BEHIND THE SCENES

Korean (Original)

틸 tmi

- 참가자 중 가장 예민하고 섬세하며 겁이 많습니다.

- 매사에 소심하나, 본인 분야의 예술과 미 지 관련해서는 살짝 맛이 갑니다..

- 무언가에 몰입하면 외에는 아무것도 보 이지 않는 타입.

수아 tmi

- 참가자들 중 가장 피부가 니다.

- 웬만하면 입을 열지 않기 때문에 다른 참 가자들 대부분 수아를 어려워합니다.

- 가끔씩 의외의 대범한 행동을 하여 남들 을 당황시킵니다.

- 기본적으로 타인의 관심을 귀찮아하며 참견받는걸 싫어합니다.

미지 tmi

- 참가자들 중 가장 붙임성이 좋습니다.

- 속내를 잘 감추지 못하며 거짓말을 못합 니다.

- 상대적으로 좋은 환경에서 자라 세상의 부정적인 면에 둔감한 편입니다.

- 주변인들 별명붙이기를 좋아합니다.

English (Fan-Translation)

Till TMI

- The most sensitive, delicate, and meticulous of the participants

- Usually timid, but gets a little crazy when it comes to his art and Mizi..

- When he's focused on something, he doesn't notice anything else around him.

Sua TMI

- The skinniest of all the participants

- Difficult to get to know as she barely speaks to anyone other than Mizi

- Has a tendency to embarrass others by acting boldly and unexpectedly

- Annoyed by other people's attention and meddling.

Mizi TMI

- The most sociable of all the participants

- Has a hard time lying about how she feels

- Grew up in a relatively good environment and as a result tends to be a bit naïve

- Likes to give nicknames to people she's close to

Simplified Chinese (Original)

妻子们！感谢大家在2023年给我们带来很多难忘的经历，也请大家多多关注后续的《异形舞台》 

关于上次大家问的几个问题，现在终于可以公开答案了#关于异舞的Q&A

1.Sua后面还会有出场机会吗？

会！因为是美智最爱最依赖的人，所以不管以什么形式都会再次登场

不过有没有新歌目前还是秘密哦~

2.想看全员存活的if线

好的~如果大家喜欢看，我会准备的！哈哈！

3.关于有没有去中国其他城市的想法

有推荐玩的城市么~如果大家推荐的话，任何城市，我都想去[有票了]

4.每个角色喜欢和讨厌的东西

-美智喜欢牙刷

-秀雅是没有那么多条条框框和规划的人，大部分时间都是发呆的

-如果伊凡和蒂尔去咖啡厅，伊凡会喝巧克力拿铁等甜饮料，而蒂尔只喝苦涩的美式咖啡。"

-Luca和泫雅的故事马上就要公开了，所以需要保密哦！

5.动画里还会出现大家的幼年体吗？

会的，过去的故事会一一解开

 《异形舞台》从现在开始正式进入故事阶段，妻子们敬请期待！ 

English (Fan-Translation)

Thank you for your support and all the unforgettable experiences you allowed us to have in 2023. Please look forward to more Alien Stage content coming next year. Regarding the questions you asked last time, we can finally open the answers to the public #AlienStageQ&A

1. Will Sua appear again in the future?

Yes! Since she is the person Mizi loves and relies on the most, she will appear again perhaps in a different form. Whether she will have a new song or not is a secret for now~

2. I want to see a what if? where everyone is alive

Okay~ If you want to watch it, I will prepare it! Haha!

3. Will you visit other cities in China?

Do you have any recommendations of cities to visit~ If you recommend some I want to try to visit

4. What does each character like and dislike?

- Mizi likes toothbrushes 

- Sua doesn't have many preferences and tend to go with the flow

-  If Ivan and Till go to a café, Ivan will drink sweet drinks like a chocolate latte, while Till only drinks bitter Americanos 

- Luka and Hyuna's story will be revealed soon so for now its a secret!

5. Will everyone's child self appear in the animation?

Yes, the character's past will be revealed one by one

<Alien Stage> has officially entered the story stage so please look forward to it!

