{"id":648667,"date":"2025-01-10T20:11:09","date_gmt":"2025-01-10T17:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/turtleme-author-of-the-beginning-after-the-end-discusses-character-development-fantasy-subversion-in-his-work\/"},"modified":"2025-01-10T20:11:09","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T17:11:09","slug":"turtleme-author-of-the-beginning-after-the-end-discusses-character-development-fantasy-subversion-in-his-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/turtleme-author-of-the-beginning-after-the-end-discusses-character-development-fantasy-subversion-in-his-work\/","title":{"rendered":"#TurtleMe, Author of The Beginning After the End, Discusses Character Development & Fantasy Subversion in His Work"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This interview has been edited for clarity and length<\/span><\/i> and was conducted via email<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The fantasy genre has had a boom in recent years within the anime<\/a> industry \u2014 at least, a subset of fantasy we know as isekai, or a person being transported to another world, either through means of teleportation or by reincarnation. The latter seems to be the more common choice, but sometimes these genre and narrative conventions blur each other\u2019s lines and change the way people consume them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The American web novel and webtoon series<\/a> <\/span>The Beginning After the End<\/span><\/i> utilizes the concept of reincarnation to give a formerly great ruler in his past life a second chance at life to start from scratch. It also marks a significant milestone in the isekai boom \u2014 it will be the first American web novel to <\/span>receive a TV anime adaptation<\/span> this coming April from a Japanese studio.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"the
\u00a9 TBATE Anime Production Committee<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Anime Trending interviewed the series\u2019 original author <\/span>TurtleMe<\/b> (the pen name of American writer <\/span>Brandon Lee<\/b>) to discuss the upcoming anime adaptation, the theme<\/a>s and messages of his work, and the influences he drew from to guide his story.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n

Congratulations on the anime adaptation announcement. What were your initial thoughts when you found out the series would be getting an anime, and how would you describe your excitement?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

TurtleMe<\/b>: It\u2019s still sinking in, but I\u2019m honored that <\/span>The Beginning After the End<\/span><\/i> is the first English web novel and webcomic to be adapted into an anime. I\u2019m incredibly grateful to the teams at Tapas and Crunchyroll for bringing this series to life in another media<\/a> form.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This anime adaptation is a huge milestone, not only for me, but for English web novels and webcomics as a whole. I hope it opens the door for more creators for adaptation opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"TurtleMe<\/p>\n

With the anime adaptation scheduled to premiere in 2025, how involved have you been in the production process, and what aspects of the adaptation are you most excited for fans to see?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

TurtleMe<\/b>: I\u2019ve been actively involved in the production process, working closely with the creative team to provide feedback and insights that help preserve key themes like Art\u2019s growth and emotional journey. I truly appreciate how receptive <\/span>Studio A-Cat<\/b> has been to my input, ensuring the tone and depth of the original story remain intact so that elements that readers love stay true, while also converting it into a different medium.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m most excited for fans to experience the story in a whole new way, especially with the voice acting behind the characters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you have a favorite arc or scene from the novel that you\u2019re excited to see animated?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

TurtleMe<\/b>: I\u2019m excited to see Arthur begin his journey as an adventurer after earning his license, which allows him to go into dungeons with other adventurers. This is one of the turning points in the series where the stakes rise and battles become more intense.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Music always plays a significant role in setting the tone for an anime. Have there been discussions about the soundtrack or theme songs for the series? Do you have any personal preferences for the series\u2019 musical direction?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

TurtleMe<\/b>: There have been some early discussions but choosing the soundtrack is not something the studio has the ability to give me. I\u2019m not sure what will come out of their decision, but I\u2019m hopeful that the director and the staff involved will deliver what they think is best!\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What is your favorite part of the writing process for <\/b>The Beginning After the End<\/i><\/b>, and how has it shaped the story overall?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

TurtleMe<\/b>: My favorite parts of writing <\/span>TBATE<\/span><\/i> have to be character growth and world-building. I love exploring how experiences, adversities, and relationships can shape how a character can grow throughout a story. Arthur is a character who undergoes significant change, not only from who he was in his past life but also as the story progresses in his new life.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

