The music of the animated version of “ULTRAMAN” is Toda Shinko and Tanaka. The names of these two may be strange in the animation industry, but they are famous in the game industry, such as “Metal Gear” series, “Halo”. Series, “The Final Fantasy XIV Freshman Ao Zeya”. How did the two people from the Berklee College of Music participate in this work? How will the music and worldview in the drama behave? The second bullet of the special program of ULTRAMAN officially interviewed them as classmates and opponents

Toda’s participation in “ULTRAMAN” has been invited by the producers of the game “The Cloud of War” and “Night”, hoping to work together on an animation work. When I first received this plan, Toda heard that it was composed of several composers, but it was not easy to get such a team in the short term. Therefore, I hope that I will write a main theme first by Toda, and set the overall direction. If it is feasible, then send this direction to the outside and collect it through the form of recruitment. In the end, it was produced by Toda Shinko and Bianchi

Toda and the team were actually classmates when they were in college, and they were the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Toda is a film music department (Film Scoring); in the line is to make music arrangements and studio music production, such as television, advertising, etc., according to the needs of customers to produce music for use everywhere, in The studio carries out the sound recording and mixes it

Toda, after 2 years of film music composition science, also wanted to learn the composition of the studio environment, so I chose the same subject contemporary music composition and composition (Contemporary Writing and Production), two people So become a classmate. When the graduation design was started, both parties were very concerned about what kind of work the other party would come up with. At that time, the two men regarded each other as rivals, and they were not willing to show weakness

After graduating from college, Toda entered KONAMI. At that time, he took over the game music of “Metal Gear”. At that time, there was a place for composing music. At this time, Toda thought of it. In the array, there will be no stable work, and Toda called him. “Would you like to play music?” This became the first opportunity for the two to cooperate

When composing for “Metal Gear 4”, Toda taught the film and music production techniques he had learned at the university to the team and created them together. The same technology was used in this ULTRAMAN. This is also the reason why the two were selected for this animated composition

Toda believes that the array as a music partner, compared to the music concept shared by the two, is more of a feature that they do not have, and each of their own strengths, so they can form a complementary relationship. Toda is pursuing the essence of musical performances and is good at symphony. The array is better at using electronic instruments and biasing programs. Therefore, Toda will judge according to the needs. If the song is suitable for the symphony, then it is responsible for it. If it is suitable for electronic music, it will be handled by the array. Each respects the characteristics of the other party and the division of labor is clear. One of the points that I admire to Toda is the insight into the work, and it is easy and clear to convey the feeling that I want to express to the other side, which provides great help to the composition

About the composition of “ULTRAMAN”, when I first heard the title, Toda immediately became excited and even a little overwhelmed. The group also said that “Ottoman” is even a familiar work by his parents. When he thinks that he is about to provoke this burden, a heavy historical atmosphere will come to him

Toda said that as a Japanese, “Ottoman” may say that there is pressure to “can only succeed and not fail.” Because of its wide audience, no matter how old the age can accept this work, people who know “Ottoman” or people who don’t know must bring them into the world. This is also the common goal of Toda and the team

The instructions given by the supervisor are not to listen to the music of the “Ottoman” series. The meaning is to innovate and not to imitate. When Toda saw these scenes, she also had her own melody in her head, so she also agreed with the idea of supervision. After all, once you listen to the music of the past, the whole thoughts will be taken. However, she also hopes that when the audience hears the music, they will realize that “this is Altman!” In addition, Toda believes that once he listens to music, he can immediately recognize the aliens. This is especially important when debuting

In the point of giving character characteristics, the array also said that it took a lot of effort in the use of the instrument. Toda said that compared to Altman, the enemy monsters and aliens are actually relatively good. In this work, because there are a number of Altman debut, each of the debuts naturally wants to be handsome, but there can be no similar songs, and no impression of the specific songs. For the composer, it is always the most painful thing to write a song with a personality

This music production, first of all, the two will first get the silent image being produced, to make music production. The two exchanged their own music to each other and set specific tone and direction. Although the two often hold different opinions on the same scene, there are no special problems in actual production

As for the music in the play, Toda said that when he first saw the video, he left a “heavy” impression on the first words. In the world of Altman, there is also the same distress as human beings. This atmosphere is also reflected in music. Especially at the end of the first words, the style of suspense was used to ignite the fuse of the story. Added in the array, because the story is very delicate, the performance of the music should be careful, not too prominent, because we must be aware of the expansion of the second words. Toda said that the most important thing about music is to assist the work, not to guide the development of the work. When watching the video, Toda is the first and second words to be considered together, so the music of the first words is designed to connect the second words

The second sentence is the father’s return. I still don’t realize that my son is watching the father in battle. I am awakened by the belief that “I should do something for my family and others,” and I am very enthusiastic. When it comes to the overall theme of “ULTRAMAN”, it is mainly focused on the second words. At the time of composing, Toda and the squad are also aware of this heroic spirit. One is to strengthen the genre of the genre, and the other is to increase the number of intervals..

Speaking of the “Ottoman” series, the “transformation” element is naturally indispensable, and the music of the transformation scene is also the biggest problem for Toda and the array. Toda believes that there must be an impression in the mind first, that is, “the morphing song is equivalent to the main melody”, and including the variation, 13 songs were made

There is one thing that must be paid attention to in composing music, that is, the audience cannot be reminded of the transformation of the past works. Not only the video, but also the music, let the audience feel that this is a brand new Altman. Toda said that he is often asked to write “melody that is easy to remember” at work. This is important, but it is more important to listen to the main theme. People want to listen to it many times, just like poisoning. The composer himself will listen to it hundreds of times to confirm

In the production, the number of obsolete songs is even more numerous. Toda said that once the song is invalid, it cannot be processed and reused. It must be made from scratch. And want to write a few of the most satisfying main melody. Toda believes that listening to the melody is not only reflected in the melody, but also in the rhythm. Speaking of the rhythm of the main melody, Toda takes the movie “Terminator” as an example. I hope that this main theme will also satisfy everyone

Toda revealed that this piece of music uses a “mixed music” of symphony and electronic music. The ensemble is complemented by a symphonic instrument, but it sounds essentially different from the classical symphony that is heard in the performance hall. It is a good blend of the elements of electronic music, which is also inspired by the “sound” of electronic musical instruments. Toda said that the “sound” of the character is determined first, and which character should use the instrument, and then the whole of the song is constructed. In order to fully integrate the scale of the music with the world view of the picture, it has undergone many adjustments

Finally, regarding the “listening” point of this music, Toda said that how to incorporate “heroic spirit” in this main theme is the challenge. At the time of creation, the whole brain is “strong and gentle” “the hero of everyone”, and finally the impression of Altman fighting the enemy. In the array, I hope that in addition to music, everyone can pay attention to the “picture” part. Not only the overall picture, but also the details of the action, look, line of sight, rhythm of the lines, etc., all of which exudes the “thoughts” that the supervisor wants to convey. In order not to lose to the image, the music is also unreservedly dedicated to the production. I hope that everyone can feel the “full strength” that every team pays when they look at it

[References].

• “ULTRAMAN” official website: [アニメ”ULTRAMAN” composer] 戸田信子 × 阵内一真インタビュー!