Simplified Chinese (Original) 

(Might be a little messy as the original transcripts include comments like "so cute" or "they are whispering" and I can't read simplified Chinese but I tried my best to streamline this)

Q. 第一个问题:中文设定集会在中国出版吗

A. 团队很想出,素材很多,非常希望把素材公开给大家

Q. AS初始设定简单提出来

A:最初构思只有misu,本来只有一个短篇的,但因为很多团队成员想把AS变成连续剧,

qm: 刚开始 AS左右misu她一句很开心了

刚开始企划是没有花园的,是以现代都市为背景的,现代人类被外星人胁迫

本来 sua和mizi,俩都是爱豆练习生,有一个是上了大学,有一个是继续爱豆梦

qm:但是我更喜欢ivti还有哥姐加入

Q3:请说一下初期和现在变化最大的角色,和初期和现在一样的角色

A:其实变化最大的是一万, 万初期是像小奶狗一样的,温柔体贴男孩,后来演变成了内外分离的状态,一万相当于市带上了一个面具,内心和外表表现出来的是分离的

然后在发展的过程中必须让luka 和一万人物形象有个差异

然后现在的情况就是luka和一万有一个差异性,所以角色之间分离的很好

初期到现在任务没有变化的是 sua 人物

vv:我们企划第一个角色就是 sua, sua相当于企划的一个代表人物

以sua为基础衍生出了其他的角色

Q4:在制作AS的时候有什么深刻印象的小插曲?

A:最近的r6是以人最少的制作团队制作出来的作品,

vv:其实之前的两个月的时间工作量很大,一直在跟队员说一定要完成,被时间追着跑,想表现出完美的r6,所以大家都在努力制作

其实我们做完r6本来是打算开个庆功宴的

但是搞完之后大家都走了 也没开 但是只有我们qm老师非常开心

qm:我现在印象最深刻的是制作r6的时候,前半部分我是充满了力量的,所以在制作角色的时候我也充满了力量,但是vv觉得这样不好,所以把我的东西都抹掉了(玩笑语气)然后luka也有差不多的情况,其实画luka的时候一定要让他长得非常帅,然后要把他性格表现出来,我画的时候很苦恼,感觉两者不可兼得, 所以我画了四五次

依旧qm:所以我看前面的左右的视频的的时候其实我觉得() 所以现在每一天都有点小小的遗憾

vv:所以vv给qm坐板绘的时候,都会告诉她,这个瞬间必须得帅

每个瞬间都有药表现的重点

qm:当然啦我自己创作的时候不会只把帅当作第一位(好像是这意思

Q: r7 啥时候出来

vv:其实来之前我们还在创作, 一直在努力想r7,我们也不清楚啥时候能给大家,

qm:其实我来中国以后一直在拿pad画

Q:在r5里 luka只是单纯为了获胜而模仿 sua吗

A:vv:其实卢卡这个角色有很多的粉丝,然后粉丝很忠实,只要唱歌就()但是luka这个角色,想再舞台上找到优越感,通过碾压别人来找存在感,舞台之外的卢卡其实像提线木偶一样, 被别人操纵着,戴上面具,所以舞台就是luka有自己的存在感, 主导性,唯一的卢卡的空间

Q:老师好呀,能说说外星人和主人之间的关系吗 比如 mizi的主人挺喜欢他的;但是还是把她送往花园

A:其实我们不能把外星人的情感和人类相提并论,其实是完全不一样的物种了

vv:外星人的寿命比人类要长得多,所以外星人对待人类的时候,其实是希望人类可以活出自己,让人类在短暂的时间里做自己想要的事情,所以再怎么爱人类也不可能像父母一样对人好

qm:其实不是所有的外星人都和人类是扶养关系,其实他们有很多很多,其他的关系,有的外星人是为了一己私欲利用人类, 有些是为了自己的目的饲养人类,养好几个,然后有的是像实验小白鼠一样,以后我们会想办法把这些外星人的设定一一展现给大家

Q:老师们在上海吃了什么喜欢的,又想去旅游的城市吗

v:其实我在韩国也非常喜欢吃海底涝,于是我在中国也吃了海底捞,来中国当天晚上就去吃了海底捞

qm:我也喜欢海底捞,其实在韩国也有海底捞,在办公室附近,所以一有好事儿就带员工去吃海底捞,上一次也好这一次也好,每一次我吃都会拍照片,发给韩国队友,让他们羡慕

qm:南京中路啥啥店铺我都扫光了,非常喜欢南京中路的那些周边店,真的东西太多了玲琅满目

v:我们逛那些周边店的时候,我们想着真的太好了东西又大又好看 

qm:这些天我收到了好多礼物, 真的好开心,我们会带回去给韩国的成员看炫耀一下过得有多好

Q:虽然黑毛组是死人了(讲的没这么直白) 没听清

v:其实As是有关爱情的故事, 其实启动初期

q:所以其实是以现在活着的那些角色们,以他们怎么成长,来描绘出死去的角色对他们的影响

v:其实之前的作品也好,As也好,大部分都是以爱情,丧尸, 所以大家可能通过我们的这些角色,感受到了同样的情感?

