Tomona Yabiku will be voicing Moana in the Japanese dub of Disney Animation Studios' latest film, "Moana 2" (directed by Dave Derrick Jr. and others), following on from her previous film. China Yabiku spoke about the changes from the previous film, which was released in Japan in 2017, the highlights of this film, her favorite characters, and more.
◇ "I thought there wouldn't be a sequel."
"Moana 2" is a sequel to the previous film "Moana" (released in Japan in March 2017), which was produced in 2016. Three years after the previous film, the main character Moana, who has a special bond with the sea, is spending time with her family and friends, but when she learns of a legend that "if she reaches an island at the end of the sea, the curse will be lifted," she becomes the one "guide" every 1,000 years that connects all the seas, and decides to embark on a dangerous voyage. The film depicts her embarking on another adventure with Maui, the demigod who adventured with her in the previous film, and new companions.
Yabiku turned 30 this year. When she passed the audition for the previous film, she was 22 and still a university student.
Regarding the seven years since the release of the previous film, he laughed and said, "It feels like it has gone by so quickly, and at the same time that seven years have passed, it also feels like a long time ago...I recorded the previous film in the year I graduated from university, and now I'm already 30, so when I think about it, I feel like I've grown up."
Looking back, she said she was "really happy" when she found out a sequel was being made and that she would be voicing Moana in the Japanese dubbed version.
"I simply love the film Moana. But the previous film ended on such a satisfying note that I assumed there wouldn't be a sequel. When I heard there would be a sequel, I was really surprised and happy, and as a fan, I was really looking forward to seeing what kind of story awaited Moana."
◇ Moana, now 16 to 19 years old: "I could imagine what kind of life she'd been living"
In this film, Moana has grown from 16 to 19 years old. "Those three years are a very impressionable time, and they're big (in one's life). She doesn't look that different, but there's a more mature Moana there. The way she speaks to her sister Simea, the tone of her voice, her relationships with the people in the village and her parents, it's easy to imagine what kind of life Moana has lived over the last three years," he explains.
When recording his voice, he said, "I was able to enter the world three years in the future without any sense of discomfort."
"Seven years have passed, and I didn't realize it myself, but I've started to be able to sing lower notes and I've become a little more mature. When I was dubbing this time, I thought that if I just played the character of Moana in a straightforward manner without putting too much effort into it, the things I've gained over the seven years of experience would come out naturally in a good way, so I tried to do it without adding anything unnecessary, and stripped it down," she said, revealing that she approached the role in a natural way.
The characters other than Moana were beyond my imagination. "I had imagined that the story would be set on the ocean and that Maui would be there, but this time we had new friends, and it was a pleasant surprise to see not only Hei Hei (the chicken), but also Pua (the pig) going on an adventure together," he said.
One of the most notable characters is the coconut pirate Kakamora. "I was really happy to see Kakamora again, as he left such an impression on me in the previous game. This time, Kakamora is quite involved in the adventure, so I hope you'll pay attention to him. I thought 'Kakamora is great!' (laughs)."
◇What is the secret to maintaining the beautiful voice that has been honed over the past seven years?
When Yabiku was scouted, she was described as a "diamond in the rough" and since then, she has appeared in many musicals. In this work, she brings to life the beautiful voice she has honed over the past seven years. We asked her the secret to maintaining her beautiful voice.
"Recently, I've been trying not to be too nervous about it. I've found that it's not as bad as I thought it would be. I still keep cooling myself down and sucking on candy to keep my throat from drying out. When I feel tired, I moisturize my mouth and try to eat more oil, and I've heard that pears and apples are good for the throat, so I eat them. I also make sure to get plenty of sleep. When my throat feels tired, I try to get some sleep."
For Yabiku, Moana is a character that is "a part of me, or my core."
"I think Moana was always with me and gave me the strength to overcome anything. I would remember her when I was taking on other difficult projects, when I felt like giving up, and when I knew it was time to persevere. Moana was always here (in my heart), giving me a push, and always by my side, both professionally and personally," he said, adding that the character is a link with him.
Finally, when asked about the highlights of the new film, she said, "The visual beauty is as amazing as ever, and seven years have passed, so the technology has improved and the film is truly amazing, from the detailed facial expressions to the depiction of the sea and light, so I hope you will pay attention to it. In addition, new characters will appear, and at the same time, the relationship between the two familiar characters, Maui and Moana, is also fascinating. The music also has a slightly different appeal from the previous film, and there are a variety of songs, including a song about an adult Moana and a lively, bright, catchy and pop song that everyone can sing together, so I hope you enjoy it."
