Interview - Dany & Dany

Dany & Dany were gracious enough to do an interview with us, and we have posted it here for your enjoyment. You can find them at conventions as well as they have a presence on Facebook and their own blog (Here) should you wish to join their official fanbase. We thank them for taking the time and effort out to answer our questions.

Biography:"Dany&Dany (Daniela Orrù e Daniela Serri) live and work in Cagliari, Sardinia's capital city, Italy. Their names are famous in the Global Manga panorama as manga creators (they both draw and write their own comics).
They debut in Italy with the graphic novel “La luna nel pozzo”, published by Echo Communication in 2002. One year later the same publusher release their second work, “Eikon”.
In 2003, they self-produced “Lemnisca” and, finally, in 2006, they created IdeaComics together with Massimo Dall'Oglio, and they published the pilot episode of “Dàimones”.
Since 2007 they've been working for Yaoi Press, which first published in the States “La luna nel pozzo” and “Eikon” (with the titles “Wishing for the moon” and “Idol”) and then hired them to realize two brand-new graphic novels, “The Lily and the Rose” (August 2007) and “Anima” (December 2008). The same titles are published in Germany by The Wild Side. Yaoi Press also published Dany&Dany's first artbook, “Dark Dreams” (December 2007).
On May 2008, Tokyopop includes the pilot episode of “Dàimones” in its Pilot Program project and published it on Tokyopop's website.
They work as instructors in two comic schools in Cagliari: Gruppo Misto Comic Lab and Fare Fumetto.
Dany&Dany are the first western manga-ka to be guests if honour at a comic convention in the States (Anime Central 2008)."

Interview:
1. What brought you two together to create Manga?

We’ve been creating our own manga since we were very young, when we didn’t meet yet. We followed a similar path, but separately. You know, in Italy, our country, anime “invasion” started very early (in 1978) and it has been really massive if compared to other western countries. The consequence was that many Italian generations grew up having more familiarity with anime and manga than with any other kind of cartoons and comics. We’re both part of those generations. We actually learned to draw by watching anime on TV in the first place.
Then, we finally met each other 12 years ago and soon we became great friends. We had a lot in common: same tastes, same passion for manga, same dream. That’s why we decided to create a manga together one day. It was “La luna nel pozzo”, published in 2002. Our cooperation worked very well, so here we are still together, after many other graphic novels. ^_^

2. Do you find that there are a lot of problems with the language barriers now that you have been published in the United States?

Well, not exactly but, you know, it’s hard sometimes. As you can see our English is not perfect and that could be an impediment. After a project is approved, we write the script in Italian first, then we translate it in English. Since we’re not professional translators, sometimes the dialogues loose their original shades. Of course the editor edits our English text and makes corrections here and there; but, since he/she doesn’t speak Italian it’s hard to recover those shades.

3. What got you into Boy's Love, or were you fans before you started?

We started to draw Boy's Love illustrations for fun after reading the Vampire Chronicles novels by Anne Rice. We loved the couple “Louis/Lestat”. At that time, we didn't know that shonen-ai and yaoi even existed. Then, an italian publisher, Echo Communication, hired us to create two yaoi graphic novels and we accepted with enthusiasm. It was then that we discovered the Boy’s Love genre and we soon loved it. ^_^
We’re now big fans of Kazusa Takashima and Youka Nitta.

4. What do you like to do for fun when you aren't making manga?

We usually watch a number of movies and TV series. We like reading books and going to the theatre (we adore ballet!). We love listening to music too, but we do it especially when we’re working on a manga (you know, it helps us to survive XD).
Most of all, when we're not actually creating a manga, we're thinking of a new one. ;)

5. You seem to like the Gothic look, both in your clothing and your books, what draws you to that particular style? Was it something you both were into before?

There was not a particular moment when we decided to wear gothic clothes and create gothic stories. Our gothic style grew up together with us, more and more. We think it fits our personality very well. You know, we always put a lot of ourselves in our stories... so, that's why there's a gothic side in all of them.

6. Is there anything that you have secretly wanted to do but haven't got a chance yet?

Uh, there are lots of things actually! ^3^
For example, we wish to learn to play violin someday and to attend a self-defence course. We also would love to have the chance to travel more than now.
At the moment, our first wish is to make a manga series. You know, we’ve being creating one shot graphic novels till now.

7. What are your creative tools? What instruments do you use to make your comics?

We use very common tools:
Lead pencils 0.5, H and HB
Drawing paper "Fabriano 4"
Staedtler markers 0.1 and 0.8
When we did our first three graphic novels, we used actual screen tones; while, starting from "Dàimones" we've been using pc screen tones and grey tones.

8. What do you think are the big differences with Manga and the Manga culture from Japan, the United States, and Italy?

Unfortunately we didn’t have the chance yet to go to Japan. We’ve just attended to Italian, German and American conventions till now: Cartoomics in Milan, Romics and Expocartoon in Rome, Connichi in Kassel, YaoiCon in San Francisco and Anime Central in Chicago.
We didn’t find big differences among manga/anime fans and cosplayers coming from Europe and USA. But that was not really a surprise for us: you know, usually we receive feedbacks from all over the world (via e-mail, Facebook, our blog and website) and we’ve to say that the enthusiasm, the passion and the affection of our fans is the same. That’s why the anime/manga phenomenon is GLOBAL.

9. If you had your choice , would there be more happy endings, or more sad endings?

Well, we always had the chance to choose our stories entirely till now, ending included.
We think that every story has its own ending, we mean one that fits more than others. Sometimes we feel like the story suggests us the right ending, like it doesn’t depend on us to decide. ^_^

10. Do you have any pets? Any hobbies that you would like to share?

Yes, we have two small dogs and two cats. We've just posted their photos on our blog. They’re able to cheer us up anytime. We do love animals!! We wish we had more. Humans have a lot to learn from them.
As for our hobbies, unfortunately we don’t have much spare time. We both love Tai Chi and have been doing it for 3 years. We also like to text with our FB friends, well… but that’s not actually a hobby, is it? :p
Dany O. loves shopping and Dany S. loves cooking (tiramisù, lasagna, carbonara, etc.).

11. How does it feel to know that you are reaching American fans as well as Italians? Did you ever think that you would become internationally known?

When we published our first graphic novel in 2002, we couldn't imagine that our work would become internationally known in some years (well, ok, only in our bravest dreams. LOL ^_^).
It's just great that our stories have the chance to reach people from different countries! It makes us feel part of a global world, where all the barriers fall down.
The affection of our readers is a huge support to us and it always pushes us to do better and better.

12. You have been to a fair amount of cons, how do you handle the jet lag and still keep a smile?

Hahah! Jet lag is a big deal, but the idea of meeting our fans is always so exciting that adrenalin makes us to keep our smile wide open all the time. Once back home we literally collapse into bed, dead tired but happy like children. Cons are really a wonderful experience!

13. What are your goals for the next year?

To keep on creating our manga as always. We’re working on three new projects, none of which is yaoi. But no panic, beautiful male characters won’t lack of course, as well as a certain ambiguity, aestheticism and a gothic side. ;)

14. Most people would chose a way to separate themselves from their partner, but you two chose to go by "Dany" both spelled the same way. How did the name Dany & Dany come about.

It’s simple, we’ve actually got the same name: Daniela. So that’s why we chose to sign our works “Dany&Dany”. Besides we use to create our manga fifty-fifty. Unlike other creators duos, we both write and draw: it’s like we’re one creator entity. ^_^

15. Lastly, if you could say anything to your fans, what would it be?

THANK YOU FOR BEING SO FANTASTIC!