Akadot: Do you think there are a lot of differences the way Japanese animations and domestic animation is produced?

FG: It's different, yet it's the same. I mean, animation is animation and there are certain things everybody has to do. It is a frame-by-frame business. But, it's different as well because there's a different kind of economics and distribution. The historical growth of animation in Japan developed separately from the animation process developed in the U.S. The storytelling and cultural inferences are different as well and I've always been interested in that.

Akadot: If you had the chance, would you like to work in Japanese animation or with a Japanese animation studio?

FG: At all the studios I've worked with or know about have thought about that. Anime is not a secret. [laughs] All the studios may have had a western story and the idea of matching it with an anime style, but so far, it really hasn't happened. It has on television, and lots of anime studios have done TV episodes that show in the West and are very popular. Or the studios have subcontracted to do American TV. But for feature films it has been elusive up to this point.

It would be brilliant to help change that situation a little. It would be great fun to take a story that resonated with an American (Western) audience and make it in anime style. However, personally, I would try to find a story that resonated in both cultures [Asian and Western] and worked for both audiences. I think you need to find the right mix, so to speak. A lot of people besides me have thought about this and I suspect it will happen and more sooner than later. If we [DreamWorks] were the ones to do it, I'd be really happy. Maybe that will happen, but I don't know. We are new at this. So, we'll see. Maybe they'll use this interview as a hint. [Laughs]

Akadot: So you would like to do a co-production type of film?

FG: I really would. I would like to see a co-production. I think when you make an animated movie for any group, the more the story resonates not only with the producers, but also with the group of people making it, the better the film will be. If it's something where everybody has an emotional stake in it, I think it works better. And of course if everyone on the production has an emotional stake, chances are the people that see this film will also feel their emotional involvement as well.

It's kind of a dream. And I don't know if anyone has found the right story yet, but it would be a wonderful thing to be able to do. I think any studio would be interested in that. Maybe it is happening somewhere right now and we just don't know about it yet. [Laughs]

Akadot: So do you have any message for anime or movie fans in general concerning Millennium Actress?

FG: I don't know what I can tell everybody, but for me, this is the type of film that will surprise you. You will be able to bring your own personal emotions to it. It is more than an adventure story. So I hope people go to see it because of its emotional impact. If I have no other message, then just say it's a damn good film. Hooray for everyone who worked on it and hooray for us recognizing it's intrinsic value. It will do what films are supposed to do; make you a little bit more thoughtful, maybe feel a little bit better, and it's entertaining.

Want to read more?! Don't forget to read part I and II.