"Chainsaw Man" Tatsuki Fujimoto's short story collection turned anime "Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26" to have its world premiere at the Global Stage Hollywood Film Festival

As it was the first opportunity for the world to see the film, fans dressed in Tatsuki Fujimoto merchandise and carrying the original works flocked to the venue. Amidst the crowd of standing attendees and thunderous applause, Director Nagaya expressed, "Since you've all come to the world premiere, I believe you must be the biggest 'Tatsuki Fujimoto fans' in America, so I'm nervous but very happy to screen it in front of you." Director Takeuchi conveyed his joy to the local fans by saying, "I've loved 'Columbo' since I was a child, and I'm truly delighted to have this premiere screening right in the heart of Hollywood," which further enlivened the venue.

After the screening, a special talk session was held with Directors Nagaya, Takeuchi, and Producer Oyama. During the session, they shared behind-the-scenes stories about the production challenges of adapting Tatsuki Fujimoto's early short stories into animation and the approaches taken to express Fujimoto's unique style in the visual medium.

Producer Oyama, when asked about the production process, commented, "I'm really happy and relieved to have everyone see this work for the first time at this world premiere. Following 'Look Back,' I'm extremely pleased that the anime project 'Tatsuki Fujimoto 17-26' could be realized in this form."

Reflecting on the time when the project was proposed to Tatsuki Fujimoto, he recalled, "He said, 'It's embarrassing to have my early works adapted into anime,' but he gave the directors a message to prioritize making it interesting and to create freely." He also revealed the intention behind the project, stating, "We aimed to further accentuate the unique characteristics of each of the eight works through the direction of the anime creators."

On the other hand, Director Takeuchi said, "'Koi wa Moumoku' was the last remaining piece when I decided to participate. Despite feeling embarrassed, I imagined what it was like to fall in love while creating this work. I poured 100% of my emotions into drawing the protagonist, Ibuki. Though I doubt anyone would notice, I paid special attention to not only his cheeks but also his earlobes turning red during the confession scene."

Regarding each other's works, Director Nagaya remarked, "'Koi wa Moumoku' is the most comedic work in this collection. Director Takeuchi's direction makes its individuality stand out even more." Director Takeuchi commented, "'Niwa niwa Niwa Niwatorigairu' beautifully captures everyday scenes characteristic of Japanese animation without losing the essence of Fujimoto Tatsuki's original work."