Digimon Xros Wars MUSIC CODE III Yamashida Kousuke(OST Composer) X Sanjo Riku(Script Wrtier)'s Talk

Took both saya and I a while,we finally finished this. We both worked those Japanese translation, and she did the Chinese Translation, and as I did the English Translation. 需要中文翻譯的可到這裡
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Digimon Xros Wars MUSIC CODE III
Yamashida Kousuke(OST Composer) X Sanjo Riku(Script Wrtier)'s Talk:

- What is Composer's standpoint to the Scriptwriter?

---Scriptwriter and Composer, it seems like there are not much of connection between the two, how did you meet?

Sanjo: From the past production, we usually need a insert song for Digimon's evolution scenes, so we plan to do the same this time, and we made the DigiXros's theme "WE ARE Xros Heart!" Song. Song composed by Yamashida-san, and I wrote the lyrics. That's the first time we met.

--- You didn't meet while writing the script then?

Yamashida: Nope.

Sanjo: Basically, the use of music is up to Producer and Director.

--- What is Scriptwriter's standpoint to the Composer?

Sanjo: Do you read the script?

Yamashida: Yes I do. When I'm responsible for the new season, there are scenarios with limited drawings and info, and I have to rely on the Storyboard artist. I have been reading a few ep of the script since the first season of "Digimon Xros Wars".

Sanjo: How about the current series:"~The Teen Hunters who Leap Through time?"

Yamashida: Because this season was decided so suddenly, I have seem the still images. But , I fully understand the art styles has changed, the outlook of the world has change as well.

Sanjo: Did you have to ask Director Kaizawa to compose with image boards(storyboard) and memo?

Yamashida: Right Right. But, since it's a new series from the same production, there are not much of change in the music.

Sanjo: As Director Endou who made a wonderful ending for the previous series"~The Evil Death Generals and The Seven Kingdom", then Director Kaizawa takes it over. Director Kaizawa made proposals with lots of different new ideas, so the continuation feels like a brand new season. The stage of this season is base on the Human World, the setting of Digi-Quartz is the dimension that has different time flow to the Digimon. Taiki continuous to appear from the previous series, because Taiki knows about Digimon, so Taiki has continues his role as one of the protagonist, so he won't be surprise when he makes contact with the parallel world. Therefore, we decided on Taiki's descendant Tagiru to be the new protagonist. Tagiru who doesn't know anything about Digimon, meets Digimon, as we think we will start with "What is that?!" to start off the first ep. We also decide on one of the character from previous series: Yuu, continue to play his role, to make into a 3 men party, you can finally see the storyline going.

- Music is like Magic

--- What is Scriptwriter's point of view on music?

Sanjo: With music playing along, it gives the production different kind of feel. Plus voice actors' audio dubbing skills, then music , the image on that scene moment will make a huge change. It's like magic.

Yamashida: With the change of the new series, do you feel your impression on the music has changed a bit?

Sanjo: Yes. The taste has changed.

Yamashida: It's director's suggest to change it. Since the previous two series, let say in a masterpiece sense, we pay more attention on using orchestra to compose the music, this season I feel like using some Pop music.

Sanjo: I can feel the subtleness. And I can feel the speed.

Yamashida: Director said :"I want to feel nostalgia mood to be back". I can understand it means to have a closer style to the previous series. I also though"I understand how it is", and change an approach for the sound to be similar to the previous series. （Rainmon: That explains so many music and remix of "Stand UP" remainded me of 02）

Sanjo: Til the previous series, they have been fighting army who's in equally strength, this season we started to do Normal days ep(MotW). Of course, the taste of music we use is different now. I mean it comes out light and relax in a good sense, and the pace has become more lively too.

Yamashida: With the new series, I got the image of the taste of production has changed, I wasn't sure if it's matching in that sense.

--- When writing the script, do you have an image in your head that says:"If I use this soundtrack here..."?

Sanjo: When writing Fighting Scene and Showdown Scene, and scenes when everyone goes to the enemy's that image does come in my head. In real productions, Director chooses sounds from all of the BGMs, and the song they chose is always better than the script and line I wrote. Then I feel pretty happy about it.

- I'm very happy to participated in the making of insert songs.

--- What kind of music does Sanjo-san like?

Sanjo: I really like Anime and Tokushu(eg:Karmen Rider...etc), and Columbia Kids. Out of BGM and Hit Music all together, I specially like Hit music. Therefore, I'm very happy that I can participated in the making of the insert song for this season. It sure feels good to make a song that has the Anime Mood.

--- Since you write your own lyrics, did you put a lot of your own thoughts in?
Sanjo: That's right. To be honest, I'm able complete a song with Composer and singer(s) come together in the studio. It's pretty refreshing. Previous series we made 9 insert songs, and made the lyrics for all 9 songs. Song Album:"Digimon Xros Wars: Vocal Code(COCX-36904)" has the collection of all the songs I wrote besides the first opening: "Nevagiba!", I feel like "it's so awesome!" I will continue to do the same with the new series.

