This Month we talk to Christina:), creator of Crinsim Warriors and Keeper of Nature:

Post: What the hardest part (for you) about making a Kamishibai story?
Christina:): A few things, but the images mostly. Sometimes I try to draw the pic like I have in mind, but most of the time it doesn't work out. ^_^* As they say, try, try, try again. One time I took 2 hours to make one pic. The other things are music and sounds. I would love to make sounds and have voice actors, but I don't have a mic. ^_^* As the music goes, I wish I could make my own, but I don't know how. Sometimes it takes ages to find the right music for the mood. (i hope this doesn't sound like i'm being a wimp;_;)

Post: What do you think about when making a Kamishibai story?
Christina:): I try took think about how I would feel if I was in their place. I basic have an outline for the kami as a whole, but I don't know what the people will do or say until I start typing. So I try to make their feelings as believable as possible, so the reader can feel what they feel.

Post: So when planning a Kamishibai how do you get your imagination flowing?
Christina:): Amazingly, I get some of my ideas in school. (and i thought a school's only purpose was to bore us and give us so much work, that we can't have fun:) I'll get bored in clase, which easy since I have an hour and a half block schedule, and start to draw. I might make a character that I like, and my imagination will start up and keep going until I find a story behind the person that I drew. I might read a book or Kami that will get me inspired. Sometimes, please don't think that I'm weird, I get them in my sleep. Really! I'll get a weird dream, then when I wake up, I might say to myself,"You know, that might be good as a kami"

Post: You mention what influnced Crinsim Warriors in your thank yous, but is what influnced Keeper of Nature?
Christina:): Okay, this is a long one.(not that the others are short^_^*) When I was little, still playing with Barbies, I would play with them, and the story was basicly the same. Barbie would be lonely, and get in trouble, then Ken would show up and save her. They would get married, and for some reason Ken would have to leave.(the reasons vairied) She would wait patiently for his return, and sometimes have a baby. Then she would get in trouble again, and then a stranger would save her(and in some cases, save her and her daughter)then he would be un-masked, and lo and behold, it was Ken! Then they would live happily ever after. I got my inspiration from that, although a bit different, and added my love of nature to it. "The Keeper of Nature" was, and still is, my first kami. I had high exspectations for it, I wanted it to have romance, excitment, action, tradegy, and twists at the same time. Back then, I thought it would only be 4 parts, now it looks like it might be any where from 7 to 10 parts.

Post: What was the hardest part about making kamishibai stories?
Christina:): Finding the time to do them. Between school, chores, afterschool activities, and babysitting, time is limited. I've tried to be promt, I know what's like to wait forever for your fav kami to bring out a new part, but it's not that simple. ^_^*

Post: What are your plains for your Stories in the future?
Christina:): I guess I'm hooked with magical girl stories.(too much sailor moon) I've tried, and tried, and tried to make a kami with ordinary people, an ordinary setting, with no special powers, bad guys, or anything magical. For me, that seems just impossible!

Post:Other than yourself who are some of your favorite Kamishibai artist?
Christina:): There are so many! ^o^ In no specific order, ChibiAlex, Firefly, Rebo, Kodachi Batchix, Toni, Kusukusu, Hoshi, Jason A.M., Neko-Hime, Lianu, Princess Quova/Tenchi,(they made dragon slayer alpha together) Amy, Ribby, Mary Ellen/Megan,(they made high city together)Meagen, TENIME Art Studios, Bonnie Simons, and Jennifer Diane Reitz.(i love unicorn jelly, 'specially uni, he's adorable!^O^)

Post:If you could change one think about Kamishibai what would it be, and why?
Christina:): I'm pretty pleased with it all, the only thing I would like to change is the speeds. In one scene, I might like the action to go fast, then do slow-mo on a part, then fast again. You know, to add more effect. I know that's impossible, but it's the only that I would change.

Post: What's your favorite part of making a Kamishibai story?
Christina:): Making the animations. It takes a while to make them, and it's hard work, but I love seeing when it's done! It makes me feel like a cartoon animator for TV. I also love something more that animations, it doesn't officially go towards making a kami, but it keeps me running. It's... FAN MAIL!!! I love it when some one takes the time to e-mail me to say that they like me. If I feel like quitting, I go read them again, and they give me a new inspirations to keep on going!

Post:So what are some of the Kamishibai your considering for the future?
Christina:): I'm really big on magical girl stories, and I have 2 in mind. One will be slightly based on me and my brothers, and how we fight all them time. Then we get thrown into a demintion, and have to find a way to work together.(with the help of some powers) The other one set in a small farm-type county (like mine! ^-^) and a girl finds out that her birth mark isn't just for looks, when one of her old friends return and tells her so. She finds the courage within herself to save her family, friends, and the whole world from the Calamities. One I'm working on in my spare time, which isn't a magical girl story(well, not really^_^*) called "Tatiana's Diary" I got the inspirations from a book, Tatiana is in another demintion froms ours, where magic is as ordinary as chese. She's very different from her family, she doesn't have magic! When her brother is in danger, she goes off on a quest to help him. this one will come out in a lllooonnngggg while, 'cuz my other kamis come first, but I'll try to get the first part out as soon as possible. ^-^

Post: So do you have any additional comments, concerns, or thoughts for us?
Christina:): I would have to thank ChibiAlex again. With out her, I have never made my kamis. I'm now helping another person do her kami. I also want to say that I LOVE getting e-mails! So please send me some! :)

Thanks for your time Christina.




Back to the author index