The fall anime season has now begun, and among some of the most highly anticipated new titles is Loner Life In Another World, based on the light novel series by Shoji Goji. That said, what makes Loner Life In Another World such an exciting anime adaptation? Manga Mavericks had the opportunity to ask director Akio Kazumi and Pony Canyon producer Takanori Matsuoka about the anime’s production and what went into adapting the popular series.
Check out the full interview down below:
How did you both get involved in the production of Loner Life In Another World? Were you both familiar with the series prior to working on it?
Kazumi: I received an offer from the anime producer, and after reading the novel and comic version, I found it very interesting and exciting.
Matsuoka: Yes, I had already been reading it, so I knew about it! I also happened to meet the person around the same time who was interested in the work, and that’s how the idea to turn it into an anime came about.
What led to Hayabusa Film and Passione being selected as the animation studios for the anime?
Matsuoka: In the past, I worked with them as the PR position on the anime Rokka -Braves of the Six Flowers- and RAIL WARS!, and we had been discussing the possibility of working together on production in the future. The timing for those discussions and this project coincided perfectly, and since Passione also showed interest in this work, we decided to collaborate.
How much has the original writer Shoji Goji been involved with the anime’s production?
Kazumi: We received advice through the editorial department.
Matsuoka: OVERLAP oversees everything, including the script, and during that process, Goji sensei also reviews and approves the content.
The novel for Loner Life has an incredibly high word count. As an adaptation, are there any techniques or ideas implemented to keep the audience’s attention throughout any verbose or talkative monologues or descriptions?
Kazumi: With the help of screenwriters Ihara san and Ozaki san, we managed to work up the script effectively. Additionally, we intentionally differentiated between Haruka and his classmates in the storyboard.
Matsuoka: I think they make sure not to turn everything directly into dialogue and carefully maintain the pacing of the visuals.
It’s not often we see an adaptation of an isekai story involving a whole classroom’s worth of characters rather than a single person. Is there anything unique about this type of setting or story that stood out to you in the production process?
Kazumi: In the production process, we work with many specialized teams. During that time, there are often moments when you feel ‘a loner.’ However, that doesn’t mean it’s ‘loneliness.’ There are times when you find yourself ‘a loner’ in a way that resonates with Haruka’s journey of tackling challenges in another world. That might sound dramatic, but I think many people experience similar situations.
Matsuoka: The character names are unique, but the fact that the class is divided into groups and that they initially get along in the other world but later split up feels quite realistic. It’s a setting that seems like it could exist but is actually quite uncommon.
This series has been out since 2018! Are there any scenes you’re excited to show, or think will benefit from being adapted in the current year?
Kazumi: There are often moments when you feel ‘alone,’ especially when you’re with society or family. Having time alone allows you to reset your distance from society. I believe this work can resonate with those who watch it alone and find empathy in it.
Matsuoka: The cute girl characters! I can’t help but feel envious of Haruka! At the same time, watching Haruka’s cool moments is also really exhilarating!! Overall, the pacing is great, and the characters are so charming that I think people of all ages will find it easy to enjoy.
In your opinion, how has the isekai genre changed over the years to match the audience’s tastes over time?
Kazumi: I believe it will become an even more interesting genre. Since viewer preferences are diverse, I think it will continue to evolve further.
Matsuoka: There are so many different isekai titles, so the most enjoyable part is seeing the creative and original settings that stand out!
Do you have a favorite character in the series?
Kazumi: It’s very difficult to choose. Each character is incredibly charming. If I had to pick, I would say Gal Leader.
Matsuoka: There are so many characters, and each one is charming! It’s tough to choose… I really like the cheerful vibe of the Nudist Girl, but I think it would have to be Class Rep! In the anime, I feel like her comebacks really stood out!
What are both of your biggest influences from anime?
Kazumi: There are so many to mention, but I was influenced by anime from the 1970s to the 1980s.
Matsuoka: Since I played soccer, the biggest influence for me was Captain Tsubasa. It might be more of a manga, though. Also, when I was a kid, I was influenced by Dragon Ball and would do training because of it! (laughs) I became interested in robot-themed anime through Code Geass, and the reason I started watching late-night anime was Kage Kara Mamoru (Mamoru the Shadow Protector). It brings back memories! There are so many to mention.
Are there any previous anime you’ve worked on that prepared you for any challenges while working on Loner Life?
Kazumi: The fact that there are many characters despite the theme of being ‘a loner’ was already a challenge. The number of voice actors was the highest I’ve experienced. It was a challenge to portray the concept of ‘loneliness’ within that context.
Matsuoka: I believe that, without realizing it, the experiences I’ve accumulated from the projects I’ve worked on have contributed to this one.
Thank you to PONY CANYON Inc. for making this interview possible!
Loner Life in Another World is now streaming on the following platforms:
ADN (Europe)
- From September 26th, 2024 on every Thursday 5:00 p.m.(UTC+2 / CEST)
- From October 31st 4:00 p.m. (UTC+1 / CEST)
HIDIVE (North America (USA & CA), UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand)
- From September 26th, 2024 on every Thursday 3:00 p.m. (UTC)
Interview questions contributed by Marion “Microwavey” Peña and Varun Gupta.
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