MIDORI in A Metro express of Zagreb

An interview to Hiroshi Harada of MIDORI's director



�@ *Could you name the most important reasons for working in animation,
which seems to be one of the most demanding and time consuming art form?

-The reason why I produce a cartoon film.
It is based on a wish of the peace.
The expression of the movie must not be censored. However, the real society must be peaceful.
If society is peaceful, animated cartoon production is enabled.

*What is your background, and how did you start in animation?

-I wanted to make an animated cartoon alone from childhood.
I watched "dinosaur Gertie" of Winsor McCay�@at 14 years old.
I imitated "Gertie" and have begun to make an animated cartoon with only 8mm film and paper and a pen.
I watched experiment drama of "Syuji Terayama" at 20 years old.
And I used technology of the experiment drama for an animated cartoon.

*How long does it take to make a feature animation film?
Do you work alone, or you engage a team, what is the process of creating your films?

-Paint,Background, Photography, Sound,These operated by the team of several professionals.
However, in then Japan, there was not the animator who undertook work such as MIDORI.
Therefore the part of the cartoon film operated alone.
It took five year for completion of MIDORI.

*Do you find it important that your films gain acclamation by the audience and critic in general?

-I thank the people who chose "MIDORI" heartily.I feel very glad that I can participate in Zagreb.

*Can you make for a living by doing animated films?

-The wage of the Japanese animated cartoon is low even if I obey a Japanese big business, large capital.
The wage which an assistant animator gets is 180 yen (8kn)per one piece of animation paper.
All Japanimations are produced in defiance of a law of Japanese worker protection.
Because I perform the animated cartoon of the indie while doing such work, the living fails.
I must sacrifice something for compensation to make an animated cartoon.

*Is it hard to get funding for your projects?

-In Japan, animation having an ideology is disliked.
If a taboo is included in a movie, there is no company giving money more.
MIDORI was made by a Japanese subculture, an underground performance,
a donation and a volunteer of trauma survivors.

*Do you have experience with major animation companies?

-Yes.I entered the company of the TV animated cartoon at the age of 20.
My first work was "Doraemon".I still do the work of the TV animated cartoon now.

*Could you name some of the authors who influenced your work?

-I respect Japanese movie director / Satsuo Yamamoto(1910-1983).
Isao Takabata of the director of the animation is splendid.
Other than Japan...
"Moscow Does Not Believe In Tears" V.Menshov,
"The Kitten" I.A.Popov,
"Fame" Alan Parker,
"L'ANGE" P.Bokanowski,
"Solaris" A.Tarkovsky,
"Suspiria" Dario Argento,
"La Lectrice" Michel Deville,
I like these, too.