Ahead of the release of Disney & Pixar's new animated film "Elio" (released on August 1st), idol group "FRUITS ZIPPER" and comedian Naomi Watanabe have formed a special unit "Kawaii Aliens feat. Watanabe Naomi." The film's message of fully affirming any "uniqueness" and a performance video of the "Kawaii Alien Dance" set to FRUITS ZIPPER's song "CO-Individuality" were released on July 17th.
The members of the special unit FRUITS ZIPPER are Noel Hayase, Suzuka Chinzei, Yui Sakurai, and Mana Manaka. It was also announced that Hayase will be a cameo voice actor in both the original US version and the Japanese version.
This film is a fantasy adventure that depicts how Elio, a lonely boy who loves space, meets an alien boy named Grodon in the "Communiverse," where leaders from various planets gather, and the two of them deepen their bond.
The 1 minute 50 second video is a special version based on the original choreography of "CO-Individuality" and includes the "Alien Dance" in which the five members rhythmically move their hands in front of their faces. The star-themed costumes are also a highlight.
The performance video begins with Elio and Gloden touching the screen of a smartphone, inviting them to dance. The three members reach out to Hayase, who looks just as lonely as Elio, and Hayase gradually brightens up and starts dancing with them.
In this work, Watanabe is the voice of the alien Ova, the bright and passionate leader of the peace-loving planet who watches over the adventures of the protagonist, a boy named Elio. In the performance video, he appears through a monitor from a faraway planet and cheers up Hayase with a lively dance. The scene where the two join hands is reminiscent of the relationship between Elio and Grodon, who formed a bond in a world of stars light years apart.
Hayase, who passed the audition and will be making a cameo appearance as a voice actor, recalled, "When I got the call from my manager saying, 'You've been chosen,' I said, 'What?! Really?!' in a voice so loud that it surprised even me! I was so happy!" She also said that she received warm congratulations from other members of the group, many of whom are fans of Disney and Pixar films.
Regarding the dubbing process, which he said he was nervous about, he recalled, "It was a strange feeling because I was connected to the directors back in the country and recorded while talking." He continued, "At first I was nervous and stiff, but they were very friendly and said, 'Let's give it a try! Let's give it a try!' and I had a fun time recording. For the lines spoken in Japanese, the directors asked me, 'How should you say it in Japanese?' and it was a fresh feeling of creating them together by consulting with them." He revealed the valuable experience of creating lines with directors back in the country.
