Asato Asato began her journey as a professional writer after winning the Dengeki Taisho in 2016. In this interview, she discusses her creative activities and shares heartwarming stories and explanations of her characters.
Background and Inspiration for Creation
Asato first started writing stories when she was in middle school. After a busy elementary school life, she was finally able to bring her ideas to life. The setting and character backgrounds of '86' are greatly influenced by the movie 'The Mist', and the idea for the story began with this 2007 film. Asato spent approximately 5 to 7 years building the story, and writing started in 2014.
From Light Novels to Anime and Manga
Asato is actively involved in the production of manga and anime. She answers questions about character design and story in manga, and participates in script meetings and design reviews for the anime. While she answers detailed questions about characters and mecha with care, she notes that time constraints were a significant challenge during the anime adaptation.
Thoughts Embodied in Characters
Asato reveals that some of the characters reflect aspects of her personality. For instance, Shin, the protagonist, has a somewhat laissez-faire attitude toward cooking, which mirrors a part of her own personality. There were also three major changes to the setting before the final version took shape, indicating a lot of trial and error in the process.
Message to Overseas Fans
Asato feels proud that '86' has been translated into many languages. She values communication with translators and is always receptive to questions and comments. She also emphasizes the importance of enjoying creative activities, encouraging readers to express themselves with their own vision inspired by her goal of portraying 'the most beautiful sunset.' She states that the form of creation is free, and it is important to fully enjoy it.
