【Sculptor Interview】 ARTFX J Vash the Stampede -The Gunman in Black- TRIGUN STAMPEDE Ver.| KOTOBUKIYA KOTOBUKIYA Figure Blog #コトブキヤ

I. Introduction

Question 1

Interviewer:
Mr. Hattori, thank you for joining us today.
He has been behind many of the Trigun figure sculpts for Kotobukiya, including Vash and Nicholas from the movie TRIGUN Badlands Rumble, as well as the 2023 ARTFX J Vash the Stampede TRIGUN STAMPEDE Ver.
He is also the sculptor for the new ARTFX J Vash the Stampede -The Gunman in Black- TRIGUN STAMPEDE Ver. figure.
Trigun has been part of your work for many years now. Can you tell us a little about your first encounter with this series?

Mr. Hattori:
I first encountered the Trigun series right as I was trying to get into sculpting and was studying all different kinds of figures. I think it was around 2003.
The first thing “Trigun” I ever came across, even before seeing the manga or anime, was actually a figure. At the time, Kaiyodo was selling these really cool statues, action figures and busts. Japan wasn't really into cool-looking figures yet, and it was the peak of cute anime girl PVC figures. While there was a figure craze, the only actually "cool" figures were from Trigun.
I picked up the figure and immediately started reading the manga. Then I found out there was also an anime! You can’t imagine how excited I was!!! So, of course, I watched the anime too, and that's pretty much how I got into Trigun.

Interviewer:
That's really interesting. The desire to recapture that coolness into a figure must have really motivated you. It's also interesting to hear that there was a time when "cool” figures weren't really a thing.

Mr. Hattori:
Yeah. Kaiyodo's figures were high quality and all around just great. Their figures brought out a creative urge in me.

Question 2

Interviewer:
Thank you.
Thinking back, what do you think is your favorite thing about the whole Trigun series?

Mr. Hattori:
I think it was probably the line work of Yasuhiro Nightow's art.
And the cool character designs too. You know what, just everything about Yasuhiro Nightow's art. He seriously made every single line look so cool. Even the way he draws sharp, thin spiky hair, every line he draws looks so cool. I was so in love with the art style that I had this burning desire to create a figure of it.

Interviewer:
It sounds like a pretty pivotal series in your career then.
I remember thinking Trigun was super cool when I first saw it, too. Before I got into it, I thought it was just an action series and some of the characters seem strong and what not. But when you actually watch it, you realize that the story is way deeper than that. That multilayered aspect was what really drew me into it.

Ⅱ. About the Figure

Question 1

Interviewer:
TRIGUN STAMPEDE and its protagonist Vash are probably known around the world for its action and fight scenes. But in addition to being a cool-looking gunman, Vash is also a very troubled character. As the story plays out over the course of the anime, we get to see little bits of that side of him. In anime, there are countless ways that you can express characters' emotions and troubled feelings, but what about in figures? I think action may be a relatively easy concept to capture, but I can imagine other emotions would be quite hard. What do you think?

Mr. Hattori:
The most expressive part of a figure is always the face. It's also the easiest part for the viewer to understand the emotions of the character. But as a sculptor, there are numerous other parts that we pay attention to, as well. The hands, for example. Or how a coat flows. We can add curves, change how the fingers bend or make one leg look like it has more weight on it. These small tweaks make all the difference to express hidden emotions in the character or situation.

Interviewer:
That’s where the aura comes from.

Mr. Hattori:
Yeah. It's all about how the viewer interprets the figure. Because, while I may have intended it to feel one way, that may not be how you see it. At the end of the day, there is no better feeling than having someone buy the figure and go, "What is this?! This is amazing!"

Interviewer:
I think you tapped into something really important there. I had that same kind of reaction when I bought this ARTFX J Vash the Stampede TRIGUN STAMPEDE Ver. figure as well. You could feel his strength and conflicted emotions from not only his face but the whole figure.
Was that intentional?

Mr. Hattori:
Of course! It always is. I'm always thinking about how to include emotion. And that applies to any and every character.
It's our mission as sculptors to have the viewer pick up on the intended emotion or feel of the figure.

Interviewer:
Even now, I still get that feeling every time I look at this figure.

Mr. Hattori:
It's best when you're able to make something that has that lasting aura.

Interviewer:
I'm glad to hear that. This figure really does have an incredible aura. I keep it on my desk to look at every day.
Thank you.

