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Otakon - angela Panel

By Marc Lunden     August 13, 2004

The panel was led by Stephen Tang from Geneon, and atsuko and KATSU (the two members of angela). A translator and a representative from King Records were also in attendance.

The panel was almost entirely Q&A, with a brief statement beforehand about how it was thanks to the Stellvia OP, 'Asu e no Brilliant Road,' that angela was able to become successful.

The following is a summation of the questions and answers, not an exact transcript. Every effort has been made to signify the person responding to each question. If the person responding is not noted, then the response came from atsuko, KATSU, or the King Records rep. Quotes indicate exact statements.

Q: What is the difference in fan responses between the U.S. and Japan?

A: In Japan, the fans are very particular. They tend to follow one particular movement. But in the U.S., the fans tend to do whatever they want. Especially the cosplayers. "It looks like you guys know more about Japanese animation than the Japanese do."

Q: Will there be any angela albums released in the U.S.?

A (Nobu Yamamoto from Geneon, sitting in the audience): Do you guys want angela CDs? (audience shouts yes)

A (Stephen): Do you want angela to come back? (audience shouts yes)

Q: Where did the name angela come from?

A (KATSU): I like the band Motley Crue, and they have a song named 'Angela.' That's where the name came from.

Q: How do you (KATSU) become inspired to play the guitar?

A (KATSU): I really like the Evangelion opening, and eight years ago I created a song inspired by the opening. We performed in the streets, which is where a producer found us.

Q: How do you (KATSU) get your hair like that? (KATSU's hair, for those who don't know, is a silvery-blue and somewhat spiky.)

A (KATSU): "Coloring" and "shampoo." (audience laughs)

Q: Will the cover of the Evangelion opening or other covers be released?

A (King Records): "We'll put it into the album that Geneon is going to be releasing." (big laugh from audience)

Q: What is the status of your next album?

A: We're making it right now. It's about halfway done. It should be ready by this fall.

Q: Will you do more anime openings?

A: For Stellvia 2, maybe 'The Brilliant Road to the Day After Tomorrow'? (big laugh from audience) We asked director Sato about it, and he said, "It's going great. It's all in my head right now." We did ask about doing the song.

Q: When you perform, what do you think about? How do you feel?

A (atsuko): We never imagined we'd be performing in the U.S. I was very touched when I was performing.

Q: Is there any other U.S. music that you like?

A (atsuko): Madonna.

A (KATSU): There's a band from the '50s called The Boppers. And they also have a song called 'Angela.'

Q: When you do anime songs, how are they created?

A: The songs are supposed to be representations of the show, so we talk with the director, read the scripts, and look at the storyboards to help create the songs.

Q: How did you two come together to form angela?

A: We're both from the same town out in the country, and we met in Tokyo when doing music, so we decided to form a group.

Q: What are your favorite anime series?

A (atsuko): "Evangelion" (Eva fans applaud)

A (KATSU): "First Gundam, Dragonball, Stellvia."

Q: Have you done any promo videos?

A: Yes. If you go to do karaoke in Japan, sometimes our videos will show up on the screen.

Q: "Can I get a hug?"

A (atsuko): Yes. (audience claps)

A (KATSU): "She's babe!" (At the concert the day before, KATSU had revealed that this was the newest English that he'd learned.)

Q: Did you understand Evangelion, because I didn't.

A: "Just watch it again."

Q: How did you both decide to do music?

A (atsuko): I played the piano when I was a little kid, and I always wanted to sing. I also formed a band in high school.

A (KATSU): I looked up to Tommy Lee as a kid. (amused reactions from audience)

Q: What are your hobbies?

A (atsuko): "Internet" and "shopping." Also, doing laundry.

A (KATSU): Sleeping and watching anime. (audience applauds)

Q: What do you think about your music in the U.S.?

A (atusko): I was worried when we came to the U.S. about what people would think. But I'm very happy. I want to keep working on anime, and keep doing music.

A (KATSU): I want to come back to the U.S. (audience applauds)

Q: Are two-person bands common in Japan?

A: There are a lot, so we try and do crazy things to stand out.

Q: Do you do the synthesized backing music for your songs, or does someone else create it?

A: KATSU does all the arrangement for the music.

Q: I noticed that atsuko seemed very emotional when performing 'Separation.' Does that song have any special meaning for her?

A (atsuko): When singing that song, I thought about old past experiences.

Q: Have you noticed a change in recognition since you became known? Do you need personal security?

A (KATSU): I've gotten stopped in Akihabara twice, but I've never had any guards.

A (atsuko): I was eating in a restaurant and one person asked my name.

Q: Have you met and worked with other groups?

A: We haven't met many. We hope to go see L'Arc-en-Ciel. We meet more voice actors than other groups.

Time was up at this point. There was much applause for angela, and Stephen made a quick mention of various times for autographs later that day and on Sunday as Jerry and the con staff began setting up for the Bandai panel.

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