Episode 19 of CLAMP’s podcast, CLAMP Kanbukai, is out! You can listen to it on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.
This episode’s theme is “New BGM and songs from CLAMP works” (BGM means “background music”).
Episode 18 introduced a new opening and ending jingle by Chaba Nogika per CLAMP’s request. They mentioned that they would be taking about in more details about the creative process behind the new jingles on this Episode 19.
CLAMP gave Chaba Nogika some drawings and asked for the new jingles to be based on them. Nekoi-sensei made the doodles below, Satsuki-sensei helped a bit picking up the colors.
Ohkawa-sensei explains that in the past they have used animals to represent themselves, but it was usually a human form with some animal parts. This time around, the four members are represented entirely as animals. She asks Nekoi-sensei to explain how she created the doodles. Nekoi-sensei explains that Mokona-sensei is the cat because that’s how she sees Mokona-sensei, who asked “why me and not you?” (one of the kanjis used in Nekoi-sensei’s name means cat). Nekoi-sensei replies back “that’s only in the name!”
Ohkawa-sensei is represented by a rabbit, Satsuki-sensei by a chipmunk and Nekoi-sensei by a dog. Ohkawa-sensei asks Nekoi-sensei why she is a rabbit and Satsuki-sensei a chipmunk. She replies that it goes back to the first CLAMP IN WONDERLAND ending animation where Ohkawa-sensei had rabbit ears, but Satsuki-sensei was a monkey instead of a chipmunk. Satsuki-sensei mentions that the way she eats has been pointed out as similar to that of a chipmunk and they also mentioned the book that she released containing the Newtype columns, Shimarisu no Hoobukuro (“Chipmunk Cheeks”). It seems that before a chipmunk, Satsuki-sensei used to be represented by a monkey. It has a little to do with the similarities between the pronunciation of her name and the word “monkey” in Japanese (“saru”, which can sound like “sa-chan” if spoken fast enough). Moreover, Satsuki-sensei’s representation as a monkey and not as a chipmunk in the CLAMP IN WONDERLAND ending animation seems to be related to the fact that it’s not easy to recognize a chipmunk if not by its big tail and apparently that would take too much the attention from the viewers.
For Mokona-sensei being a cat, Nekoi-sensei said that’s how she sees Mokona-sensei whenever she draws her cute face: as a cat.
As for Nekoi-sensei being a dog, it’s because she likes dogs. Usually she draws the ears doing downwards (similar to Ioryogi’s). This time, however, the ears are drawn a little upwards and then flopping downwards a bit.
As to why Ohkawa-sensei is usually drawn as a rabbit, it seems that she really likes goods that have rabbit decoration on it (that much is true, plus, we know how she loves Alice in Wonderland).
Next, Ohkawa-sensei talks about how there used to be a color scheme for each member (used on their websites etc), although these days they are not too attached to that concept. Red for Ohkawa-sensei, green for Satsuki-sensei, blue for Nekoi-sensei and yellow for Mokona-sensei (or some color in the yellow range). If you go to the current ABOUT section of CLAMP-NET.COM, you will see these colors applied for each member. They all said that they like the colors that represent each of them (but Ohkawa-sensei said that yellow is her favorite color). Ohkawa-sensei mentions that she wanted to have each of their mic covers with these colors but they didn’t have green so Satsuki-sensei’s one is orange (Mokona-sensei’s one is yellow). They mention that the color code was used in the past to differentiate their belongings, specially when they lived together (things such as toothbrush).
Ohkawa-sensei revealed that they have plans to release goods with the new drawings and asked everyone to wait for them.
Next, they changed subject to talk about the songs related to CLAMP works.
Nekoi-sensei goes first and picks songs from 20 Mensou ni Onegai!!, Wish and Shin Shunkaden (which they say has an “enka” feeling to it). They talk a little about the 20 Mensou ones, how they all love Junko Hirotani’s voice and how it has a musical-like feeling to the songs. Ohkawa-sensei explains that she wrote the lyrics herself because at that time only the first volume had been released and that it could be difficult for someone else to represent the worldview for that work.
Satsuki-sensei likes the theme song from CLAMP Gakuen Housobu (a CLAMP radio show that was broadcast in the 1990s) and Ningyo Hime (Chobits TV Anime second Ending Theme song, which was also written by Ohkawa-sensei — I personally love this one too!).
Mokona-sensei likes Synchronicity (by Yuki Kajiura and sang by You Makino), from the Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations OADs, but she likes Yuki Kajiura’s works in general. She also mentioned Yuzurenai Negai (Magic Knight Reayearth TV Anime first opening) and Peony Pink (CLAMP Gakuen Tanteidan TV Anime Opening).
Ohkawa-sensei likes the Cardfight!! Vanguard OverDress opening theme song (ZEAL of proud, by Roselia) and all the Suga Shikao songs that have been used for XXXHOLiC. They all agree that Suga Shikao is very fitting for XXXHOLiC, even the songs that were not originally meant to be used for XXXHOLiC.
Maaya Sakamoto and the theme songs from the two Cardcaptor Sakura movies were also mentioned, as well as the songs from the Duklyon image album (Satsuki-sensei’s pick). They all agreed that there are a lot of songs and it’s difficult to choose from, but they are extremely grateful to all of them.
Lastly, they talked about CLAMP anime songs that they like to sing in karaoke, and even other, non-CLAMP songs in general. Ohkawa-sensei and Nekoi-sensei both sing the XXXHOLiC Kei TV Anime ending Honey Honey — Ohkawa-sensei does the female voice while Nekoi-sensei sings the male voice!
Thank you for reading this post!
Chibi Yuuto's CHRoNiCLEs 