Question 2

Interviewer:
We touched on it a little already, but I'd like to ask you about the sculpting process.
I always kind of assumed sculpts were made pretty much exclusively on the computer, but one day when I came to your desk, I saw a 1:1 replica of Vash's revolver from TRIGUN STAMPEDE. I was like, “What is this?!”
Did that replica have something to do with the sculpt?

Mr. Hattori:
Yep, I made a 1:1 replica of his gun. Or rather, I enlarged the 1:8 scale sculpt I'd already made. It feels way more impressive in 1:1 scale, right? I'd never done anything like that before. But I thought, if I'm going to do it, I have to do it with Trigun. With the replica, I could actually feel its weight and see just how big it would be in real life. I was also able to see exactly how it feels to hold and what muscles you need to use to support it. It was great reference for the sculpt.

Interviewer:
I always liked how he held the gun.
Was the figure’s pose a result of the replica, then?

Mr. Hattori:
It definitely played a big role. That's why there's a slight bend in the wrist.
Making the gun look like it has some weight to it makes the whole figure look more realistic. Holding the replica made me realize points like how the heavy tip makes the gun fall forward and how the wrist tenses.

Interviewer:
So, your real experience with the replica is reflected in the sculpt?

Mr. Hattori:
Yeah. But we can't afford to make replicas like that for every figure.
As for where that replica ended up, we handed it over to Studio Orange, the TRIGUN STAMPEDE anime studio.

There's a Trigun exhibit in Ikebukuro opening in March, and I heard that it may go on display. It's not final though, so don't blame me if it's not there!

*This became true! The replica is now on display!!

Interviewer:
Were you asked to make the replica, by the way?

Mr. Hattori:
Not at all. It was just an idea of mine.
I was incredibly lucky to get the chance to have dinner with Studio Orange producers Yoshihiro Watanabe and Kiyotaka Waki, and director Kenji Muto. I sort of shyly said, "I actually made this, too" and showed them the gun. I gave it to them there.

Interviewer:
What an amazing behind-the-scenes episode. The replica certainly sounds like it played an important role for this figure. I'd love to go see the exhibit, as well.

Thanks for telling us all of that. I was super curious about the replica and really wanted to ask.

Mr. Hattori:
I hope it'll be at the exhibit!

Question 3

Interviewer:
Now, with this new ARTFX J Vash the Stampede -The Gunman in Black- TRIGUN STAMPEDE Ver. figure, which parts of Vash's personality and parts of the TRIGUN STAMPEDE anime did you want to include?

Mr. Hattori:
This version of Vash appears in the final episode of TRIGUN STAMPEDE. Those who have seen the anime know that in this episode he's cooler than cool. SUPER COOL!
Since we made Vash in his regular red coat, I knew we absolutely had to make this version, as well. I really REALLY wanted to make it.
It all started with the simple desire to make a figure of Vash from the last episode.

Interviewer:
I think everyone who sees the episode would want a figure of him, too.
It must have been a lot of work.

Mr. Hattori:
I think they'd want one, too.

Interviewer:
Did you take the facial expression straight from the anime for the standard version of this figure?

Mr. Hattori:
Yeah. One of my favorite parts about making this figure was capturing his unforgettable expression from the anime. I based it on the cool expression with his teeth clenched when he was fighting Knives.

Interviewer:
His expression really says a million words. He usually doesn't want to fight, but he knows that at this moment he has to. I thought there might have been a reason you chose this expression, so I wanted to know.
Thanks for telling us all of that.

Question 4

Interviewer:
When I first saw the figure (ARTFX J Vash the Stampede -The Gunman in Black- TRIGUN STAMPEDE Ver.), it felt like a totally new figure. Not just a color variant. I think that might be because bits and pieces of it are new. Like, at first, I thought the pose was the same, but if you look closely, it's slightly different, right?
Luckily, we were able to secure a sample for today, and I would love it if we could hear which parts are new from the sculptor himself.
Can you show us what's new here?

Mr. Hattori:
Sure. The most obvious part is probably the hair.
He's in the middle of a fight, so it's being pushed back by the tension in the air. Plus, this spiked-up hairstyle is similar to the original Vash we all know and love.
I wanted to include that but needed to figure out how to make it look cool.

Interviewer:
I was blown away by how different it could look just by sweeping back his hair.

Mr. Hattori:
It's interesting, right? I made it and even I don't fully understand it. All I did was change his hairstyle but the sculpt came out totally different. It changed not only how the figure looks but also the emotion you can feel from it.

