Chaos

What are you looking for?

podcast banner

Murai Sadayuki — Screenwriter, “Perfect Blue,” “Steamboy,” and “Millennium Actress”

#447: 2023-10-16
Download

447_MuraiSadayuki_Full.jpg

Murai Sadayuki is the writer behind some of the most astonishing and groundbreaking anime films of all time, including the Hitchcockian Perfect Blue, Otomo’s Akira follow-up Steamboy, and the reality-blurring Millennium Actress. But he’s not done yet: he continues to write for TV series, including Knights of Sidonia, Godzilla, and Sabikui Bisco.

Conducted at THU via a translator, this podcast sees Chris discover the world of Japanese animated movie-making and storytelling. Murai explains the importance of Godzilla, Ultraman, Akira, and WWII in Japanese culture. He also discusses the back-and-forth between Western and Japanese movie-making, and gives us his thoughts on what it means to be a creative person today. 

Links:

Sadayuki Murai on IMDb > 


447_MuraiSadayuki_YouTube.jpg447_MuraiSadayuki_YouTube.jpg

0:04:02 Giant lizards and ultra men: What inspired Murai-san

0:08:12 How Japanese entertainment appeals to both kids and adults

0:16:01 The importance of "Akira" and Osamu Tezuka

0:21:19 How Murai-san became a writer

0:23:39 "Perfect Blue," "SteamBoy," and "Millennium Actress"

0:27:12 The stories Murai-san likes to tell

0:29:52 WWII as a source for Japanese story-telling

0:36:55 East and west stories and structures

0:40:43 Why Western takes on Japanese content doesn't work

0:44:26 What it's like to be a creative person today

0:49:13 Are we focused on content or creators? 

IMG_h96auu.jpg
About the author

Christopher Nichols

Chris is a CG industry veteran and Director of Chaos Labs. He can also be heard regularly as the host of the CG Garage podcast which attracts 20,000 weekly listeners. With a background in both VFX and Design, Chris has worked for Gensler, Digital Domain, Imageworks and Method Studios. His credits include Maleficent, Oblivion and Tron: Legacy.

Originally published: October 16, 2023.
© Škoda Design

Subscribe to our blog.

Get the latest news, artist spotlight stories, tips and tricks delivered to your inbox.

You can opt-out at any time. Privacy Policy.

Chaos
© 2025 Chaos Software EOOD. All Rights reserved. Chaos®, V-Ray® and Phoenix FD® are registered trademarks of Chaos Software EOOD in Bulgaria and/or other countries.
Close
Your cart
There are no items in your cart.