Season 4 concept art, interview, and character Q&A.
(Below is a cleaned up machine translation. Please note that due to the nature of machine translation, the text may not be wholly accurate or may read oddly. Japanese is included after English for reference. The text was lifted from the images using this site, and though there's been care taken to make sure everything is correct, there is a chance of unintentional typos.)
Dress up ★ in student uniforms
in class and after school♪
The youthful school love of phantom thieves ♡
(DRESS UP★学生服)
授業中も放課後も♪
怪盗たちと爽やか青春スクールラブ♡
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CHARACTER INTRODUCTION
Joker (ジョーカー)
A world-traveling phantom thief. He and his partners, Hachi and Hosshi, are after the ancient treasure. Today, he appears in a blazer with a loose tie ♪
An alien who is after the ancient treasure. He is Joker's rival and often gives Joker three choice questions. Today, he's giving some questions inside the school!?
He is the head of the Koga Ninjas, and is a genius ninja that only comes once in a decade. He used to attend the same ninja school as Hachi, and as a senior student, often took care of him (Hachi always being a bit of a klutz).
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Character Q&A
Q: What is the first thing you associate with the word "Autumn"?
Q: 「秋」 という言葉から最初に連想したものは?
Phoenix: "Autumn? Is there anything you associate with Autumn? Where I come from, we don't have seasons. It's interesting that humans have special feelings about the seasons... *Yaaawn*....I'm so sleepy."
Joker: "Autumn is the season of appetite, of course!! Curry, ramen, hamburger, sushi, omelette rice, pizza...... Ugh, I'm getting hungry! Hachiii! Make a special curry...!"
Hyakkimaru: "Hmm, Autumn is the season of reading, isn't it? I have an old scroll. While reading a scroll, I eat my favorite dish, Oden Chikuwa....... That may make it the season for appetite as well."
Joker and Phoenix, having spotted a treasure hidden in the school, have disguised themselves as students. It seems that they have ended up in the front and back of the class......... They seem to be having a surprisingly good time as students ♪
The season 4 broadcast of the "Kaitou Joker" anime is only about a month away. Season 4 will feature a new and exciting storyline, including the revelation of the mystery of the "Ancient Treasure" that Joker and Phoenix are aiming for.
As a maiden*, I have high expectations for the activities of these handsome phantom thieves, not to mention the mystery of the treasure. We can't wait for Season 4, so we looked around and wondered what the phantom thieves were doing today…
Joker and Phoenix are disguised as students and sneaking into the school to look for some treasures ♪
And outside the window is Hyakkimaru, who appeared in Episode 12 (Season 2)! Director Yukiyo Teramoto says, "Hyakkimaru will also appear in Season 4." Let's find out more about Season 4 in this interview with Director Teramoto and eavesdrop on the secret talk of the phantom thieves in class ♡
Creating a story that is more attuned to the emotions of the characters
キャラクターの心情により寄り添った物語作り
――What is the concept for season 4?
――シーズン4のコンセプトは?
I went back and re-read the original story from the beginning to see what I wanted to use as the main pillar of the story. Then I thought that Phoenix, who appeared in only one or two chapters in the original story, had a very good flavor. Also, I personally thought it was a dead plan, but Dai Sato, who was in charge of the series composition, really liked the idea of another project based on the true identity of President D. From there, we were able to create the pillars of Phoenix & Hosshi and President D, which spanned seasons 3 and 4.
――By the way, do you have a favorite episode from Season 3?
――ちなみに、シーズン3で特にお気に入りのエピソードはございますか?
Spider Ace, who appeared in episode 35, fights with a strong spirit but becomes skittish when he runs out of coffee, was cute. Hayami also appeared in episode 38, which featured DJ Peacock, and I made Hayami's wheelchair a futuristic design that was easy to animate.
――What does Director Teramoto find important in the production of Season 4?
――シーズン4の制作のなかで、 寺本監督が大切にされていることは?
Not only in Season 4, I always keep in mind to portray the everyday life of Joker and friends with care. Of course, we want to portray actions and tricks in a cool way, but we also want to include scenes where viewers who see Joker and his friends in their everyday lives can relate to them and say "I would do that too!" I try to include scenes whenever possible so that viewers who see Joker and friends in their everyday lives can relate to them.
