What was your guiding principle for directingDan Da Dan?
io9: What has been your favorite sequence to animate forDan Da Dan, and why?
Yamashiro:The crab chase scene in episode four.
© Crunchyroll/Science Saru
Theyre in perfect harmony for the first time, completing the buddy unit.
Theres a real catharsis in that drama, and it links really well with the energy on screen.
By the way, before they take off, Okarun takes Momos hand, and helps her stand up.
© Crunchyroll/Science Saru
This isnt supposed to be comedic, but rather this marks the first time they purposefully touch each other.
Theyre not really aware of it, but its almost like a handshake.
I think thats super dramatic and cool.
© Crunchyroll/Science Saru
Where does that direction stem from?
I wanted to make it feel like youre laughing, talking, or feeling afraid along with them.
There are no episodes or scenes that dont have any point, no drama or anything.
© Crunchyroll/Science Saru
I wanted to depict the changes in feelings that happen when people communicatenot just conversations as simple back-and-forths.
io9: Whats been the most challenging part of bringingDan Da Danto life through animation?
Yamashiro:I wanted to avoid making visuals that didnt have a specific point to them whenever possible.
© Crunchyroll/Science Saru
Id think to myself, Why is this image necessary?
I want to make things that are well-designed, beautiful, and highly polished.
Yamashiro:My notebook is mostly for my own study.
© Crunchyroll/Science Saru
Theres always some kind of intention or aim from the production side.
I like to figure out what those are, to solve those puzzles and analyze them.
Direction is really interesting, you know?
© Crunchyroll/Science Saru
It makes me feel like maybe magic is real.
Regarding the tempo, the show is generally about 1.25x the speed of normal anime.
I tried not to add pauses anywhere.
© Crunchyroll / Science Saru
Didnt that feel different from what came before?
Okarun and Momo are aware of each other herethey must have been feeling different emotions from normal.
I wanted to have the audience experience those emotions vicariously through them.
Yamashiro:I tried to put everything Ive learned so far into this project.
I dont think Id exist today without that experience, and I value it very dearly.
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