Otakon 2013: Press Conference and Public Q&A With Director Shinichiro Watanabe

Few figures in the anime industry today can boast of a career as rich as that of Shinichiro Watanabe. A successful screenwriter, music producer and director, Watanabe got his first big directing break co-directing the admired OVA series Macross Plus with Shoji Kawamori before going on to direct the eclectic landmark titles Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo.

Sunday morning on August 11th, a press conference was held at Otakon with Mr. Watanabe and studio BONES President Masahiko Minami present. Mr. Watanabe spent an hour taking our questions on Space Dandy, the variety of creative influences on his work, his great passion for music, the experiences of his directing career and more. An edited transcript of the complete press conference Q&A session follows below. Watanabe spoke through a translator.