Akadot - Fun Features: Q and A

Writer/director Marc Handler has worked on the English versions of such anime series as "Tenchi Muyo," "Cowboy Bebop" and popular US animated series including "Voltron: The 3rd Dimension" as well as "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." He tells Akadot why orange juice is sour and the sky is blue.

With what historical period do you most identify, or to which, if given the ability to time travel, you would visit?

MH: Medieval Japan, except I can't sit on my knees that long.

"Pokemon" or "Digimon" or couldn't care less?

MH: I got to go with "Digimon," for no good reason except that I have a lot of peer friends that work on "Digimon" and I don't know anyone working on "Pokemon."

Which of the "Tenchi" women would you date if you were back in high school?

MH: Ryoko and, of course, I would just regret it terribly, but those were exactly the kind of choices I made in high school. I would choose someone who would torture me and make me miserable.

What do you think is the most profound cultural difference between Japan and America?

MH: Concentrated orange juice, Japanese people come to the US for a visit and when I ask them what they thought of it they say concentrated orange juice. They can't understand that a place that grows some of the best oranges in the world would turn those oranges into a paste and then put them in a can and add water to drink it. They find that unfathomable and, when I think about it, so do I.

But, allow me to wax serious just a little bit. Japanese storytelling really has a different sensibility than American storytelling and, of course, that's what I'm most involved in and engaged in when I'm working on a project. Brushstrokes, I think that's a good way of looking at it. The Japanese like to imply things, they like mystery and ambiguity. In America we are really about the bottom line, saying things directly and clearly. To the Japanese that's very boring. It is much more interesting to be intrigued.

What's your favorite sitcom of all time?

MH: I really do not watch television. I'd have to go way back. Ah, it's a boring answer but I'll have to say "The Moose," well, "Northern Exposure."

[Later on, Marc Handler emailed the Akadot editorial staff with this pontification]

I realized immediately upon hanging up what the correct answer to the sit-com question was: the 6 o'clock news - it is truly the heights of comedy. (Or is that the depth of comedy?)

Would you sacrifice your arms for a photographic memory?

MH: No, I would not.

[Again, a more extensive answer for this came to us via email]

I'm still puzzling about trading my arms for perfect photographic memory. Why would I want that? It would mean remembering all the foolish things I've done in my life. I'm trying to forget them...

Who's the black private dick who's a sex machine with all the chicks?

MH: I have no idea. But I'm sure he has arms, otherwise it's a little hard to make it with the chicks.

Why is the sky blue?

MH: I guess that's what came up on God's color palette.

What's your favorite weekly publication?

MH: Akadot.com - I'm in the biz, I know when it's time to plug the product...

Who is the second best James Bond?

MH: There is Sean Connery, there is no other Bond.

Marc Handler is currently working as the script editor and creative supervisor for the joint Japanese/American production of the new "Astro Boy" TV series.