Some Masked translations

[mezzo-marinaio.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm still in the process of translating Ishida's pages - though for now they don't seem to be particularly interesting, just a brief recap. *sighs*

In the meantime, here, have some more of Kubo's interview! :D

 

破面篇を通して変化したことはありますか？

“While you were going through the Arrancar arc, were there any changes made?”

 

久保・元々、破面篇を描き始める時に、敵をちゃんと殺す戦いを描こうと思っていて。尸魂界篇は誰も死んでいないんです。信じるものの違いだけでぶつかる、善か悪かではない戦いが尸魂界篇なんですが、ちゃんとした悪を描きたいなと思ったのが破面篇です。だから、敵がほとんど死んでいるんです。人が死ぬバトルっていうのを、今まで描いたことがなかったし。で、死ぬバトルを描いたんですが、特に“死んだ感”がなくて。それが発見かな。物語の中では、完全に死んでいるキャラが何人もいて、今後彼らの出てくる可能性は“０”なんです。だけど例えば、ノイトラだったらこんな時はどうするかな、とか、ちょっと考えてみたりしますよね。それって、実は“死んだ感”がないのかな、と。完全な悪で、殺さなければいけない敵という意識を持って描いたのに、描く側の愛着が変わらなかった、というのも発見ですね。他の先生たちがどういう意識で描くのかは分からないですが、すごい嫌なやつとして出てくると、「嫌な奴」って思いますよね？読む側がそういう意識を持つということは、描く側もそういう気持ちで描くのかなって思っていたんです。

 

Kubo: “Originally, when I started drawing the Arrancar arc, I was thinking of drawing some battles where the enemy is properly killed. In the Soul Society arc no one died. The Soul Society arc was an arc of battles with no clear-cut good or bad, where people clashed with each other simply because of the differences in their beliefs – but in the Arrancar arc, I wanted to draw what you would call bad. That’s why most of the enemies are dead. Because up until now, I hadn’t drawn any battles where people die. So, I drew battles where people died – and yet, they don’t feel particularly ‘dead’. That may have been a discovery. In the story there are some characters who are completely dead, and the possibility that they will appear again from now on is zero. But still, Nnoitra for example… what will I do with him from now on? I’m thinking a little about things like that, you know? I mean, I think there may not be really a ‘feeling of being dead’. Even though while I drew I was aware of the fact that some enemies are completely bad, and that I should kill them – the love held by the part of me that draws didn’t change… that too was a discovery. I don’t know if the other sensei draw with this kind of awareness, but… if someone appears who is terribly bad, you think something like ‘bad guy’, no? So I was wondering… if the part of me that reads holds this kind of awareness, would the part of me that draws write with this kind of feeling too?”

 

そんなことはなかった？

 

“And there was no such thing?”

 

久保・はい。描く時も、結局、最後まですごい嫌なキャラはいなかったですね。悪いところを描いていても別に腹が立たないんですね。だから、好きなところの範囲が広がったんじゃないかなっていう気はしているんです。キャラの良いところを描くって、実生活で悪いところでも、そのキャラにとっては良いところだったりする。その範囲が、尸魂界篇だと顕著なのがマユリとかで。マユリの中の意地の悪いところだったり、実験をしたりするところって、マユリの良いところでもあって。だけど、世間一般では悪いところ。それを良いところだなっていう認識で描ける範囲が広がったんだと思うんです。破面篇を描く上で。

 

Kubo: “Yes. Even when I was drawing, ultimately… there were no terribly bad guys up until the end. Even if I wrote them doing bad deeds, you don’t especially resent them, you know? So, I have this feeling… that maybe the scope of their likable parts has expanded? And when I write good sides for the characters… well, even if they would be considered bad sides in real life, for those characters they are good sides. Talking about that scope, a conspicuous example in Soul Society would be someone like Mayuri. There is the bad side of Mayuri’s will… the side that did those experiments and similar things – but he has a good side too. That in the common world would still be a bad side. I think with this ‘Ah, those are good sides’ realization – the range of things I can now draw has expanded. On top of writing the Arrancar arc.”

 

例えばノイトラが殺戮を繰り返すのも？

 

“For example, even Nnoitra’s repeated massacres?”

 

久保・ノイトラという人物としては良いところ。それがなくなってしまうとノイトラではなくなってしまうので。そういうところが、ルピだったり、ザエルアポロだったり、ロリだったりにもある。

 

Kubo: “For someone like Nnoitra, that is a good side. If that were ever to stop, it would be because it has stopped in Nnoitra too. That kind of side is present in Ruppi too, and in Szayel Aporro, and in Loli.”