Interviewer:
It’s hard to describe in words. The figure gives off a totally different mood.

Mr. Hattori:
This kind of goes back to talking about auras, but this version has a much stronger aura.

Interviewer:
Right! Also, speaking of his hair, the new color is also quite striking.
Can you tell us a little about this?

Mr. Hattori:
We outsource the coloring, so I don't paint the figures myself, but when we sent the request, we’d already decided to go with a metallic color. Plus, since this version of Vash is in a unique situation in the anime, I wanted to give him a special color scheme that would capture that well. That's why we went with this shiny color that you don't see in the original version.

Interviewer:
I see. Thank you.
The color makes such an impression, so I wanted to hear how it was achieved.

Mr. Hattori:
The paint used is metallic and reflects the colors around it, so it's almost like there are multiple colors in there, making it look even more expressive.

Interviewer:
Exactly! It looks like there are multiple colors.
Also, I've been wanting to ask—and this doesn't apply to only this figure—but there's a certain process for choosing colors that will look the most faithful to fans of the anime, right? You don't just simply use the same colors as the anime.

Mr. Hattori:
Yeah, we don't just use the same colors from the reference materials. Unlike anime or manga, figures are three-dimensional, so we need to think about how to make parts pop. Otherwise, it would end up looking flat.
Figuring out how to paint the figures is always a challenge, but it's incredibly important.

Interviewer:
The paint really changes the impression of a figure, doesn't it? It's an incredible part of the process.
I'd love to ask more about the hair, but you've changed the color of other parts too, right? The revolver, for example.

Mr. Hattori:
There is a partly technical reason for that.
Considering the overall tone of each figure, the same black didn’t work for both. Vash with the red coat has a reddish/brownish color scheme, whereas the other features a purplish/blueish black color scheme, so different shades of black are used for each. And while it is indeed the same revolver, the scene also affects the color we would see it in, which is also what it is adjusted to.

Interviewer:
It’s like you're coordinating all the colors to make sure the balance is right. That also seems like a pretty important part of the process.

Mr. Hattori:
Exactly. A reddish-brown revolver paired with this Vash would look strange, so we had to balance out the tones.
Naturally, this is the same for the anime, so we went with basically the same color used in this part, too.

Interviewer:
I thought it looked different the first time I saw this version (of the figure), too. Even though it's the same revolver and only the color was changed.

Mr. Hattori:
Yeah. Different tones of black to go with different colors.

Interviewer:
Moving on from the paint, I wanted to ask about the process of lining up the aim of the gun and Vash's line of sight.
I wondered if the change of the base had any effect on that.

Mr. Hattori:
This was a challenge not for me but rather for Hiramoto-san from the development team.
As the figure needs to be assembled, lining up the gun with his line of sight was probably one of the hardest parts to work out.

Interviewer:
There are so many new parts of this figure that I feel like we can't simply call it a color variant.

Mr. Hattori:
We poured a lot of our latest techniques into this piece compared to the typical color variant, and ended up treating this product like it was a whole new one.

Interviewer:
Wow. Thank you!
Next, I want to ask about the transparent parts.
Can you tell us about this cube?

Mr. Hattori:
For the cube, the only new parts are the cube itself and the left hand holding it.
The difficult part, aside the fact that they’re both newly sculpted, was figuring out a balanced shape of “a hand holding a cube.” You’d think it would be as easy as just placing the cube in a slightly closed hand, but we really had to be careful not to make it look off balance and awkward.

Interviewer:
It’s rather large, too.

Mr. Hattori:
It is! We went through a million itty bitty adjustments to keep the coolness running all the way down to his fingertips.
There was also another part that was really tough. It's called insert molding. I wanted to make it look like there was a sphere within the cube, and again, it was Hiramoto-san who created a special sculpt for this part.

※The actual product does not light up.

Interviewer:
The cube is incredibly detailed, and I had a ton of fun looking at it from all sides. It also feels like its emanating energy, letting you know it's not just any ordinary cube.
Was it hard to make?

Mr. Hattori:
Well, first of all, it looks three-dimensional in the anime. So we thought, how do we recreate that?
Our first idea was to carve the design into the sides, but then that wouldn't have looked as pretty. It was really difficult to come up with the sculpt. Finally, after countless trial and error, we landed on what you see in the finished product.

Interviewer:
I thought it was awesome that the design gave the 3D cube its own distinct look different from the anime.

Mr. Hattori:
I would love for people to see it for themselves in person. As soon as the figure arrives, I want you to give the cube a good look and see how it was designed with your own eyes.

