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Fire Emblem Interviews
Fire Emblem: Treasure
Credits: North2
Interview with Shouzou Kaga
Note: This is highly
incomplete.
Page 1
----First,
I would like to ask about the character illustrations that are going to
be the first releases for the company...Why, this time, did you humbly
decide to draw up character illustrations?
Actually, originally
the game called Fire Emblem---by that I mean "The Dragon of Darkness
and the Sword of Light", was really never deeply thought out as a
product to be sold, rather it was made on a whim as more like a doujin
software with the help of 3 job-holding students (lol). So, at the time
we couldn't divide our energy into graphics either. Also in that sense,
there was a lot of regrets towards visuals.
But, thanks to
everyone "Dragon of Darkness and the Sword of Light" showed to be very
popular, so for "Mystery of the Emblem", planning on strengthening the
visual side, we hired a young person with experience with animators,
and had him draw dot pictures and package illustrations.
So, in
reference to "Mystery of the Emblem" and "Genealogy of Holy War", that
designer put his hands on it, but unfortunately for "Genealogy of Holy
War", in the creation stage we didn't have the time to spare...For that
reason, for me, and I'm thinking probably for him also, in terms of
visuals, it didn't become a level of work that we can be fully
satisfied with.
Because that kind of thing occurred, from
"Genealogy of Holy War" onward, I've always been thinking if there's
any way to tell the users what our visual model was as the creators.
At
that time, I had the opportunity to get to know Hirota-san who is
responsible for the visuals...I can still remember it now. When I saw
her drawing, a bolt of electricity ran all over my body. I thought,
"This is it!". From there, I had her draw illustrations as a test, and
as I saw it my thoughts changed into absolutions. She gave birth to
things that I can be very satisfied with. So it came to be that we will
ask Hirota-san for the current "Genealogy of Holy War" and also for our
next work, and we are having him progress forward with the work right
now.
----I See. From the beginning,
"Genealogy of Holy War" is a
game with a strong storyline. When becoming a core(hardcore) user, it
seems that the images of characters in the head expands more and more.
You're saying that Kaga-san as the creator also has an image for the
Fire Emblem world, and the visuals for this time is definitely that.
Yes,
that's what it means at least for my feelings on "Genealogy of Holy
War". Of course, for the users, these feelings are going to be
different, and if all the users will feel the same way about that
visuals this time is a whole different story.
And, on that
point, I'm not thinking that I want to force my image. Because I think
that each individual's imaginations cannot be intruded. It means only
that it fit my image perfectly. Also powerfully.
North2's note 1 : The big letters on the left say:
The illustrations this time is something that I can say with my chest
held high, "The visuals that I was looking for was this".
North2's note 2
: Doujin basically means like a fanwork, not an actual company. Doujin
site is a fansite, doujin illustrations is fanart, etc. etc.
Dot
picture and package illustration is the direct translation, maybe
someone with more experience in animations can shed some light on what
it's supposed to be.
Page 2
For
example, I can also say these kinds of things. In the middle of making
a game, the framework is actually already decided on, but the true
completion of the scenario is actually very last.
In those, I'm
thinking this is the same for making movies, but if there's a good
actor/actress, then the director can make something good--basically
meaning that the characters come to life. It is similar to that,
because if I can also receive good characters, then my imagination can
expand.
That type of spreading of imagination was there during
"Mystery of the Emblem", but for "Genealogy of Holy War"--especially
concerning the last half, as I said earlier, there wasn't enough time,
and there was a lot of these thoughts that couldn't spread out.
----So
that means, By viewing the drawn character's expression, eyes, looks,
etc., these characters start to move in Mr. Kaga's head, like wouldn't
these characters move like this, think like this, and by expanding the
imagination, the story spreads out more and more.
Yes, that is
exactly how it is. That's why that part may differ for other people. Of
course, I do hold some setting and a small image, and have it drawn
with that, but in my case I really carelessly ask to have drawn this
many people of around that age, and that's all I say.
Then, from
my side the illustrations that come up become picked out for the
character's looks. Meaning, there is an audition (laugh). For example,
the general of the country of wherever, and this kind of placement
within the game...say we decided on that kind of role. In my case, the
other parts--something that can be described as the personality and
view of a human, even things like living habits, are imagined by the
looks of the character and the image expands.
However, when the
image that I first held and the image that floats up when I look at the
illustration doesn't match, then I really struggle. At worst, there are
times when the setting that was there in the first place can completely
die.
