Seventh Interview
Interview by: Email
Interviewers: The Double Stars
Site:Tsubasa no Kami: An Escaflowne Movie Site
1) Why did you start your website? Because I got *really* tired of listening to people bash the Escaflowne movie, and worried that if someone didn't give the film some good press, newbies might be scared away from it.
I saw the film when it premiered at Anime Expo, and like most people, I was surprised at how different it is from the TV series. But being different doesn't make it *bad*! When I got back from Anime Expo, though, the internet was practically alive with people bitching and moaning about everything from the character designs to the plot. No one was saying these things were poorly done, they just didn't like how different it was from the television version. It was like they had their hearts set on a proper sequel, and since they didn't get what they wanted, they just had to nitpick the movie the death.
I decided it was time to put the facts online so that those who hadn't seen it could
judge for themselves. I also wanted to provide my own point of view in the form of a
review, which I hoped would make some of the whiners reconsider their position on the
film.
2) Were you the founder?
Yes, I admit it -- it's all my fault.
3) Who did the layout?
That would be me again. Tsubasa no Kami is a one-woman show. At least I know who to
blame when something goes wrong.
4) Do you have staff members who helped you?
Nope. From time to time fans pass along information to me, and naturally I have
friends and associates help me proofread my work, but there isn't really anyone else
who contributes to the site in such a way that they would be considered a "partner"
or "staff member."
At least not yet. Among the many things I have planned for the site this year is a
character page that will detail the differences -- and similarities -- of the TV and
movie versions of the Escaflowne characters. My dear friend Sarah-neko will be
working with me on that expansion since she is a whiz at characterization -- after
all, she *is* a writer. (Sarah-neko has her own Escaflowne site at
http://members.tripod.com/sarahneko/escaboys by the way -- if you ever want to do
another Esca webmaster interview, I'm sure she'd be willing.)
5) Who helped you with the website?
See above.
6) When and why did you get into writing?
When I learned that I could use the power of words to make a difference. My first
anime site (a Sailor Moon page, still up and operational at
http://www.lizzard.net/SuperS) was very dependent on written analysis and
responding to site visitors, so I had to learn how to write for anime fans on the web
pretty quickly. I'm glad I did, too. I can't tell you how many people have written
to me saying that they gave the Escaflowne movie a chance just because of the review
I penned. That makes me happy.
7) How long after you got into anime did you start the website?
Oh geez, I've been into anime for a while now. What's it been, four years? Yeah,
four years, almost five. And I just did this Escaflowne site this past fall. So it
was a while. Of course I had (and still have) other anime sites that came before
this one, so it's not like this is my first foray into online publishing.
8) Are the anime pictures your own, or are they captured by someone/you from
the site?
All of the images on the site were scanned by myself, from my personal collection.
God, that reminds me, I have so much more to add...
9) How long has the site been up?
*oops! I tihnk this one was unanswered!*
10) How long did it take for you to get the site up?
I worked on it for at least a month and a half before taking it live. It wasn't even
"done" when I uploaded it all -- the synopsis content was only completed in December.
I hated taking it live without the synopsis being finished, but it was clear that
writing that thing was going to take months, and I wanted to have the rest of the
site's information available to folks in the meantime. I made additions to the
synopsis page about once a week until it was finally done. Man, it's long. I still
look at that and can't *believe* I wrote it all. Some "synopsis" -- it's more like a
blow-by-blow script!
Silver Star interviewing:
11) What's your alltime favorite anime? Weird enough as it is, some all-on-one anime webmasters like the different anime that's not related to their site. **eeek!** Weird?! Not so weird, actually -- after all, I've had a bunch of anime web sites and they weren't always about my favorite anime. Some webmasters don't like to do a site unless they have something unique to offer, and sometimes that means they can't really do a site about their favorite show because everything that needs to be said about it has already been said by others.
But I digress. Anyway, Escaflowne *is* my favorite anime. I prefer the TV version
to the movie because my favorite character features more prominently, but never felt
inclined to make a site about the TV version because there are already so many out
there.
12) Who's your favorite anime character?
Allen Schezar, absolutely. I'm a certified groupie. So much so that I think it
frightens some of my friends. ^_^ (Hi, Patrick, Matt, Amy, and Keith!)
13) If you were to be in your favorite anime character's shoes, would you
still had started the site?
Oh yes. Allen is all about protecting the weak, and this movie has such an unfair
rap that it needs a defender. He'd probably do it a lot more smoothly though. I'm
about as subtle as a train wreck.
14) How much time do you put into your website?
I spend maybe 6 hours a month on it, if there's a lot I want to do with it. This
month, on the other hand, I have barely spent any time on it at all because I've been
busy with other projects. I've got some major plans for it in the next weeks,
though, which will probably require a little more than my usual amount of time. It
just really depends on what I'm up to that month.
15) Do you have representatives for your site, because if you do, I'd like to
meet them....and if you do have representatives, what are they like?
Representatives? Oh, you mean my legion of crack advertisers. Sorry, you can't meet
them; they're all on holiday.
I'm kidding. I don't have any representatives. Like I said before, Tsubasa no Kami
is currently a one-woman show.
16) What's your favorite thing to do when you're not updating your site and
you're online?
When I'm *not* updating my site but I *am* online? I'd have to say I enjoy chatting
with my friends via e-mail. I've lived in a lot of different places, including
overseas, so my friends are spread out all over. I keep in touch with them online
rather than by phone because it's a lot cheaper!
17) When did you start the site?
I think I already covered this one above. ^_^
18) Where's your main source for your site?
My own library, actually. I have the movie itself to use as a reference, as well as
pretty much *all* the promotional material, artbooks, and merchandise for the film
that was released both in Japan and the US. I consider it a mission from God to own
everything connected with this film.
19) Who's your favorite CCS character?
CCS? I have a feeling you forgot to edit this question before sending this to me,
since your last interview was for a CCS site. But I'll answer it anyway. Tomoyo.
She cracks me up.
In case you meant to ask which is my favorite Escaflowne character, that would be my Allen-sama. Although I profess I have a rather odd fascination with Gaddes and the Dragonslayer Gatti as well. I think Van is a major pain in the arse. I don't know why everyone adores him so much.
::SILVERSTAR looks at JadeDragoNight suspiciously as she backs away quietly. Grabs her::Okaasan! Did I just read what I thought I just read?!
::JADEDRAGONIGHT shrinks back in afraid (even okaasans [mothers] get a little scared of their "kids"!):: Well.......it was supposed to be in there, just to find out who's their fav CCS character! Yeah! That's it! ::snaps her fingers:: And--yeah--just to see which webmasters like which CCS characters! ::SILVER looks at her with disbelief:: Okies, never mind!
20) Ooooh, here's a TOUGHIE one!
What's
your
favorite
color?! OH! And it's a tough one! Will she answer it?! ::gasp::
Only one? (blinks in confusion) Uh... blue. No wait, green. Uhm... oooh, which to
choose... Man, this really is the hardest question. No, wait, I know! TV Allen
wears blue, so blue. Definitely blue!
Man, that was exhausting. I never thought picking colors could be so traumatic.
Ooooooh! Lizzard's quote!
"If a cow laughs, does milk come out of its nose?"