q:虽然我俩是知道最后的结局的,但其实我们做了很深很深很多很多的苦恼,然后比大家想象的很多的去推敲角色,把他们挖出来,所以希望大家能够反复看视频的同时,也可以关注我们动态和微博,希望可以体会到我们里面的情感

Q:一万亲till的时候啥感觉

V:刚开始大家讨论的时候大家坐一起,然后qm开始掐vv老师,然后会员很开心

然后看到组员的想法时候他俩觉得,这个肯定行

qm:vv会把故事的形象以文字的形式展现出来

其实大家知道这个视频里最重要的瞬间就是接吻的瞬间嘛,然后我们在画整个剧本的时候就会好好推敲他们是以怎么样的情感去

然后做完这些剧本之后vv老师得确认

她说ok之后我才能去完成后续的作业

vv:然后最后的接吻的一瞬间, 真的是非常重要

qm:在画画的时候我共情了( 代入了那一瞬间),其实包括我在内我们所有组员都很喜欢bl作品

vv:但是我们做r6的时候,其实感觉我们所有的精力都被r6吸引了,就没有去找其他的bl作品看

所以大家是被r6把精气都吸走了 (笑)

Q:想知道舞台服装咋做的,是不是外星人主人提供的

vv:首先我们要决定以什么样的感情线,以及衣服去表现,举个例子的话比如r5,就像是小王子和他老婆(?)的感觉,就好像双方都不情愿的契约婚礼一样, 其实刚开始的时候都有啥啥的东西,但是后来都取消了

在r6的时候的概念是,till是失去老婆的鳏夫

一万是非常完美的男人的形象出现

如果一万穿着非常男人的服装, 然后做着小孩才会做的事情的话,会形成非常大的反差

就是大家看视频的时候会发现, 一万的视频刚开始是撸上去的, 后来慢慢放下了

有一方面是因为下雨,但是另一方面是想要表现一万慢慢慢慢摘下自己的面具

English (Fan-Translation)

(Not exactly a direct translation of the writing on the left side of the page but all the main points are included)

Q: Will the concept design work translated into Chinese and published in china? /Will the Chinese ver concept design work and published in china? 

A: The teams really wants to release it, there's a lot of material, we really hope to make it public to everyone 

Q: What were the initial plans for Alien Stage

A: The original idea was a short story with only Mizi and Sua. It was an alien invasion in a modern city without Anakt Garden. Both were idol trainees, but one went to college and the other still dreams of becoming an idol. 

QMENG: But I prefer the current version with Ivantill and the others

Q: Which character changed the most from the beginning to now and which one changed the least?

A: Ivan is the one who has changed the most. In the beginning, he was a puppy-like, considerate, and affectionate guy, but later on, he became separated inside and out. Ivan is like wearing a mask. His inner and outer worlds are separated.

Then, during the development process, we had to make a difference between Ivan and Luka. At current, the distinction between them is clear.

Sua hasn't changed in her role from the beginning of her characterization until now. Sua was the first character to be planned, and she is the representative character of the project. Other characters were derived from her.

Q: What was the most memorable moment of creating Alien Stage?

A: . Round 6 was made with the smallest team. In fact, it was a lot of work for two months, so we all worked hard because we wanted to finish it, we were pressed for time, and we wanted to show the perfect R6. In fact, we were going to have a celebration after R6, but everyone was so tired they all left. (interrupted)

QMENG: My favorite memory is when I was making R6. I had a lot of energy in the beginning, so I had a lot of energy when I was making the character, but now I feel like it's not that, so I erased all of mine.(laughs/ just kidding).

Luka is similar, but when I was drawing him. I had to draw him really handsome and express his personality at the same time, so I was struggling to draw him, and then I thought I'd lose both, so I drew him four or five times.

Vivinos: When I was drawing for QMENG, she would tell me that this moment must be handsome and every moment has a key point

Q: When is Round 7 coming out?

A: We were working on it before coming here. The team has been working hard on Round 7 but we don't know when it will be available to everyone yet.

QMENG: I've actually been drawing with my pad that I brought to China with us.

Q: : In R5, did Luka imitate Sua just to win?

A. Actually, Luka's character has a lot of fans, and the fandom is so loyal that all he has to do is sing. However, on stage, Luka finds his identity by dominating others. Offstage, Luka is actually controlled by someone like a puppet, and he wears a mask. The stage is Luca's only space where he can show his presence and initiative.

Q: Can you explain the relationships between the alien owners and human pets? For example, Mizi's owner liked her very much but still sent her to Anakt Garden.

