We Wanna Hear More! Voices from our Staff

Gen’ichirou Abe (23 yo – Key Animation)

In Episode 1, where’s a scene with chibi characters fussing around, I’d be happy if you can notice “Mahoo!!” coming out from Himeko’s mouth.

Nobuhiro Sugiyama (24 yo – Key Animation)

Even though there appears a lot of characters, I only drew the doll for Episode 1. As well as teachers in the faculty office teachers, and I was a bit uneasy whether the jokes were okay, but looking back, they were pretty cute (laughs). Speaking of individual characters, I’m fond of the scenes where Becky drinks cola and utters “Machuchechu”.

Kazuki Nakamoto (23 yo – Key Animation)

In Episode 1, I focused on the Lord Cat who was inside the podium that Himeko stumbled on when entering the classroom, and on the Lord Cat who was fishing on clouds in the rooftop scene. I like Lord Cat, so it was fun to draw him. It’s a really lively and dynamic anime. Please continue watching it.

Hiroki Yamamura (24 yo – Key Animation)

I participated in making Episode 4, Episode 10 and others, but the part with Ieyasu in Episode 4 is still pretty memorable for me. I did things recklessly for that episode, and now I regret it. During the production of Episode 10, when we couldn’t find any information about the insides of Kinkaku-ji, like a miracle, special TV program about Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji was coincidentally broadcasted, and it somehow turned all good for us.

Rei Egami (27 yo – Key Animation)

For Episode 4, I was requested to create game damage display -looking text blocks, and so I lowered the resolution of said blocks to make it look more similar to a game screen. We are ordered to insert text animation basically to every episode, but since we are working under a tight time frame, we have to decide what letter design in the last minute. Watching the broadcast every time makes me excited and wonder “Did it go well”.

Miho Ayabe (23 yo – Key Animation)

Episode 6 was full of highlights (well, every episode is like that). Before setting up key animation with the jokes, there were a ton of jokes thrown around in the storyboard stage, and since I couldn’t understand some of them due to my lack of studying, cutting them is something regretful. Behoimi, who isn’t seen in the main story, goes to all sorts of places.

Shuku Takahashi (21 yo – Key Animation)

Maneki-neko were inserted there, opening doors was similar to “Ma**mi-dou” from the work Director worked on last year, Behoimi was on a casual trip all around places, other classmates were flowers, Ichijou caused a huge commotion, Mesousa acted Shiratori, one book parodied the book with “Rye”, a photo of a hand spun the Earth around, Becky was mistreated by her older sister, Episode 6 is full of these highlights.

Hiroyuki Yoshida (26 yo – Key Animation)

I think that in Episode 6, both the story and the animation were of unusually high quality. Parodying is kept in a modest amount, but I believe you’ll enjoy watching it nonetheless. While working, I felt the strong leadership from the episode director and animation director.

Kensuke Katsu (24 yo – Plan Specification and Inspection)

In any case, it turned out to be a time-consuming task. It’s a pity I didn’t understand lots of jokes from the previous generation...

Kazuya Shiotsuki (24 yo – Key Animation)

Behoimi’s transformation screen, created by Yoshiaki Itou-san with his own hands, in Episode 8 is a must-see! This episode became to have a proper plotline, so I believe you’ll enjoy it just by following the story.

Shouhei Uchimura (23 yo – Key Animation)

Since Behoimi was the main character in this one episode, we were able to use much more visual effects, like the transformation scene and the fashion show, compared to other episodes. Towards the end, Behoimi and Koichi are talking in a scene that has a painting-like touch to it, and because it became to resemble like a final episode, please look forward to it. In any case, this is an episode that all Behoimi lovers can’t get enough of, and since it’ll be the last time you’ll ever see our beloved magical girl, I hope you’d watch the episode over and over again.

Naoyuki Tatsuwa (27 yo – Key Animation)

In Episode 8, the right string from Mesousa’s boot was originally meant to break, but I changed it to left to match a certain manga. Also, the scene before the opening was animated by both the chief animation director and the animation director. That’s pretty luxurious, right, like super luxurious. I think Suzune Chop was great when it rotates.

