I promise this is the last P from Canada on one of these interviews (for now). The next interviewee is another Canadian P and also one of the lesser known member of HPT, in fact there are still many things I still don’t know about Erwin but after reading his interview I think he deserves the title for most chuunibyou P.
1. How did you first learn about “The iDOLM@STER”? What were your first impressions?
Erwin C. I first learned about idolm@ster through the anime. The first impressions of the anime was that it had solid characterization for the main three girls (Haruka, Chihaya, and Miki) but missed out on the opportunity to flesh out the rest of the cast, relegating them to chorus status.
2. Have you played any of the idolm@ster games? Which is your favorite?
I only played the One for all idolm@ster game and thus cannot compare any other im@s games. Despite being the only im@s game in my library; I still heartily recommend One for all to anyone interested in im@s.
3. Which idol is your favorite and why?
Hibiki. The reason she sits as No.1 in my books is because she encompasses many opposites to make her a truly rounded character. She is strong enough to keep up with Makoto yet is secure enough in her femininity to be able to put on dresses with confidence. She’s extremely driven, working hard to be the best idol; yet nurturing of others around her, such as when she buys Tokarou because it looked lonely. She is brave, moving far away from her home province of Okinawa to achieve her dreams; yet is willing to admit when something is impossible for her alone. Because of her confidence, her spirit, and her love, I can’t help but place her as No.1 idol in my books regardless of how often she is relegated to chorus status.
4. What is your favorite idolm@ster song and why?
Rebellion. Even though I do not know the lyrics to the song, the energy and vibe from the song really highlights her fierce spirit, something which her other songs don’t pull off as well.
5. What’s your favorite aspect of the idolm@ster series?
The seiyuus. Although much care has been given to each character; it is the seiyuus who give the characters their voice and also help deepen characterization due to their similarities and differences between the character and the seiyuu.
6. When and how did you become a “Producer”? That is, when did you consider yourself an idolm@ster fan?
I officially became a Producer around spring 2014. Although I had been slowly collecting CDs and other im@s goods, I felt all alone in my fandom with no one to share my new hobby with, since being into 2D idols was like becoming part of an even smaller niche of an already small niche of anime fans. However, when I met the im@s fans at an im@s panel at Sakuracon, I was able to delve further into the fandom and connect with other people who shared my interests. With the knowledge that I wasn’t alone in the fandom, I believe that I truly became a producer then and there. With the help of many other Ps such as Exciel ( who made the P card you see above), and JT ( who introduced me to other Ps), Kuro (who shares my love for all things Marvel), Jakub (who helped with translations for Hibiki’s and Takane’s OFA story), Seraph ( who also shares my interest/devotion/obsession with Numakura) and countless others who helped me to feel not so alone in the fandom.
7. Have you ever been to an idolm@ster live concert? Please share your experience or any particularly special memories if so.
Sadly, I have not been able to attend a live concert due to language barriers as well as work/family responsibilities. Hopefully this will all change in 2015/2016.
8. Do you play any of the mobile game series such as Cinderella Girls and Million Live?
Unfortunately, I don’t play either mobile games due to lack of financial resources.
9. Are you watching the Cinderella Girls anime? What are your thoughts?
Prior to the anime, I have had little interest in Cinderella Girls because the sheer volume of girls, who seemed very similar to each other. Additionally, because I did not play the mobage game; I had little to no connection to any of the girls. However, with the introduction of the anime, I am pleased to see in that rather than trying to cover everyone; the anime focused on a small entourage of girls, with a fleshed out producer. Currently my favorites are Akane Hino (I have a real soft-spot for genki, hard-working girls), Hikaru Nanjo (who is a die-hard tokusatsu fan and would probably would have been a die-hard Marvel Cinematic Universe fan too) and Miyo Harada (Any chick who can work her way around cars is 100% HOT; end of discussion)
10. Do you have any favorite seiyuu related to the idolm@ster series?
My current favorites are Manami Numakura, Eriko Nakamura, Asami Shimoda. Though recently, I have also developed a love for Akasaki Chinatsu ( I blame Kei, Paranda and Landro for this).