A:The fact is that we can't compare alien sentience to humanity. They are completely different species. Aliens have a longer lifespan than humans. Since humans want to be able to do what they want for a short period of time, no matter how much they love humans, they cannot act like parents.

Not all aliens have a foster relationship with humans. Some aliens use humans for their own purposes, some breed humans for their own purposes, and some keep them like lab mice. In the future, we'll think of ways to showcase each of these alien setups.

Q: Where have you visited in Shanghai? Any good food or shops?

Vivinos: The night we arrived in China I went to Haidilao. I like eating there in Korea so I went in China.

QMENG: I also like Haidilao. Actually, there is also Haidilao in Korea, near the office, so I often take my employees to eat Haidilao whenever there is an achievement to celebrate. Every time I eat there, I will take pictures and send them to my Korean teammates to make them envious.

I've also visited all the stores on Nanjing Middle Road. I really like the peripheral stores there. There are so many cool things to see.

Vivinos: When we visited those peripheral stores, we thought it was really great. The buildings were so big and beautiful.

QMENG: I received a lot of gifts these past few days. I am really grateful. We will bring them back to show the Korean team members.

Q: Do Sua and Ivan still have a significant impact on the other characters even though they are dead?

A: Alien Stage is a story about love, but many emotions are intertwined at the beginning. It is also about how the characters who are alive now grow and how the characters who are dead affect them.

We know how it ends, but we actually put a lot of thought into it, and we fleshed out the characters and dug deeper than you might think, so I hope you'll watch the video over and over again and follow our activities and our Weibo and feel the emotions in it.

Q: How do Ivan and Till feel about the kiss?

Vivinos: At the beginning everyone sat together and discussed about it 

*QMENG pinches Vivinos*

We were very happy with the team's ideas

QMENG: Vivinos presented the story in the form of words. Everyone knew the kissing scenes were the most important moment of the video and we were very deliberate about what kind of emotion the characters feel when we were drawing the story. Everything was run past Vivinos.

Vivinos: The final moments of the kissing scene is really important

QMENG: I got emotional when I was drawing it... 

Vivinos: Our lives got completely taken over by Round 6 we didn't have time for any other BL haha

Q: How were the stage outfits decided and made? Was it the alien owners?

A: First, we have to decide which emotions we want to express with clothes. For example, in Round 5, it feels like the Little Prince and his wife. It's like a contract wedding where they don't want each other, but actually there was something at the beginning, but later it was canceled.

In the Round 6 concept, Till is a widower who has lost his wife. Ivan is the perfect man, which is contrasted when he dresses up in a very masculine outfit and does something that only children do.

As you can see in the video, Ivan's hair/head is first raised and then slowly lowered.

Partly because it's raining, but also because Ivan is slowly unmasking himself.

Japnese (Original) 

【トークイベント】

総プロデューサー　KANG(カン)さん

総監督　VIVINOS先生

作画監督　QMENG先生

※トーク内容走り書き

K：東京に来たことはありますか？私は初めてなのですが好きな場所や食べ物はありますか？

Q：何回か来たことがある。好きな食べ物は居酒屋のきゅうりのオイル漬け。プリンもいつも絶対食べる。今回もVIVINOS先生と一緒に食べました。原宿で好きなブランドのポップアップがやってるから絶対行きたい！

K：改めてVIVINOS監督からエイステの作品紹介をお願いします

V：点数と価値をつけられながら生きる子どもたちが支配されず、独立した一人の人間になるための愛に関する物語です。資本主義のもとでの終わりのない搾取が行われる世界で、人を人として生きさせてくれる愛とは何かについて伝える作品です。

K：「愛」をテーマにした理由はなんですか？

V：愛は人の目に見える物ではありません。愛というのは曖昧で、時に荷物のようにも感じる。エイステでは愛というものが人間が群れをなして存在したいという本能なのか、それとも他人に対する優しい思いやりなのか。そのどちらなのかを確かめたかったから、この物語を始めました。

K：愛をテーマにする上で、VIVINOS監督も恋をしたりして変わった部分などはありますか？

V：愛や恋を盲目的に信じていたこともありましたが、それを疑ってみたり、感情だけで捉えるのではなく俯瞰してみてみたりしました。今は制作チームのみんなとパートナー(QMENG先生)と家族のように作品を作ってきて感じるのは、どんな時であってもひとには恋をする自由がある。その選択肢がある。そこには傷も確かに存在しますが、それは愛と共存している。エイステのキャラクターもそれは同じで、だからお互い惹かれるし、憎み合う。逼迫したエゴの中にも愛はあると思っています。　

