Netflix series
"T.P. Bon"
Interview with Director Masahiro Ando
[Part 1]

The anime series "T.P. (Time Patrol) Bon" is being distributed exclusively on Netflix to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the birth of Fujiko F. Fujio.
This time-spanning sci-fi epic, with each episode exploring a different time and place, was put together by director Ando Masahiro, who is renowned for his spectacular directing.
We will be delivering behind-the-scenes stories and highlights from Director Ando in two parts, Part 1 and Part 2.

■Netflix series "T.P. Bon"
Season 1: Now streaming exclusively
Season 2: Exclusively available from Wednesday, July 17th

-How did you feel when you were selected to direct the "T.P. Bon" anime series?
Given my career up to now, I thought that Fujiko's anime was a world far removed from my own, so this offer was unexpected and I was a bit worried about whether I was up to the task. However, looking back, my first encounter with the creative world was through Fujiko's works. The first manga book I bought with my own money when I was in the lower grades of elementary school was volume 6 of "Doraemon" published by Tentomushi Comics (laughs). As a member of the generation that grew up on various Fujiko works in my childhood, I thought that being able to participate in the production of Fujiko's video work as an adult was a good opportunity to give back.
I first encountered the original manga "T.P. Bon" when I was in the first year of junior high school. It was published irregularly in a magazine I often read at the time. I was happy to get the chance to read Fujiko-sensei's new works every once in a while. I remember being impressed by the intellectual style of the work, which was different from the "Doraemon" and "Perman" that I knew, and the design of the time boat and other parts were very attractive.

-What did you pay attention to and what difficulties did you face when adapting the work into an anime?
We worked on this project with the desire to revive this classic sci-fi work of time as a film with a modern design, and to create an anime that can be passed on to the next generation.
The most difficult part was the historical research. The producers searched for the most suitable experts, such as university professors, for each episode, and they all willingly accepted the role. Some people said that "T.P. Bon" was what inspired them to study history, and they were reminded of the long history of the original work itself and the influence of Fujiko F. Fujio. All of the researchers were amazed at the erudition and accuracy of Fujiko F. Fujio's knowledge of the original manga. They were like, "It's mostly fine, but if I had to say, it would be this much." They also told us about historical facts that have changed in the 40 years since the series began, and suggested ways to overwrite them. Basically, we stayed close to the original work, and incorporated new ideas while checking them against historical facts.

-What did you pay particular attention to when setting up the main character, Bon?
Of course, Bon's room is the one that appears the most in the story. I paid particular attention to Bon's room because it is the entrance to the extraordinary, which is the starting point for traveling to another time. I imagined him as a junior high school student who still has the mind of an elementary school student, so I placed various items such as dinosaur and rocket models, an insect breeding case, an astronomical telescope, a globe, and a world map, without making it too maniacal. Bon is an ordinary boy, but he has a high adaptability as a time patrolman, so I think he probably has a curious personality. I thought that a normal boy who has a neutral stance and is interested in many things is the kind of protagonist that Mr. F. wanted. I placed a model of a Futabasaurus dragon because it was a light prelude to the appearance of the real thing in the second half of the first episode, and because, of all Fujiko F. Fujio's works, Pisuke from "Nobita 's Dinosaur" is a must-have (lol).

Art setting for Bon's room. The time-traveling machine "Time Boat" appears from this ceiling.


-What is your favorite episode from Season 1 that you would like people to see?
Episode 1: "I won't let it be erased"
The part where the main character goes from everyday to extraordinary can only be depicted in the first episode, so I carefully created it as the introduction to the story. I was conscious of drawing it from Bon's perspective so that the reader can empathize with the characters' emotions, such as the confusion and excitement of Bon opening a new, unknown door, and the fear of his familiar everyday life suddenly transforming into something extraordinary.

The end of episode 1, "I Won't Let It Erased," features a terrifying turn of events that is original to the anime.

Episode 8: "Beautiful Girl on the Battlefield"
This is an important episode in which Bon first struggles with his time patrol duties, discovers meaning, and grows as a person. It is a relatively recent past for us, so it feels familiar. The emotional scene in which lovers use the time patrol device to connect across time is one of the best scenes in the series. If it becomes too emotional, it will stray from the essence of Mr. F, so I was careful to strike the right balance.

Lieutenant Sakuragi, the rescue target in episode 8, "Battlefield Beauty." He was scheduled to make a suicide mission during the Battle of Okinawa at the end of the Pacific War, but...!?

Furthermore, the setting of the 12th episode, which concludes Season 1, is not the past world, but a devastated distant future. In a world where the reliable Time Patrol equipment cannot be used, pay attention to the bond between Bon, Ream, and Buyoyon and their growth as a team. And I hope you will enjoy it, including the elements that lead to Season 2.

In episode 12, "Drifters in Hyperspace," Bon and Reim are unable to return from the devastated future world!

[Profile of Director Ando Masahiro]
Masahiro Ando
Born in Hokkaido in 1967. Animator. After graduating from high school, he joined the animation production company Annapuru and worked on many key animations. He then went freelance and participated in the Crayon Shin-chan the Movie series and Cowboy Bepap: Door to Heaven. In 2007, he made his directorial debut with the animated film Stranger: Mukou Hadan. Since then, he has frequently directed television anime.

Release date is Wednesday, July 17, 2024!
Doraemon & Fujiko F. Fujio Official Fan Book
F Life Special Edition T.P. Book
~The world of the anime "T.P. Bon" and Fujiko F. Fujio

Price: 2,420 yen (tax included)
Publisher: SHOGAKUKAN
Digital distribution version: Available on the same day as release
*Design may be subject to change.
This book also contains a long version of the interview with Director Ando Masahiro, as well as interviews with series composer Kakihara Yuko and main writer Sato Dai! Please look forward to its release!