Kimihito Tagami (28 yo – Production Desk)

Episode 9 was where the air-headed and slightly dangerous maid, Media, appeared for the first time. For better or worse, she stands out in “Pani Poni Dash!”, but I think her voice actress Miyu Matsuki-san picks up on the mood and adapts it to the anime really well. It’s would’ve been awesome if she had said “I’ll fold you in half”.

Takayuki Aizu (24 yo – Photography)

Episode 10 was where we exactly switched to a new opening song, and including it to the episode filming got us busy. In the first half were the presentations of independent research projects, and I too had fun playing around with lots of things from the position of a film processor. The latter half, with the plot of Behoimi and Media defusing a bomb, had such a serious atmosphere when comparing it to other past episodes that it was rewarding for us.

Miku Ooshima (21 yo – Scenario Production)

I have memories that the story for Episode 11 came from one Scenario Meeting I attended, where someone said “Wonder which character falling in love would be interesting”. It’s always a privilege in my job to be the first who can read the script. I especially like the part when Giant Salamander sneaked onto Igarashi-sensei’s car and rides it by saying “Broom”. The highlight of this episode has to be Ichijou, as she acts based on her unique views.

Shin’ichiro Eto (Photography)

This work is in any case so high tension, that I’d be glad if you just laughed and watched it without thinking too much into it. In Episode 11, No. 6, who is asked by her classmates for various favours, shows an unexpected side of her: She admires cool women. I hope she will someday become “cool woman of the year”. From the perspective of our production, the evening twilight scene is memorable. The sunset was used as an effect to express No. 6’s admiration and gentle feelings. It would make me happy if this scene leaves an impression to you all.

Yasuko Watanabe (25 yo – Colour Design)

For Episode 12, I wanted to make one of the appearing three doors the same colour as a door from one famous work. Nonetheless, I’m content with the way it turned out. The figure of young Himeko was laughing loudly when the girls looking for her found her. I love that scene. I believe that Behopapa and Behomama, who appear at the end, are based on a certain magical girl work, but still her mother looks like beauty. Try to think who she’s modeled after!

Kazunori Iso (24 yo – Photography)

Whenever Miyako appears, her forehead shines up, and I’m happy those shots of her shine up nicely. Her forehead shines differently in each episode, so by paying closer attention to those shots, I believe that you’ll discover something new. Episode 12’s Forehead Beam is especially funny.

Rumiko Inoue (Photography)

This work has so many funny cuts that it’s so much fun shooting the film! I got a cold so I wanna eat some king crab! Let us all root for Mesousa!

Neo Katashima (21 yo – Photography)

Full of small jokes, I think this anime has a flavour that you’ll savour no matter how many times you watch it! The (photos of) crabs in Episode 12 looked especially delicious. Personally, I extremely love Mesousa, and look forward seeing where she ends up in every episode.

Kōzō Tajima (24 yo – Photography)

Since it’s a comedy anime, we pay a lot of attention to the lighting and objects covering a large part of the screen. When it comes to the way things shine, instead of making them realistic, I try give a manga-like feeling as much as possible. After that, it’s all about those chalkboard jokes~. I believe that people from the same generation as those jokes will have a smile. When a chalkboard appears, please pause the episode for a second and have a look at it.

Ryōko Fujii (25 yo – Photography)

My actual age is 25, but my skin age seems to have become 45. Please HELP me~e.

Ryōichi Furukawa (28 yo – Photography)

It’s a fun anime, but on the other side, it’s a huge mess... (laughs). I want to continue adding jokes to chalkboards and elsewhere, so please keep an eye out for them.

Yūsaku Murakami (27 yo – Photography)

Episode 12 was even crazier than usual, and I remember having a lot of fun working on it. I tried to make the scene where Michael is attacked in flashy ways to have a good pace, and I’d be happy if I was able to convey the mischievous vibe of the characters.

Hiromi Mezaki (21 yo – Photography)

There are parts in this work that I realise once the episode is finished and I watch it for the first time, as in “Ah! So that’s how it turned out!”, so I look forward seeing them finished. There’s lots of jokes, lots of funny characters too, and I believe you’ll enjoy it. Especially Michael-sama is so damn cool! (laughs)

TL's note: I tried to find a source for each staff member, but with some cases, their participations to anime shows are poorly documented.