Although completely by chance, it’s quite appropriate that #07 in our Better Know a Producer series is our very own 7thwraith aka JT and a P from the East Coast! You could say the origins of HPT were founded by my very own encounter with JT, which began as a simple twitter lodging request to a stranger for Anime North 2013. Since then he’s become a close friend but unfortunately as JT grew more as a P over the years so did the number of his waifus and today there’s unlikely to be a more famous DD (nipponese term for Daredemo Daisuki or “loves anyone”) than JT.  If you don’t believe me just wait until you read the visual novel he wrote down below.

1. How did you first learn about “The iDOLM@STER”? What were your first impressions?

I first heard about im@s from random web surfing, when I encountered several niconico video rips. I thought im@s was a curious game since it had so many (female) characters….and they weren’t beating each other up (like in a fighting game). Didn’t really understand the game concept of ‘idol raising’ back then.

2. Have you played any of the idolm@ster games? Which is your favorite?

Yes. Idolm@ster 2 and some of OFA. I can’t really pick a favorite. Oh yes, Idolm@ster Shiny Festa (and Shiny TV) too.

3. Which idol is your favorite and why?

Iori. It really just started with curiosity as to why she was so snarky or why she’s so quick to criticize other idols around her. These are things that are probably not something that would make an idol one’s favorite, until I realized that these were all part of an outer shell to her truly desirable qualities that she does not want to people to know. If you want to read the full unrestrained version as to why, knock yourself out.

TL; DR version
– does not want to give up
– refuses to show weakness
– helps others in need
– very kind

Bonus: Kugimiya Rie

4. What is your favorite idolm@ster song and why?

Good heavens, that’s like asking to pick your favorite 2.5D waifu.

I won’t consider this as my all-time favorite but I want to mention SMOKY THRILL because that was the one song that started it all for me in Idolm@ster, so I really have a lot of respect to it.

On a relevant note, I realized that I’ve been asked this question many times and I always found the list of songs I like to be constantly changing. If anything, these choice songs fall in the following categories:

1. Danketsu-type songs (e.g. READY!!, Shiny Smile, お願い！シンデレラ, Thank You!)
2. Serious songs (e.g. 風花, arcadia, Next Life)
3. Images songs by choice/oshi idols
4. Songs I can’t believe are Idolm@ster songs (e.g. Be My Boy, choco fondue)

5. What’s your favorite aspect of the idolm@ster series?

I always loved how there’s soo many idols to like. 765 Pro alone was already a handful and even more so with 876 Pro, CG, ML and other spin-offs. And all of these are just the idol aspect of imas. There’s also the aspect of the voices behind the idols.

I’d like to think that it is because of imas that I pay attention and actually strive to get to know to the wonderful voices who make the idols come to life, and better yet, actually make the effort to see them in person.

6. When and how did you become a “Producer”? That is, when did you consider yourself an idolm@ster fan?

Probably became a fan when I first saw Ryuuguu Komachi in a SMOKY THRILL PV, which in turn made me learn about the im@s (game) world, which in turn made me pick up the game, which in turn made me learn more about im@s outside the game.

Becoming a proper Producer is another story altogether, mainly because I don’t think I’m at that point yet. I honestly think that there’s a certain level of dedication that has to be demonstrated first – something that is a work in progress for me.

7. Have you ever been to an idolm@ster live concert? Please share your experience or any particularly special memories if so.

I have. There are too many experiences to all mention within the constructs of this questionnaire. Just want to say that it’s because of that single idolm@ster live (M@STERS OF THE IDOL WORLD), which is coincidentally my first live experience in Japan as well as my first Idolm@ster live, that I want to keep coming to future Idolm@ster lives (which I did during the 9th anniversary live), as well as other events tied to im@s seiyuus, even outside of im@s.

M@STERS OF THE IDOL WORLD was special in that it had so many performers at the same place at the same time. If might not be an offshoot to say that this was what probably started my following of seiyuus.

8. Do you play any of the mobile game series such as Cinderella Girls and Million Live?

I have accounts on both but I’m currently not active. Would like to change that soon.

9. Are you watching the Cinderella Girls anime? What are your thoughts?

I do! I feel like Cinderella Girls is that missing piece that somehow makes the Idolm@ster experience complete, especially since I’ve been looking forward to it from as far back as when the first set of Cinderella M@ster series singles were released.

Seeing characters and their personality come to life from preconceptions set by whatever material was provided prior to the anime (the drama tracks from the singles, the mobage, etc) is probably one of the things I love about it. The other thing I enjoy about it is finding out which Cinderella Girl is getting voiced out next, and finding out which actress will be providing the voice. Taking into account that there are a lot of Cinderella Girls that have not been voiced, there’s no telling who will be joining the already big Idolm@ster family – and I find this very exciting.

10. Do you have any favorite seiyuu related to the idolm@ster series?

DO I?! Why yes, I do. Some I’ve liked before Idolm@ster, some after, and some through it:

Kugimiya Rie (Iori, 765 Pro)
Hayami Saori (Kaede, Cinderella Girls)
Uchida Maaya (Ranko, Cinderella Girls)
Amamiya Sora (Shiho, Million Live)
Ueda Reina (Umi, Million Live)
Fujii Yukiyo (Megumi, Million Live)

Safe answer: It’s really hard to pick up a favorite, especially when  there are almost a hundred (there might be more than a hundred) voiced idols in the franchise. Everyone is just really likable. It’s as simple as that.

