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Interview: Tensai Okamura




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tootbrush



Joined: 31 Oct 2009
Posts: 230
PostPosted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 12:28 pm Reply with quote
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One thing that came up was "why make something the same?" Why make something similar in the continuation? Let's do something different. In the first season, there were quite a few things that could be difficult to understand. So kind of a change of tone would be good, maybe the protagonist in the first one was a bit too much of the rough, working guy. So why don't we put something a little cute girl at the center of season 2, just something different. Another reason for this is that for audiences who got to know Darker than Black from season 2 first, we wanted to make something that would make them interested in watching season 1. You know, they hadn't seen season 1 anyway, so why not learn about it by watching season 2 with this new protagonist?

LOL, where do I even begin...
1) The main thing (besides Chinese Electric Batman) people liked about the first season was the mini-arc structure with many fun and interesting stories. Nothing would've stopped them from doing something different within that framework.
2) The only thing that may have been hard to understand in DTB1 was the last arc, but the 2nd season managed to make it look like the most straightforward story ever, so I'm not sure where he's coming from.
3) Introducing a new protagonist is one thing, but turning Hei into an abusive drunkard and his girlfriend into a plot device is another.
4) And that last part is just... what. You know... Maybe a 2nd season that's closer to the 1st season's style would've achieved the same thing?! Shocking, I know.
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KH91



Joined: 17 May 2013
Posts: 6176
PostPosted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 1:05 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
One thing that came up was "why make something the same?" Why make something similar in the continuation? Let's do something different. In the first season, there were quite a few things that could be difficult to understand. So kind of a change of tone would be good, maybe the protagonist in the first one was a bit too much of the rough, working guy. So why don't we put something like a little cute girl at the center of season 2, just something different. Another reason for this is that for audiences who got to know Darker than Black from season 2 first, we wanted to make something that would make them interested in watching season 1. You know, they hadn't seen season 1 anyway, so why not learn about it by watching season 2 with this new protagonist?


There's Executive meddling like with Code Geass R2 then there's Staff meddling with DtB: RnG. I finally learn why I didn't like RnG and why Hei was demoted to 4th in the cast list compared to his MC role in DtB among other things. Why do that? Isn't there a reason why you release DVD/BD's of the series or rebroadcast it prior to a new season? Is that not a way for new audiences to get into the series without you having to alter a continuation of the story? Funny how 2 of my favorite series had similar reasons for the changes that happened in their 2nd season. And to top it off, people still bought it. This cater to new fans when there is nothing wrong with your established fanbase needs to stop.

Quote:
Right, that's clever. Any upcoming projects that you can tell us about?

Right now there isn't a currently developing project that we can speak of, but we always have a lot going on in our heads.


So my true route of Season 2 that takes place after Gaiden is dead, eh?
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Blankslate



Joined: 30 Jun 2015
Posts: 425
Location: Atlanta, GA
PostPosted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 4:48 pm Reply with quote
Wow. I didn't know people were so up in arms over Darker Than Black Season 2. I personally really liked it besides its out of nowhere ending.

I'm actually really glad whenever second seasons go out of their way to be different even if I liked the first seasons more (examples: different GitS iterations, Mushishi, Gundam IBO, etc.)
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Sacred Blood



Joined: 19 Apr 2012
Posts: 38
PostPosted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 7:44 pm Reply with quote
Darker Than Black Season 2 is a topic that requires an interview dedicated entirely to itself, being the highly-anticipated sequel of one of Bones' most beloved original works with various unexpected polarizing aspects.

Personally, I loved Darker Than Black S2 till the very last episode which came completely out-of-left-field and ruined everything. Up till that, I felt the plot was more engaging and focused compared to Season 1 and seemed to be leading up to something big and epic which is what I'd always wanted from DTB given how much potential it has for a complex over-arching narrative in vein of GITS Stand Alone Complex. I even loved the new direction it had taken with Hei as the rogue and hardened contractor on the run from the Syndicate and other organizations in the vaguely post-apocalyptic Russia while having a similar role of a veteran guiding a rookie to Solid Snake in Metal Gear Solid 2. Season 2 was the first show I ever followed as it aired so I perfectly remember the heartache it caused by ending the way it did. To this day I haven't gotten over it and have always wondered what went on during the production to lead to such a chaotic and senseless ending. Also back then I didn't follow news related to anime so I had no idea Season 2 was just one cour and thus was even more taken aback by the ending than it warranted I suppose.

When all is said and done, DTB S2 is still a very special show for me. I just wish Bones would go back to it someday and maybe do a reboot or something and make the Darker Than Black that I've always wanted and lives up to its immense potential.
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Nonaka Machine Gun B



Joined: 03 Feb 2009
Posts: 819
PostPosted: Thu Aug 10, 2017 2:54 pm Reply with quote
I understand the logic behind what happened with DtB, based on Okamura's answer. They basically approached it like a spin-off instead of a continuation. So, in essence, fans are upset with labels. If Season 2 was just "more Hei again," new people can't enter the series as easily. And then you factor in how expensive it is to own and purchase anime in the R2 region. So the whole "get people interested in checking out Season 1" makes sense. Someone who'd never seen S1 could look at Hei in Season 2 and be like "what's that guy's deal? I want to know."
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