At its heart, <\/b>The Beginning After the End<\/i><\/b> is a reincarnation story about a former king trying to find purpose in his new life. In your opinion, what makes the story unique or different from other similar series that have come before?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

TurtleMe<\/b>: With <\/span>The Beginning After the End<\/span><\/i>, I wanted to subvert reader expectations of the isekai genre by building depth into familiar genre tropes. For example, while the trope of an adult being transported into a new world is common, the early years and family dynamics are often glossed over. I wanted to take a different approach to explore how those relationships can shape a protagonist and how even a fully matured individual could experience personal growth through these new experiences.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Were you influenced by isekai, reincarnation, or fantasy works? If so, which ones inspired or influenced the direction of your series?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

TurtleMe<\/b>: I drew inspiration from stories that challenge characters at a deeper level, like <\/span>Fullmetal Alchemist<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>Hunter x Hunter<\/span><\/i>, along with Western fantasy epics like <\/span>Eragon<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>The Name of the Wind<\/span><\/i> focusing on growth and choices over mere power (although growing in power is always something that is there).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Learning about how magic worked and operated as part of the worldbuilding was fascinating. How did you develop the magical system in the series? Are there any similarities or differences between mana and ki?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

TurtleMe<\/b>: The magical system evolved as I considered what felt both intuitive and unique for the world although it drew a lot of early inspirations from Chinese cultivation novels. Building off of that, I wanted mana to feel tangible and deeply connected to the environment while maintaining a sense of progression. While mana and ki share some similarities in being life energies, mana is more versatile and tied to the world\u2019s ecosystem, while ki often feels more internal and spiritual.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"TBATE
\u24d2 2024 Tapas Entertainment and TurtleMe, LLC. All rights reserved<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s a bit uncommon to see an American web novel achieve so much success and eventually get an anime. Why do you think the story has resonated so much with your fans?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

TurtleMe<\/b>: As cliche as it sounds, I think that growing up a consumer and fan of both Western and Eastern media, I always just relied on my sense of \u201cwhat do I want to see more of.\u201d It\u2019s what inspires me to create these new fantastical worlds and take the main characters on this journey. It\u2019s an adventure that I find myself going through while incorporating aspects and themes of fantasy epics along with more modern-day mangas and manhwas that I feel have helped make <\/span>The Beginning After the End <\/span><\/i>strike a chord with people all around the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Writing is always a long process. How do you think you\u2019ve grown as a writer from when you first started the web novel to becoming as established as you are now?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

TurtleMe<\/b>: Considering the fact that I first started writing <\/span>TBATE<\/span><\/i> over ten years ago, I can say I\u2019ve grown immensely alongside this series. Not only have I developed my writing skills through experience and with the help of many talented editors, but I also gained valuable experience working closely in the production process for its adaptations into both the webcomic and anime.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"the
\u24d2 2024 Tapas Entertainment and TurtleMe, LLC. All rights reserved<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tapas<\/b> has a variety of different <\/b>web novels and webtoon stories<\/b> that have gained significant followings on the Internet. How has the company helped you with navigating your fame and success with your work?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

TurtleMe<\/b>: Tapas, despite the growing pains we both went through along the way, has been a great partner for me. Starting from when <\/span>Gabby Luu<\/b> first reached out to me when I was posting on Royal Road, all the way to helping make the web novel not only a webcomic but also an anime, I couldn\u2019t have achieved it without the support of many dedicated people over at Tapas. They\u2019ve given me a platform to connect with fans and have helped me navigate the challenges of finding success not just in America, but in many other countries as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What should fans of <\/b>The Beginning After the End<\/i><\/b> look forward to with the upcoming anime adaptation?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

TurtleMe<\/b>: Fans can look forward to seeing their favorite moments come to life along with new elements that I hope will enhance the storytelling. The anime will bring the emotional depth, epic battles, and magical world of <\/span>The Beginning After the End<\/span><\/i> to another medium that I hope more people can enjoy!\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n