Light novels, a kind of Japanese station novel, experienced an explosion with the arrival of the internet in the 2000s. Since then, the market has continued to grow and the number of publications has made you dizzy. Some nuggets stand out from the others and are adapted into mangas and cartoons. Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear is one of those atypical titles whose journey looks like a fairy tale. Interview with Kumanano, its creator.
As the 2nd season of the anime has just started airing on Crunchyroll in simulcast with Japan and that the 7th volume of the manga is planned for the end of the year 2023 at Meian, it was the perfect opportunity to stop on Kuma Kuma Kuma BearUFO of the Japanese production.
The title is in line with stories where the protagonist finds himself in an online video game world. Quite close to isekai which have been on the rise for several years, the player is often favored by his knowledge or his equipment. Here, Yuna, a young girl on the verge of misanthropy, finds herself one day thrown into the world of VMMORPG (massively multiplayer virtual role-playing game) where she spends most of her time. The entity that threw her into this game gives her special equipment that makes her look like a bear…
Before being adapted into manga and then into anime, Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear is a light novel hit created by author Kumanano. We were able to talk to him.
Linternaute.com: What attracted you to writing? Since when did you decide to make it your job?
Kumanano : I never really had a click or any particular motivation to become an author. In Japan, there are many platforms where amateurs can post and read texts for free. I registered and I published my texts on the site “Let’s become a novelist”. Really without any desire to publish, to pass the time. And following the success of my writing, my current editor spotted me and offered to publish my story.
Yuna is what is called a hikikomori (person who no longer leaves their room), why this choice?
I wanted her to appreciate her experience in this new world. I made Yuna a recluse to allow her to better appreciate this new world.
Yuna is 15 years old but is already extremely rich. Is this a parallel with the youth who manage to take advantage of bitcoin? Or just a screenplay trick?
Not really. In fact, my grandfather is the president of a very large company. I learned stock market management from a very young age and many other things. I was inspired by this experience to give financial independence to Yuna.
It seems to me that initially Yuna was only supposed to have bear “gloves”, not a full costume. Can you explain to us how you came to this complete costume?
Absolutely, I initially wanted to equip Yuna with bear gloves, like puppets. But I found it lacked impact, so I decided to turn Yuna into a head-to-toe bear.
Yuna, who had no ties in the “real” world, will create links with several people from her new world. For what?
In the other world, there are no TVs, games, or computers, so she couldn’t just stay home anymore. Plus, she initially sees this new world as the gaming world she already enjoys, which allows her to take that first step.
The character of Fina is also very interesting. While she would have every reason to resent the whole world, she retains a very strong will to “do her best”. How did you design it?
Fina is a character who has matured over the pages. Initially, I had no specific plan for her.
Fina almost seems like a motivator for Yuna who tends to procrastinate. Was that his role from the start in your head? Or did it escape you?
The character of Fina was introduced to introduce this new world. She was only to be a guide for the city of Crimonia. Yuna had to settle in the royal capital and leave behind the people of this “departure city”. But as the writing progressed, Crimonia established itself as Yuna’s hometown, and the relationship between Yuna and Fina continued and grew.
How do you work on the story? Do you already know the ending? Do you advance “narrative arc” by “narrative arc”?
I know the ending, it’s even set in stone. But I conceive the story little by little, by narrative arc indeed. But I haven’t decided yet when I will launch this final arc, for now I still want to tell Yuna’s adventures.
As the story is inspired by the world of video games, is it important to integrate a notion of progress? To introduce new levels in the map as you go? To unlock new skills?
Of course, everything that can serve the story, give interest and depth will be used. Especially in terms of skills.
Your saga is now adapted into manga and anime. Did you expect such success?
No way. When I was contacted by my publisher, I said to myself “it would be nice to manage to go up to three volumes” and today here we are with 20 volumes published.
Which characters are the easiest to direct? For what ?
Yuna, Noir and Eleonore, because they are frank and whole. They say what they mean and do what they want to do. It’s nice this kind of people with honest and open characters.
And conversely?
The characters who don’t appear often are the most difficult to stage, to tame. I tend to forget the details of their personalities. Their intonations, their characters, their way of being.
Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear, manga by Kumanano (author) and sergei (illustrations), Meian editions, €6.95