11. Shout out your love about the idolm@ster series, say anything you’d like!
Looking back at my im@s fandom; I can’t help but see both the good and the bad in it. The good is that I am now friends with some of the kindest, open-minded ( we aren’t REALLY against livers) people who opened their discussions and hearts to my strangeness (anyone who finds the comic ‘The Far Side’ legitimately funny like I do is 100% strange: end of discussion). They didn’t have to. They could have just punked my ass hard with some obscene picture as my ‘P’ card (I’m really REALLY glad Exciel didn’t do that). They could have ignored me. But they didn’t. They invited me in and I am glad to call them friends. The bad is that due to this new hobby, I’m probably spending enough money per annum to cover a university semester’s worth of tuition (including overpriced books!) However, when measuring both the pros and the cons; I have come to the conclusion that I am indeed better off with this new circle of friends and this new (and albeit expensive) hobby than without. Huh. I suppose the MasterCard commercial was right, there are some things money can’t buy. See you guys at Anime North!!!
12. [From Shinikenshi] You are the coach of a basketball team and are tasked with building your roster. Which im@s idols would you put in your starting line-up? You are allowed to substitute basketball with another sport if it helps.
Ah yes, the basketball question. Normally, I’m not really a basketball guy, but I wanted the challenge of making a winning basketball team out of idols, as well as furthering my understanding and interest in Chiisama, who is also into basketball (hey you cannot oshi a seiyuu and not want to know his/her interests!). Keep in mind that this selection is not very complicated; I simply matched the best personalities of 765 pro to the positions which they would excel at.
Point guard: Ami, Mami, Yayoi, Miki (unawakened), Yukiho
Reason: Quick athletic reflexes are needed to drive the ball into enemy court in order to create scoring chances. Yukiho would also be placed into this position because she would be very good at retreating back to our side of the court for defense.
Center: Takane, Ritsuko
Reason: Good centers require sound tactical knowledge of which player will be open and when as well as a keen eye to spot scoring opportunities. Both Takane and Ritsuko are keenly observant and are intelligent enough to predict player movements on the court. Both are some of the tallest of the bunch.
Shooting guard: Chihaya, Haruka, and Azusa
Reason: the focus on shooting skills requires single devotion to one area at the cost of others. Chihaya’s narrowed focus coupled with proper training can achieve powerful shots from the perimeter. Haruka’s clumsiness is diminished significantly when her only focus is to shoot. Haruka also provides great synergy with Chihaya and is able to keep Chihaya from overexerting herself or from taking shots that are impossible to score with. Azusa, due to her lack of direction sense, has to be placed in this position because it requires less movement and thus less chance of going in the wrong direction.
Power forward: Miki (when awakened) and Iori
Reason: power forwards not only require physical stature, but more importantly an aggressive attitude to catch passes and hit shots near the basket. Miki and Iori’s more aggressive personalities coupled with proper training can achieve this. However, if Miki is still in the unawakened state then her position would relegated to point guard.
Small forward: Makoto and Hibiki
Reason: due to their physical prowess, and aggressive personalities, both girls would not only excel at offense, but would also be flexible enough to change roles on the fly to help bolster deficiencies in shooting, moving the ball, defense, etc.
13. Say something about the next interviewed person (JT), also please ask them a question.
Ah yes, the question. For this, I shall require a complex divination process to find our next vic-…er I mean individual. Ranko, if you please. (Ranko walks in wearing a chemical protective, full-body encapsulating suit with self-contained breathing apparatus while holding a jar of liquid mercury)
Ok, Let me put on my safety equipment. (dons chemical protective, full-body encapsulating suit with self-contained breathing apparatus)
Rmmmkmmm! pmmr tvvvv lifiiiid onfu ver mific sfimbil! (translation: Ranko pour the quicksilver over the mystic symbol)
Ranko complies.
AAfffff, eye, sfeee eeet. (translation: Ah I see it)
Ifff veee JT. (translation: It be JT)
(editor’s note: why aren’t you a RankoP!?)
Exits room to take off safety equipment. Here be your question JT… A rather appropriate one since it is no secret that you have so much love in your heart that one oshi wife is not enough to contain it all; requiring up to 11 oshi to fully contain your love and devotion. The question is…
You are a movie producer tasked with creating a romantic comedy movie starring you and 2 or more of your 2.5d wives. Please explain in detail the overall plot of this movie Bonus question: what would the title be?
You can follow Erwin C. on Twitter @evc_09
<Better Know A Producer>
#01 – [Exciel]
#02 – [Kurotsuki]
#03 – [vota]
#04 – [Seraph]
#05 – [Shinikenshi]
#06 – [Erwin]←Here
#07 – [JT]