Anime Producer Ena Hamabe Discusses Hope and Human Connection in Storytelling

## A Focus on Hope and Human Connection At Anime Expo, Ena Hamabe, producer of *I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day* and *This Monster Wants to Eat Me*, sat down with Anime News Network to discuss her approach to storytelling. Hamabe's projects often explore heavy subject matter, including grief, mortality, and war, yet they maintain a sense of hope and optimism. ## Authentic Portrayals of Young Women Hamabe's productions, such as *This Monster Wants to Eat Me*, focus on the relationships between young women. She believes that these stories resonate with audiences because they portray the thoughts and emotions of young women in a way that feels authentic to their stage of life. By creating relatable characters, Hamabe hopes that viewers can see parts of themselves in the protagonists and enjoy watching them grow. ## The Power of Animation When asked about the contrast between the dark subject matter and the hopeful tone of her stories, Hamabe attributed it to the power of animation. By bringing the stories to life visually, she believes that the emphasis on hope and optimism is amplified. This approach allows viewers to experience the emotions of the characters alongside them, making the stories feel more impactful. ## Embracing Complexity and Sincerity Hamabe's approach to storytelling is characterized by a focus on sincerity and authenticity. She believes that beauty in storytelling comes from the way sadness and kindness exist together, and that stories should communicate naturally, allowing people to connect with those feelings in their own way. This approach is evident in scenes from *I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day*, such as the moment where two characters share a tender moment of healing, which could have felt cheesy but instead felt incredibly sincere. ## Collaboration and Vision As a producer, Hamabe values collaboration and bringing together the right creative team to bring a project to life. She believes that when the right people come together, everyone's strengths complement one another, and the final work becomes something that none of them could have created alone. Hamabe's approach to storytelling is guided by a clear vision, which she hopes to stay true to throughout the production process. ## A Personal Connection to Hopeful Stories Hamabe's own outlook on life has influenced the kinds of projects she's drawn to. She believes that stories that explore grief, mortality, and human connection have helped her the most throughout her life. By creating stories that offer hope and support, Hamabe hopes to encourage others in the same way that these stories have supported her. ## A Focus on Helping People Through Sadness Ultimately, Hamabe's goal is not to leave viewers with only sadness, but to help them experience those emotions alongside the characters and then feel ready to take another step forward. By creating stories that stay with people in this way, Hamabe believes that she can make a meaningful impact.