 

 

 

 

Comments

[nendo-chan.livejournal.com]

Hmm, very interesting! I was wondering if Kubo would ever request the downplay on Mayuri's obviously twisted nature. I could somewhat write it off as a juxtaposition to Szayel's nature, but if that's Mayuri's good side... SS was enough of his bad side, I think. Loly, I always thought was just jealous of Orihime's humanity and seeming purity, so is he trying to say that jealousy is her good side? O_o

[hinodeh.livejournal.com]

Thank you, thank you Mezzo! *blows a kiss*

Sounds like Nnoitra is indeed still alive, though at the time of the interview KT seemed still unsure what he should do with him. I wonder if that has changed now... ?

No talk about GJ. I can't believe that he's dead, and I really think he isn't, but I suppose some fans might worry after this tidbit and that part where it says that GJ was dying. That databook is pure evil in some parts because it just teases and worries the reader.

[strawberries-85.livejournal.com]

I'm a little confused by his answers, but maybe that's just me? O_o

[hinodeh.livejournal.com]

The part with the good side is also unclear to me, but I get from the 1st part that KT got attached to his baddies as he drew them.

[shinebunny.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too, with the way it was phrased. I commend the translator - this doesn't look like easy work!

Aside from KT loving his baddies, I think (?) he's saying that in fiction, you come to love bad characters in part for the bad traits; it's hard to make a character who is truly repulsive.

[kuchi-chan.livejournal.com]

Possibility of them reappearing is zero. Harsh...T_T

[enisy.livejournal.com]

Some of them! Some. :)

[fois.livejournal.com]

so, what will he do with nnoitra and grimmjow. they might come back.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

LOL. Thank you, Irene. Moral ambiguity again. And Kubo not knowing exactly what to do with characters he's come to love? See, for me Mayuri is unrepentantly horrible but I know Kubo says he adores all his characters, good or bad and he's said before that Aizen and Mayuri are among his favorites.

I would've thought that Nnoitra was as dead as dirt but this and other translated bits from the interview make me wonder, even as Kubo says that the chances of some Arrancar returning are zero--I wonder if Kubo means making their deaths more certain in telling more about them through extended exposition.... still, I do wonder if he'll have some return? Others in fandom have argued about Nnoitra's parts to play in the story--I doubt he has much myself (I still count on Ulquiorra's return for various reasons, including his lack of a backstory and his Chekov's Gun of Lanza del Relámpago)

[hinodeh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, if Nnoi is alive then I'm also curious what more KT would do with him. But GJ's got the same problem right now. Sure he could be king of HM, but given that the story will shift to RR, how will that be plot-relevant? So many characters to juggle...

I've also not given up on Ulq. Sure, some people will start to gloat that this is proof that he ain't coming back, but there's the fact that KT didn't specify which arrancar are dead for good and that he did refuse to confirm his death. That, and the points you already mentioned. The lack of backstory is really suspicous given that even Hali got hers in the anime.

[enisy.livejournal.com]

I don't care what the usual suspects will claim; this has raised my hopes up even more. If Nnoitra comes back (and he will), there's no way Ulquiorra is staying dead. He doesn't fall under the aforementioned "completely bad" category, he has popularity on his side, he hasn't gotten a flashback, and Kubo refuses to confirm his death, while faving tweets about his return. It's all there in the fine print.

[enisy.livejournal.com]

This is not to diminish how elated I feel about Nnoitra's prospective return, by the way. He's my second favourite character. ♥

[femmelujah.livejournal.com]

The attention Nnoitra is getting warms my freakin' heart. T_T

[hinodeh.livejournal.com]

Noi Noi's big day has finally come! ;_;

[combandmirror.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to see what he decides to do with Nnoitra. :lala

Maybe that's the real reason for the delay in returning to HM? He has to figure out what to do with everyone who survived.

[hinodeh.livejournal.com]

Or maybe it's just KT being slow as usual and trying to juggle such a large cast as best as he can. XD

[stray-mikeneko.livejournal.com]

If that were ever to stop, it would be because it has stopped in Nnoitra too.

I’d translate this as “If he lost that, he would cease to be Nnoitra.” I think he’s saying that these characters wouldn’t be themselves without their sadistic tendencies. :P

You know, Bleach is the only one of my fandoms where my character preferences aren’t somehow bizarre and/or counter to the intentions of the author. I like almost everyone, even if my favorites are still side characters and villains. And I think this interview explains why. Kubo really does appreciate all of his characters, and he’s not trying to make his audience care about some at the expense of others, so there’s nothing for my perverse mind to react against. There is no “misaimed fandom” because he’s fine with anyone having a fandom. I love this about him, even if it sometimes leads to questionable things like his trouble with killing people and Mayuri becoming a Karma Houdini.

