[INTERVIEW] My Melody & Kuromi: Director Misato on Sanrio’s New Challenge

— How did you feel when you heard that Misato would direct?

Yamada: I was surprised: “It’s the director of PUI PUI Molcar!” My own children loved Molcar. I believed Misato had the skill to create stories not reliant on dialogue. His other works also have darker tones, and I was curious to see what kind of synergy that would create with My Melody and Kuromi.

— Misato, what was your reaction? These are globally loved characters.

Misato: I felt the pressure and wanted to ensure fans would approve. I created illustrations depicting various scenes, including moments of struggle and action. Surprisingly, Sanrio liked them, saying, “You can go further than we expected!” Being a Netflix project, I also enjoyed the freedom to try new things.
Yamada: I remember thinking, “This is amazing!” and feeling very excited.
Misato: You told me, “Since the cute image is so strong, I want you to break that shell.”
Yamada: Yes, though we were initially worried about disappointing fans, we saw how hard the creative team worked to understand the characters. Their proposals for showing new sides of the characters were very welcome.

— The character depth in this series feels remarkable. Did you conduct extensive research?

Misato: I gave my ideas for the direction, and Nemoto’s slightly sharp dialogue matched the world perfectly. As a fan of My Melody, she maintained their core personalities while exploring new depth. It’s not just opposites clashing; their bond is portrayed more profoundly.
Yamada: It subverted the cliché of “typical character-based stories” and presented a dramatic narrative.

— Were there specific story or character aspects you emphasized?

Misato: With today’s fast-paced content, I wanted to ensure viewers wouldn’t get bored, so each episode has variety. While Sanrio’s strength is cuteness, I also like how the characters respect each other. Even as rivals, Kuromi respects My Melody, which aligns with our theme of “kindness.”

— What about the character designs?

Misato: Most characters are animal-based, so we used wool felt. For My Melody and Kuromi’s hoods, we used soft silicone to express emotions—My Melody’s hood looks cloth-like, while Kuromi’s has a glossy texture. Kuromi’s skull emblem changes expression in sync with her emotions, and we swapped it frame by frame during filming.
Yamada: They experimented with many materials to avoid harsh silicone edges, which was impressive.
Misato: Stop-motion’s charm lies in its handmade feel. We used beads for fountain water and cotton for smoke, aiming for a cute, handcrafted aesthetic.

— Did Sanrio characters present unique design challenges?

Misato: Their unreadable emotions are part of their charm. They’re cute, but you wonder, “What are they thinking?” It’s like animals. This simplicity works well in both 2D and 3D forms.
Yamada: Sanrio values “empathy,” so we keep designs simple. Hello Kitty has no mouth so she can reflect the viewer’s emotions. The simpler the design, the stronger the core message.
Misato: True. Mary Land’s residents often have short bios, leaving room for imagination.
Yamada: Exactly. We focus on visual storytelling more than text.

— You once mentioned exploring “digital cuteness.” Did this project influence your perspective?

Yamada: Digital cuteness often means 3D models, but here we captured “tactile qualities” digitally. It taught me that it’s not about dividing digital and real, but about expressing their natural charm.

— The character movements also stand out. Was this intentional?

Misato: Yes, I differentiated movements—My Melody moves slowly, Kuromi is fast and comical. Slow motion in stop-motion is difficult, but I demonstrated movements myself to guide animators.
Yamada: I remember how you filmed yourself moving like the characters. It was fascinating.
Misato: It was for reference, but once animators gained confidence, we incorporated “unrealistic” movements unique to animation.
Yamada: We do something similar in graphic design, exaggerating features for appeal. It’s the same principle.
Misato: Exactly. For instance, in graphics, My Melody’s profile sometimes lacks a mouth, which we also omitted in stop-motion when it looked unnatural.
Yamada: It makes me want to rewatch the series!

— Lastly, could you share your favorite scenes?

Misato: I’d say the car chase in Episode 4. It’s full of action, but also heartfelt moments. I hope viewers watch until the end to feel the emotional payoff.
Yamada: For me, it’s when My Melody experiences loneliness. It reveals a side of her I’d never imagined, with poignant expressions and dialogue.
Misato: There are many surprises for fans. I hope both new and existing viewers enjoy exploring every detail.

Netflix series My Melody & Kuromi Trailer

Source : ORICON NEWS