Talk More and More about Pani Poni Dash!

As all 7 DVDs are now present, we were able to ask mainly about additional jokes from Series Director Oonuma-san.

Basic Stance on the Additions within DVDs

Director

Oonuma-san managed the supervisory role of making additional revision for DVDs, and after all the retakes, everything progressed under his direction.

Oonuma

The general instructions for retakes were ”Add more jokes” (laughs).

Hikawa

What was the most memorable addition for you?

Oonuma

The most memorable one is... More than jokes and anything other, what I remember most is the Episode 14 revisions. DVD retakes overlapped with Final Episodes production, so we did both of them under pretty serious circumstances (laughs). As for the jokes, realising them afterwards in Episode 9 surprised me the most, since I had forgotten that I had asked “Please include some jokes in the text” from visual effects’ Sakai-san, and when I looked how people on the web were explaining the jokes after releasing the DVD, I was astonished while thinking “Ah, they properly set things up” (laughs). The memory, where I asked about blackboard jokes from the company insider Tatsuwa-kun as in “Soz, could you add something”, and then everyone got all excited to set other things up, is my most memorable one.

What About Scrapped Jokes

Regarding the chalkboard jokes, were there any fairly notable instructions when leaving them on the hands of others?

Oonuma

A lot of them. ”Can this be stuffed in?” “P-please leave it to me” “It’s up to you”. And then they were brought up and looked at, the answer was “Sorry, this comes a bit too close to the last minute, so no can do” (laughs). There are several cases when things had to be scrapped. (Chibi character designer Mako) Aboshi-san had drawn an eyecatcher of Nanjo’s and Inugami’s chibi forms striking a pose, but messed up the timing and it wasn’t used later. Apart from that, that one scene related to **ll Metal Jacket where Behoimi was in the service, there was a plan to make it into an eyecatcher of Behoimi gagging and raging, but it was commented as “Doesn’t this fall into the problematic category?” and the timing to prepare it for DVD was off, so in the end it was scrapped. Oota-san said “It’s a shame it couldn’t be used”, to which I replied “Would’ve you released it I you had the chance” (laughs).

”Pani Poni Disease”, Kicking In Late

Oonuma

We’ve been doing DVD retakes a~ll the time, you know, even during the TV broadcast. To the Final Episode I wrote my personal comment of “It’s not over yet”, but there was the overall mood of it not being really over. As to people around me, Final Episode ending was the ending for them, like how Director and (Series Composer) Kanemaki-san came down with something like “Pani Poni Ended Disease”, whereas myself didn’t get that thing. Around March the DVD retakes were finished, and I went “Aah, it was kinda fun~” and then (laughs) I came down with “Pani Poni Disease” around half a year later.

Director

That’s right. We all were saying ”We wanna do it more”, whereas only Oonuma-san was like “Is that so, I’m still working on the DVDs”.

Oonuma

I actually don’t feel so yet. Once the DVD retakes were done with and conversely nothing needed to be stuffed anywhere anymore, at that time I thought “Huh, I don’t have to think about it anymore, but what I’m supposed to do now”. Watching the show now from TV, I have this tinge of “Ooh, we got this joke in, ah but, it would’ve been okay not to have it here” -like sadness (laughs).

Director

When a chalkboard appears and nothing is written on it, it gives the feel of something’s missing, right.

Oonuma

Even when the focus is elsewhere, I can’t help but think “Why is it this empty (laughs), lemme write up something” and then I want to write something. In that sense, “Pani Poni” had such a lively atmosphere despite there being empty spaces.

Hikawa

In this era where shows have girlfriend-yearning comic relief characters, I find it amazing how even classmates are important characters and they’re well-received by everyone.

Were there any rejections when doing retakes?

Oonuma

Almost none at all. I let my work flow with a certain degree of freedom, and the stance is that we change the part if someone says “Should we fix this”.

Hikawa

One example being Joe fleeing by riding a pig. It was drawn for TV, but painted in black.

Director

It’s slightly better in the DVD (laughs). Likewise, Episode 25’s Dr. Of The Year and his nurse have been turned visible. It was simply a mistake (at the broadcast time) that they got turned all black.

Viewers’ Support And Joke Balance

Have you yet reflected on the reactions that broadcast time viewers had on DVD revisions?

Director

There’s that opinion of preferring the TV version (laughs).

Oonuma

I have been reflecting on viewers’ opinions ever since the TV series, but I’m not aware that much on thoughts about DVDs. I myself am a cranky amanojaku and don’t want to see them straightforward, but there are quite a few instances where we’ve reflected on things viewers want to see and presented them in a twisted way. Afterwards, the rest is mostly about filling the unfinished parts. My personal interest lies in things that are commonly referred as galges (laughs) and that kind of stuff, but during TV version I thought I’d be dried up from jokes in the long run (laughs), so I saved up jokes related to my hobbies and then all of sudden the TV series ended (laughs), and I went “Oh no~ I forgot to include those~, I better include them”. That’s why there’s so many running jokes about my personal hobbies in the DVDs. When setting up a reference, it’s pretty difficult to determine how many people will understand them. I believe anyone who’s watching this and doesn’t get a single reference must feel left out (laughs). To prevent such a thing from happening, we had to include at least one reference that anyone knows, so there’s a spoonful of that.

