- Interview format: One-on-one
Anime Herald: I was struck by how colorful All You Need is Kill was. Was that something you focused on from early in the production?
Ken’ichirô Akimoto: Yes. For making the anime, I wanted it to be original when compared to all of the other versions. From the very beginning I was planning on having it be very colorful. A rainbow world.
Anime Herald: The characters in this adaptation are a bit younger and less battle-tested than in the other versions. You have said you did this to make it easier to empathize with them. How did Warner Brothers feel about that? Were you happy with the final result?
Ken’ichirô Akimoto: Right from the beginning, I had spoken with the producer about making the characters younger and more civilian. Compared to the original novel or the live-action movie, the characters are not militaristic. They are civilians. I thought that would create more empathy as the viewers would be better able to relate to them.
In terms of how the film came out, I wanted people to think about what they would do if they were in Rita’s situation. I think that the characters being younger and non-military is something that would resonate with the viewers.
Anime Herald: How did you choose Ai Mikami for the role of Rita?
Ken’ichirô Akimoto: Initially, I saw her in a commercial. I liked her expression and her stance. It resonated with me. I felt that she matched how I saw Rita in my mind. I watched a couple of her dramas and movies, and listened to her voice. I liked the vulnerability and likability in her voice. That’s why we approached her to voice Rita.
Anime Herald: What commercial was it?
Ken’ichirô Akimoto: (Laughs) I don’t remember. Sorry!
(Editor’s note: I think I found the commercial: Nissan’s 90th anniversary.)
Anime Herald: That’s fine. You noted that you saw her and she struck you.
You noted that Mikami-san had good chemistry with Keiji’s voice actor, Natsuki Hanae. Can you elaborate on how their performances improved once they were able to work together?
Ken’ichirô Akimoto: Mikami-san and Hanae-san were only both in the recording studio together for one day. Mikami-san recorded for three days. She was by herself on the first day, and she was really good. On the second day was when they recorded together. Right off the bat, they worked really well with each other. Their emotions were in sync. It linked to what was going on with the film. Rita was alone, fighting on her own. It was when she met Keiji that she became more human. That was the impression I got when they were recording together.
Anime Herald: Thank you very much and good luck with the film.
Ken’ichirô Akimoto: Thank you.
A Conversation With All You Need Is Kill Director Ken’ichirô Akimoto – Seth Burn