Ai Nanase was one of the lucky winners of the V-Jump competition to be a motion
actor in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. With permission, we have been allowed
to re-produce her diary here to share with English speaking fans of Advent Children.
2003-12-28:
FF7AC motion capture actor record of personal experience
Now then, I was busy, let me complain, but let me tell you about the motion capture
recording the other day. Well, I should be taking a cooling-off period, being so
excited about going full throttle for hours. But that's no excuse.
Thinking back to about 10 days ago...
The first thought that entered my head was that it was a prank telephone call.
"I am with the Shueisha Publishing Company, and I am calling regarding the application
we received for the motion capture performance..."
What, the Shueisha Publishing Company? Motion capturing?? As for that I already
had resigned myself to the fact that I wasn't going to be a performer in Final Fantasy
VII Advent Children (FF7AC), and now they were saying that I was??
Kyaaaaaaaa! Joy!
Some days ago, before Christmas, just in the Advent period, I started participating
in the motion capturing recording of FF7AC.
In certain parts of the city, the studio is at such a distance from the house that
you can get there by bike. Understand that I also met six people. From Hokkaido,
because of this, a child could go. But it is very tiring.
It goes without saying that FF7AC is full of CG images. But the characters which
appears in CG moves by converting the movement of actual human actors. The process
of taking the movement as data is "motion capture".
After greeting everyone on the staff, right away we started preparation. You put
on what is called "black spats", consisting of a black T shirt which fits close
to the body, and swimming cap, and black tights and then the appearance is done.
And then they say what a "restless little one" you are. And they kept attaching
about ten reflective silver balls which are called "markers" to my entire body.
Then we went to the studio where the ceiling is very high. Here a camera that is
installed in the wall, keeps recording the movement of the markers. When I moved
the marker, points on the monitor moved simultaneously. It was funny.
Gathering of these points the figure becomes a line, which is fleshed out and then
becomes the CG character finally.
During recording there is nothing which everyone does simultaneously, and at one
time several people kept entering the studio, playing with [adjusting] the movement
in various scenes. It became very tense, but as for the section department manager
(is some story), with the performer becoming finished product, he struggles. You
are guided by the people supervising politely, but it was very funny to keep doing
the individual scenes again and again.
It was not the case that I was playing a part that had a name attached, but I got
to do the performance for a person. When it is being sold, I will be able to laugh
and point at that character.
My character appears in the same world as a character of FF7 like as Cloud! When
with you think, that's pretty cool. Too cute it is already [referring to the character
this person played]! (> ▽<)
Other times, there was a lot of waiting, but you chat with the other co-actors,
and also the studio staff, and a person of V Jump's editorial staff, and Square-Enix
people a little, and that's how you could pass the time. All in all, was waiting
a pain??? No, it was actually pleasant!
Circumstances of the latest recording will be seen, when it is published in V Jump's
January 21st sale. Everyone will buy steadily. 1 person about 5 volumes.
Simply, we have come to the kind of technical specifications which I don't understand
either. There is a lot for an intelligent child to investigate.
Well. If you are reading this as for the eighty-ninth time then you should "bookmark"
it! Then you won't have to worry.
...... my cartoon person who is done, how much are you wondering who it is?
Well really, I think I can convey something in abstract expression, but how do I
express it, it might mention the core of the story, so I refrain.
Simply, just this, what I can say to you is enormously and politely concise, the
world view is more splendid than some things. Certainly, I think that the expectation
of everyone [a reference to the expectations of the fans] will not be betrayed.
Therefore 2004 summer, this DVD will be bought. One person will buy about ten.
Once, one time I got to be in the place where it was being made. Privately I will
speak of this time as after a theatre playing of Seven Shoal Indigo Robes [possibly
referring to a title... either that or my translation of the rest of this sentence
is way off].
Yes, switching to little girl mode.
So, anyway, when waiting performance. When you start to feel anxiety it is said,
it is best not to have lunch.
The door of the entrance opened, and one man entered. His long fair-hair swayed,
as he looked around from the door, and I became firm [determined or less anxious].
It was....
Nomura-san!!!!
That's when the strange thoughts start going around through your head.
The fact is that he appeared there, who managed the games FFX, which I love, and
Kingdom Hearts, in addition to FF7, that person Tetsuya Nomura! When I'm am asked
to list the people I most respect he is in the top 3. To say the least, I was deeply
impressed.
I think I could die happy now. There is no limit to my respect for this person.
I wondered if it would be possible to speak to him, although it was enough just
to be so close... but I thought about it. I was in the little girl mode, which is
said to be disturbing, and it was not possible to speak in the end [Either she could
speak to him because she didn't get that close, or she was too nervous to say anything...
probably the former].
Other people arrived after that. But I would like to have had the courage with which
you can have a contest with the elements. (Mystery, the wind.)
But then he came back. And we were being very noisy, asking for his autograph, as
well as that of the V Jump staff, and they gave them to us! Many people waited for
him to sign. Furthermore, I got an illustration of Cloud!! Coming soon!!!!
I am trying to make the heirloom of it. Nomura-san, thank you truly. I love it.
(!)
Well already in any case, it was one day I'll never forget. To everyone of Square-Enix,
thanks for being so kind to us, and everyone of V Jump editorial staff, and to all
my co-actors, thank you very much!!
In addition if you ever need me for something else, please call by all means. I'd
be there as fast as I could...
Translation by Kionae. Used with permission from the original author Ai Nanese.
You may link to this page, but do not reproduce the contents without given permission.
The original diary can be found in Japanese
here.
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