Director

I think you’re being pretty haughty here (laughs).

Oonuma

Is that so (laughs).

Director

I mean, Episode 9’s wall painting got us go “Eeh!”.

Oonuma

They're **ntradi letters after all.

Director

Normally you wouldn’t investigate something like this that far.

Oonuma

By looking up stuff on the web, I believe you can understand anything.

Hikawa

That makes the community great.

Oonuma

There are a lot of people who cherish that fact.

Hikawa

It’s so strange how the Pani Poni wiki is so high quality (laughs).

Looking Back to Episode 1

Hikawa

In Episode 1, Becky going to the rooftop and everyone moving in accordance to “Becky’s coming, let’s retreat!” is something that can only be in the 1st episode, because after that there aren’t many cases where everyone exercises and makes various movements. Though, they’re doing just small movement here.

Oonuma

You mean how they move all at the same time, right? As episodes pile up, the characters become more distinct from one another, which is better to show through the characters themselves instead of their athletic skills. Also, about Episode 1, there was quite plenty of various writings about it when browsing the web, now wasn’t there (laughs). After the whole thing ended, I’ve been seeing comments like “Well I’ll just watch Episode 1 again”, to which I wouldn’t go so far as to say that Episode 1 is “the only way to start”, but we did pack it with things we’ll continue doing onwards in the show. Because we stuffed so much in, there are parts where we were still unaccustomed to the work, but the series continues with refining them as in “Oh so you can show things this way too” and then changing them. Furthermore, I think that we were able to develop even better way of presenting things through DVD retakes.

Hikawa

Episode 1 is something people who continue watching after Episode 26 can enjoy.

Oonuma

We wish you to watch it again once more (laughs).

This interview is a gift by everyone to the people who responded to our calls by purchasing Guidebook 3 or the Final DVD volume, so please leave a message to them who watched the series until the end.

Hikawa

Please read the column (below) about the things I want to say (laughs).

Oonuma

It’s not my style to express my gratitude here (laughs), I wanna be a bit of a twisted person. In Aboshi-san’s doujin work, I wrote it so that no one knows what I’ve been up to (laughs), but honestly, that’s how I really think.

Hikawa

They’ll remember you from the outros (laughs).

Oonuma

I think it’s still hard to understand what animation direction entails (laughs).

Hikawa

You’re going to push all the blame on Director, right (laughs)?

Director

I don’t know that much what I’ve been doing either (laughs).

Oonuma

So, with what words should we send our readers off?

Hikawa

Since you’ve bought our works until the end, you’re very good viewers (laughs).

Oonuma

I can’t thank you enough, so I’d like to conclude things by saying “let’s certainly meet somewhere again”. Well then, “Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye” and so.

Director

Thank you very much for purchasing the whole set. Now you’ve finished (Special Complete DVD Volume Collection Set Box) Ichijou Festival (laughs).

Thank you very much for today.

Hello. This is Miyako Uehara, who as of late doesn’t speak anything other than “It sure was great to be a Nenbutsu”. Remember? Well, I’m happy about it. Wasn’t it great? Nenbutsu. I’m fond of jidaigeki, making me very happy about it, and it was so cool that I’ve seen dreams about it countless times, which is why I wish for a whole series made with this cast... Anything else? Hey? What do you think? is what I’m wondering... Does everyone remember my high point? Grr! is how you only remember me, by being angry? Are you alright? Do you remember what I was doing in the Final Episode? Somehow... in this nonsensical class, I’m the only studious, serious and sensible person... The conscience of the class, right? So far that’s OK?

Kurumi Wouldn’t the most sensible person be me?

Miyako Kurumi! Don’t you dare to try taking away that my personality by calling yourself plain! You’re already adaptable to everything despite the odds, so don’t go and make up characteristics extempore!

Kurumi It’s not extempore! Putting it bluntly, our reactions are just randomly distributed to us since we are the remaining two people outside Becky, Ichijou, Rei, Himeko and No. 6, and that’s all there is to it, so don’t sweat about details!

Miyako No way... You’re brutally honest... Being that sharp is a habit of plain ones, isn’t it...

Kurumi I’m not plain at all, and as for being sharp… How stupid do you think I am!? Besides, you’re not a sensible person to begin with, are you!? In the original work, despite seeing a bomb you didn’t flinch nor when it tilted you didn’t get scared. Isn’t that odd?

Miyako Huh? Was that so? But in “Dash!” I was frightened to see a missile, and I got mad to everyone being nonchalant while lodging together... See, isn’t that part of my charm, as a person of common sense? The direction in “Dash!” is as excellent as it should be!

