Q. Please tell us about the brand you are participating in.

One side

"Niformation" is a brand of wafer stickers produced by the Candy Division, and the brand name comes from the sticker collection "tion," which expresses the appeal of the work with deformed illustrations of "ni" toushin (two-headed). This time, the concept is that "characters have jumped out of the Niformation stickers," and the Candy Division is participating in the first Niformation figurine.

Q. Please tell us why you decided to team up with Mr. X this time.

One side

This is the first time for the Candy Division to take part in the One Piece Sculpting King Summit Battle, and the first time for "Niformation" to create a figurine. I wanted to make an impact on customers, and wanted to hire a sculptor who could do that, and my boss introduced me to Mr. X, saying, "There's a really sharp guy." I felt his "sharpness" from the moment we met, and thought, "This is the guy!" So I asked him to do it.

Q. Please tell us how excited you were when your participation was decided.

One side

When I asked Mr. X to make the game, he first asked me, "What kind of mindset do you have, Katahira-san?" I answered, "If I'm going to participate, I'll definitely be feeling like I want to win!" Mr. X responded, "I'm glad. If I didn't have that mindset, I wouldn't have accepted the request." He was determined to take first place if he was going to do it.

Q. Why did you choose the characters and scenes you created?

One side

The first "Niformation" figures are a new endeavor in themselves, and since Luffy and Buggy have joined the new Four Emperors in the anime and are attracting attention as a user, we chose them because we wanted to take on a new challenge. When we think of deformed figures, we tend to think of something small and cute, but the deformed figures made by Mr. X have a sense of realism and power. So, when we were making figures of the new Four Emperors as "Niformation", we decided to ask for Blackbeard and Buggy, characters with a bad guy feel.

Q. What kind of conversations did you have as you progressed with this production?

One side

Mr. X has his own answer. But he said, "I want to hear my opinion as a developer too," so I made sure to convey my thoughts as a developer and the parts where I needed to reach a conclusion. Through this honest exchange, I feel like we are moving forward in the same direction as Mr. X. I think it's because we have to face the same direction that he asked me when he made the request, "How do you feel about taking on the ONE PIECE Zoukeiou Summit Battle?"

Q. What are the characteristics and artistic qualities of a sculptor?

One side

As I said earlier, Mr. X is someone who has his own answers, and I felt that he is someone who has confidence and pride in his work. I learned a lot from working with Mr. X on a project.

Q. Please tell us your honest thoughts about the current state of the product.

One side

Mr. X was so confident in the work that he said, "It's so sharp," when he saw it, and I, the developer, can't help but agree. The actual size of the deformed figures is not that big, but they have a powerful impact that has never been seen before. You can feel the "power" from the deformed figures.
On the other hand, Buggy is a comical and funny character, and he also has a strangeness about him that makes it hard to know what he'll do next. I think I was able to express that well.

Q. Please tell us the points you are particular about.

One side

The most difficult part was figuring out how to make the characters pop out of the 52mm stickers that are unique to "Niformation" and how to best combine these with the expression of the characters' personalities. For example, with Blackbeard, we had him rip the sticker to shreds to effectively express his toughness and strength.

As for Buggy, how could we express the "disintegration" element that can't be conveyed just from the stickers, in an integrated figure? It was difficult to imagine the characteristic of the limbs and body disintegrating from the stickers and express it in an actual figure, but Mr. X was particular about expressing the character's character as an independent figure, using perspective to his advantage.

Q. Is there anyone or rival you particularly don't want to lose to in this final showdown?

One side

I guess it would be "One Piece". The candy division and the vendor division that handles "One Piece" are both working hard day and night to bring better products to the market at lower prices, so there is a sense of rivalry between them. "One Piece" has been growing in size for the past few years, and I don't want to lose to it.

Q. To be honest, do you think you can win?

One side

I think I was able to make it with confidence! This is the first figurine of the "Niformation" brand, so I can show it to everyone with confidence, and I think everyone will be pleased with it.

Q: Any final messages?

One side

First and foremost, I want to leave an impact as a "Niformation figure" at the ONE PIECE Zoukeiou Chojouken. I think that the excitement that customers and sculptors will get from Niformation coming to the competition with their new ideas is what will define our existence as a brand participating for the first time. Of course, we are aiming to win as a brand, but I would also be happy if we can make an impact on the ONE PIECE Zoukeiou Chojouken and the figure world.