K：物語の最後までもうすぐですが、初めて企画書を見たときのことを今でも思い出します。お二人はどうやって協力して作品を作ってきたのでしょうか？

V：作品について一番理解していなければと思っているので、キャラクターのディティールを細かく決めている。また、チームメンバーのそれぞれの好みや傾向を把握して、その人に合った伝え方をするよう心掛けている。メンバーの長所や好みを分析して、能率的な仕事ができるよつにしている。

Q：mbtiというものがあるのですが、私がENTJでVIVINOS監督がINFPなのでまったく違う傾向があるんです。出会ってから仕事をするようになって7年が経ちますが、最初は合わせるのがとにかく大変でした。今はキャラの内面の話をよく聞いて、一緒に作品を作っています。私は絵は上手い方ですが、VIVINOS監督から細かい指示をもらって描いています(笑) R5のルカの表情になかなかOKがもらえなくて泣いていました。

V：QMENG先生の描くものはクオリティがとても高く、とてもこだわっています。映画のような雰囲気があるのが特徴です。世界観を伝えることを重視しているのがQMENG先生で、キャラの内面やストーリーを伝えるのが私だと思っています。ルカの表情になかなかOKを出さなかったのは、私がうまく伝えられなかったことが原因だと思っています。

Q：今はおのおの得意なところを合わせている感じです。

V：ひとつの絵を描く時も、私がラフスケッチを描いてQMENG先生にバトンタッチし、そしてまた私が描くスタイルです。

Q：よくどっちが描いた絵か分からないと言われるが、私が料理人のシェフの役割を担っている感じで、どちらも同じだと思ってもらって大丈夫(ここらへん聞き取り曖昧です)

※2024/12/28追記・補足

Q：最近どちらが描いた絵か分からないと言われるようになったが、映画『Ratatouille』(日本では『レミーのおいしいレストラン』)のように、QMENG先生が料理人のシェフで、VIVINOS先生がレミー(コック帽の中でシェフを操作するネズミ)のような感覚。だからどちらも同じだと思ってもらって大丈夫。

K：お二人はやはり最高のパートナーですね！

Q：こうなるまでとても時間がかかった。私がキャラクターに設定を足したくなったりしましたが、付け加えた設定も含めてVIVINOS監督はキャラクターを魅力的に仕上げてくれた。今は私自身もVIVINOS監督が創るエイステのエンディングを楽しみに作画をしていきたいと思っています。

V：エイステを最後まで、そしてこれからも二人で作り続けていきたいと思います。

V：KANGプロデューサーのお仕事についても説明したいです！

K：基本的に絵以外のところを担当しているイメージです。監督に物語をこうしたいと言ってみたり、サウンドチームに声をかけたり、今回のようにアニメイトさんとのコミュニケーションをとったりしています。監督お二人が作品全般に関して、私はプロジェクトの進行に関することが主な仕事です。

K：R6のイヴァンとティルの反応が特によかったと感じているのですが、その時何かあったのですか？

V：イヴァンとティルのエピソードは制作チームのみんなが期待していたところだった。

Q：キャラクターへの愛とは別に、表現できる演出の方法がたくさん考えられるエピソードだった。エイステの1話を作る前からこのエピソードは企画されて(ティルとイヴァンが喧嘩をして、キスをして死ぬところ)いましたが、初期とはかなり変わりました。初期はもっと軽い感じだったし、衣装もSF寄りのものでした。そして、イヴァンとティルがどうキスするかをとてもよく話し合いました。VIVINOS監督が突然制作チームのメンバーを呼んで「今から次のエピソードの説明会をします」と言ったんですが、その時の実演を今からします(会場どよめき)。

V：(立ち上がるお二人)目の前にチームメンバーがいて、イヴァンがマイクを投げ倒すところからティルにキスして死ぬまでのラストシーンを全て動きで伝えました。肩の掴み方や首の締め方、イヴァンがセクシーにスコアボードを見つめることなどもこと細かく伝えました。制作チームのメンバーはみんな拍手してくれました。そしてQMENG先生に「これからは(R6は)お前のステージだ」と伝えました。そしたらQMENG先生は1日でイヴァンとティルの革新的なイラストを何枚も描いてくれました。1日で50枚ほど描いてくれましたが、それがドローイングブックに収録したものです。説明会のあとすぐ描き始めてくれたので、絵を描くたびに私も拍手しながら見ていました。全てのキャラクターに愛がありますが、やはりR6制作の時が一番記憶に残っていますね。

