[from Newtype, May 1999, p26-29. Translated by Mark Neidengard.] Ikuhara Kunihiko x Nagano Mamoru Sympathy of Conception "Utena and Sopp are getting married!?.....well, not really, but there is going to be a coupling of their two remarkable creators. And what will emerge?" SCHELL BULLET "When their two talents meet, a new 'something' will be born!" Ikuhara Kunihiko and Nagano Mamoru. There is probably not one person among the Newtype readership who doesn't know their names. Ikuhara, the director of "Shoujo Kakumei Utena", and Nagano of "Five Star Stories". This is the announcement of a work created by their combined efforts: a visual story depicting the future as the stage. In the distant future, mankind has come in contact with extraterrestrial technology and acquired highly advanced genetics. As a result, the seeds of three specialized forms of humanity were sown. The first was not greatly different from human form to that point. The second possessed refined abilities. And the third far surpassed the others... As mentioned above, the work based on this world concept is being brought to life by two prominent creators: Ikuhara Kunihiko doing world design and story, and Nagano Mamoru doing the visual images and mechanical and character designs. This is the first coupling between these two immense talents. Not only the contents of the story, but the mere fact that these two people are teaming up has made this work the focus of major interest. It's possible that the creators of this work are looking forward to its completion even more than our readers. "Nagano approached me with the visuals, the story, and the drama. The situation inspired me, and keeps morphing from moment to moment in my head. This is going to be one really exciting creation." (Ikuhara) The two's association doesn't just end with the pre-existing "arrangement of secret designs for a story". After all, this is _their_ work. FROM ONE TO ETERNITY "The Journey to Space - The Fated, Lonely Battle Against the Future!" Now then, just what sort of work is this unprecedented duo bringing to light? According to Ikuhara: "'Unparalleled' is an important motif in this story. Of course, that means the visuals have to be 'unparalleled' too. That's why I thought of Nagano's visuals right away." That thought was "If Nagano wasn't here I wouldn't complete this work." He went so far as to resolve that "if I asked Nagano and he turned me down, I'd simply quit 'Schell Bullet'". "It's a feeling very close to some form of love. Anyways, I knew within myself that I didn't get married with(!) Nagano's visuals I couldn't create 'Schell Bullet'....I couldn't escape that thought. (laugh)" Ikuhara pleaded with Nagano to join him no matter what. "Unexpectedly, he agreed on the spot." It felt not as though someone had arranged it, but that it was some natural meeting determined by fate. And as for the contents of the work they're drawing... The main character Orus Brake, pretends to be an elite "Gene Major" and joins the crew of the Baltliner conglomerate's Creeper (armed spaceship), Lone Balt. But once there, the job assigned to Orus is piloting the Option (humanoid combat robot) "Schell" and attacking the Creeper's of rival conglomerates. It is the cruelest, most dangerous assignment, commonly known as being a "Schell Bullet". For Orus, who has cast off his hometown, his family, and even his old name, there is no turning back. "Kill or be killed...!" Deprived of any respite, Orus will be swallowed by the life-or-death battle between conglomerates... The time is the distant future and the stage is outer space, but the basis for the story is a distillation of current society. Ikuhara says that he particularly wants this story "to be grasped by the teenagers who will be going out into the society of the future." Space is society, and the spaceships are the conglomerates and other assemblies of people. One can liken the various duties and worries that surround the cast to those of modern society. That being said, _what_ the motif is is not particularly important. "Just from Nagano's visuals, you're going to get the shivers...understand? Well, since the privilege of shivering first at his work is mine alone, maybe I should apologize to everyone.(laugh)" (Ikuhara) Ikuhara + Nagano = whatever "answer" will come our way, we'll await it with our eyes wide open! * Schell (Orus Model). A machine controlled by Gene Liner Lone Balt, manned by Orus Brake. Beyond the fact that it is a part of Gene Liner Lone Balt's "meat body", all other information is unavailable. * "Schell". Extravehicular humanoid combat robot. Not just optional parts for a Gene Liner, it is a part of the Gene Liner's body and is in fact a living weapon. Frequently piloted by Gene Majors. Its advanced mobility is made possible by extraterrestrial technology, but many of the component modules it uses are black boxes, shrouded in mystery. * "Schell Bullet". Intercepting enemies while in flight. To ensure the safety of a Gene Liner while in flight, the Schell are dispatched into the area around the ship to fight. The term comes from the popular name the Schell Drivers (pilots) use in self-ridicule: "After all, I'm nothing but a bullet in a gun." * Gene Liner (GLi). The first species of humanity. A seed sown with extraterrestrial living metal and human DNA. A so-called living spaceship. Capable of designing its interior space with its own will. As the Gene Liners have become more numerous, a recent industry has sprouted up with designs on monopolizing trade in space. * Gene Major (GMa). The second species of humanity. Descendants of the people who first secured the genetic technology from the Gene Liners. Considerably advanced both physically and mentally. Having received great riches due to the genetic technology they monopolize, the exist as the rulers of this world. As a particular facet of their "evolution", they are both male and female in a single body. Many of them are quite good looking. * Gene Minor (GMi) The third species of humanity. Deprived of the blessings of genetic manipulation and poor in both physical and mental aspects, they are little changed from current humanity. They exist as the lower classes of humanity in the world. Ors was originally one of them. Very rarely, they will give birth to a wild aberration. * Lone Balt. The personal name of a Gene Liner "little girl". Her body is a spaceship. She represents the pride of the most cutting edge in technology. * Delby Ives. Member of Lone Balt's crew, and a Gene Major. 19 years old. Part of the bridge crew. She was assigned to pick up Ors when he first came aboard Lone Balt, and has become closer to him since. * Orus Brake. 19 year old young man. Born as a Gene Minor, but pretending to be a Gene Major he became a crewman aboard Lone Balt. Under Norma Quick's orders, he was forced to become a Schell Driver. * Norma Quick. Member of Lone Balt's crew. Originally an Air Force pilot. 25 years old. Dispatched by Baltliner's subsidiary Balt Cargo Service. Treats Orus quite harshly. * Ikuhara Kunihiko. Born 1964. One of the Series Directors of "Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon" at Toei Douga, founder of "Planning Company Be-Papas" in 1997. Director of "Shoujo Kakumei Utena" (TV version 1997, movie version 1999). "This is bad. I've thought for a long time that Nagano likes the same kind of girls I do...and now we're world-building together. Definitely bad. We're just getting too turned on by making stories about girls aren't we..." * Nagano Mamoru. Born in 1960. Worked on such titles as "Heavy Metal L-Gaim", and in 1985 began the comic "Fool For The City", followed in '86 by "Five Star Stories", serialized in Newtype. "F.S.S." is currently up to nine volumes of tankoubon. "Designing the entirety of the world concept multiplies the visual power of the result by a good ten-fold. This is the work I'm doing with Ikuhara-kun, who I've burdened with so many high expectations, so if we get too carried away making it it's gonna be bad news. REALLY bad news. Surprised? O-ho-ho-no-ho. -- /!\/!ark /!\!eidengard, CS Grad, VLSI. http://psy-s.cjas.org/~mneideng/ "Fairy of sleep, controller of illusions" Maigo no Daigakuinsei, Cornell U. "Control the person for my own purpose." "Don't mess with the Dark Elves!" -Pirotess, _Record_of_Lodoss_War_ Shadowrunner and Anime Addict