–There is something I must really hear from Fujishima-san, and that is “how to draw super-deformed characters”.
Fujishima: Ooh? So you also want to hear about the super-deformed characters?

–Of course. (Laughs)
Fujishima: It’s nothing really, I just draw, that’s all. (Laughs)

–No, actually people said it was hard to draw. In reality, I don’t think there are any artists who are good at drawing super-deformed characters. Is it hard for you [Fujishima] to draw super-deformed characters?
Fujishima: I guess. But this time, I extended the head and body a little. Like what I did since Phantasia……

–It was longer compared to Symphonia?
Fujishima: By a little, yes.

–While some extension and compression is good, is it something that you can draw without having to hesitate?
Fujishima: It wasn’t really that hard.

–But do you think there are any points [to pay attention to] when drawing super-deformed characters?
Fujishima: Points……I don’t know. (Laughs)

–No, I think there must be some, because the super-deformed characters must look cute somehow.
Fujishima: No, all you need to do is to make shorten the head and the body.
[Note: Without making him sound rude (though not to say that he’s rude), the literal translation is “Doesn’t that kinda talk (about shortening the head and the body) belongs to another category?”]

–No, the cuteness is not limited to only shortening the head and body proportions. I think there is some sort of unique input by Fujishima-san. Can’t you tell us anything about that?
Fujishima: I didn’t have any intention to put in anything special. Though we are now talking about the length of the super deformed characters, I don’t know how to answer that. (Confused)

–So you are really unconscious about adding special things to them?
Fujishima: Hmm I don’t understand about having the conscious to adding to things to make it look good. (Laughs) I just draw since I got the order to draw super-deformed characters from BNG.

–Are super deformed characters drawn after you have finished drawing the life sized characters?
Fujishima: Yes, that is how it was.

–Did you start by drawing the main characters first in general?
Fujishima: No, [but] something like that. Though this time I probably did start with the main characters.

–[In terms of the design and overall form] Tear and others have a good balance, don’t they?
Fujishima: Although I am really happy you say that, there really isn’t any special attention that I paid to them when I drew them, really. (Laughs)

–Then what kind of thinking was put into consideration when you draw their poses?
Fujishima: Since it is good to grasp the features of characters whether if you draw them big or small, there aren’t any changes to the way I think.

–Are there any poses with good balance for the super-deformed characters?
Fujishima: Whether it is big or small, if you think you want to use that pose, then use it. It doesn’t have any different changes.

–Are there any important specifications to the poses?
Fujishima: Let’s see. No, there weren’t any.

–Did you pay attention to the age range [that you draw them in] for the super-deformed characters?
Fujishima: I didn’t think about that either. As to why this is so, that’s because there aren’t any people like that in the real world. (Laughs)

–For example, if Jade’s [non-super-deformed] character were to pose like this and said his lines, it can also portray the same feeling very well.
Fujishima: That’s because they are the same character. It would be embarrassing if they end up different.

–And Anise here too……
Fujishima: Anise is just Anise. (Laughs)

–It is said that it is difficult to draw poses like that. Would you say it is exquisite? …Well then, is it true that the super-deformed characters can be drawn without spending too much time?
Fujishima: In fact, it is easy to draw.

–So it is easy to draw after all? Did you feel that you can draw it in one shot?
Fujishima: No, I can’t finish it in one shot. (Laughs)

–But is it possible to draw life sized characters very much the same way?
Fujishima: I don’t know. More or less, the super-deformed characters have a mad [hard to control] balance.

–I see. Maybe that’s the point [mentioned earlier], isn’t it?
Fujishima: It may be. (Laughs)

–After all, the face is the most important part, right?
Fujishima: Yes, the face too. It’s the end of the story if I shortened [compressed] it.
[Note: He’s saying, that is how everything will become the things you see now by shortening the face.]

–But even if you say to shorten [compress] the face, don’t you think it will have a drastic change?
Fujishima: No, it wouldn’t have. (Laughs)

–But while the life sized is cute, don’t you think there are artists who don’t feel that way [when the characters are super-deformed]?
Fujishima: I don’t know the answer to that even if you ask me. (Laughs)

–Can we hear about the know-how on making these super-deformed characters?
Fujishima: You are saying you don’t understand when I said I didn’t pay special consideration and draw them in my case? (Laughs)

–Could it be something that is said to be a skill that you gained through experience?
Fujishima: In my case, I have been drawing super-deformed characters since a long time ago.

–It’s just like that, isn’t it?
Fujishima: [Drawing] super-deformed characters is just like that.

–Thank you very much [for your hard work].