I tried to create a fun atmosphere in the smallest details, such as Hachi's complaint about Joker's torn cape while sewing it and saying, "I'm going to put a cute patch on it!"
Episode 36, which was an original anime episode, was also inspired by my desire to depict everyday life. I thought it would be amusing if Joker, who sent out an advance notice without realizing that a typhoon was coming, got confused and panicked and was tossed around (laughs).
To find the ancient treasure, Joker and friends will travel around the world to places such as India, Egypt, and Japan. You can also expect to enjoy episodes from the original stories about the places they visit. Episode 42 is an in-depth look at the inner life of a young boy named Chappa, and then the story of Pretty Ai (who is popular in the original work) is also a story about Ai's feelings.
――And in Season 4, Hyakkimaru, Hachi's senior, will appear again!
――そしてシーズン4では、ハチの先輩 である百鬼丸が再び登場するとのこと!
I am very happy because I have been wanting to have him appear again. Hyakkimaru is stoic and cool, but I felt sorry for Hyakkimaru because he loved Hachi so much, but was taken away by the suddenly-appearing Joker (laughs). I imagine that Hyakkimaru is an only child, so he thinks Hachi is cute like a little brother. From Hachi's point of view, Hyakkimaru is a cool senior who helped him out when he was in a pinch. Hachi has many siblings, so I think he likes older people who he can rely on. Joker is also older than Hachi, but… I wonder if he thinks Joker is sloppy and if he doesn't clean his room, his life is going to be a mess. In that sense, Hyakkimaru and Joker are complete opposites.
――What is the relationship between Joker and Phoenix at this stage of season 3?
――シーズン3を経た段階の、ジョーカーとフェニックスの関係性は?
Phoenix thinks Joker is "an interesting guy" and Joker thinks Phoenix is "a weird guy." However, Phoenix, who used to look at humans coldly, comes to understand the value of life and friends as he comes into contact with Joker and his friends in Season 4. Joker, who has always had a rivalry with Phoenix, will be fighting alongside Phoenix in Season 4, so you will be able to see how the relationship between Joker and Phoenix changes little by little.
――How is the recording process now that you have started recording for Season 4?
――シーズン4のアフレコも始まってい るとのことで収録現場はいかがですか?
Hosshi's lines are basically just "Hosshi," and that's all that is written in the script, so when it was hard to understand how Hosshi was feeling, Atsumi Tanezaki, who plays Hosshi, would come to me and ask, "How does he feel here?" and I was happy to be asked that. In the anime, he only says "Hosshi," but in the scenarios and storyboards, Hosshi's feelings are sometimes described in detail. In episode 34, Hosshi notices that Phoenix is in jail and thinks, "Oh, Phoenix is there. But that's OK." (laughs). Hosshi is rather dry and funny with Phoenix. I think he just wants to go where he smells food, putting appetite first (laughs).
In Season 4, we will have stories that will help you feel closer to Phoenix, President D, and Spade and the others, so please look forward to the broadcast.
The Big Prediction ♪
Formation! The Phantom Thief Student Council★
What if Joker and his friends were to form a student council.......? Director Teramoto answered this exciting question. The Student Council President is.............. a surprising person!!
I think Joker is the one who isn't a member of the student council but somehow hangs out in the student council room every day. Roko is the most serious person in charge and is the student council president, and Queen is the vice president, but she doesn't do much (laughs). Roko, Spade (the chairperson) and Dark Eye (the secretary) will take their jobs seriously. And Hosshi, the treasurer, will eat all the money and everyone will respond, "Gyahh!!!" Hachi is a fairy who cleans up the mess in the student council room, and Phoenix is a pet bird that is kept secretly in the student council room. Shadow is possibly a delinquent. (Director Teramoto)
M2
puisque vous partez en voyage
(Francoise Hardy feat. Jacques Dutronc)
M3
the train
(Bobby McFerrin)
M4
Woody and Dutch on the slow train to Peking
(Rickie Lee Jones)
M5
carry your load
(Carole King)
M6
シロクのトラム
(Szaloki Agi)
M7
le solex
(Lilicub)
M8
horario de verao
(Carlinhos Brown)