Interviewer:
I enjoyed all the details you can see when looking at it from different angles.

Going back a little bit, could you tell us about the positioning of the fingers? I believe this applies to any medium, but I think fingers are one of the hardest things to get right. They might be just as hard as the face to make look good.
Were there any parts you struggled with when designing the fingers, like how they grip the cube?

Mr. Hattori:
Yeah, like you said, the expression of the fingers can be just as important as the face, or more important for sculptors who are seriously picky about their work. I’m not sure which I spend more time on, myself. There are so many details of a hand to consider, like how the joints and knuckles should look, how the fingers bend, and the size of each part...

Interviewer:
Right, because for example, if the size is off, it would affect the balance of the whole thing.

Mr. Hattori: They really are just as important as the face.

Interviewer:
Thank you.
I imagined sculpting it to be difficult, but now I see how much thought you put into these details.

So, we just talked about the transparent parts, but now, I'd like to ask about the coat.
First, about the color. Earlier, we talked about how cool the coat looks in the anime, but I’m guessing it was hard to recreate that coolness in 3D.
Can you tell us about what you may have struggled with when choosing the colors?

Mr. Hattori:
So, just because it's the “Gunman in Black” Vash, didn't mean we could simply make the coat black. Plain, pitch-black paint isn't really used that often.

Interviewer:
Is there a reason for that?

Mr. Hattori:
It’s because pitch-black paint only shows up as black. For this figure's coat, we create a black look using a purple base. Think of it as a purple that’s really close to black.

Interviewer:
I thought it was interesting how the coat almost looks as if it's moving. Of course it's not, but the color makes it look like that.

Mr. Hattori:
Right? We went with a color gradient that would make people feel like the coat was being blown backward.

Interviewer:
And you did an excellent job, because it really does feel like that!
Sorry, I just really had to ask about the coat. Thank you.It's fascinating how you come up with ways to capture the same feel as the anime instead of simply using the colors seen on screen.

Mr. Hattori:
I guess it's all about how you stay faithful to the anime while still making it work as a figure.

Question 5

Interviewer:
I think the base plays a huge role in a figure. It feels a bit sad when the base is too simple. I thought this new base was awesome. The shape and font perfectly fit the series.
Can you tell us a little about the inspiration behind this? The design reminds me of the original series.

Mr. Hattori:
For this base, we knew that we couldn't do a diorama-style design like we did with the Vash figure with the red coat because the final battle in the anime takes place in the air. So, we decided to go with something like what we did with the most recent Trigun figures for the movie TRIGUN Badlands Rumble. Which then kind of makes this figure a successor or sort as a lineup. We also did it to create a sense of cohesion with the previous Kotobukiya Trigun figures for fans who have so kindly collected them all.
These would be reasons for why we went with this transparent acrylic base.

Interviewer:
Now that you mention it, I can see the connection. I personally love the “Trigun mood” of the base.

Mr. Hattori:
It's also sort of because the movie figures were the last Trigun ones we did, so it happened kind of naturally.

Interviewer:
The fact that our past projects are being referenced for the base design of a new figure is a cool detail to know.

Mr. Hattori:
For the actual design on the base, however, that was the work of our design team. I know it must have been tough, but I think they made it look super cool. I don't think I could have asked for anything better.
Ikeda from our design team did a really good job.

Interviewer:
Even the base gives off a sense of motion, doesn't it?

Mr. Hattori:
Yeah, and it's not all just purple either. There are transparent spots and black areas, too. I think that's what makes the design fit with Trigun so well.

Interviewer:
Bases are like their own little worlds.

Question 6

Interviewer:
We spent a lot of time talking about the figure itself, but we can't forget that this ARTFX J Vash the Stampede -The Gunman in Black- TRIGUN STAMPEDE Ver. includes a figure of the author of the Trigun series, Nightow himself.
I heard that this wasn't your first time making a mini figure of Yasuhiro Nightow, but what was your intension? It looks like you've included some elements from TRIGUN STAMPEDE, too, so please tell us a little about it.

Mr. Hattori:
Anyone who has read the manga is probably familiar with Yasuhiro Nightow's character. I'm sure they all love him as well. And so, since everyone seems to like the character so much, I absolutely had to make him into a figure. I knew it would be tough to bring to life, but I simply had to include Nightow.

Interviewer:
I, personally, love the mini figure.