--- Til now have you made this many songs...?

Sanjo: Never, it's the first time.

Yamashida: Script writer surely understands the production more, I think lyrics and productions has strong integration. The melody I write naturally follows the lyrics. However, as a Composer, you always want to wait til the lyrics first, then compose it. Because if the lyrics come first, then the approach will be different.

Sanjo: Sometimes I submit the part of lyrics that I can finish first. When we were making OmegaShoutmon's song ("Evolutoin & Digixros ver.TAIKI" and ZekeGreymon's song ("Evolution & Digixros ver.KIRIHA"), and I had an idea that to join the 2 songs , and have the same melody phrase. The best way to join the song is to think of the image first, deliver the image in the lyrics. Then "WE ARE Xros Heart! ver. X7", in the Climax part of the song, "Please add this feeling onto it" and we deliever a brand new part of the lyrics.

Yamashida: The power of lyrics is strong, I believe that it's good to have lyrics first.
Sanjo: It's easier to write the lyrics with the song composed first(Laugh). Songs are easier to catch the image and get overwhelm by it.

Yamashida: If there are words, includes the words' image, and mood and intonation, it's more inspiring. With words, you can create the melody of the song that you would never think of/come across from will flow to your head, and rhythm will come. It's very interesting.
- It's easier to write after seeing the overall picture

Yamashida: How do you write the script? It seems so mysterious. There are so many ep, do you plan it out first, then fill it in after?

Sanjo: That's right. You plan out for the short-range part and the long-range part.

Yamashida: If you can think of it, you can write it surprisingly faster right?

Sanjo: That's basically it. If I can think of the plot. Still, it's hard to make a plot. When the production first started, when I have to gather the characters' introduction and configure the parts, how to turn the story, it's like a showdown of every 1 vs. 1 idea. "What kind of character will do, and turn into it what kind of a story." and if you find out the main predicate, then just flesh it out after.

Yamashida: How long does it take for you to come up with 1 ep?

Sanjo: It seems to take a week to come up with the plot. If you can make the plot, then you can write the script faster. You need different ideas and lots of time when you come up with a plot. If the script is 30 minutes long, then it'll take 4-5 hours to write it.

--- Do you write the script all at once?

Sanjo: That's right. After you make the plot, then you just flesh out by fill in the info. Then, it's
easier to think about character and their goal. Like "This guy may be enemy now, the end it will be like this" , "This enemy is cruel, and it comes with a sad end", have to decide on the approximate goal of the ep. Of course, there are characters who will develop and changed in the journey. They either go with the goal we set up for them, or confuse by it, it's very easy to come up with that.

Yamashida: Same with music, when you write music, you write it all at once as well.

Sanjo: So it seems like there are some rules?

Yamashida: There is. It's the same, it's easier to compose the song if you see the image and overall picture .But spend lots of time doesn't mean you can write a good song.

Sanjo: Sometimes when you use only a little time, you can write some interesting stuff.
- Sometimes listen to music, it influence what you write

Sanjo: The song image Yamashida-san compose for the characters are always appropriate. Probably, as you see the material, you can think of it and feel it right away. After hearing the song : "Oh, this is absolutely what this character is" that kind of influence. That I guess It's coming from your instinct?*

Yamashida: That's true. The music for the character is aiming to creates different meanings.
"Digimon Xros Wars" has many fighting songs, and I compose many types, I always puzzle by how do I make this song different compare to that song. Then, you will think of "it'll probably be develop like this?", but it might not be suitable to the people, or is not the one people want. Then the Director will always very familiar with the song and pick them, and the song can always naturally fit in the story. While you compose the song, you find sometimes you compose a song that has different intention, the result can be better.

- What do you think of the highlight in new series?

--- What is Sanjo-san's job, as a "Series Composer"?

Sanjo: My job for the first season was Series Composer, made total of 54 ep, and been thinking "This part should have this story", and put the whole thing together in a good pace. Follow the pace, and determine :"Who's the main character, what happen, how to deal with it" and make outline for every ep, and write it down, make note for other script writers. The whole direction for second season it's decided by producer and make the note, my job is the main writer, create story line up, and thinking about characters. The job isn't much of difference.

--- To control such with a story on a long-span

Sanjo: That's true. Then We will have to help on that.

--- What's the high light of the series in the up-coming eps?

Sanjo: I think we will start with the pattern of the Daily ep (MotW) , and allow the event to have further expend, then the climax will become a massive scale of the story. The year 2012 is the year of the 15th anniversary of Digimon, since its first game: portable game was release, as the birth of the Digimon, it provides the element for the anniversary.

Yamashida: After that there will be movie then?(Laugh).

--- If there's a movie then it'll be great.