At Anime Expo, EX managed to catch up with COWBOY BEBOP character designer Kawamoto Toshihiro and ask him some questions about the upcoming film KNOCKIN' ON HEAVEN'S DOOR. Read all about the making of the movie from one of the key staff members!

EX: COWBOY BEBOP was really popular, but did you want to go back and do a movie after doing the TV series?

Kawamoto Toshihiro: Well, yes. I think everyone thought that there was more we could do than we had already done. And the director, Mr. Watanabe, had a lot of ideas.

EX: Was the production any easier this time?

KT: (laughs) No, not really. There are always last-minute things, but we all worked long and hard and, finally, we finished.

EX: And I heard that about halfway through production the movie was extended from 90 to 120 minutes?

KT: Yes, that's right. I think a lot of people weren't necessarily happy about that. (laughs)

EX: Well, you just finished working on it, right?

KT: Yes, I had to rearrange my schedule and come here [to Anime Expo] a day later than I had planned. I'm really sorry to everyone for the inconvenience.

EX: Not at all, we're just glad you were able to come. The trailer went over really well, didn't it?

KT: I guess so.

EX: People are excited to see that there's going to be some new BEBOP. We've been waiting so long, since the movie was announced shortly after the ESCAFLOWNE movie was announced.

KT: Yes, that does seem like a long time ago...

EX: And you worked on ESCAFLOWNE as well, but a lot of people might not realize it.

KT: Well, I just did some key animation and animation supervision. Yuuki-san had the hard job there.

EX: So now that the BEBOP movie's done, can you just relax for a while?

KT: No! (laughs) Now I have to do all the illustrations.

EX: Oh, you mean for the magazines?

KT: Yes, for magazines and other promotional materials.

EX: And of course, there's a video cover that will need to be done sooner or later.

KT: (laughs) Don't tell me that right now!

EX: Was it hard to come up with the new characters for the movie?

KT: Well, it took some work, and I had to work with what the director wanted, but I wouldn't say it was really hard.

EX: Here's the most important question for me. Watanabe-san told me when I interviewed him that Ein would be in the movie. Does he get a lot to do?

KT: Well, you know Ein... He's always up to something. (laughs)

EX: What do you want to say to BEBOP fans about the movie?

KT: Be ready for anything... You never know what will happen.