Atsumi Tanezaki："Wonderful Precure! The Movie!" Interview: The four Precures have one heart; the charms of the dog and cat groups

The latest film in the popular anime series "PreCure", "Wonderful PreCure! The Movie! A Big Adventure in the World of Excitement Games!", will be released on September 13th. In the film, Komugi and her friends are sucked into the world of the game "Doki Doki Tanukingdom" and struggle to return to Animal Town. We spoke to Atsumi Tanezaki, who plays Cure Friendy/Inukai Iroha, about the film.

◇The overwhelming sense of security and stability of "HiroPuri" and "MahoPuri"

The motif of "Wonderful PreCure!" is "animals", and it is set in Animal Town, a town where animals and people live together in harmony, and depicts the deep bonds that are woven between animals and people, such as dogs and owners, and cats and owners, and interactions that transcend species. It is also a hot topic that for the first time in the series, which began in 2004, a "dog PreCure" will appear. It is currently airing on ABC TV and TV Asahi every Sunday at 8:30 am.

The movie version is said to have many unexpected twists.

"It has an unexpected turn of events, where they end up in a game world, but there are really a lot of different games, and it's the animal duos that are trying them out, so I got excited while reading the script, thinking that it would definitely be a lively, fun, and cute video! Also, something that I, and probably the viewers, have been hoping for happens...! It's not only fun, but the story is also filled with warm bonds, and personally I was very happy to see so many scenes of Komugi working hard and being so cute!"

It seems that we will also be able to see a "new side" of the characters that is unique to the movie version...

"It may not be a new side, but it's something that seems familiar but isn't seen often, like the human and animal groups acting separately, and Komugi and Yuki-chan playing a game with a nice teamwork. In the TV series, we often see teamwork between the four of them together, and between the dog and cat groups, but it may be new to see other combinations in action."

It has also been announced that PreCure from "Sky Wide! PreCure" and "Maho Girls PreCure!" will appear.

"As expected of the senior PreCure, from the moment they appeared and the moment I heard their voices, I felt an overwhelming sense of security and stability from both teams. Not only the security of their presence, but also the bond and stability of each team that you can feel naturally without much explanation. We on the Wanpuri team would like to continue to do our best in the recording so that one day the new PreCure who may appear in the future will be able to feel that...!"

There was also a "challenge" unique to the movie version.

"I don't know if I can call it a challenge, but one thing that probably wouldn't be done this way in a normal TV series is that when we enter the game world, the images become CG, and we recorded that CG part in a pre-recording before the main dubbing. Since it was a pre-recording, we could act among ourselves, but it was difficult and fun to use our imaginations and get everyone in sync to record in a special place like the game world, when there weren't many hints about the images. So I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished movie!"

◇Everyone is different and everyone is good!

"Wonderful Precure!" depicts the exploits of the four Precures: the "dog group" of Cure Friendy/Inukai Iroha played by Tanezaki, Cure Wonderful/Inukai Komugi played by Naganawa Maria, Cure Nyami/Nekoyashiki Yuki played by Matsuda Hayate, and the "cat group" of Cure Lilian/Nekoyashiki Mayu played by Ueda Reina. Although they have very different personalities, what does Tanezaki think about the amazingness of this "dog duo"?

"I think it's the purity and straightforwardness of their feelings. They are all healthy and friendly, and that's what Wonderful is! They truly believe this without a single cloud, and they can communicate and act directly to others. I think it's amazing, and I think it's unique to the Dog Group that they not only get themselves involved, but also get everyone else involved in "Wonderful". They don't really communicate "words of love" to each other as much as the Cat Group, but even without communicating, their bond is strong and solid, and Komugi's tail is always swinging "Iroha♪ Iroha♪" so her straightforward "I love you" is irresistible and conveys more than words, and she doesn't say "to everyone" but "Iroha" and "to Komugi", and the power of the words and feelings she conveys at crucial times...it's just amazing."

The "cat duo" of Cure Nyammy, who is cool and laid-back but proud, and Cure Lillian, who is shy but strong-willed, is also charming.

"If the dog group gives the impression of being bigger and broader, the cat group gives the impression of being endlessly deep. In the story, Yuki-chan and Mayu-chan continue to change and grow, and their worlds expand, but speaking of the 'cat group,' I always feel that 'because you were there, it had to be you,' and I think that this is also the charm of the cat group. Yuki-chan and Mayu-chan communicate this clearly to each other through their words and actions, and they are quick to sense each other's changes, so I think their delicate, warm, and beautiful relationship is really wonderful."

Although they seem to be different, the four Precures have a sense of unity. The combination of the voice actors is also something to look out for.

"Perfect, we're all one in spirit. There are combinations of the four of us, of course, but also the dog and cat groups, the human and animal groups, and each individual's personality is also strong... I think it's great that even when the four of us sing together, you can hear each person's voice clearly without having to strain your ears. Each of them is so charming that even if nothing happens in the story, I want to listen forever just to the four of them talking. Their normal conversations are as funny as a stand-up comedy act, the dog group's interactions are lively and cute and soothing, and the cat group's interactions are calm and gentle and heartwarming. No matter what combination you have, everyone is different and everyone is good!...!"

The four should show off a great combination in the movie! I can't wait for it to be released.

※The kanji for Tanezaki Atsumi is pronounced "tatsusaki"