A portion of a Famitsu interview with Hometown Story dev/Pokémon designer Atsuko Nishida...

Famitsu: It sounds like it was a new challenge for you. I’d like to get back to that in more detail later. However, I’d like to ask Nishida-san what kind of impression you had when you first heard about Hometown Story?

Nishida: When I first heard about it, I thought…"What? Do you want me to draw human characters…?" (laughs)

Famitsu: You were surprised at someone asking you to draw human characters!

Nishida: Yes! I thought, "Will I be good enough?" Wada-san also asked me to create characters inspired by the ones that appear on "World Masterpiece Theater" (a Japanese TV anime staple that showcased an animated version of a different classical book or story) I was like, “Huh?!” This request from Wada-san got me even more confused!

Famitsu: I see. Like World Masterpiece Theater.

Nishida: Yes. So, I took the direction as a request to create characters who look simple, yet classical.