“I mean, they're traveling to get footage of animals, but ultimately their goal is the same as mine. They want to give it all they've got, and there is a return for the effort they put in, and that is amazement.”
In the two protagonists of The Velvet Queen — who go to Tibet knowing they could possibly die, without coverage and without a set return date, and like astronauts who do not come back until they have what they came for — Kojima recognized himself: they travel to get footage of animals but their ultimate goal is the same as his, to give it their all, and the return on that effort is amazement. For that reason Kojima said he wants other creators to watch the film. When the snow leopard finally appears there is a marvelous second — both cry and their tears freeze on their eyelashes — although the animal was not as masculine and handsome as he had expected.
“They also go knowing that they could possibly die. […] They're kind of like astronauts. They won't come back until they have gotten what they came for. […] I really want other creators to watch this movie. But then you see the snow leopard, and it isn't as masculine and handsome as I had expected.”