Kamipress: What do you think about when making a Kamishibai story?
Meagen: To make it as funny as possible. I try to make good jokes and not to
put in too many of them. I really want someone to have a good laugh
when they read it.
Kamipress: What is the hardest part (for you) about making a Kamishibai story?
Meagen: Pictures and animation. I use the paper-and-scan method, which takes
time and work, and the result isn't always very good. And animations
are always the last thing to fall into place as I make the story,
most often because I just don't have the technology to make them look
right.
Kamipress: What's your favorite part of making a Kamishibai story?
Meagen: When I get inspired and suddenly see a whole chapter of the story
happening, and then type up the script. It's the easiest part, I
already have my series scripted up to Volume 5. And of course, I like
the bit when it's done and uploaded and the fanmail (or posts) and
fanart start rolling in. But hey, don't we all?
Kamipress: How did get into Kamishibai?
Meagen: Through KiSS. Before I even got Internet access, I bought this
shareware CD with a lot of dolls on it. My first time online I asked
for good KiSS souces in an IRC chatroom. Someone recomended
OtakuWorld and the rest, as they say, is history. ;)
SailorM came from another storyline you wrote, right? What was that
about?
Meagen: Not exactly... it's actually quite a long story. You see, about six
years ago I invented Sailor Andromeda, my first fanfic Senshi. I
didn't know anything about the Net or fanfics at the time. Sailor
Andromeda branched out into three different stories: the first was
that of a Senshi from the future who arrived in our time in pursuit
of a villain named Pandora (I tried at least five times to write that
story, the last time using Kami, but eventually dumped it).
The second story was something I created along with my friend
Magnesse, and which I even wanted to turn into a Net comic some time
ago (under the title "Poorando-no Senshi", or Senshi of Poland). It
concerns the two of us as Sailors, Tsunami, Washuu, and a talking
hamster.
The third storyline was The Funniest Adventures Of SA, also
featuring Andromeda's partner, Sailor Moonie. This was going to be a
comedy series making fun of various movies and whatever else
attracted my attention. Somehow, it got more serious, turning into
the Sailor Senshi United universe (which you can read about on my
website [shameless plug]).
Now, SailorM was my first online nickname. Somehow, during the long
pseudo-rp threads at Shael's Kamishibai Korner, she aquired a
personality of her own (this is closely tied to Lucas, see next
question) and a story of her own. Since then I've also written her
into the SSU universe, where she's Andromeda's clone.
What is it about Lucas that inspired his half of the story?
Meagen: His blue hair. ^_^ Actually, his blue hair's the reason I liked him
(that and he's straight). Of course, being Meg-chan's creation he had
a dark story behind him. This inspired a short Kami about Lucas being
dark & mysterious and SailorM suddenly appearing to glomp him. This
got a positive feedback from the forum, so the story snowballed from
there.
Meagen: I think the C:SM universe is becoming a lot like what the Funniest
Adventures was supposed to be.
Kamipress: Who are some of your favorite Kamishibai artists?
Kamipress: So what are some of the Kamishibai you're considering for the future?
Meagen: Nothing at the moment, although I keep getting ideas that never get
anywhere. I just want to finish C:SailorM first, and then we'll see.
Kamipress: So do you have any additional comments, concerns, or thoughts for us?
Meagen: Authors, please don't forget to tell me where you're taking your
stories! You can see on my site how I made an "Available at:" link
next to the SailorM and "The Legend of Mitar". That's how I'd like to
organise it. Meagen's Webspace -
click here