The program also conducted an inside-look report on "Drive," the animation studio behind the series. As President Chie Nakamura mentioned that she originally "started the company as a music production company," a major characteristic of the studio is having a professional music production team on staff alongside the animators.
While standard anime usually matches pre-recorded BGM to the visuals, it was revealed that this work employs a method called "film scoring," where music is created cut by cut to perfectly match the precise timing, movements, and emotions of the characters. President Nakamura shared her thoughts on their unique approach to creation, saying, "I want there to be a meaning behind Drive making it. To add a single drop of true essence into the work." Sound Director Yoshikazu Iwanami also sent a high-praise comment, stating, "Fairouz Ai is at the level of a national athlete representing Japan," which brought a moment of joy to Fairouz.
Next, in the segment "Have You Seen It Yet? Might-Get-An-Anime-Adaptation Topics," the buzzworthy work currently distributed on Mecha Comic, "Mob Kensei, Hitoshirezu Musou suru -Zako kenshi ni shika mienai noni, Jitsu wa Sekai wo Sukutta Kensei des," was introduced.
The story follows a hero who defeated the Demon King but was completely forgotten by the world due to the Demon King's curse, yet continues to protect the city in secret. The program's unique "Might-Get-An-Anime-Adaptation Point" highlighted "the contrast of the 'melancholy' where despite having overwhelming strength that surpasses all others, he remains in nobody's memories." When asked, "What would you do if you were unrivaled like the protagonist but ended up completely forgotten?", Fairouz responded, "I'd go viral on TikTok and leave a digital tattoo behind. The one who leaves a trace wins, right? (lol)," which made the whole studio burst into laughter.
In the "ShibuAni Headline" segment delivering anime news, news items regarding Fairouz came one after another. Fairouz, who plays the role of Shaula in the currently broadcasting 4th season of "Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-," confessed the shocking fact that she hadn't been informed of her role beforehand, saying, "I only found out when a comment from an overseas fan arrived on my Instagram." Thinking they might have mistaken her for another voice actress, she checked social media, only to find that she had indeed been officially announced as the new character. The studio was enveloped in surprise by her behind-the-scenes story of how she had to hurriedly catch up on the series.
In the second half of the program, FROGMAN from "Eagle Talon"—which was featured on ShibuAni recently—revealed the truth behind the "Suntory Non-Sponsorship Incident" for the very first time. This originated during the broadcast of the second series in 2009, when Suntory, which had been tentatively set as a sponsor early on, approached them saying, "You can do it as long as it's a funny project that fits the Eagle Talon style."
As the initial project proposals were rejected and they hit a wall, Director FROGMAN suggested an unprecedented idea: "Why not make it a program that Suntory explicitly does not sponsor, and roll a credit every time saying, 'This program was NOT sponsored by Suntory'?" Suntory readily agreed. Furthermore, explaining that "broadcasting 'not sponsored' while actually receiving funding from Suntory would be a lie," he revealed that they "continued the broadcast without receiving a single penny, structuring the show around the goal of eventually winning them over as a sponsor at the end." The truth that it was not a staged stunt but they really did not receive any money from Suntory was confessed nearly 20 years later, leaving all the performers astonished, exclaiming, "How is that even possible?!"
At the ending, it was announced that a "ShibuAni Original Board" would be displayed in the 10th-floor anime section of the Tower Records Shinjuku Store starting July 1st, concluding with a scene where the trio of Iwai, Tokui, and Nakamura added their handwritten autographs.
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