Wonderful post

[hinodeh.livejournal.com]

I’d translate this as “If he lost that, he would cease to be Nnoitra.” I think he’s saying that these characters wouldn’t be themselves without their sadistic tendencies. :P

That's a great explanation. I'd rep you if this were BA.

And you make a wonderful point about us not needing to feel guilty because KT doesn't judge his readers for loving certain characters since he does love them all himself. He's really a sweet man.

[eien-ren.livejournal.com]

"I mean, I think there may not be really a ‘feeling of being dead’
REALLY Kubo? You just NOW realized this?? I am glad he actually brought it though. I'm REALLY tired of all the arguments. Over it.

I always hear " I like anime because it isn't Disney" followed " No yo can't kill my favorite character! They should all have a happy ending"

It's got to be very difficult to keep the fans happy when they demand six of one and a half-dozen of the other.

[sakurahououji-n.livejournal.com]

I get tired of the "They're dead!"/"No they're not!" arguments too. It's not really worth arguing over.

And reading these post, I'm probably the only one who feels that until Kubo says otherwise, any character he IMPLIES is dead will be dead to me. Yes, I read the above interview, but as one person pointed out, he may simply 'finalize' the deaths instead of keeping people alive. I really wonder what would be the point of keeping some of them alive other than fan-service.

Before everyone kills me, let me end it with, I like to think of a character as dead because it prevents disappointment if they actually are, and allows for the feeling of pleasant surprise if they are not. So, because of that, I call for no ones return and will simply wait for Kubo to decide and let us know.

[inkedfeathers.livejournal.com]

A very interesting post!

Thank you very much for these translations.

[sleepwalkerrrr.livejournal.com]

Aah Kubo needs to be sadistic and learn that good guys can die too :) Although he probably has figured that out already. It's interesting to hear him say that he learned something from Arrancar arc and can "draw" (Kubo's synonym for writing? Well he actually DOES draw his story rather than writes it) with a wider scope.

[mezzo-marinaio.livejournal.com]

Aah, about that... Kubo usually uses the verb 描く (kaku, to paint/draw) when he talks about writing... I guess because manga is a particularly visual media, and using the homophonous verb 書く (kaku, to write) would feel weird to him - as it would be excluding an important part of his work. :)

You could probably translate it 'write' too. I did it once here... so as to avoid repeating the same word. XD

[peca-06.livejournal.com]

Thanks Mezzi for the translations ^_^ <333. It does answer some things and raises other questions. I've became attached to some arrancars and I didn't care for others. I really hope some of those who have a not so clear "death" be brought back, we'll see what sensei does. I do like that he decided to actually kill this time around, as sad as it would be, or it wouldn't be "believable" that it is a true war (like when the Quincies had their demise and even Ishida said that their deaths were justified, because they were unbalancing the way the "worlds" work, the souls not being purified , etc... Even though I have a hard time thinking that about wars -___-. Kubo and his moral dilemmas and ambiguities...) and people is always ranting "nobody dies in Bleach", this sure clears that up. Some won't be coming back and them being true "baddies" justifies their deaths as well and I guess we'll have to just enjoy their time on Bleach and their bittersweet and downright beautiful and tragic stories about their past. Also some of the good guys have lost limbs, were tortured mercilessly and have been maimed. It has definitely been carnage left and right if you think about it.

I'm not sure about some of the statements and what they mean like:
"Kubo: “For someone like Nnoitra, that is a good side. If that were ever to stop, it would be because it has stopped in Nnoitra too. That kind of side is present in Ruppi too, and in Szayel Aporro, and in Loli.”
I wonder if it means that these types are just unredeemable and would never change their twisted ways, no matter what you'll do to change their minds and they just bad to the core??? So it is consistent with their modus operandi and personality?? That is how I took it, but I'm not totally sure :/ . It is up to their reedemable qualities if Kubo decides to bring them back or not for some of these arrancars it seems.

[mezzo-marinaio.livejournal.com]

Lol, if it makes you feel better, I was scratching my head the whole time while translating that part - and the whole discussion about good and bad sides too! XDDD

I do THINK he may mean that in Nnoitra's point of view his actions are good... and that if his actions were ever to change, it would mean that something had changed inside him as well.

But that's just my own interpretation. XD

[manonlechat.livejournal.com]

Oh COME ON, Kubo. If you're considering resurrecting Nnoitra there's no way you can permanently kill off Gin. :P

I am feeling better than ever about Ulquiorra's chances, too.

