Article/Gamefan Yoshitaka Amano Interview

From Gamefan magazine.

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> GF: What were some of the inspirations for your artwork? Your influences?
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> YA: If there’s an original story… if I’m painting a drawing or something based on an original story… I first read it of course, and then I interpret it visually. And if it’s an original work, I work rather chaotically, but at the end of the process I think there’s always a thematic link between everything I output.
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> GF: What kinds of materials, paints, objects do you use to create your artwork?
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> YA: For the monochrome stuff, I used pen and ink and Indian ink. And I also used ceramics for the very first time. Also [I’ve used] a silk kimono, which I rendered stuff on. All I care about is… as long as there’s colors, I have fun.
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> GF: You’ve done so much artwork over all this time. How long does it take you to do one piece?
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> YA: I work fast. For example, those gold panels over there, I did nine in one day.
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> GF: Wow!
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> YA: It takes me a while to start, but when I do, I think I’m one of the faster artists.
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> GF: Definitely. It’s been rumored that you’re working on games for PS2 and Dreamcast. I’m wondering if you can tell me anything about that.
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> YA: It’s a secret, but yes I am doing something.
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> GF: Can you give any details?
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> YA: There are people involved here. Do you want me to introduce you? There’s a person from Capcom here today wandering around. [ed’s note: that person was Yoshiki Okamoto, interviewed last issue] You should ask him.
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> Do you get the chance to play video games yourself?
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> YA: No I play very little.
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> GF: What is it about New York that makes you want to work here?
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> YA: I’ve always had the desire to come here to create work and to present work. I think there are many people around the world who have the same feelings about New York.
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> GF: What type of work atmosphere do you work in?
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> YA: I lock myself in a room, and solitude is important.
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> GF: What kind of music do you listen to?
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> YA: When there are other people around, I like to listen to jazz, classical, and ‘cool’ music. And then when people go away, I like to listen to folk music and other dumb things, but I only listen to that in real soltitude.
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> GF: Are you doing anything for the Final Fantasy movie?
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> YA: No.
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> GF: Would you ever consider doing a feature movie of your characters like the CG intros to Final Fantasy Collection?
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> YA: I want to do that with HERO. Of course I can’t do that alone. I want to work with many people to create a film like that.
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> GF: Are there any other people like Neil Gaiman who you’d like to work with?
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> YA: Well I’m not sure about other collaborators, but basically I’ve always started with works that have an original story, and in the future I want to start working with digitals first, and then do the story after that. Well, the way I’m working right now is to just begin working… without really thinking about what the whole structure is… and then to eventually find the structure within the work… which is a process which takes a lot of time, and that is what I do.
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> GF: HERO is a lifetime accomplishment that you’ve wanted to do for a while. Is there anything else you’d like to accomplish in your career?
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> YA: This is probably the biggest multimedia project that I’m working on. And then maybe after HERO< I would like to focus on each medium. For example, maybe ceramics… I’d like to do a lot more of those. And also the kimono style, I would probably want to continue working in that medium too. And then perhaps I would like to work on poetry – visualizing poetry – something I’m interested in… I also want to visualize Salome. These are just some of the things I’m interested in.
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> GF: Why didn’t you do the character designs for Final Fantasy VII and VIII?
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> YA: I’m on the receptive side. I either get an offer or I don’t. I really don’t know why I didn’t do that. I’m not an employee of Squaresoft.
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> GF: Who would win in a fight, you or Tetsuya Nomura?
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> YA: Who is Tetsuya Nomura?
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> GF: The character designer for final Fantasy VII and VIII.
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> Ya: You mean a fight? Fist fight?
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> GF: Yeah.
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> YA: I haven’t slept for several nights so if I fought him now, I would probably lose. It’s not a fair time to do it.
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