Hearing about your favorite anime from the people who made it is always a treat. Not only does this give us an insight into part of the creative process and lore that we may not have gotten otherwise, but it also shows the work in a different light. The odder the show is, the more important it is to hear from the original creator. We recently got the chance to talk with Oshioshio, the mangaka behind this summer’s most out-there title: My Deer Friend Nokotan. Oshioshio answered many of our questions, including their plans to help deer take over the world, the creative process behind the manga, and their involvement in the adaptation.
A: What led you to create a deer-centric series? When was My Deer Friend Nokotan idea born? Why deer specifically?
A: Rather than deer, my first idea was to feature a character with antlers as the protagonist. I thought deer would be the most familiar in Japan, and it led to the birth of the character, Nokotan.
Q: Did the preparation research for the story involve any real deer?
A: I went out to see deer and did research about them.
Q: When did you first get the idea for a story like this? How would you compare it to the two previous titles you serialized? Was there something specific you learned during that time that helped you make this series successful?
A: I believe I did just after the previous work was finished. Unlike my previous four-panel manga, [My Deer Friend Nokotan] has panel layouts in an ordinary way, and that lets me make jokes work throughout on the page.
Q: Are there any creators or titles that you can point out as major influences on you and your work?
A: I was heavily influenced by Kiyohiko Azuma-sensei’s Yotsuba&!. You may not believe it, though… I started reading the manga after I began drawing My Deer Friend Nokotan. Yotsuba&! has been my textbook of manga ever since. I have the manga on my desk to read back whenever.
Q: WIT Studio has done a great job on the anime. How did you feel when you learned that not only was your work getting an anime adaptation, but that it was getting one by such a well-known studio?
A: I was just taken aback. I’m sure a lot of anime fans thought: “WIT STUDIO?! WHY?!” I was on the same page. I still find myself wondering about it.
Q: How closely are you involved with the anime production? Did you have any specific requests for the anime staff?
A: I’m involved through checking the scripts and supervising stuff like character designs/official art. I hardly made specific requests, but I did ask them to perform jokes at the very beginning. Also, though I basically left things to the director, he was a nice person and listened to my opinions very well and I brought up some ideas for the opening sequence. I came up with “YOU DEER” and I was happy to see it met with great laughter in Japan and beyond.
Q: How did you feel when the promotional videos for the anime went viral? Did you expect such a reception outside of Japan?
A: To be honest, I didn’t expect the big buzz. While feeling grateful, I was just surprised. Much appreciated.
Q: Do you find yourself singing the “Sore Muto Yan Koshitan” (Go! Fight! Koshitan!) throughout the day?
A: I don’t after all. Because it’s been 5 years ever since I came up with it… If anything, I like the insert song “Kazoku ni Narouyo, Hino de.” (Let’s Become a Family in Hino)* and frequently hum it.
Note: Shikanoko sings the song in Episode 4
Q: What was your reaction to hearing the voice cast for the first time? Did you imagine your characters sounding like that?
A: I was thrilled to learn how perfect they fit, like I couldn’t think of anyone else. I hadn’t imagined any particular voice at all for Nokotan, but the moment I heard [Megumi] Han-san’s “Notsu!” what came to mind was: “This is the Nokotan…”
Q: If Nokotan were taken to Nara Park, would she be a cuddly park deer or a wild Mt. Wakakusa deer?
A: I believe she would be the legendary deer god of Nara Park.
Q: Have you ever eaten a deer cracker? If yes, what would you rate the taste as? A: I did on a school trip in my high school. It was pretty tasteless, [natural and simple].
Q: What do you hope My Deer Friend Nokotan readers/viewers take away from the story? A: They don’t have to take away anything at all, [lol]. I’m glad if they just empty their minds and enjoy the story.
Q: And lastly, perfectly fine if only off the record: are you secretly a deer trying to take over the world with the help of the Shika Shika Network?
A: The answer is… Oh, someone’s here.
We’d like to thank Oshioshio for taking the time to answer our questions and Seven Seas Entertainment, the English licensor for the My Deer Friend Nokotan manga, for helping make this interview happen.
While we excitedly rewatch the season finale of the anime, you can always catch up on the manga and keep up with Oshioshio’s work on Twitter/X and Pixiv.
© 2020 Oshioshio / Kodansha Ltd.; © Oshioshio, Kodansha / Hino Minami High School Deer Club
Editing: Tamara Lazic
Translation: Bushido Samurai
Questions: Tamara Lazic, JP Kristov, Marko Jovanovic, Bushido Samurai