BC: I think I have to ask everybody I interview this question, but what is your inspiration?
SM: In the main art world, my biggest inspirations are Don Bluth and Claire Wendling. Don Bluth is most recognized for his children films like 'All dogs go to heaven' 'An American Tale' and 'Land before time'.Manga wise hands down Natsuki Takaya, Yun Koga and Yukiru Sugisaki. Thier story telling and comic screen toning is amazing.
BCL How did you find The O site?
SM: I think it was randomly through google, I didn't want a deviant art account at the time due to my work wasn't really good and all anime style, so I wanted a site that was anime based to start off with. I still don't have a real Deviant account.
BC: I love your fan comics, especially, Takuto to be like you. How did you come up with this lovely creation?
SM: Thank you, I'm glad you are enjoying it.
I had an idea for Takuto starting off, but I couldn't get it to the point where I could do something with it. Then I heard, 'Like you' by Evanescence and 'My Heart' by Pramore and it all just clicked. Takuto's main conflict is internal. He wants to go back to the way things were, where he was originally wanted; but has grown to love his current life even if it means watching from a distance. Two paths and only one heart to give.
BC: Did the designs for the characters pop into your head straight away, or did you have to work at it?
SM: Some designs come easier than others. Takuto was petty much straight forward, I wanted an animal boy. Keeping his hands and feet furry and paw shaped was meant to give him more of an 'unfinished' look and to keep him apart form popular 'furry boy'. His hair also went from the typical brown to the shade of a grey wolf. Dio had larger evolution, he and all the other Beasts screamed 'BEAST'. Since he is a tiger he originally had stripes in his hair and hands. I toned them all down mainly due to the story changed and I wanted them not so different from humans.
BC: Is balancing college and writing your fan comics a challenge?
SM: It can be. I will have moments when I can sit down and draw half of a chapter in one weekend, but then college would pick up and the comic will sit on my desk for weeks. Then their are times when I really need to escape college work and have the largest need to draw manga but can't, it'll end up with me crying in the corner while working on homework.
BC: Now about Dio...can you explain the story to me?
SM: I will try my best without spoiling anything, it is a bit more complicated than Takuto, but also a lot longer. 'Dio' is more of a 'coming of age' and about growing up tale. There isn't any quest or destruction of Earth unless the hero saves us type of thing. It takes place in a time when animals tried to save themselves from extinction by adapting into a 'human' form, but of course they can't escape what they are.
As long as their are humans there will always be a power struggle and abuse.
The main character Dio, is a young BEAST thrown into the lifestyle put upon him, as a guardian. Learning his place and knowing what he is expected to do, he is forced to grow up far before his time. In a world that holds little love for his kind, he holds onto what he has. His emotions fight against each other and his greatest fear is being thrown away. Ai's mother plays a big part in the darker side of his mind. The manga also includes mini stories of other Beasts and their struggles to hold onto what they love, but not all of them end happily.Dio searches for something that I think everyone does, a place to belong and acceptance.
BC: So what kind of animals are in Dio beside leopards?
SM: Quite a few, I'm going to try and vary it up as much as I can.
High class
snow leopard, tigers, bears, panthers, hyenas, wolves and lynx
Mid Class
fox, swan, horse
'Wild'
Raccoon, cattle, weasle, reptiles
Domestic
Cats, Dogs