Kurumi Just accept that it’s part of the so-called initial setup.

Miyako Grr! You think I’ll just accept that! I’m the very person of common sense, you know! “Kappa!? Robot!? There’s some limit in nonsense too~! Unbelievable~! Grr!” is that how you want me to butt into conversations! Goddammit!

Kurumi What a fiery girl you are.

Miyako Yes! That too! Being fiery is also part of my charm!

Kurumi In the latter half you didn’t get fired up that much.

Miyako Ughh.

Kurumi So what do you ultimately want?

Miyako I too want a distinctive anime-like personality made of me! Like a symbol! Look, a sensible swot doubled as a short-tempered and easily angered tsukkomi with a paper fan! “Grr!” is the way! What’s odd is that this plain girl Kurumi has a high rate of getting turned into a figurine!

Kurumi I’m not plain. I wasn’t set up as plain either. My setting is more like as the main heroine. In a situation with just a boke and a tsukkomi, since I’m perfect in many ways, jokes wouldn’t land and it’d be hard for me to butt in, so the conversation would fall flat. That’s why! You’ve seen it, right? It hasn’t gone well for those idols and actors who turned over to do comedy. That’s what I’m talking about.

Miyako It’s a matter how you put it...

Kurumi Wrong! I’m serious here! Kanemaki-san went and said “Kurumi is normally such a cute character that no matter what, she won’t be seen as someone plain”! That means I’ve normally been the heroine from the very beginning, no? That’s my true form. Everything else is the original manga style’s fault. They considered that fact and as a result, I’ve gone to become invisible and conceal myself... Everyone worked so hard on me! Don’t you get it!?

Miyako Not at all. But... at least you’re happy.

Kurumi Right~? So you should accept it already.

Miyako Huuh!?

Kurumi Didn’t I say it? Acceptance is vital.

Kurumi I mean, you suck at being a straight man (tsukkomi)! You can’t do it right, now can you?

Miyako Of course I can! Hey, try playing out as a fool (boke)! C’mon! Go on!

Kurumi What’s with that! Don’t just go and except me to be some idiot!

Miyako Hey now, being a boke character is also a form of individuality, see? Like, Off ★ with Plainness.

Kurumi I have no relations in being plain. If you say that again, I’ll kill you.

Miyako Eek…! I mean... Look... I’ve been told that I’m even more plain than you... Don’t you see how hard it is?

Kurumi Nope… Well when I’m called as plain, it’s meant to be a compliment. You see... Those views... Those views are an obstacle, and once I’m able to overcome them, I’ll surely be reborn as a real princess!

Miyako Bullshit!

Kurumi Eeeh!? What’s that sudden shift! Why do you have such a foul mouth!?

Miyako Look, gaining high esteem with impact. What an amazing tsukkomi character! is how this one-liner should be seen as!

Kurumi Why do you care so much about impact! And did you say “shit” just now? Yes, you!

Miyako It’s because your boke act is so bad! That stuff with princesses and all. Be a more clever boke!

Kurumi Wh... Why are blaming me for this! And above all, what are you demanding be to be a clever boke!

Miyako You’re an all-purpose heroine type, right? You should be able to crack some jokes at that level too!

Kurumi Heroine isn’t the same as an idiot! A real princess couldn’t make jokes like a fool!

Miyako Just die already!

Kurumi Eeeh!? And now you say me to die!? Why do you have a fouler mouth now!?

Miyako I staked my life on delivering this punchline! I’m desperate here! Get it?

Kurumi No... I don’t get it despite you say you’re desperate... But isn’t it strange that I’m the one who pointed things out as a result?

Miyako Ah! True! But why! Why did you become the tsukkomi and I became the boke!

Kurumi I mean... Your tsukkomi is weird. Doesn’t everything you say sound odd? Is it a habit for bookworms to speak strange Japanese?

Miyako Uh... But...

Kurumi And you terribly blamed me for it, what’s the deal with that? I want to have a proper discussion with butting into things! And only with butting in!

Miyako ...bullshit...

Kurumi Eeeeh! Why say it now in small voice!? You’re losing your energy!

Miyako Sorry... It was my true self slipping through. That low voice came from somewhere bottom of my heart.

Kurumi True self!? Why do you call it true! Where did that tsukkomi act go!?

Miyako I’m sorry... I... somehow... it’s okay... While studying and such... I’ll just chime on suitable occasions.

Kurumi Hey... What’s with you becoming so low in spirits! You should be the tsukkomi here! I might remember wrong, but in the original work, didn’t you have back and forth banter with the Professor!

Miyako Yes! Right. That’s exactly right. Being tsukkomi... I haven’t given up on that yet! I feel like I can see what’s ahead for me!

Kurumi Right right... That works for you.

Miyako Well, it seems like you were just bad with being a boke after all.

Kurumi You bitch!!

Himeko (This manzai duo... is no good...)