Q：チームメンバーが一丸となったのを感じたのがR6でした。それから今まで確信を持ってアニメを制作できるようになったと思います。

V：アニメは一人で作ることができません。なのでエイステを見るときは他のスタッフの方にも注目して下さい。みんな愛を込めて作品を作っているので、みんなで輝きたいと思っています。

Q：5〜6人の小規模なチームで一緒に作業をしている私たちですが、頑張って作業している時に見守ってくれるマネージャーやその他背景監督、グッズ監督…本当に多くのスタッフがいます。その方にも目を向けていただければ嬉しいです。

K：イベントの最後に一言お願いします。

V：いまだにこの場にいることが信じられないです。この子達の物語を愛してくれてありがとうございます。次のエピソードももうすぐなのでお楽しみに！

Q：個人として大きく成長できたのは5〜6年同じ家に住みながら作品を一緒に作り続けてくれた総監督(VIVINOS先生)のおかげです。20代のほとんどを彼女と一緒に過ごしました。今では彼女の好きな歌が私の好きな歌で、彼女が愛する映画が私の愛する映画になりました。なので今の私にとってわVIVINOS監督が作品を通して皆さんに伝えたいことが、私の伝えたいことでもあります。これからもVIVINOS監督の創りたい物語を一緒に作っていこうね(お二人顔見合わせて笑ってました)。

K：アニメーションは一人では作れません。製作陣のみんなにぜひ注目してあげて下さい。また、今回のアニメイトのイベントをきっかけに、また日本でもイベントがやれたらいいなと思っています。

アニメイトのスタッフさん:「おっけーでーす！(クソデカボイス)」

K：改めまして、エイリアンステージ というコンテンツを愛してくださって本当にありがとうございます！

English (Fan-Translation)

[ Talk Event ]

Executive Producer KANG

Director VIVINOS

Animation Director QMENG

※ Quickly jotted down notes

K: Have you been to Tokyo before? This is my first time, but do you have any favorite places or foods?

Q: I've been here a few times. My favorite food is izakaya-style pickled cucumbers in oil. I also always have pudding- it's a must. This time, I had some with Vivinos-sensei as well. There's a pop-up store for one of my favorite brands in Harajuku, so I definitely want to check it out!

K: Could you please introduce the work of Alien Stage again from your perspective, Vivinos-sensei?

V: It's a story about children who live in a world where they are scored and valued, struggling to become independent individuals, free from control. It's also about the kind of love that allows people to truly live as human beings in a world of endless exploitation under capitalism.

K: Why did you choose "love" as the theme?

V: Love isn't something visible to the eye. It's intangible and ambiguous and sometimes feels like a burden. In Alien Stage, I wanted to explore whether love is merely a human instinct to exist in groups or if it's a genuine act of kindness toward others. This story began because I wanted to find out which it is.

K: Has focusing on "love" as a theme influenced or changed you in any way, such as through personal experiences with love?

V: There was a time when I blindly believed in love and romance, but I've since questioned it. I've tried to observe it objectively, rather than being consumed by emotion. Through creating this work with my team and my partner, Qmeng-sensei, who feels like family, I've come to realize that no matter the circumstances, everyone has the freedom to love. It's a choice we all have. Of course, love comes with its wounds, but those wounds coexist with love. The characters in Alien Stage are the same; they are drawn to each other, yet they also hate each other. Even within extreme egoism, love exists.

K: As the story nears its conclusion, I still vividly remember seeing the initial proposal. How did the two of you collaborate to create this work?

V: I feel it's my responsibility to understand the work most thoroughly, so I carefully craft the details of each character. I also make an effort to communicate in ways that suit each team member's preferences and tendencies, ensuring efficient collaboration.

Q: There's something called MBTI-I'm ENTJ, and Vivinos-sensei is INFP-so our tendencies are completely different. We've been working together for seven years since we met, but at first, it was really hard to align. Now, we often discuss characters' inner worlds and create the work together. I'm fairly skilled at drawing, but I rely on detailed instructions from Vivinos-sensei. (laughs) For example, I cried when I couldn't get Luka's expression in Round 5 to meet approval.

V: The quality of Qmeng-sensei's art is exceptional and highly detailed, with a cinematic atmosphere. While Qmeng-sensei focuses on conveying world-building, I focus on the characters' inner worlds and the story. The reason Luka's expression took so long was probably because I failed to communicate clearly.

Q: Now, we combine our strengths and collaborate seamlessly.

V: For instance, when creating a single illustration, I'll do a rough sketch, pass it to Qmeng-sensei, and then refine it again.

Q: People often can't tell who drew which parts. I feel like a chef in a kitchen- we're both equally important in creating the dish.