That's why just because the image went off, there are times
when a character that was supposed to shine more drops to a complete
sub(non-important, bench-warmer), and stating an extreme case, there
are lots of characters that we won't even use or put in the game
anymore.
Of course, there are cases opposite to that...Jamuka
for example. In the first setting, he wasn't a bowfighter, rather a
crabby-legged(squatting) axefighter, but Jamuka became very favored to
me. That's why as he changed to a bowfighter, and added more and more
skills, he ended up becoming that strong of of character.
Basically
meaning that by getting addicted, or not addicted, of course the
character's importance changes, and for some instances the setting may
even change too.
From there, this time, answering as to why I
thought that this was it when I saw Hirota-san's illustrations, when I
saw her pictures, the images that I couldn't quite entirely express up
until now just sprung up like an explosion.
Adding to that, when
asking Hirota-san, there's only very easy conversations from my side.
However, she is also a "Fire Emblem" core user who holds an image of
her own, and despite being drawn in that form, she comes up with
exactly what I've been visualizing.
Perhaps this time's
illustrations of the 12 holy warriors which makes it their first
appearance is another form of this. Even though aren't spoken of to the
point where it can be said that they're not spoken at all, she drew it
exactly like the image I held. Instinctively, I even thought that I
want to make a story about the 12 holy warriors (laugh).
----So, the illustrations that we are
having released in this book are born in an ideal shape.
At
first, I was expectedly worried. However, now I am truly very relieved.
That's why I am sure. Sureness in that probably for users also,
although not 100%, but an overwhelming majority of them will be happy.
If that was wrong, then this is just a problem with my own
tastes(laugh).
I'm not thinking that most people will think that
this is it from the beginning. Because, for the deep playing users
especially, the illustrations in the TV screen and and the
illustrations shown in the cover are the only truths. Because of that,
when suddenly looking at the illustrations, I think there will be
reactions like "That's wrong".
For example, when making
"Genealogy of Holy War", for the first year, I actually thought that it
sort of won't be understood, or there will be more people that are
dissatisfied. However, around a year later, I also had confirmation
that people that is willing to understand it will understand it. As for
the result, well, it was just as expected. There's even people that
play it now.
That's why, also in reference to this time's
illustrations, as the time goes on it will be understood. Yes I'm
hoping that maybe the first month won't be so clear, but within half a
year it will be the norm.
Adding more, for the first time the
entire body's visual was released. From that influence, there's some
talk within the community that there may be more people that will
cosplay.
But Hirota-san is definitely a woman. The clothing that
she draws can actually be made. Readers that have viewed the
illustrations, I'm also looking forward to cosplays (laugh).
First segment of Page 5
----Next,
I think I would like to ask a little more about the contents of the
game. First, Levin. As for him, Levin in the first half and Levin in
the second half is completely different for both gameplay and
storyline. Anyways, even if Levin dies in the first half, he comes back
in the second half regardless. Celice even states in the end that Levin
is the warrior "Forsety of the Wind" from a distant country. At this
point, it feels like Levin is Levin and not Levin at the same time. Is
there anything you can comment?
Realistically, Levin held a
destiny where he was supposed to die, but the Dragon race--The gods
that descended during the miracle at Darna Fortress was actually of the
Dragon race--intervened and he was kept alive. At that time, one of the
'Gesshu'...meaning, by binding contracts that can be seen in Celtic
mythology with the Dragon race, Levin is living as Levin.
This
means that there's no doubt that the Levin in the second half is
basically the same person as Levin in the first half. However, he's
given a part of himself to Forsety... And, when the Holy War ends,
Forsety actually leaves, but because of 'Gesshu', Levin can't live as
Levin so to speak, and cannot retain his original existence so he
cannot go back to Silesia and take the crown.
That is why this
part is a discordance where the dragon race who had a law to not
intervene with the human race did what they are usually not supposed to
do--saving a person who was supposed to die.
Actually, other
characters who appeared in the first half are in a similar placement.
This means that not everyone died, but they are also not allowed to
intervene with the glorious acts of the children's generation, so they
do not appear in the second half.
Adding more to that, the 12
demon lords of the final chapter. Within them are people who carry the
blood of the 12 holy warriors--such as Ahato, Zechs, Zhiben, basically
exist in the same way as Levin. This means that they were originally
skilled warriors or holy workers. The setting is that their conscience
has been absorbed. This means, although it hasn't been stated, each one
of them actually have a drama of their own.
In the next game, people like that may appear, or may not appear, but
in my image, each of them have a solid background.
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