An interview with Yashichirō Takahashi, the creator of Shakugan no Shana, was published on page 115 of the March 2008 issue of Newtype.
Interview Proper[]
You can't become resolute until you've gone through something terrible.
──In the last interview (Newtype January issue), you said Second was about Yūji = Reiji Maigo, but how has he changed after 17 episodes?
Takahashi: The first half had an ongoing relaxed story, but I insistently inserted training scenes in intervals (laugh). I think Yūji is also developing in terms of fighting ability. Well, let's leave love aside...
──(Laugh). Though I think maybe he's also becoming mentally tougher.
Takahashi: That's right. This is a personal opinion, but I really think that people can't "become resolute" until they've gone through something terrible. There's no way it will be so convenient that someone who is living a peaceful life can one day suddenly become resolute. I think they would go through something terrible and become disheartened, and their resolve would form as they get back up. And so Yūji, through the large adversity of the chance meeting with Pheles, gained the opportunity to become resolute.
──Then as things change completely from the laid-back daily life of the first half and the number of battles increases from here on, Yūji will be more and more cornered?
Takahashi: If I had to choose, I do prefer developments where battles continue to unfold, but the reason scenes of everyday life and romantic comedy were depicted so much in the first half was for everything to be destroyed in the Pheles Arc (laugh). Firstly, I wanted to depict ordinary scenes as something ordinary. This is a mean way of putting it, but for people to properly react with shock to the scene showing the collapse of everyday life symbolized by Oga-chan, the everyday life up until then, ──scenes of her with her cheeks blushed together with Tanaka, were essential. That is why the intense impact of this collapse is the crux of the Pheles Arc.
──I see. I thought the Pheles Arc was a very important turning point for all the characters, but who changed the most after it?
Takahashi: Probably Tanaka. As Shana and Yūji haven't changed the direction they're facing. He begins to avert his eyes from the extraordinary. Satō was able to make his feelings of "loving Margery" his strength to move towards that side, but Tanaka realized that "the one precious to him was on the everyday side".
──I also thought the peaceful image of Tanaka and Oga-chan could be contrasted with the relationship between Yūji and Shana.
Takahashi: That's right. As Oga-chan is the representative of the everyday in Second, taking over from Kazumi who has now come over to "this side". On the other hand, for Yūji who has no choice but to go to the extraordinary... he is indecisive because he has unconsciously sensed everything. He is a person carried away by logic, so he understands that if he says "I love you" to Shana, or to Kazumi, the everyday life he has now will change. That is why he is uncomfortable with making a decision. Things can no longer end with the simple romantic topic of choosing between Shana and Kazumi. This can be thought of as cowardly, but it's only natural for a mere boy who has experienced the harshness of the extraordinary to hold ordinary life dear.
──In that case, I'm even more interested in future developments. There's the question of what Kazumi will do with the Treasure Tool Giralda Pheles gave her, and it remains a mystery what happened to Fumina after that. Above all, how will the relationship between Yūji, Shana and Kazumi end up?
Takahashi: Well, it's difficult to talk about that here (laugh), but in relation to the upcoming Sabrac Arc, I think it will almost completely follow the developments in the original novels. However, changes have been made to one part of the structure to prepare for the conclusion. Depending on the viewer, it may be a happy end, while another person may think "oh!". We're planning a conclusion like that, so please see it for yourself.
Top 3 Best Scenes of Shana II Episodes 1-17 Chosen by Yashichirō Takahashi[]
1. Arrival of "Colorful Wave" Pheles[]
"The end of episode 12, a scene finally plunging into the core of the story. I'm very satisfied with the extremely intimidating imagery such as her descending from the sky." (Takahashi)
2. Past Arc, Fierce Fighting Around the Skyscrapers[]
"Milestone in episode 09. The battle's presentation was left up to the director, but I was astonished when I actually saw it. Annaberg's voice, performed by Mitsuaki Madono, was also memorable as it was exactly as I had imagined it."
3. Fumina Arc, Settled for Now[]
"The study group in episode 06. One reason is that simply the animation is cute, but the edgy atmosphere of Shana and the others made things somehow vague (laugh). It's a concluding type of episode."