Wistoria: Wand and Sword was an incredible anime that took the world by surprise with its unique take on fantasy. Adapted from a manga by Is it wrong to try to pick up girls in a dungeon? creator Fujino Ōmori, was an expected anime, but it surprised fans when it debuted in July. Wistoria’s anime scratched the itch left by series like naruto and Hunter x Hunter while also offering something new with its setting and characters. The series follows a young man named Will Serfort who wants to become a top magician despite his lack of magical ability.
In addition to series creator Fujino Ōmori, two other key figures in the series’ success are anime producer Katsuki Aoyama and manga editor Shiro Yamano. Wistoria’s the animation was praised for being beautiful, and no doubt part of that is due to Aoyama’s work as a producer. On the other hand, Yamano was equally influential in editing Ōmori’s work, as Wisteria and Is it wrong to try to pick up girls in a dungeon? (often referred to simply as Danmachi).
We were lucky enough to catch up with these two influential creators to discuss Wisteria and what makes the series so special.
Screen Speech: Thank you so much for sitting down to talk with me. I’m really excited to talk about Wistoria. So there has never been a better time for fantasy, anime, manga, and light novels. Given the crowded group, what do you think sets Wistoria apart from many of its contemporaries?
Shiro Yamano: Sword and magic is a very traditional genre, and I’ve always been a fan of Ōmori sensei, and knowing from Danmachi, I can say that this will have a lot of stories, a lot of deep stories with a lot of surprises, because that’s characteristic of Ōmori sensei’s stories. So that’s it, Aoi sensei has incredible art that is full of impact and lots of action, and that just raises the bar.
What was the moment in the series that made you a fan? Was there a specific moment in the series where you said, “Wow, this is really something special?”
Katsuki Aoyama: For me, it’s the action scenes in battles because they’re incredible. To see Ōmori sensei’s art, it’s just a notch above all the battle scenes and titles of other works in the same genre. It’s very impactful. As I read, I kept wondering what an anime would be like? So that got me thinking.
So the first episode is very fun and action-packed. In the second chapter of the manga, we have an evil teacher, Edward, and he launches this giant barrage of magic. So seeing the characters go through this magical attack is like an incredible action scene.
The series uses immersive sound design that draws fans in and keeps them focused on the action. Did the production make extra effort in the sound direction to enhance the fight scenes?
Katsuki Aoyama: We have the soundtrack composed by Yuki Hayashi. And Hayashi has done anime and live action, and is very prolific and popular at the moment. And he created an amazing song called Will’s Theme, just to say the main character’s main theme. And it was the perfect song and a perfect fit for this particular promotional video. Now they have a full version of the PV separate from this one, which will feature the opening theme by Penguin Research. And I’m speechless. I can only say that it’s incredible because the music matches all the action. So basically, both the opening theme and the soundtrack were composed with the thought that yes, Will equals action, and that’s why it pairs well with the sound so perfectly.
Will is a hard-working protagonist who doesn’t let himself get down despite his situation and the way people treat him. Do you think fans will be able to identify with his perseverance? Is perseverance the central theme of the series?
Shiro Yamano: A protagonist who perseveres through things and never gives up is a very traditional shonen stereotype. And it is also Ōmori sensei’s strong point. I’m sure the fans will love it because it’s what they expect and it’s part of the genre. It’s what they know about both Ōmori’s work and the shonen genre in general.
As you’ve both mentioned several times, the manga has incredible artwork and specifically a lot of incredible settings. What was the hardest part of bringing this to life?
Shiro Yamano: There are many elements in the manga that have not yet been revealed. Catch the sky, sun and various details of the tower. There will be many settings that are still in Ōmori san’s head and nowhere else. So I feel like Ōmori sensei had a really hard time drawing it without making mistakes.
Given the high quality of the art, was it particularly difficult to adapt into an anime?
Katsuki Aoyama: So basically you have all the images in Sensei Ōmori’s head. So, Ōmori sensei materializes this in the form of art. And then there’s the transition to the anime, which is where they have someone responsible for the scenarios. This person stops by Yamano san to ask, “Hey, am I understanding this detail correctly? Can you confirm if this is how it should be?” And it has been very difficult for them, with a lot of comings and goings. Because, for example, if you are going to pick up a pin at the end of your tie. What is the color? Can you tell me? So it’s like the attention to detail is so great.
Many thanks to Katsuki Aoyama and Shiro Yamano for speaking with us. Wistoria: Wand and Sword is streaming now on Crunchyroll!