Mr. Hattori:
Those who really know their stuff may already have guessed, but I actually took this version of Nightow from a picture I found on a staff introduction page on Studio Orange's website. I had no idea if we'd be allowed to use it or not.

Interviewer:
Wow, so you started off with "Hey, can we use this?"

Mr. Hattori:
Yeah, so for those wondering where we got this idea, we referenced a still illustration.

Interviewer:
I’m guessing the mini-figure's coat is based on TRIGUN STAMPEDE, as well?

Mr. Hattori:
I redesigned it a little as I was making it to what I thought was fit thinking, "If Nightow wore Vash's coat, it'd probably look like this."

Interviewer:
I also wanted to ask about the base.
Are these letters? Is it a picture? Where did you get it from?

Mr. Hattori:
That's actually Nightow's signature. Not only that, but it's also based on a real signature we got from him. So, for anyone who's ever wanted his signature, now's your chance! You just need to pick up this figure.

Interviewer:
I also like that you included the coat's short sleeves, and even a little blue part from Vash's arm.
The blue of the base is from STAMPEDE, too, right?
You really went all out making sure everything was faithful to the series!!
That's just amazing. AND it comes with the signature of the author himself.

Mr. Hattori:
I don't consider it an extra at all. He's his own fully fledged figure that can go alongside all your other figures.

Interviewer:
Definitely! I love it.

Mr. Hattori:
The figure's worth buying just for him. He's such an awesome figure that some people might consider this his set and Vash as the extra that just happened to come along.

Interviewer:
Seriously! They're both awesome figures.

Question 7

Interviewer:
This will be the final question.
I can tell from our conversation that you have an undeniable passion for Trigun as a sculptor. I'm sure you were thrilled to hear there was a new series coming when TRIGUN STAMPEDE was announced, but did it also make you want to make a Trigun figure again?

Mr. Hattori:
When TRIGUN STAMPEDE was announced, I think everyone was happy but also a little nervous. No one was sure how the story would work as an anime now.
But Studio Orange absolutely knocked it out of the park. The series was so amazing.

Interviewer:
Did you already start thinking up figures when you saw episode one?

Mr. Hattori:
Yes, I definitely did.

But you know, the sculpt for ARTFX J Vash the Stampede TRIGUN STAMPEDE Ver. was done before the anime even aired. On the other hand, I was in a completely different place when making this new version because I had watched the whole series.
I was really satisfied with the sculpt since I had enjoyed all the episodes and was able to include everything I wanted.

Interviewer:
I think it shows in the figure too. You can tell it's been made with love.
Did you use only the reference materials from the studio when you made the first version?

Mr. Hattori:
Yeah, I made that version before we could see him move on screen. The new Vash was made after the series was released, so I was able to make him more faithful to the way I saw him in the anime.

Closing Remarks

Interviewer:
Today, we discussed things like having passion for a piece of work and caring for minute details.
I do believe these elements are important to sculptors, and to know what you want to express must be crucial for all artists.
Continuing this topic, and since this is a Kotobukiya product, I wanted to point out that our company logo includes the word "craftsmanship." It's such an important aspect of the company that it's in the logo. Of course, this term means different things to different people, so I'm not going to ask you the stale, old question of "What does craftsmanship mean to you?"
But I would love to know when this idea of "craftsmanship" speaks to you in your work process.

Mr. Hattori:
Craftsmanship isn't something I think about on a day-to-day basis, but the feeling never leaves me. That's not because I'm a sculptor either. I think everyone at this company shares a similar unsaid feeling of craftsmanship. It's something I think we all feel deep down inside.
Sculptors can easily express their craftsmanship through figures (into something tangible), but I think even those in other jobs here have their own version of craftsmanship. And when our powers combine, it creates something amazing like this figure.

Interviewer:
These figures are born from craftsmanship... That's an interesting perspective, and I think you're right. It may be a little easier to see a sculptor’s craftsmanship, since it takes physical form, but it can be said that a figure is made from all different forms of craftsmanship put together.

Mr. Hattori:
No matter how good the sculpt is, we could never do it alone. Products—really good products—are the result of teamwork. We wouldn't be able to create something like this if it wasn't for everyone.
It's hard to put into words, but I think everyone working on a project knows what I mean.

Interviewer:
True, it's quite hard to explain, but everyone plays their own role.
That includes our wonderful photographer, Robert, here today for the interview. I know he feels the same way. Right, Robert?
Thank you, Hattori-san, for your time today and giving us a peek behind the curtain.
Also, thank you Robert for the photos!