Translation for https://type43.hatenablog.jp/entry/2017/06/26/181324 made by ChatGPT

Translation for https://type43.hatenablog.jp/entry/2017/06/26/181324 made by ChatGPT
Little Witch Academia Monthly Screening Event Report Part 3 (June 2017)
Miscellaneous::Event Little Witch Academia

I've been attending the monthly screening event since April.

This time, in addition to the pre-screening of episode 25 (though we don't call it the final episode※), there was also an appearance by Director Yoh Yoshinari and main character designer Shuhei Handa, making it a platinum ticket. Many people reported failing to win the lottery for tickets, and the general sale sold out within five minutes. On top of that, some unscrupulous individuals resold their tickets at auctions for over 10,000 yen, creating a chaotic situation.

※For details, refer to the comments made by Megumi Han at the previous monthly screening event. "Believing is our magic." Yet despite this, the official announcement said something like, "The final episode, episode 25, will be..."

In April and May, there was relatively more leeway, with tickets available both in the lottery and in general sales.

As for me, I wasn’t able to secure a ticket this time either. However, due to certain circumstances, I was able to obtain a ticket from someone, and thus, I was able to attend this event. I’m truly grateful.

Now, let’s go over the highlights of this month’s screening event:

The pre-screening of episode 25 "Tree of Words," which marks a turning point in the series.
Screening of the highly acclaimed episode 23 "Yesterday," (Diana's kindness episode) on the big screen (I also saw it at Akiba Theater).
The opportunity to watch Professor Finnelan's standout scenes on the big screen with powerful sound.
Megumi Han, Yoh Yoshinari (director), Shuhei Handa (main character designer), and Naoko Tsutsumi (producer) took the stage and shared behind-the-scenes stories about the production.
Live performances by YURiKA and Yuiko Ohara.
A significant milestone as the monthly screening events come to a close.

On the Way to Arcturus (TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku)

Once I knew I could attend, I couldn't contain my excitement, and for some reason, I ended up visiting TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku during the day, even though the event wasn't until the evening (suspicious behavior, I know). So, the photo I took is of Godzilla during the daytime.

As with the previous screening, the schedule wasn’t listed on the event board. Of course, there were no goods for sale either. However, I did notice that they were selling a toy version of the 66-type Maser beam tank from The War of the Gargantuas, which was rather tempting.

Night fell, and I returned around 7:30 PM.

As I entered the lobby, I noticed a special reception area for staff members. This means that the reception area that was set up last time was also for Little Witch Academia, not for Kemono Friends.

Looking further inside, I noticed a crowd of people.

"We’re selling Little Witch Academia goods! Only 50 items available!"

What!? They weren’t selling these during the day!!

What was on sale was the "Magic Linguistics Magic Box" for 3,240 yen, which included an art card.

Naturally, people rushed to buy it.

By 7:45 PM, it was completely sold out.

In my excitement, I bought one, but after checking, I found out it was actually a product available for general sale. (It was released on June 21, 2017, so it’s a new item, but still.)

But when I looked inside, it made me feel happy, so I'm satisfied. The Magic Linguistics bookcase is pretty well-made, so it could be useful for storing something like a key to a secret room, hiding drugs, hiding a gun—something like that.

Chariot (Cards) and Croix (Warning Sign)

I moved to Screen 9.

As with the last time, the signboard didn’t have any illustrations.

On the other hand, this time they had the soundtrack’s upcoming jacket art on display, along with the Chariot cards that come as a bonus with the Blu-ray. The soundtrack jacket art is so cute, even seeing it again!

The Chariot cards were all lined up! What a sight! These two cards, which are particularly memorable in the series, are even more impressive in person.

The staff had also prepared a handmade sign. If Professor Croix scolded me with that expression, I’d have no choice but to obey.

By the way, if you looked closely, you could see that the case for Blu-ray Volume 2 had fallen over. (^^;

I entered the theater. The screen was the same one used last time, named after Hanna-Barbera.

The reproduced illustration was of Akko just after she revived the Seven Words. And, as usual, there was a survey.

The screening began on time. This time, they were showing the entire climax of the first season. I felt so lucky to be able to watch this on the big screen. Although, I wasn’t too thrilled about the guy next to me munching on popcorn...

I’ll share my thoughts on episode 25 later to avoid spoilers.

Finally, the Talk Show!!

After the screening ended, the theater was filled with applause. Little Witch Academia truly is a remarkable work.

And then, the talk show finally began. Below is a brief summary of its content.

