One of the most emotional surprises of the recent New York Comic Con was that famous mangaka Hiro Mashima revealed that his most famous work, the manga/anime “Fairy Tail”, came from her feelings. deeply single.
During the Q&A session at the conference, Mashima shared that the central idea of his story about friendship was inspired by his lack of friends in real life. “To be honest, I write stories because I have no friends. My loneliness is exactly what you are seeing in Fairy Tail,” the author confessed. This confession touched the public.
Mashima is known for his debut work “Rave Master” in 1999 and his biggest success is “Fairy Tail” in 2006. The Fairy Tail series was adapted into an anime in 2009 and continues to have parts follows Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest, now illustrated by Atsuo Ueda, while its anime adaptation, produced by JCSTAFF, premieres in July 2024.
Mashima remained tight-lipped on whether the characters in the story will be able to complete the 100 Years Quest, but the author emphasized that he is still in charge of the overall story and storyboards, making even Ueda himself wonder. surprised at the direction of events.
During the talk, Mashima also acknowledged the influence of Akira Toriyama's “Dragon Ball” on his career, and expressed his respect for the late mangaka. Despite creating the successful 100 Years Quest, Mashima revealed that the idea of making a sequel was not his but the company's decision. However, he affirmed that this is still a job that he must try his best.
The panel also covered his other works, such as Eden Zero, Rave Master and most recently DEAD ROCK, where he emphasized his interest in exploring darker and more mature themes . When asked if he wanted to continue adapting the Rave Master anime, Mashima admitted that, although he felt honored by his fans' love, he was currently more focused on his new projects. .
The event doesn't just focus on the sadness behind Fairy Tail. Mashima greeted his fans in New York enthusiastically, highlighting his pride in being the author of the series. In addition, the mangaka also surprised the public by creating two vivid drawings, emitting excited cheers every time his characters took shape.
Mashima also spoke about the importance of empathy in the creative process, encouraging creators to engage with the world and not just focus on technical skills. “One of the most important elements of being an artist is the ability to absorb the world around you,” he commented.