The
two animated Read or Die series have captivated English-speaking
audiences with their unconventional characters and vivid stories.
Tomonori Ochikoshi, producer of R.O.D the TV, was one of the guests of
honor at the inaugural OtakuCon. "We made an anime that people would
enjoy," Ochikoshi said. "We weren't looking for awards. I don't worry
about how other people might think - like the newspapers." The original
Read or Die OAV series introduced English-speaking fans to Yomiko
Readman, one of the most unlikely heroines you'll ever find. Fans who
enjoyed that series and saw echoes to the James Bond films will be
interested to learn that Ochikoshi made the same comparison,
unprompted. "I wanted to make a story about ladies like an 007 spy
story, but the main character would be more interesting if she was a
spy. The main character as a spy is not as strong as a 007. We wanted
to make the weakest spy in the world, since that would be a more
interesting character - and for a weapon, instead of guns, we decided
to have paper."
The
English-language release of R.O.D the TV was about half completed at
the time of this writing. A fan of that series asked Ochikoshi if there
would be a second TV series, and the answer appeared to be yes. "We are
getting ready" for a 2nd TV series, "but it's just planning right now,"
he said. Before that happens, fans can expect the team that made that
series to make a movie, although the subject of the movie is going to
remain a secret for now. Ochikoshi, a resident of the Shinjuku area of
Tokyo, said he admires the producers of the Spirited Away and Ghost in
the Shell films, likes the Vagabond manga and has a friend who was the
producer of the unusual Dead Leaves animated film.
The
two animated Read or Die series have captivated English-speaking
audiences with their unconventional characters and vivid stories.
Tomonori Ochikoshi, producer of R.O.D the TV, was one of the guests of
honor at the inaugural OtakuCon. "We made an anime that people would
enjoy," Ochikoshi said. "We weren't looking for awards. I don't worry
about how other people might think - like the newspapers." The original
Read or Die OAV series introduced English-speaking fans to Yomiko
Readman, one of the most unlikely heroines you'll ever find. Fans who
enjoyed that series and saw echoes to the James Bond films will be
interested to learn that Ochikoshi made the same comparison,
unprompted. "I wanted to make a story about ladies like an 007 spy
story, but the main character would be more interesting if she was a
spy. The main character as a spy is not as strong as a 007. We wanted
to make the weakest spy in the world, since that would be a more
interesting character - and for a weapon, instead of guns, we decided
to have paper."
The
English-language release of R.O.D the TV was about half completed at
the time of this writing. A fan of that series asked Ochikoshi if there
would be a second TV series, and the answer appeared to be yes. "We are
getting ready" for a 2nd TV series, "but it's just planning right now,"
he said. Before that happens, fans can expect the team that made that
series to make a movie, although the subject of the movie is going to
remain a secret for now. Ochikoshi, a resident of the Shinjuku area of
Tokyo, said he admires the producers of the Spirited Away and Ghost in
the Shell films, likes the Vagabond manga and has a friend who was the
producer of the unusual Dead Leaves animated film.
