a sign that something will happen.

G:
How did you become aware of the connection with 'NIGHT HEAD' so far when making this work?

Iida:
I wanted to cherish the base very much. As I said earlier, I have a strong feeling of answering people who are watching the old work, so I wanted to take good care of the characters. It may be a spoiler, but Akiko Okuhara will also come out.

G:
Oh!

Iida:
I'm trying to make the story easy for people who used to see it as an answer. Somehow, I have to show one as an answer.

G:
What was the reason that led you to the idea that you had to make an answer?

Iida:
If you want to make 'NIGHT HEAD' again in this era, it's like a responsibility. For those who say they like it. So, when it was composed of 24 episodes, Tsukasa Kamiya was also out, but if it was 12 episodes, I had no choice but to cut it. I was thinking a lot. How would you draw it if it existed in this era?

G:
According to Mr. Iida's tweet, a novel will be published in August. Is this a novel that complements what wasn't in the anime?



Iida:
Basically, what I dropped is not written in the novel. As was the case with the old 'NIGHT HEAD' novel, the concept was to convey the background that could not be conveyed in the video. If people who see the anime and find it interesting read it, I think it will be even more interesting.

G:
What was your impression of director Takamitsu Hirakawa as the original author and the person in charge of the series composition and screenplay?

Iida:
Well, it seems to be quiet, but I think it's okay because I say what I want to say properly (laugh)

G:
(Lol)

Iida:
At first glance, I pretend to be quiet, but I get the impression that I will do what I want to do.

G:
Did you ever feel that kind of thing at the meeting?

Iida:
Actually, I basically trusted Director Hirakawa. With a little talk, you can see how well you understand the script. Therefore, as a direction, I intend to emphasize what the director wants to do. I don't know what he thinks (laughs), but I feel like I've been studying. He showed me the way to make it an anime, so I had a meeting with the intention of listening to everything I could hear. Looking at what actually went up, it looks really good, and I'm honestly relieved.

G:
Regarding 'NIGHT HEAD', Mr. Iida published a book called 'NIGHT HEAD' by George Iida on his Kindle, which talks about the past. In Chapter 16, when making a drama, the budget was low, it wasn't noticed, and it couldn't be advertised. 'There was the most necessary and important element for making a drama. It's freedom and passion. In retrospect, it really is. It was precious. I think it's unfortunate that a work would be made without either. ' I thought it was very real, but are there quite a few such unfortunate works?


Iida:
Because, at the same time that 'NIGHT HEAD' was made, how many were made with a larger budget and a better environment ... (bitter smile). I'm a little sloppy, but I was serious about making things. Of course, even something that is made very seriously can disappear. This is a story about how many works have disappeared from most people's memories.

G:
So that's it.

Iida:
Even if the numbers are good at that time, what has disappeared has disappeared, so I don't know what will remain in the world anymore ... However, I think that the fact that 'NIGHT HEAD' made in that environment with that budget has become so loved is not really just me, but the result of everyone's work.

G:
In the Kindle book, Mr. Iida said, 'I think the biggest misfortune for the work is that it is played by an actor different from the characters depicted in the script.'

Iida:
I just picked up such a place (laughs). After all, don't you think so when you're looking at various things? I think you can definitely understand this. The hit is when the hero is addicted. When the actor looks like that character. Otherwise you will never hit. There are many things to say, but that is the truth.

G:
truth.

Iida:
Even if a popular idol starred, there are some that won't hit. For example, 'Hanzawa Naoki' hit so much because Masato Sakai, who starred in the movie, was addicted to the role. Takeru Sato is addicted to 'Rurouni Kenshin' and everyone wants to see it forever. Even if someone who doesn't fit does it, it won't hit that far. When casting, you have to guess who really suits you. 'If that person does it, it's okay if it's a little different. Let's do it.'

G:
Is it a feeling that a compromise is transmitted?

Iida:
It's more like 'uncomfortable' than a compromise. The truth is that not all of the things that people who receive naturally do will win, but only those things will hit. That is the truth of making things. Starring is absolutely important. The good luck of 'NIGHT HEAD' is that Etsushi Toyokawa and Shinji Takeda looked like the Kirihara brothers with their bodies.

G:
Oh, I see. Similarly, in Chapter 23 of the Kindle book, there was a flower day about the audience rating, which may remind you of something unpleasant. The first episode was 1.3% in video research, and in Nielsen, which is now gone, '☆', that is, it was impossible to measure. How did you feel when it was this number?

