Continuation of interview (1): A completely new anime version of Takahashi Rumiko's hit manga Ranma 1/2 started airing on Nippon TV in October. The series was broadcast as a TV anime from 1989 to 1992, and this is the first time it has been adapted for TV in about 32 years. One of the great attractions of this series is the unique characters such as Saotome Ranma, Ranma, and Tendo Akane, as well as the members of the Tendo family, Hibiki Ryoga, Shampoo, and Kuno Tatewaki. On the November 9th and 16th broadcasts, one of the most "intense" characters, Kuno Kodachi, appeared. We asked Shimazu Saeko, who played Kodachi in the "1989 version" anime, about the recording process at the time, her memories of the character song, and her thoughts on the "completely new anime."
◇Character song recording was a battle that exceeded expectations - the amazingness of Suga Masato
One thing that should not be forgotten about the "1989 version" anime of "Ranma 1/2" is the presence of character songs by the voice actors. Many hit songs were born from this album, and the album "Ranma 1/2: Netto Uta Gassen," which included character songs, won the Animation category at the 5th Japan Gold Disc Awards in 1990, which was also a topic of discussion. Shimazu also said that the character songs left a strong impression on him.
"After we finished recording the anime version of "Ranma Da★RANMA," which we all sang together, I remember us all taking a taxi to the recording studio. When we were recording Kodachi's character song, "Mori e Ikumashou," the director, Suga (Masato), was worried and asked me, "Is it okay to go this far?" but I said, "It's fine" (laughs)."
"Mori e Ikumashou" is a nursery rhyme sung by Kodachi with high energy and his familiar loud laughter. The character songs for "Ranma 1/2" were produced by music producer Masato Suga, who said, "He was an incredible person. I had sung several character songs before 'Ranma 1/2,' but his producing skills were outstanding." "I thought it was great how they brought in "Let's go to the forest" for Kodachi. I think "Black Roses for Valentine's Day" (Kodachi's character song) is more traditional. Nabiki's New Year's gift song ("I love New Year's more than anything in this world") also has lyrics like "5,000 yen from daddy", and character songs like that aren't that common, are they? When recording the character songs, I think all the cast members exceeded the line that Suga-san had in mind for them to be made like this. It's a battle that goes beyond expectations! If you listen to the character songs of "Ranma 1/2" when you're feeling down, it will blow you away, right? I'd be happy if people still listen to them."
◇"Ranma 1/2" is a fun work; both the "1989 version" and the new version are "powerful"
The universal appeal of "Ranma 1/2", which has continued to attract the hearts of many people for a long time, is carried over to the "completely new anime". In the new work, voice actors Yamaguchi Kappei as Saotome Ranma, Hayashibara Megumi as Ranma, Hidaka Noriko as Tendo Akane will continue in their roles, while Sugita Tomokazu as Kuno Tatewaki and Morikawa Toshiyuki as Kono Tofu will join the cast as newcomers. Kuno Kodachi, previously played by Shimazu, will be played by Sakura Ayane. We once again spoke to Shimazu about the appeal of "Ranma 1/2."
"When I saw the PV for the new anime, I thought, 'Wow, this is fun!' It's a really fun work, not just with the high-tension moments, but also with normal scenes like eating dinner at home. The new work will be just as powerful as the '1989 version.' If you try to express the charm of the original, it will be powerful. Within that, there are serious parts and times when it can be explosive, and there are ups and downs. I'm looking forward to those differences."
He also talks about his thoughts on Suzuoki Hirotaka, who played Kuno Tatewaki in the '1989 version, Tsuru Hiromi, who played Kuonji Ukyo, Nagai Ichiro, who played Happosai, and Aso Miyoko, who played Colon.
"I'm really sad that Suzuoki-san and Tsuru-chan are gone, but I hope everyone remembers that they were having fun and working hard. They were really wonderful. Suzuoki-san didn't write a single thing in the script. She had it all in her head. They were amazing. Nagai-san and Asou-san were our great seniors back then, and their range of acting as great seniors and their power that was not inferior to that of newcomers were amazing. They also had their own character songs ("The Fascinating Limbo Dance"). I'm very grateful to the fans who said that the anime was great and the cast was great. Also, Suga-san, who produced the character songs, was great. I hope everyone remembers that." Shimazu-san said that "Ranma 1/2" was "a fun work" and that Kodachi was "a really fun and lovable character." When she told them that Sakura, who plays Kodachi in the new work, had said during recording, "I went into the recording with the intention of laughing as loudly as my seniors," she gave them a cheer of "Do your best!" and added, "I'm really looking forward to seeing how the generation that watched the works we appeared in will act this out."
