It has been announced that comedy trio Panther's Mukai Satoshi, Ogata Takahiro, and Suga Ryotaro will appear as guest voice actors in the latest film version of the popular anime series "Soreike! Anpanman," the 36th film in the series. This is Panther's first time participating in the Anpanman series, and their first appearance in an anime film in about 11 years. Mukai and Ogata will play Mecha Robo No. 2, invented by Baikinman, while Suga will play Carrot, the mayor of Hinata Village.
Mukai has been an avowed fan of Anpanman for many years, and now he has finally joined the ranks of Anpanman voice actors. Mukai said, "I fell in love with Anpanman after watching Anpanman: Dolly of the Star of Life (2006). I especially love Rollpanna, and I love her so much that I went to the Anpanman Children's Museum by myself to buy Anpanman goods. When I read the story of this film, I thought, 'I have to see it!', so I was really happy to be involved."
Now that Ogata is a father himself, this will be his first time working with Anpanman, who has become even more familiar to him. "Because I have a daughter, I've been to the Anpanman Children's Museum many times. This is the happiest job I've ever had. I don't have any other jobs I can be proud of (laughs). I think this is a job I can be proud of in front of my daughter," he said.
The latest work places more emphasis on the existence of "heroes," and in response to the question, "Who is your hero?" Suga replied, "My hero is Anpanman. If I remember correctly, he saved my life once. When I was hungry, he tore off his face and offered it to me. If I'm remembering correctly (laughs)."
A trailer showing Anpanman and Chapon working together has been released on YouTube. The trailer includes a line that is reminiscent of the lyrics of the theme song "Anpanman no March," which is filled with deep feelings by Takashi Yanase: "Remember! Why were you born?" A poster visual featuring Anpanman's friend Chapon has also been released.
The latest film is a story that explores the love and courage that "Anpanman" has always depicted, as well as the meaning of life and how to live. Chapon, a mysterious boy who fell from the sky, meets Anpanman and his friends. As he spends time with them, he learns the joy of helping others and making them smile, wishes to become a hero, and comes to adore Anpanman like an older brother. However, Baikinman, who knows the secret of Chapon's birth, appears and he learns the shocking truth. Chapon declares, "I will decide the meaning of my birth!" and joins Anpanman in facing off against Baikinman in order to bring smiles to everyone's faces. Actress Aoi Yu will voice Chapon. Release date: June 27th.
"Soreike! Anpanman" is based on Yanase's popular picture book. The TV anime started in 1988, and the first movie was released the following year in March 1989. The previous film, "Go! Anpanman: Baikinman and the Picture Book of Lulun," released in 2024, grossed over 730 million yen, making it the biggest hit in the "Anpanman Movie" series.
◇Full comment from Panther
-How did you feel when you found out you'd be participating as a guest voice actor?
Mukai: I fell in love with Anpanman after watching the 2006 film "Soreike! Anpanman: Dolly of the Star of Life." I especially love Rollpanna, and I love her so much that I went to the Anpanman Children's Museum by myself to buy Anpanman goods. When I read the story of this film, I thought, "I have to go see it!", so I was really happy to be involved in it.
Ogata: Because I have a daughter, I have been to the Anpanman Children's Museum many times. This is the happiest job I've ever had. I don't have any other job that I can be proud of (laughs), so I think this is a job that I can be proud of to my daughter.
--What are your memories of Anpanman as a child?
Ogata: There are so many characters, so I've had conversations with my daughter's friends about which characters they like, and I think it's a really great work. My daughter loves Baikinman, and she always cries when he gets beaten by Anpanman's punch. I think the characters' drama is well-drawn, so she gets into the story.
-Please tell us how you feel about acting alongside Aoi Yu, who plays Chapon.
Ogata: I think that in terms of the role, I will become an enemy, so if I lose in spirit, I think the impact will be lost, so I will do my best not to lose. I know that Aoi-san is a really amazing person, so I have the feeling that I will not lose.
--Please tell us about how you prepared for your role during dubbing.
Mukai: As with this film, because it's a work that "questions the meaning of life," I think that if I don't act well in the fighting parts, the depth won't come out, so I'm going to approach the role with Anpanman in mind and the feeling that I'm seriously going to defeat him.
Suga: I hadn't seen what kind of character it was yet, but I heard the name and prepared for the role. I had no idea what the design would be like, but I thought about it in my own way. I'm really excited about it.
-What were your impressions when you read the script?
Mukai: It's a work packed with a variety of messages. It depicts the bond between Anpanman and Chapon that goes beyond blood ties. We (Panther) aren't a family, but I think we have a bond because we've been together for so long. The film portrays such bonds as very important in human relationships. The "meaning of life" is "something you decide for yourself!" It's not something that's decided by someone else, or that you have to live like this because you were born in this place, but rather that no matter where you're born, you have the right to live how you want and the right to decide, and I think that the theme will definitely resonate with adults when they see it.
--Who is your hero?
Mukai: For me it's Ninety-Nine. They're the reason I wanted to be a comedian, the true starting point. I wanted to be a comedian because I thought they were cool and I wanted to be like them, so Ninety-Nine are my real heroes.
Ogata: I think a hero is someone who makes you think, "I want to do my best too!", and in that sense, it's my daughter. For my daughter, I'd put my body on the line, shave my head, get bitten by a snake, or do anything.
Suga: For me it's Anpanman. If I remember correctly, he helped me out once. When I was hungry he tore off his face and offered it to me. If I remember correctly (laughs).
--The latest work is the story of Chapon, who looks up to Anpanman like an older brother, but do you have any "brother episodes" that are special to you?
Ogata: All of us (all of the Panthers) have older sisters. My sister is four years older than me, so she coordinates all of my fashion. There was a time when I admired my older sister's fashion.
Mukai: It's true that Ogata-san has a bit of a habit of imitating others, and when he saw the clothes I was wearing, he asked me, "Where did you buy them?" In the next performance, he wore the exact same clothes as me (laughs). With the same outfit, it looked like Suga-san had forgotten. I thought it might be better not to imitate people close to you (laughs).
Suga: We are quite far apart in age, so Ogata is the eldest son, I am the second son, and Mukai is the third son. There may be a sense of brotherhood among the trio.
- Please give a message to those who are looking forward to the release of the movie.
Mukai: I've been given the opportunity to voice the character in the latest Anpanman movie. I've loved Anpanman since I was a child, so I'm really happy to be able to voice the character.
Ogata: Mukai and I are in charge of the voices for Robo No. 2. Chapon and Anpanman have a hard time facing the strength of Robo No. 2, created by Baikinman. For the sake of everyone's smiles, Chapon stands up to Baikinman together with Anpanman... but I can't help but wonder what will happen.
Suga: I voice Ninjin, the village chief of Hinata Village. This is my first time participating in Anpanman, and it's been 11 years since the three Panthers appeared in an animated film together, so I'm nervous, but I'll do my best!
Ogata-san: The dubbing has yet to begin, so I'll prepare thoroughly and give it my all to convey the charm of the character and the greatness of this movie! Thank you!
Mukai-san: It is a moving work that can be said to be the origin of Anpanman's "love and courage," and is filled with the thoughts of the original author, Takashi Yanase. Everyone, please look forward to the release on June 27th.