Iida:
No ... I felt like an executioner could take over. It's '☆' !? (laughs)

G:
It's impossible to measure.

Iida:
I remember well that the on-air day was decided, but it was said that the start would be 15 minutes late because there was a special program on that day. At that time, there wasn't an environment like it is now, and there was only a VCR, so the numbers would drop as time went on.

G:
Oh, of course there is no delivery.

Iida:
Even though I made it really hard, it says 'it will be late' ... Nielsen had a very high number for 'Mito Komon', so it was said that only the elderly were installing measuring equipment. I have to wonder why Nielsen is gone and only video research is done, but anyway, video research is 1.3% first, I don't know if it's good or bad, but '☆' is ...

G:
(Lol)

Iida:
I was comforted by saying, 'I'm just not looking at the households where the machines are located, but I'm looking at the households that don't.' I thought, 'I didn't have to say that!' (Laughs) No, '☆' is amazing ... I still remember it. At that point, no one thinks it will be a hit.

G:
In this way, the new work has come to the point where it is made with animation using 3DCG.

Iida:
I can't imagine such a thing from that time! (Lol)

G:
Mr. Iida described this situation as 'walking alone in total darkness with a torch in his hand.' It seems that 'I have been expressed' is not something I thought about.

Iida:
This is what people said (laughs) I remember why people said this. At that time, I was doing various work on Fuji TV, for example, I made a drama called 'Ring', but at that time, Fuji TV was a station with an audience rating of 20% no matter what I did. After the first broadcast, he said, '15%? It was a little low.' It was such a world.

G:
Oh ... it's a great time.

Iida:
Everyone was watching the drama of romance and taking numbers. So at the time of the meeting, I was told, 'Everyone is making love affairs, but they are telling their way alone. It seems like they are walking with a torch in total darkness.'

G:
Terrible (laughs)

Iida:
I said, 'Oh, is that so?' (Laughs). However, the producer at that time said, 'Let's make it 2 cool.' Because it will be forgotten in 3 months. 'Let's make a drama that everyone will remember.'

G:
That's two cools, half a year.

Iida:
'Memory rather than record'. With that proposal, I was wondering if I could write it myself for half a year, but at that time I had the spirit of saying, 'I'll do it if I can do anything.' Actually, there was talk of doing it in golden at first (laugh)

G:
Golden! (Lol)

Iida:
It was really stopped. 'You guys, don't be afraid' (laughs) 'There's no way I can talk about psychic powers during the golden time of Fuji TV.' I had been having a meeting for about a year. So there were twists and turns, and I decided to do it at midnight.

G:
(Laughs) In Chapter 24 of the book, I was touched on the situation when I was writing this 'NIGHT HEAD' by George Iida, and I understand that it was very difficult, but what kind of difficulty is it? Was it the situation?

Iida:
Because I was planning a lot. I feel like I'm finally seeing the light of day, but after all I want to do live-action dramas and movies, so I'm also working on that kind of thing. I wonder if I'm still working on about four at the same time. I think I can do one of them, and I think it's okay.

G:
How many people are planning at the same time?

Iida:
It depends on the person, so I think some people only do one. It's strange that I'm a little special, but I wonder if it was good to have done 'NIGHT HEAD'. It may be bad from another angle, but I've come to want to do a work that I control everything myself. In the American drama industry, there is a position of 'showrunner ' and such credits are not given, but in 'LOST', for example, it is like JJ Abrams.

G:
Oh!

Iida:
In the position of directing, having full control of casting, and taking ultimate responsibility for the compilation of the story. After all, I want to make something as a showrunner, but I can't quite do it. There is nothing you can't do, 'as a staff member under that person.' I wonder if it will take some time to reach the summit because I'm making the mountain bigger on my own.

G:
Chapter 25 tells the story of a doujinshi being sent to Kyodo Television.

Iida:
That's right. Suddenly sent. I didn't know anything about BL. At that time, I used to say 'yaoi'.

G:
Okay.

Iida:
It seems that a lot of parody-like things were made by female fans who want to see Fujoshi's swords. I didn't know it at all, so I was surprised when it was sent to me and said, 'There is something like this!'

G:
What was your impression when you read it?

Iida:
No, it's not bad. It wasn't bad. When you receive what you send, you feel like you want to join us. So it's not a bad thing to have more people like that. I didn't feel sick at all. However, I was surprised at how many there were. I first learned about 'douujinshi' there. So, we gathered in Odaiba and cosplayed. There were also cosplay photos of Naoto and Naoya.

G:
Did it already come during the broadcast? Was it after the broadcast?

