Lots of times when you watch anime, the characters all have white skin - all the characters in fantasy stories all have white skin, which I never liked.

When I was very young, even before I went to what you call elementary school, I used to read and watch Japanese comic books and anime all the time. These were the seeds of my future.

I believe samurai in the Edo period and modern hip-hop artists have something in common. Rappers open the way to their future with one microphone; samurai decided their fate with one sword.

With 'Space Dandy,' you've obviously got your image of the space and 80s music, and blending them together is how I created it.

I think of myself as a catalyst of action and a messenger of hope, turning people onto themselves and turning people onto their dreams.

I have to believe SF writers will continue to inspire the public to have faith in - to demand! - a future that is at least as big and bold as the past.

The artist who gave me the most inspiration and direction, especially as a singer - and I absolutely consider myself a singer, 100 percent - is Nina Simone. She's my ultimate pianist-singer-type person.

I like to sit at my desk... sometimes I get inspiration when I'm going about my normal day-to-day life.