※2024/12/28 additional edit

Q: Recently, people have said that they can't tell which one is which, but like the movie "Ratatouille" (known as "Remy's Delicious Restaurant" in Japan), Qmeng is the chef and Vivinos is Remy (the rat in the chef's hat who controls the chef) So you can think of us as the same.

K: You two are the perfect partners!

Q: It took a lot of time to get to this point. There were moments when I wanted to add extra character settings, but even with those additions, Vivinos-sensei made the characters even more compelling. Now, I'm excited to continue drawing and look forward to the ending Vivinos-sensei envisions for Alien Stage.

V: I also want to talk about Kang, our producer's role!

K: I handle everything outside of the illustrations, like suggesting story directions, coordinating with the sound team, or communicating with companies like Animate, as in this event. While the directors focus on the work itself, I primarily manage the project's progress.

K: The reactions to Ivan and Till in Round 6 were particularly strong. Was there a reason for that?

V: Ivan and Till's episode was something the entire team was looking forward to.

Q: Beyond our love for the characters, it was an episode where we could explore so many expressive techniques. Even before making Episode 1 of Alien Stage, this scene (where Till and Ivan fight, kiss, and die) was planned. However, it's evolved significantly from the initial concept. At first, it had a lighter tone, and the costumes were more sci-fi. We also discussed in detail how Ivan and Till should kiss. Vivinos-sensei even called a sudden meeting, saying, "We'll have a briefing for the next episode now!" We'll reenact what we did that day [for everyone].

V: (Standing up) In front of the team, we acted out the final scene, from Ivan knocking over the mic to kissing Till and dying. I demonstrated everything, including how to grab shoulders, tighten a neck, and Ivan's sexy glance at the scoreboard. The team applauded afterward, and I told Qmeng-sensei, "This is your stage now." Then, Qmeng-sensei created dozens of groundbreaking illustrations of Ivan and Till in just one day- about 50 drawings, which were later included in the drawing book. Seeing the work progress so quickly, I applauded with every new illustration. While I love all the characters, the creation of Round 6 left the strongest impression on me.

Q: Round 6 felt like a moment where the entire team came together. Since then, I've been confident in our ability to create this anime.

V: Animation cannot be made alone. When watching Alien Stage, I hope viewers also notice the contributions of the staff. Everyone pours their love into this project, and I hope we can all shine together.

Q: Even though we're a small team of 5-6 people, many others, like our manager, background director, and merchandise director, support us. I'd be delighted if viewers also paid attention to their work.

K: Finally, could you share a message with the audience?

V: I still can't believe I'm here today. Thank you for loving the story of these characters. Please look forward to the next episode- it's coming soon!

Q: I owe my personal growth to Vivinos-sensei, who has spent the past 5-6 years living and creating with me under the same roof. I spent most of my twenties with her. Her favorite songs have become my favorite songs, and her beloved movies are now mine, too. So, what Vivinos-sensei wants to convey through this work is now what I want to share as well. Let's keep creating your stories together. (They exchanged smiles.)

K: Animation isn't made by one person. Please take note of the entire production team. I also hope this Animate event opens the door for more events in Japan.

Animate staff: "Roger that!" (loud af voice)

K: Thank you again for loving Alien Stage!

Japnese (Original) 

【トークイベント】

総プロデューサー　KANG(カン)さん

総監督　VIVINOS先生

作画監督　QMENG先生

導入はday1と同じでエイステとはを解説下さいました。Vi先生が気を遣うのは考察が中心、Q先生は視覚的な部分が中心。 

Q「R6で心配なことがあって。ティルが一番最初に登場するシーン…허락해줘〜(許してくれ/低音真似)のところで影がうつる下書きを上手くかけるか不安でした。描いてVIVINOS先生に送ったら電話がかかってきて「めちゃくちゃいい！！最高！！(めちゃテンション高め)」と言ってくれたんです。その時にもっと絵が上手くなりたいと思いました！」 

K「エイステのシナジーと可能性を教えてください。」 

V「私は元々ラブコメが好きで。三角関係だとか、復讐だとか。性別に拘らない愛を表現したくて、ラブコメをもとにSFを作りたかったんです。私は可愛いのが好きで、QMENG先生はユニークが好きなんです。でも二人共暗い話が好きで。それがエイステに反映されていると思います。」 

Q「元々SFが大好きなんです。影響を受けた方々が沢山います。(数名作家さんの名前が並ぶ)私はモーションを描くのが好きで、ミジとスアの動きには入れ込めてると思います。」 