11. Shout out your love about the idolm@ster series, say anything you’d like!

DAMMIT IDOLM@STER LOOK AT HOW MUCH/WHAT YOU’RE MAKING SPEND/DO

I-I mean アイマス最高！

Joking aside, I would like to thank Idolm@ster for opening up a whole new channel for fandom, which in turn opened up other channels for fandom. I love it all!

I am also thankful for the wonderful Producers, both the ones I’ve met and I have yet to meet (HPT included). I can’t imagine the Idolm@ster experience without each and every one of you.

12. [From Erwin] (some chuuni stuff omitted) 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?

Wow, that’s a tall order. Even a typical romcom MC will not have 11 girls to choose from. Of course, I don’t have to use all eleven but who am I kidding. I will not delve into that much details of what’s going on this ‘movie’ (any more detail, and I will have to charge you). I will instead go over how each girl is intertwined with the MC, as well as with each other.

>MC would be a citizen of the plebeian class. Would have no noteworthy traits and no noteworthy skills. Very low profile but has a high outlook, if not delusional getting his affection reciprocated by….

>Kugyuu’s character, a prominent royalty whom everyone respects and loves, which includes MC. Also MC’s first love. Too bad she’s doing everything but notice MC. Why would she?

>Hayamin’s character, a high-ranking aristocrat. Almost royalty. Very bored. Much yandere. Has taken an interest on MC and MC’s futile attempts on Kugyuu. MC’s not really noticing her

>Marei’s character would be the resident sorceress, perhaps someone who practices the dark arts. An acquaintance of MC. Also interested in MC.

>And now an attempt to tie them up.

>MC is well aware there’s no way he’ll have Kugyuu’s character’s attention.

>Hayamin character is also pushing her luck to get MC to notice her but to no avail

>MC consults the sorceress at her secret cavern to see if there was some hocus-pocus that would better MC’s chances with the royalty.

>Sorceress tells the MC she can conjure something up but it will (1) take time, (2) come at a cost,

>MC be like: yes yes do it

>MC gets his request as Marei casts some spells but fails to see that he has been tailed

>Actually tailed by Hayamin. Confronts MC asking why there’s he’s with yet another woman.

>MC tries to run away but hilariously slips, falls, hits his head with a sharp rock, and kills himself

>All of this before he had a chance to hear what he owes Marei for the spell

>>Fast forward to modern times

>MC2 is just another normal student who is under the care of a slightly older family friend while MC2’s parents are away on a trip

>Stef’s character is said family friend. Does modeling on the side.

>Uebaba’s character is MC2’s long-time next door neighbor. Very klutz. Can’t see far without glasses but turns into THE ULTRA HOT girl next door. Pays MC2’s visits when least expected. Mostly unwarranted

>MC2 is into the student council president who is actually…

>Ten’s character…who has an ojou kind of feel around her. Adored, loved, and respected by everyone. Actually notices MC2

>Ten confronts MC2 at a school stairwell.

>MC2 gets too excited that he loses his balance and hilariously falls down the stairs, hits his head

>MC2 suddenly syncs with MC’s memories. MC2 realizes he was MC in previous life

>Realizes Ten’s character looks exactly like his love interest in the previous life

>Remembers and realizes what the sorceress meant by how the spell will “take time”. MC/2 laughs at/complains how he wasn’t expecting the whole thing to span two lifetimes

>MC/2 be like: Damn witch, but thanks I guess

>MC/2 finally getting noticed and finally having a straight shot at his love interest’s affection, all is well.

>THE END? As if!

>Kugyuu’s past memories actually went another girl who is a close acquaintance of MC2, who also likes MC2

>The same went for all the other girls in MC/2’s previous lives

>Everyone who has a previous life remembered their lives when MC/2 remembered his

>modern Marei finds MC/2 and explains that her magecraft was (1) a time magic, and (2) AOE, affecting anyone within a certain distance of the caster. Demands payment for her services. MC/2 is broke lol

>MC/2 is coerced to sign a bounded contract and be at the mercy of Marei’s whims

>To make matters worse, modern Hayamin also gets a hold of her memories. Goes overdrive yandere in order to not lose MC/2 again.

>MC/2 gets confronted by all school girls at the same time. MC/2 retreats to his residence

>Ten gets dragged to pursue along with confused modern Kugyuu by angry Hayamin and a demanding Marei

>Everyone meets up at MC/2’s residence. Stef and Uebaba gets out and gets a sense of what’s going on

>MC/2 is forced to explain everything in detail, thanks to the Marei’s bounded contract

>>Fast forward again to the a distant future

>MC 3 is another yet another normal citizen of a highly advanced society…

Sorry, I can’t think of a title. I’ll think of one when I stop finding new potential wives.

13. Say something about the next interviewed person (garbejP), also please ask them a question.

I encountered garbejP (or what I prefer to call, garb) at online im@s thread which at the time was discussing Hara Yumi’s impending visit to a Canadian anime convention. I personally met and have gotten to know him better at the Producer offkai during that same Canadian anime convention. Since then, we’ve met up a couple more times at subsequent conventions.

Other than how garb is a pretty cool guy to chill with and how he can draw very well, I don’t really know anything else about garb (so sorry, garb). I do know who his oshis are, both inside and outside of Idolm@ster  maybe, either of which are very prprable.

So my question to you is this: who among your oshis do you feel the most comfortable having other people prpr?

 

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You can follow JT on Twitter @7thwraith

<Better Know A Producer>

#01 – [Exciel]
#02 – [Kurotsuki]
#03 – [vota]
#04 – [Seraph]
#05 – [Shinikenshi]
#06 – [Erwin]
#07 – [JT]←Here
#08 – [garbejP]