INDEX
Works are born from a “desire to connect” and “empathy”.
Celeina：I have heard that the age range of this culture is decreasing.
Amano: When we talk to the younger generation who contribute illustrations to our magazine, they have been watching Vocaloid videos and playing Proseka (Project Sekai) since they were in elementary school. Since they have been watching such things since they were in elementary school, and especially since there is a culture of “I tried singing it,” it is easy for them to think about trying it themselves from a younger age. They try singing popular songs themselves and start presenting them. So, junior high school students who draw pictures and junior high school students who sing on “I tried singing” get together because they are in the same age group and have the same interests, and they start releasing their own music videos. That kind of movement is quite active.
Celeina：Is that happening? That’s amazing! It will be even more amazing when those kids become adults, won’t it?
Takano: If they have the experience of thinking up illustrations and presenting them since junior high school, or making music because they want to become DTMers in the future, they are going to be amazing in the future.
Amano: It is impossible for junior high school students to perform at live houses as a personal activity, but they can upload their works to the Internet. I think this is another major reason for its development.
Celeina：I think you have been in contact with illustrators and people who draw illustrations as a hobby for a long time, but have you seen any changes over time?
Amano: Well, in the 1980s, everyone was looking at the same things, so there were people who wanted to stand out from the crowd or do something different and stand out from the crowd. But nowadays, there is so much information and things that we don’t see the same things anymore. So, rather than the desire to do something different, I think the joy of sympathy that there are people with the same interests is greater, and people are more motivated to share their feelings by sympathizing and connecting with others who have the same interests. It has always been possible to make friends through music or painting, but now I think the desire to connect has become especially strong.
Celeina： So it’s “wanting to connect” and “empathy”.
Amano: That’s right.
Celeina： Now then, I asked Amano-san to choose a song that he would like everyone to listen to at this time. Could you tell us why you chose the song?
Amano：This is a Western song, but there was a person from an American company who told me that he wanted to expand my activities of introducing illustrations to the world, and he invited me to come to the U.S. alone. At the time, I was thinking that my illustrations were going to spread around the world, so it is a very memorable and emotional song.
Celeina：Then please introduce the song.
Amano: “Tô Voltando” by Simone.
