In our second interview with Director Sagawa, we talked about the impressive Gaia appearance scene in the play and the special effects scene in the first episode. Where did these ideas come from? And what kind of existence was "Ultrama Gaia" for the director who has been involved in many Ultras?

■ it's important to give serious thought to the "what would happen if if the monster has emerged" from the usual.

──Although it is Gaia of Ultraman who is the main character of this work, the scene where the earth and sand were soared at the time of appearance was impressive.

SagawaThat is my favorite scene (laughs). Until then, I thought that Ultraman was something that everyone knew, but from some point I began to wonder, "What is Ultraman?" It wasn't until I was old that I started thinking like this (laughs). This is also an idea born from such an idea, and if a giant weighing 42,000 tons lands, that would be the case. Rather, it's strange that no one did it. When I said, "I want to shoot this kind of video," the performer came up with an idea, and it wasn't bad if I tried to shoot it exactly. In production, I use a camera that can shoot at 10x speed. Then other directors started shooting. That kind of production is good because it's used in important places (laughs).

── I that scene has elaborate also lighting of the background.

SagawaIt's not that difficult if you use high-sensitivity film. Also, it was possible because of the digital technology, and in analog, it wouldn't be possible to see fine particles on a white background. But I think a VTR that doesn't use film wouldn't have that "taste", so it's difficult if you don't understand the difference between digital and analog. Gaia also shot a scene of sliding on the ground in addition to the scene of landing. I put an iron plate on the sole of Ultraman, slid it on a set covered with sand, and exploded the gunpowder accordingly. The timing didn't match and I took it again about 3 times.

── and main. The Sagawa's had their first episode of Ultra, but will be 25 years since "Taro".

Sagawa(laughs) At the time of "Gaia", I didn't think there would be a "Cosmos" later, so I tried my best to "show everything I could." It took 40 days to shoot episode 1 because we were shooting the opening and scenes that we could use in the future. No, it's actually more than that. After receiving the offer, I made a storyboard and had many planning meetings to solidify the image. I thought that if I didn't put in that much effort, everyone wouldn't be convinced. I don't think it was necessary to go this far in the days of the original "Ultraman" and "Return of Ultraman." However, when I was working on Gaia, I was determined to be involved in the series, thinking that it might be the last time I was involved with it.

── appearance scene of the monster was impressive. Underground reservoir is ruptured when the monster wrapped in crystal lands, was a great spectacle that the underground city is flooded.

SagawaJust because the monster is not interesting just falling and Dawn, did we reproduce the underground reservoir that was heard from an acquaintance previously. However, the space set up a set of only it was taken formed a set outdoors because it was not in the built (※). I it will be flooded also set because it uses a large amount of water. In the first of Synopsis without written only as a "monster is violent and has fallen to the city", asked by adding a depiction of breaking the underground mall at the script stage, I was allowed to inflate the drama on the assumption the special effects. That said, you have there is moderate because the scared children and do so violently. That it as the first episode had over a conventional four times the budget. It was quite angry later (laughs).

── Sagawa's is what is the thing that is particular about the shooting?

SagawaIt is about seriously thinking "what happens if a monster actually appears". The day-to-day observation power is also important. yen to the father's of the valley, there is a famous story that ...... that came up with a way to take the cloud of explosion when you are stirring the miso soup. In the case of myself, when the train went over the elevated line, I thought about the monster's eyes from the town line seen below. This is not something you can learn and learn.

── Then, please tell us your impressions after actually seeing "ULTRA-ACT Ultrama Gaia (V2)" and "UMW XIG Fighter".

SagawaDoes this Gaia I move up to joint? It is amazing. The fighter was impressed have been painted to "dirty". It has been extensively studied people who made this. It does not make for precise actual miniature up here, I do not make because it is handmade only about 2 aircraft. I am happy is of such products come out from the video that I took 13 years ago. I use the shooting if there at the time of the "Gaia" (laughs).

── Finally, please answer. Mr. Sagawa, who has been involved in the series since the first Ultraman, what position does "Ultrama Gaia" stand in?

SagawaUltraman is a series of youth, so it's very important to me. And because of the long-running series, we had to shoot "good footage" one after another. Among them, "Gaia" was able to seek even more realism. I naturally got an image of this work, but I was surprised at what I could do on TV. Thanks to you, I remembered it after a long time (laughs).

※: Toho built. Numerous TV dramas and movies, including the Ultra series was filmed in the studio that was present in Setagaya Ward. 2008 closure.