When talking about "Ultrama Gaia", the existence of a container vehicle that transforms from a hexagonal column into a machine is indispensable. Various container vehicles such as MLRS Bison, GBT Stinger, Seagull Floater, and Seagull Funtop appeared in the play, but the one that had the strongest impact was the XIG Fighter series that transforms into a fighter plane.

For the third installment of Interview Articles Ultrama Gaia, we interviewed director Hiromi Muraishi, who directed episode 10, "Rock Fight," which centered on the activities of the XIG fighters. In this 10th episode, Mr. Muraishi serves as both the main director and the special effects director.

■ UMW has taken hung as if there at that time

── because Episode 10 called out is XIG fighter all aircraft, it now amazing story.

MuraishiHuh very hard to do doing every time (laughs). I think that was also the place that could be because I did the story and feats director alone. That's when the feats director are separate, dont If you do not overlap a fine meeting, because it takes even that time. In such a case, things like closing your neck over too much pains are, I think that would be rejected as a director. But, the minute you do on your own, I from painful'm myself (laughs). Well and Let done thoroughly. It is a series early, because time with still a variety of room, I felt I would be now if do.

── It scene is amazing from the aerial base XIG Fighter SS and SG is emitted continuously.

MuraishiLooking back at it now, I think it was done quite carefully (laughs). Bandai's XIG Fighter had a well-crafted transformation ver. A.N.I.M.E., so I wanted to use this as one of the highlights. As a director, I also wanted to challenge myself by pursuing the coolness of the XIG Fighter. In particular, I placed emphasis on the dogfights in this episode. I wanted to show the weak parts of the drama through the action of the XIG Fighter, and create a sense of excitement.

── the canopy over the XIG fighter, it was also impressive scene that other aircraft is reflected.

MuraishiThat fact does not mean that the very technique specific altitude. Take a picture of the cockpit, we are combining the further canopy between the outer landscape. By putting in between the material sense of the glass, I tried to put out the realism of the cockpit. With what to do well, it is a game of ideas, or rather put out a sense of realistic impressive.

── dogfight Will scene was how to shoot?

MuraishiThe XIG Fighter miniature shooting green back (※ 1), have been synthesized, such as the empty background flowing. Although the only place to deform while flying was using CG, other or hanging everyone miniature, or turning round and round with the shaft in the fuselage. A miniature taken with green back, I Toka and out the perspective by combining nothing aircraft by changing the size.

Will there has been what ── miniature of XIG fighter?

MuraishiThe biggest plane itself was about 50cm. I think it was made of wood. There were also some that had been transformed into containers. The transformation was CG, so I don't think there were any with transformation ver. A.N.I.M.E.. In the past, they would put a motor inside and move it electrically, or pull it with piano wire to transform it. They would film the miniature itself with a transformation ver. A.N.I.M.E., frame by frame, and show it just like in the anime, or they would take cuts of the transformation of each part and edit them together to show it. But by this time, they were already using CG in earnest.

── Did you have that you have actually used a toy that had been put on the market at that time?

MuraishiWhen you take what machine also collectively, we sometimes flew hanging endowment little paint to XIG fighter toys. It helped at the time of terribly long day.

── and at the time of the toy, how about try to compare the XIG Fighter SS and SG of UMW?

MuraishiAt the time of container vehicles, I think that it had been able to very well as a toy. UMW is, Toka model rather than a toy, we we'll have is the feeling, such as the prop which was used in the shooting. It finer paint and detail, let fly in this state the video. I think you have to shoot hanging as it is when there at the time (laughs). Is I am happy get out the things of this kind of quality.

── Tiga, Dina, how about looking back the trilogy of Gaia?

MuraishiI wonder if the generation that grew up with "Ultraman Tiga" is already over 20 years old? When I talk to young people, I sometimes hear them say, ``I got hooked on (Ultraman) from Tiga.'' You'd be surprised, but it's been so long. Looking back on it now, I'm glad that "Tiga" was a success, followed by "Dyna" and "Gaia". I started Ultraman 80 a little over 30 years ago with much fanfare, but I couldn't keep it going as a series. I think it was precisely because of that experience that Tsuburaya Productions bet on the Heisei Ultraman Series from Tiga. At that time, Tsuburaya Productions said that the Heisei Ultraman Series would be at least a trilogy, and that he wanted to do it for three years. There were a lot of hardships, but I'm glad I was able to make it this far.

── today, thank you.

※ will be used at the time of 1 synthetic material of the shooting, which was the premise, that of the green background.