Anime @ Work : Anime scriptwriter Yamanobe Kazuki's Anime and Historical Drama Update - No.7

In this column the Japanese animated picture script writer Kazuki Yamanobe sends us information on Japanese animated pictures and period plays. The present number will deal with the best works broadcast since April. Although the work mentioned in the first issue of this column, "The Untold Story of the Tempo Sorcerer," had been scheduled to run for 4 quarters, the broadcast was interrupted after 2 quarters due to a slumping viewing rate. The science fiction masterpiece, "To Earth.." was brought in and broadcast in its place.
"To Earth..." is the legendery science fiction comic by the cartoonist Keiko Takemiya. It was first introduced as a comic in 1977, and in 1980 it was made into a film, but this is the first time it has been made into a TV series. With this transformation, which has taken a whole thirty years, and its broadcasting at the Golden Time slot of Japanese animation, "Sat Six," or 6 o'clock on Saturdays, this can truly be called large scale progress.
The story of "To Earth..." can be described as a grand drama of human wandering and resurrection. In a distant future, planet Earth is facing ruin due to destruction of the environment. In order to allow its regeneration, humanity moves to a colony planet. On this colony planet, humans lead an orderly robot-like life under the control of computers. However, there appears a sub-human race within human society called the Mew, who posess supernatural powers. The Mew and humans are in constant conflict and confrontation, and the Mew, seeing the Earth as an ideal place to settle, begin wishing to return there.�@The young Jomi, successor to the leader Soldier Blue whose days are numbered, emerges as a mature leader after many confrontations and disagreements with the other Mew. The tale continues with them going together on a long and arduous Earth-bound journey.
The director of the series is Osamu Yamasaki, who made his debut as a director with the original animated film. Yamasaki is an acquaintance of Yamanobe. When he talked to Yamanobe on the phone the other day, he said that although this production is hard work, it is worth while and enjoyable. We hear that after its broadcast in Japan, the work will be sold in the United States in DVD version. Yamasaki, who when at the work place is an uncompromising director, should create something that will surely satisfy American science fiction enthusiasts as well. We hope all of you will have high expectations too.


Profile of Yamanobe Kazuki
Scriptwriter
Member of the Writer's Guild of Japan
Representative Director of the scenario production company, Edgeworks

Official site of Edgeworks http://www.edge-works.co.jp