K「エイステも最終回が近付いているので次の回の話なんてどうでしょう」 

V「そうですね、次はヒョナの話なのでヒョナの話を少しだけ…。ヒョナは大人っぽさがキーワードなキャラです。本当の成熟さというのは、自分の気持ちを抑制しない事だと。人間には正と悪が必ず存在しますが、ヒョナはどちらも否定せず全てを受け入れます。相手に強要せず、認めていきます。他のキャラと大きく違う部分がここです。他のキャラは自身のカオスを繰り広げるので、そういう面では初め皆さんには難しいキャラだと思われたかもしれません。エイステで表現したいのは両面性と欠落です。」 \

Q「一本一本が短い中、その2つを表現するのがとても難しい。週間エイリアンステージでは、短い中には入れれなかったけど見せたい内容を詰め込んでます。実は(週間エイリアンステージは)夜家に帰る道中で作ってたりします笑 ただ、仕事だとは思ってなくて、そのキャラが何を思っているのかを考えるのが本当に楽しい。是非読んでほしいです。」

V「社会で培われるはずだったものが欠落した子達が内面で補うために奮闘します。(ここうろ覚えです)悲しい部分が多いが、その姿に癒される。ここにいる皆さんもきっとそれを感じとってくれたからこそこの場に来てくださってると思ってます。」 

K「エイステを通じて伝えたいことは？」 

V「最近私は人の目に見える結果やデータでないと信じられないのだろうと感じています。そうなると愛はもっと不明瞭なものです。それは生存本能？他人への慰め？癒し？盲目の恋が馬鹿らしいと思ったこともありました。人は選択し、恋をする権利がある。それはエイステキャラも同じです。互いのエゴを抱え、憎しみながらも慰め合う。恋も同じなのでしょう。答えにならないものをエイステを通じて見届けたいです。」

English (Fan-Translation)

[ Talk Event ]

Executive Producer KANG

Director VIVINOS

Animation Director QMENG

The introduction was the same as Day 1, explaining what Alien Stage is. V-sensei focuses mainly on analysis, while Q-sensei emphasizes visual aspects.

Q: I was worried about something in Round 6. I was worried I wouldn't be able to draw a good draft of the effect in the scene where Till first appears. 허락해줘~ (Forgive me/low pitched imitation) When I sent it to VIVINOS-sensei, they called and said, "It's amazing!! Fantastic!! (in a very excited tone)." At that time, it made me want to improve my drawing skills even more!

K: What do you see as the synergy and potential/possibilities of Alien Stage?

V: I've always liked romantic comedies-love triangles, revenge, and such. I wanted to create an SF piece based on romantic comedies that expresses love unconstrained to gender. I like cute things, and QMENG-sensei likes unique Chings. However, we both enjoy dark stories, and I think that is reflected in Alien Stage.

Q: I've always loved sci-fi. Many people have influenced me. (Lists a few authors.) I enjoy drawing different motions, and I think that comes through in Mizi and Sua's movements.

K: Since Alien Stage is nearing its final episode, how about a sneak peek at what's next?

V: Well, the next part focuses on Hyuna, so let's discuss her a little. Hyuna is a character with "maturity"/"adultish-ness" as her keyword. True maturity, I believe, means not suppressing your feelings. Humans inherently possess both good and evil, and Hyuna doesn't deny either but accepts them all. She doesn't impose her beliefs on others but acknowledges them. This is a significant contrast with the other characters, who unfold their own chaos. In that respect, she initially may have been a difficult character for everyone to understand. Alien Stage aims to express duality and the concept of missing pieces.

Q: It's challenging to express those 2 themes within the short format of each episode. With Weekly Alien Stage, we have packed in a lot of content that we wanted to show that wasn't included in the short span of the videos. In fact, I often worked on Weekly Alien Stage while heading home at night. (Laughs.) But I don't think of it as work- it's genuinely fun to think about what the characters are feeling. Please check it out if you can.

V: The children in Alien Stage lack things they would have cultivated in society, so they struggle internally to compensate. (This part is fuzzy.) There are many sad moments, but seeing them persevere is healing in its own way. I believe everyone here has felt that, which is why you're here with us.

K: What message do you want to convey through Alien Stage?

V: Recently, I feel that people only believe in things they can see or measure through results and data. If that's the ←ase, love is even more ambiguous. Is it a survival instinct? Comfort for others? Healing/comfort? There were times I thought blind love was foolish. But humans have the right to choose and to love. That's the same for Alien Stage characters-they carry their egos, hate each other, but still seek comfort in one another. Love might be the same. Through Alien Stage, I want to witness things that can't be answered definitively.