Speeches and Introductions

The event started with the host, Chiaki Matsuzawa, taking the stage. Before beginning, she opened with:
- “...Yes, I understand exactly how you all feel.”
Megumi Han, the voice of Akko, did a call-and-response with the audience when she took the stage:
- Han: “Dokkidokii no!” Audience: “Wakkwakuu!”
Han also said, “I’m Megumi Han, coming from the Stationery Café!” (the audience laughed).
- (※Apparently, before the event, the cast, staff, YURiKA, and Yuiko Ohara had all visited a stationery café.)
Director Yoh Yoshinari introduced himself with, “I’m Yoshinari, the director.”
Shuhei Handa said, “I’m Shuhei Handa, in charge of the mysterious role of the main character designer. I came from Ogikubo.” (the audience laughed).
Yoshinari remarked, “Now that the production is finished, I feel like I can finally rest. We gave it our all.”
Yoshinari added, “As for how the work turned out, I’d say it’s so-so.”
Matsuzawa asked, noticing Yoshinari and Handa’s lower energy than expected, “Are you all tired? Did you use up all your magic?”
- Handa responded, “I’m exhausted... really exhausted... so tired...” (the audience laughed).
Producer Tsutsumi commented, “The production was fun.”
Yoshinari shared, “Regarding the setting of the story, I didn’t have the characters in mind from the beginning; things changed a lot. I had planned to give Chariot a burden, but it was difficult to make it something she could overcome. We listened to everyone’s opinions and created it together.”
- Han added, “When I learned about Chariot’s past in the script, I felt like, ‘This can’t be true!’”
Handa noted, “The hardest part? Everything. Yoshinari is a better artist than I am, so it was tough to get his approval.” (the audience laughed).
- Yoshinari retorted, “I still don’t approve.” (the audience laughed).
- Handa then asked, “Did I give it my all?”
- Yoshinari replied, “That’s for you to decide...” (the audience laughed).
Tsutsumi praised the cast, saying, “Their performances were full of emotion, which made the anime’s impression much stronger.”
Yoshinari, talking about Akko’s growth, said, “I didn’t want her to grow. Akko is fine just the way she is. I prefer seeing her struggling, being criticized by those around her.”
Yoshinari mentioned that the most challenging aspect was being a first-time director, but the hardest part was “having to appear in public.”

Next, they moved on to the Q&A session, where they introduced questions submitted by fans on Twitter.

Question 1: "What are Hannah and Barbara's full names?"

The scene projected on the screen was from episode 14.

Han, noticing the scene on the screen, remarked, “Oh, it’s that scene, haha.”
Handa commented, “It’s right after a bath...”
Director Yoshinari added, “This is the first time I’ve heard that they even had full names.”
Tsutsumi revealed, “I was the one who decided on their full names. They’re based on the names of track athletes Hannah England and Barbara Parker. There’s a brief moment in episode 5 where their names appear, and some fans noticed it from that. I had almost forgotten it myself.”

Question 2: "What are the origins of the popular characters Mary, Avery, and Blair?"

The scene projected on the screen showed Mary, Avery, and Blair from left to right.

Director Yoshinari commented, “(In the end, these three) were just background characters.”
Yoshinari added, “Please try to infer it from their names. Those who know will understand.”
Handa said, “I have no idea.” (the audience laughed)

※Possible inspirations: Mary Blair (color designer for Alice in Wonderland and concept artist for It’s a Small World), Tex Avery (an animator and director known for Bugs Bunny and other WB characters, often spelled as Avery), and Preston Blair (an animator who worked with Hanna-Barbera Productions).

Question 3: "What are the origins of the names of the two popular characters?"

The scene projected on the screen showed these characters.

Matsuzawa said, “Their names are Elfriede, Sarah, and Bernard.”
Handa asked, “A deer?”
Matsuzawa clarified, “Sorry, it’s the names of the two girls, Elfriede and Sarah Bernhardt.”
Tsutsumi added, “Yes, there is an origin for their names.”

※The red-haired girl is Sarah Bernhardt, and the bob-haired girl is Elfriede. The names likely come from Sarah Bernhardt (a famous French actress) and Elfriede Jelinek (a novelist).
Question 4: "How was Akko able to enroll in Luna Nova?"

Director Yoshinari explained, “(Akko is) so unqualified, isn't she? Well, Luna Nova has a certain number of spots allocated for each country, and there's a spot for Japan. If there’s no competition, that’s how it happens.”
Matsuzawa added, “So it’s like Okinawa in the Koshien tournament.”
Yoshinari continued, “As for how Diana got in, it’s because she comes from a prestigious family. If necessary, she could have gotten in through the back door.”
Yoshinari also mentioned, “Luna Nova is a six-year school covering middle and high school, and Akko transferred in as a first-year high school student. There are many upperclassmen and underclassmen not depicted in the series.”

