Why was it important to you to make a film about Tatsumi and his work?
When I was approached by Times Publishing decades ago to come up with a graphic novel, I was really excited but was told I had only three months to deliver the finished product. Then, destiny came into play—a friend passed me a collection of Yoshihiro Tatsumi’s short stories and I was blown away. I was on such a high that it took me only two weeks to come up with over 90 pages of stories and I made it in time for the book fair—all thanks to Tatsumi Sensei. Some of my early short films were also inspired by his stories.

This is your first foray into animation. How different was it to your previous work?
As I started as a comic artist, it helped a great deal in I saw the final product to be, and for some of the stories I directed actors to play out the parts and have the animators follow the timing. I usually direct a film in two weeks so this was my longest project to date—eight months for directing the animation.

Tell us more about Tatsumi’s travels.
Tatsumi has been invited to over 50 international festivals but it’s tricky to let the film travel to all. I’m so honored that it went to Cannes, Annecy (the world’s leading animation festival) and Sitges, the most influential and fantastic film festival.

Tatsumi is now screening exclusively at GV VivoCity and Plaza Singapura.
 

According to my family, I lived up to my name growing up—quite the ham and very much into movies, science fiction, horror, the weird and unexplainable, and ever the joker.

My first crush was on a girl that was staying in my neighborhood. She was a thing of great beauty but she never noticed me.

I have to thank a neighbor who wanted to audition as a sports presenter on Ovaltine World of Sport back in 1980/81. He asked me to accompany him for moral support and after he finished his audition, Gregory Rozario popped his head out and asked me to audition as well.

They called me back, but not my neighbor; the following week then I was on the show co-hosting with Brian Richmond. My neighbor didn’t speak to me for a few months after that.

I am grateful that I am able to utilize my god given talent and get paid for it.

A great work attitude is also essential as well as the ability to be versatile.

The older generation remembers me from my days hosting World of Sport, It’s Your Move, Videoblast and POSB Show but the younger generation has far more distractions on social media so I am not that recognizable a face for the “now generation.”

Film was my escape growing up.

Having a 16 year gap between my second sister and I made me look for imaginary friends and the like, which I found on TV and in the comic books.

I was influenced by Rod Serling and the original Twilight Zone, the original Star Trek, Land of the Giants, Lost in Space, The Time Tunnel, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Night Gallery, Banacek, The Six Million Dollar Man, Jaws and a little movie called Star Wars.

Watching them made me forget I was alone at home and I used to mimic Rod Serling and Captain Kirk and his star date reports every week.

Being part of the SIFF is sort of a dream fulfillment. Watching the movies is one thing; actively being a part of the festival is something else and being able to interact with some of the idols that made the movies is the icing on the cake.

I don’t like missing out on trailers before a movie, movie patrons who keep using phones once the movie starts and drivers who cruise at speed limits in the overtaking lane.

The best advice I’ve been given: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t. The worst: Any time someone says, “Trust me.”

My guilty pleasure is Jamie Oliver’s 30 Minute Meals—my wife can’t keep me out of the kitchen.

I believe in ancient astronauts. The evidence is everywhere.