2023’s Gridman Universe is one of the titles that will be featured at the Japan Cuts 2025 film festival, with its screening set for July 20, 2025. Ahead of that event, Anime Trending caught up with director Akira Amemiya for a rapid-fire email interview about the Gridman Universe anime series, his inspirations, Transformers, and what he’d like to do next.
The sequence of questions has been rearranged for flow and lightly edited for clarity.
Anime Trending: Are there any particular people you looked up to?
Akira Amemiya: When it comes to animation, I really admire the work of Masami Obari and Hiroyuki Imaishi.
How did your interest in tokusatsu develop?
Akira Amemiya: I grew up surrounded by Godzilla and the Super Sentai series — they were always close to me. But I think it was the Heisei Gamera series that made me truly aware of my interest in visual storytelling.
How did Gridman’s cast and story affect the creation of Dynazenon’s, especially given the popularity of Rikka and Akane?
Akira Amemiya: For the characters in Dynazenon, I deliberately avoided adding any sensual appeal. As for the casting, I didn’t have any particular intention in that regard.
You share writing credits on Gridman Universe with Keichi Hasegawa-san. What inspired you to get involved with this aspect of the production, and what sections were you responsible for?
Akira Amemiya: There wasn’t a particular reason — that’s just how it was credited. The production process was no different from a typical TV series. I handled things like character entrances and exits, action scenes, small reactions, and the nuances at the end of lines.
Were there difficulties in portraying the non-Gridman-possessed/non-amnesiac version of Yuta that we see in the movie and his relationship with Rikka?
Akira Amemiya: It wasn’t particularly difficult. I think a big part of that was thanks to the personality of Yuuya Hirose, who played the lead.
Throughout the series, the conversation scenes have stood out as much as the tokusatsu action sequences. How was their general atmosphere and cadence established?
Akira Amemiya: I think I may have been more influenced by radio dramas than traditional anime visuals. The approach of editing after the voice recording is something I started using with my own project, Inferno Cop.
How did the chance to direct the Transformers 40th Anniversary Special Movie come about?
Akira Amemiya: Mr. Wakabayashi* was the one who brought me the project. I think my previous work on BUMP OF CHICKEN’s merchandise also helped lead to it.
*(Hiromi Wakabayashi is the special movie’s creative producer and a fellow Studio TRIGGER member)
What was the toughest part of the Transformers 40th Anniversary Special Movie’s production?
Akira Amemiya: Although the production costs ended up growing quite a bit, every part of the process was so much fun that I didn’t really feel like I struggled.
Given how compelling the character interactions and the atmosphere of the talking scenes in the Gridman series are, would you consider directing a drama or romance anime if the opportunity somehow arises?
Akira Amemiya: I’d be happy to take it on if the opportunity comes.
What’s next on the horizon for you?
Akira Amemiya: Someday, I’d like to direct a full 3D anime.
Special thanks to Pony Canyon for this opportunity. The film will be featured at Japan Cuts on July 20, 2025. More details are available here.