Question 5: "Which character is easy to draw?"

Mr. Handa: "Amanda."
Mr. Matsuzawa: "That’s good."
Mr. Handa: "Akko is fun to draw. She has a lot of funny faces."
Mr. Handa: "(Regarding Constanze?) She’s expressionless... I haven't drawn her much."
Director Yoshinari: "(As for Constanze,) I didn't write much of her settings."

Question 6: "How do you decide on the subtitles?"

Mr. Tsutsumi: "We decided at the very last moment during the video editing phase. We were conscious of the British setting, so we used song titles and such. We even went on location scouting."
Mr. Matsuzawa: "Did you also visit the places that inspired the stage settings?"
Mr. Tsutsumi: "No, it was more like we went to get a sense of the atmosphere."
Mr. Matsuzawa: "It seems that some fans visited the ley line location from episode 1."
Mr. Tsutsumi: "Ah, the Glastonbury Tor."
Everyone: "..."
Mr. Matsuzawa: (Noticing the lack of enthusiasm among the panelists) "Are you all tired?"

Question 7: "During the fountain scene, was Andrew still under the effect of the Love Love Bee?"

Director Yoshinari: "You shouldn’t ask that! I want people to imagine it however they like, in a way that suits them."
Mr. Matsuzawa: "What kind of impression does Akko have of Andrew?"
Director Yoshinari: "Maybe just as a male friend."
Mr. Matsuzawa: "That’s disappointing..."
Ms. Han: "Maybe it wasn’t enough for a summer festival!?"
Mr. Tsutsumi: "At first, there was an idea to start with a scene where Akko falls in love at first sight and confesses, but we decided to go with a style like a boys’ manga with a female lead."
Director Yoshinari: "I had thought of making her a character who falls in love easily, but I was told no."
Mr. Handa: "(When drawing Andrew) I kept thinking, 'Be handsome, be handsome.'"
Ms. Han: "It’s about believing in the heart, right?"
Mr. Handa: "I drew him more gently at the end."
Ms. Han: "Andrew’s expressions changed throughout the story, didn’t they?"
Mr. Handa: "I was told to draw his eyes with small highlights, but I just couldn’t keep it consistent..." (laughter from the audience)

Question 8: "How were the seven words (of Arcturus) decided?"

Director Yoshinari: "I left the words to the scenario writer. We were conscious of the Celtic feel, like Welsh and Irish languages."
Director Yoshinari: "The words were deciphered by fans quite early on... I underestimated the fans' analytical abilities." (laughter from the audience)
Director Yoshinari: "(Regarding the passion of the fans of this work) Today's anime fans go too far. They research everything. It's a lot of pressure for us creators." (laughter from the audience)

Question 9: "What are your thoughts on the overall work?"

Mr. Tsutsumi: "We worked on it with the desire to keep things positive. Akko can be annoying, though." (laughs)
Mr. Handa: "(Little Witch Academia) is really the story of Handa’s growth. Back during Anime Mirai, I was a hopeless newbie, but this time I got to be in charge of the main characters."
Director Yoshinari: "The reason I entrusted him with it is that he works well when praised." (laughter from the audience)
Mr. Matsuzawa: (Reacting to this exchange) "What is this?" (laughter from the audience)
Mr. Handa: "(Little Witch Academia) is like my child. I want to stay involved with it forever."
Mr. Matsuzawa: "Please stay involved!"
Director Yoshinari: "As for the work itself, just watch it and feel it. That’s all. If I said more, it would be pointless, and there’d be no need to make it."
Ms. Han: "I’m filled with gratitude. In episode 25, there was a scene where each character said 'thank you,' and that was really a way of saying thank you to everyone involved behind the scenes."

YURiKA and Yuiko Ōhara's Mini Live and Event Conclusion

The talk show wraps up, and the live performances begin. YURiKA appears on stage wearing a black outfit. Instead of performing "MIND CONDUCTOR," she sings the first opening theme, "Shiny Ray."

Next is Yuiko Ōhara, who appears in a beautiful, all-blue dress. She’s already quite emotional. She says, "When I hear 'Shiny Ray,' I just start to cry..." She performs the first ending theme, "Hoshi o Tadoreba" (If You Follow the Stars).

