Interest
Lain's Yoshitoshi ABe Recounts How an Old-School Website Got Him Hired
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
The enigmatic classic anime Serial Experiments Lain premiered 20 years ago as a multimedia project helmed by director Ryutaro Nakamura and written by Chiaki J. Konaka. Nakamura enlisted Yoshitoshi ABe to draw the character designs despite ABe being a relative unknown in the industry except for a few manga titles under his belt. ABe shared how he came to join the project in the most recent episode of French TV program toco toco, and how it was in part thanks to a friend uploading his art onto the Internet.
The interview follows ABe to the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum in Koganei, the Jindaiji Temple in Chofu, and the Jindai Botanical Garden, also in Chofu. ABe is best known for his sci-fi and fantasy projects, so it's interesting to see that his favorite places are grounded in small beauties of reality.
toco toco has hosted intimate interviews with Japan's artistic community since 2015. The program follows their subject to some of their favorite local places while also revealing more about themselves. Guests have included Shichirō Kobayashi, UME, Yokō Tarō, Keiichirō Toyama, Daisuke Ishiwatari, Gōichi Suda, and more.