Iida:
I think it was about the second half of the broadcast. Among the people who draw, for example, there are many people like professional shojo manga artists. I was surprised that some people contacted me. I didn't have the genre of shojo manga, so I didn't understand that it affected people in that world so much (laughs).

G:
In the book, I saw criticism that 'NIGHT HEAD' had such a BL tendency, but I didn't understand it at all.

Iida:
It was a shock. Some people even came to see Kyodo Television. That's why I was given a douujinshi directly. CLAMP was one of the people I was looking forward to every week.

G:
With this connection, he decided to direct and write the live-action version of 'Tokyo BABYLON 1999'. Did you know about CLAMP at that time?


Iida:
No, I didn't know at all.

G:
CLAMP introduced me to Kadokawa Shoten, which led to the publication of the novel 'NIGHT HEAD'.


Iida:
I agree. When I was hitting various publishers, CLAMP just met Kadokawa Shoten, so I was able to publish the novel of 'NIGHT HEAD' from there. Anyway, I wanted to own the original rights, so I wanted to make it an 'original novel' instead of 'novelize', and I was able to realize that.

G:
That was the case. It's about time, so I'd like to make a final comment ...

Iida:
I talked so much !? (laughs)

G:
I would like to hear a few words from people who have read this interview that would make them want to see 'NIGHT HEAD'.

Iida:
I am grateful to everyone.

G:
(Lol)

Iida:
Why do you laugh (laughs)? I am grateful to everyone involved in this work.

G:
Thank you for the insanely interesting story.

As a new science fiction action animation, and as an answer for those who know the former 'NIGHT HEAD', 'NIGHT HEAD 2041', which you can receive either way, will be broadcast and distributed sequentially from Wednesday, July 14th. The schedule is as follows.

Fuji TV: July 14th (Wednesday) 25: 05 ~ (24: 55 ~ after the second episode)
TV Nishinippon: Wednesday, July 14th, 25: 55 ~
Kansai TV: Thursday, July 15th, 26: 10 ~ (25: 55 ~ after the second episode)
Tokai TV: Saturday, July 17th, 25: 45-
Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting: Sunday, July 18 25: 10-
BS Fuji: Wednesday, July 21, 24: 00-

FOD: July 14th (Wednesday) 25: 05 ~ (24: 55 ~ after the second episode) [Exclusive distribution]

◆ 'NIGHT HEAD 2041' work information
·staff
Original: George Iida
Director: Takamitsu Hirakawa
Composition / Screenplay: George Iida
Character design draft: Ito Ogure
Sub-character design draft: Akiko Asakui
Concept art: Kenichiro Tomiyasu (INEI)
BG Concept Artist: Masato Shirata
Matte Paint Director: Minoru Onishi
Art setting: Ryu Sakamoto
Art Board: Big Studio
Color design: Souko Nakao
Cinematographer: Kazuhiko Takahashi
Edited by: Akari Saito
Sound Director: Jin Aketagawa
Music: Yutaka Yamada
Planning / Producing: Slow Curve
Animation production: Shirogumi
Production: George Iida / NIGHT HEAD 2041 Production Committee

·cast
Naoto Kirihara: Daisuke Ono
Naoya Kirihara: Nobunaga Shimazaki
Takuya Kuroki: Takahiro Sakurai
Yuya Kuroki: Kensho Ono
Michio Sonezaki: Kazuyuki Okitsu
Reika Muto: Lynn
Daisuke Honda: Yasuhiro Mamiya
Kimie Kobayashi: Yoko Hikasa
Yui Akiyama: Reina Ueda
Shoko Futami: Kaori Maeda
Miki Tachibana: Aya Endo
Kakitani Suguru: Tomoaki Maeno
Mike Fujiki: Chikahiro Kobayashi
Koji Kazama: Tomokazu Sugita
Emily Shinshiro: Saori Hayami
Roshkov: Kosei Hirota
Victor: Tarusuke Shingaki
Naoto Kirihara [Childhood]: Hiroki Nanami
Naoya Kirihara [Childhood]: Shizuka Ishigami
Takuya Kuroki [Childhood]: Natsumi Fujiwara
Yuya Kuroki [Childhood]: Makoto Koichi
Akiko Okuhara: Mari Yokoo
Old Misaki: Motomu Kiyokawa
Kyojiro Mikuriya: Banjo Ginga

PV just before the TV anime 'NIGHT HEAD 2041' broadcast --YouTube

©飯田譲治／NIGHT HEAD 2041 製作委員会

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