Looking closely, on the left side of the stage, you can see Yuzuru Yoshida, who works part-time at the magic shop. His hair is green...

Next, Announcements.

There’s an announcement about a retrospective talk event for Blu-ray purchasers, and it seems there will be a joint anime and game project broadcast on Nico Nico Live.

Finally, each of the guests gives a brief comment. At this moment, the BGM changes to "Toumei na Tsubasa" (Transparent Wings), which, for me, was overwhelming...

Mr. Matsuzawa's voice is already trembling. Ms. Han also seems to be deeply moved. It’s heartwarming to see that those involved with the project are its biggest fans.

Yuiko Ōhara is, of course, emotional as well. After Matsuzawa asked, "Ms. Ōhara, are you okay?" she responded, "I’m glad to be alive."

For YURiKA, this work was also her debut, and she speaks with deep emotion.

Mr. Tsutsumi shares a heartening comment: "Little Witch Academia is a work that continues and will keep continuing. I believe it can keep going with everyone’s support."

Mr. Handa adds, "This feels like a milestone. I’m anxious about what’s coming next." (laughter from the audience)
Director Yoshinari replies, "It’s always like that."

Director Yoshinari also says, "I made this with the hope of reviving Yggdrasil and bringing a golden age to the anime industry."

Lastly, Ms. Han leads a call-and-response with the word "Ryuo~n," ending with, "A believing heart is," to which everyone responds, "Everyone’s magic!"

And with that, the event comes to a close. Thank you to everyone involved with Little Witch Academia!

It was also great to see Mr. Matsuzawa’s deep love for Little Witch Academia on full display.

As the screening ends, there’s a huge crowd gathered around the display of Chariot cards and the soundtrack.

When I got closer, I discovered that there was a new sign panel that hadn’t been there before the screening!

And on it was an illustration of Akko drawn by Director Yoshinari!!! What a precious find...

In the photos above, you can also see that on the wall next to Theater 9, there’s a display of signed panels from past event participants. I think Little Witch Academia is a milestone work for TOHO Animation’s TV department, so maybe this panel will become a permanent exhibit. I’m hopeful.

By the way, at the event, Shūhei Handa was wearing a T-shirt with a character on it. I wondered if it might be a specially designed Little Witch Academia T-shirt, but it turned out to be a Dragon Ball T-shirt (from GU), of all things...

It was the same one he wore during the TRIGGER YouTube live stream right before episode 25 aired.

About Episode 25
(Spoilers ahead.)

After watching Episode 25 at the screening, I can sum it up in one word: "Fun!"

There are some dramatic elements, but to be honest, it’s pure entertainment from start to finish. TRIGGER really did whatever they wanted.

You could say that episodes 1-24 are the main story, while Episode 25 is more like a bonus feature.

Note: The "revival of Yggdrasil" mentioned by Director Yoshinari refers to the scene in Episode 25 where Akko and Diana destroy a missile with their "Love Love Tenkyoken" (which was practically a wedding ceremony).

I was personally happy to see more scenes featuring Constanze. And who would've thought that the entire Amanda group would join the New Nine Witches as core characters?

But still, what’s with Chariot and Croix taking up the last two spots? They’re alumni, after all. Fans of the popular characters like Hannah and Barbara might have wished for them to be in the New Nine Witches instead of Chariot and Croix!

Some minor complaints:
Did they really need to spend so much time on the locked-room drama with Earl Hambridge and Blackwell? The prime minister (voiced by Tesshō Genda) had too much of a spotlight for a minor character.

Andrew could’ve been given a more active role—maybe leading an outdoor scene, taking command, or engaging in some political maneuvering. I couldn’t help but laugh at how quickly Earl Hambridge warmed up to the witches.

And the way some side characters were handled… Nelson, Finneran, and Wangari could have had more standout moments. Instead of the Spirit Bomb from the citizens, I would have preferred to see the witches pooling their strength together!

Oh, and is this why Handa was wearing a Dragon Ball T-shirt, because of the Spirit Bomb reference? (Just kidding.)

And what was Professor Woodward’s deal in the end? She seemed like nothing more than a caretaker for the tree branches.

It was a lot of fun, but honestly, they didn’t make full use of the charming side characters!

I guess this means we need a second season!!!

Note: During the aforementioned YouTube live broadcast, the staff expressed their desire to continue this series (plus the need for some Money Power (MP)). As a fan, this makes me very happy. We need to send feedback to TOHO!

Note: My memory is a bit fuzzy, and I’ve written this down rather loosely, so for accurate details, the article on Anime! Anime! is more precise.