[lennan.livejournal.com]

Sorry Kubo, I really resent Aizen's existence. XD

Oh Kubo, you like your characters too much, but alas, that can be kind of a detriment in a story. What are you going to do with them all?? You're going to be introducing more to us. T_T Honestly though, I'm not so sure whether he's being hypothetical and talking philosophically about writing and reading that differences between, or if this is an actual hint.

While, I understand what he means by Noitora doesn't really give off that feeling of being "dead", I wonder if that really means he has a future or if it means his story up to that point hasn't been completely told yet, so he doesn't feel like he's really all that dead. Or if this is one of those authorial moments where, even though you know how a character died, they're still alive because that linear time quality is kind of irrelevant. However, what I find interesting is his thought process on how he's dealing with his characters and examining his reactions to writing in various different ways.

[connaka.livejournal.com]

Sorry Kubo, I really resent Aizen's existence. XD

Hahahaha!! THIS. Literally caught myself nodding in agreement as I read that. XDD

[erisalia.livejournal.com]

I believe by espadas that are dead are espadas like Zommari, Aarainero, Apporro, Hallibel, eventually Yammy, the second espada. However I think Nnoitra, Nel, Ulquiorra, and maybe even Grimmjow and Stark will have a further appearance. Some espadas dont have a reason to continue and therefore died. However there are some espadas that do have a reason to continue and would add more enjoyment and depth to bleach.

[xxpianosex.livejournal.com]

Nnoitora ;_; pleaseplease

[mythic-fantasy.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

[cyanglow]

Thanks for this! Wow, looks like it was difficult.

While I'm pretty positive Espada 9, 7, and 2 are permanently dead, this gives me hope for the rest. 4 is currently dead but there are so many loose ends with him, I'm pretty much convinced he'll be back. Was never convinced that 6 and 3 were dead, and if he's talking about 5 being alive, that pretty much seals it for me. I want to hope for 1, but Kubo really ripped my heart up with them, so I'm not gonna think about it. XD

[pirottesse.livejournal.com]

*Even if I wrote them doing bad deeds, you don’t especially resent them, you know? So, I have this feeling… that maybe the scope of their likable parts has expanded?*


I am seeing Grimmjow into that description. He was a sadistic killer until the end but a lot of people liked the character because he showed some little lights into his darkness. So I keep the hope...
But yeah, we cannot know who is alive and who is dead until sensei decides to draw it.
Thanks a lot for the translation ^^

[conquistadora.livejournal.com]

It's a little hard for me to make any deductions since his answers don't make much sense to me. It must have been hard to translate it that far, so I'll congratulate you Mez. x_x

His talking about not wanting to let go of characters he likes bothers me though, I'll admit. I hope he doesn't bring Nnoitra back, because honestly I think it would ruin the story that Kubo created for him. It would be one thing to have a special arc dedicated to the character (or the Espada), but we saw pretty much all we needed to see in Nnoitra's flashbacks in order to understand enough of who he is and why. Going any further into his character would destroy some of the mystery about him that I like. Changing his character for the sake of a return would just be... unforgivable is the first word that comes to mind. It wouldn't be respectful towards the characters' wishes--he wanted to die like that.

[(Anonymous)]

The "feeling of death" part is a bit out of context.

物語の中では、完全に死んでいるキャラが何人もいて、今後彼らの出てくる可能性は“０”なんです。だけど例えば、ノイトラだったらこんな時はどうするかな、とか、ちょっと考えてみたりしますよね。

I'd have translated that as

“In the story there are many characters who are completely dead, and there is “zero” possibility that they appear later in the story again. But sometimes I think, for example, if it was Noitora what would he do?”

This is quite interesting. It sounds like “What would I have done with this character if I had continued their story?” Sensei seemed to be musing or experimenting with the idea, but at the same time it feels like that he’s talking about “dead” characters. Therefore, he’s thinking what he could have done with Nnoitra if he hadn’t killed him.

Sorry for commenting on this so late. I know this interview is old, but it's the first time I see it.

[mezzo-marinaio.livejournal.com]

On the contrary, thank you for your correction! :D

Now that I reread it, I agree with you that it should be translated like that. :3

Personally, I think that his interview (and especially that part) is ambiguous in general... even the 'feeling of not being dead' could be taken in so many different ways! Are they simple musings with no real aim behind them? A faint temptation of bringing some characters back? A sudden desire to resign as a mangaka and give the reins of the characters' fate to Nnoitra? Who knows! XD

As a Nnoitra fan, of course I'd like for him to come back... but I wouldn't mind just having some more backstory on him via, say, Nell's flashbacks - should Kubo feel the need to frame his end more properly. Also Grimmjoooooow. >_<

Well, I guess we can do nothing but see where he takes us! :3