Naoko Yamada, the director behind A Silent Voice, is coming to the UK to showcase a very special project. Having recently partnered with the animation studio Science SARU, Yamada is visiting the United Kingdom for the first time since the release of A Silent Voice to attend the annual Scotland Loves Anime film festival, where her latest short film Garden of Remembrance will be having its World Premiere, following a work-in-progress showing at Annecy earlier this year.
To celebrate its release, we had the absolute pleasure of talking to Yamada about her upcoming project. It was delightful, and easily one of the greatest interviews I’ve been lucky enough to conduct. Thank you so much to the organisers who made this happen, to Yamada herself who answered each question so gracefully, and then to Yamada’s translator who also made this possible. We hope you guys enjoy this interview! Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more from Garden of Remembrance, you won’t want to miss this tragic yet delighfully enthralling piece of animation.
James: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me today, it’s an absolute priviledge and I can’t wait to dive into your upcoming short film Garden of Remembrance. It’s premiering at the annual Scotland Loves Anime event, and I was just wondering how it feels to be bringing your short film to audiences at an event such as this?
Naoko Yamada: It’s quite nerve-racking, having it at a world premiere like this is a first for me and I’m wondering what the reaction will be like. The fact there are no words, the fact that it’s a short film… How will people take that? In once sense it may be that it’ll be more accessible for people globally because there are no words, or it could be the opposite! I’m quite nervous about that.
James: I don’t think you have anything to worry about. I think it’ll be a great hit because it was just so lovely to watch, and it’s an incredibly unique take on a somewhat familiar narrative. I’m just wondering what actually inspired the sad but hopeful story of Garden of Remembrance?
Naoko Yamada: The overarching theme is that of living and the end of life. There’s virtually nothing in this world that is certain, but what we all have in common is that as soon as we’re born we’re all heading towards death, and that was the theme that I wanted to show through this film.
James: It was absolutely beautiful and even playful despite the themes! I think a lot of people are going to be able to… Take something from it, for sure. You mentioned it earlier, but the fascinating thing about your short is that it lacks any kind of dialogue. How important was that decision when making Garden of Remembrance?
Naoko Yamada: When I’m making a film or making animation, I always try to control the volume of information. I think it’s important to control that because that effects the emotions of the viewer. With not having words in this case, I feel like it removes the restrictions on the imagination of the viewer… It lets them enjoy their own thoughts and their own feelings as they’re watching it. Of course, I and we who are making the film know the answers, but I wanted the audience to be free to take away what they wanted to take away from it. I also wanted to see what they take away from it. So yes, I believe it was very important to, especially in this case, to not have dialogue.
James: It was interesting because I actually watched it 3 times [laughs] and I there was always something different about each viewing. I learned something new about it, and my reactions changed. One of the things that really stood out for me was the usage of flowers. I know that particular flowers do carry significant meanings, unfortunately I’m no expert, so I was wondering if you could talk us through the flower that you used and what it actually signifies.
Naoko Yamada: The reason for the flower motif is because I was inspired by this story of... When people die and go to heaven, and when someone thinks of that loved one those feelings reach them in heaven. They rain down on them. In this case, I used the flower known as an Anemone. I’ve almost forgotten specifically why I chose them [laughs] but it was definitely to do with the language of flowers. More simply, it was because that was the flower that grew in the flat that the characters first shared. I actually just looked it up online because it feels like it’s no longer my story- it’s their story now! Do you have the language of flowers over here? I’m not quite sure, but they do signify this love that they share.
James: That’s so lovely. It actually adds so much more knowing that relationship between the flowers and the characters. Obviously, this film is incredibly visual but it is also very dependent on music and sound to help progress the story. I think that’s something that plays a big role in a lot of your work like A Silent Voice and K-ON! Music and sound become characters in their own right, so what was the process like of picking that perfect song and adding in those simple but effective sound effects of every day life?
Naoko Yamada: So this short film project started out as a collaboration between music and animation. I wrote a poem and then I took that and turned it into animation storyboards which would then be turned into animation. My collaborator and musician Lovely Summer Chan took that poem and turned it into music. It was all about what happens when you take the same poem, but you have two people express it in different ways. It was… The music was made for this film. In terms of the sound effects, I’ve been working with the same sound effects staff since A Silent Voice and every time we try to do something new. This time, what we were trying to do for the whole thing was… To forget that we were professional animators, and try to go back to what it felt like when we were just dreaming of becoming animators and just drawing for ourselves. I did the same thing with sounds, forget that we’re professionals doing this and go back to when you were making your own animation and trying to work out how to make these sounds through trial and error. We came up with something that isn’t perfect, but it got the message across. It was very much a back to basics approach. As a result, the sounds are quite raw and the balance is slighty precarious.
James: That’s such an interesting approach! The entire film is so unique in terms of its sounds and visuals. It also feels like a very personal journey. So, compared to your other works like A Silent Voice what is it about Garden of Remembrance that stands out?
Naoko Yamada: Well, personally speaking… People often refer to my work as “feminine” or having a female point of view, but that’s not something I’m aware of at all. Although I am female, different women make different kinds of work and my work varies depending on what I’m making at the time, so I didn’t really understand why people referred to my work in that way. So I thought, well… If that’s the case, what happens if I deliberately set out to make something “girly” and that’s what I tried to do with Garden of Remembrance. It’s one of the reasons why I chose Lovely Summer Chan for the music, she’s someone who is very proud to be a woman and that comes across when you’re talking to her as well. I wanted to borrow that power and use that point of view that she has.
James: As a fan of your work, you’ve given so much to audiences around the world with your stories. It has inspired them, made them laugh, and made them cry. You have given us so much , so looking forward… What do you think is next for you? What project would you like to tackle next? And which themes would you like to explore?
Naoko Yamada: I always want to depict people. As long as I can do that and respect those characters and maintain that dignity… Then I am happy to try all sorts of things. There’s no specific genre that I would say that I want to try next. But I definitely want to try all sorts.
James: I have one last question before we wrap things up. Once again thank you so much for taking the time today. So, when audiences watch Garden of Remembrance… What are you hoping they take away from it?
Naoko Yamada: That’s a tricky one! It’s quite hard to explain but I want people to feel the warmth and kindness that comes with remembering someone. I want people to feel the things that are worth treasuring… Are worth treasuring.
If you are unfamiliar with Yamada’s work, please do check out the trailer for A Silent Voice. It’s a visually beautiful story that is an absolute must for anime fans. If you’re looking for something more fun and even musical, then K-On! and Sound! Euphonium may be the shows for you.
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