It was revealed on February 18th that actor Yu Aoi will be appearing as a guest voice actor in the latest film version of the popular anime series "Soreike! Anpanman," the 36th film in the series. Aoi will play Chapon, a boy who admires Anpanman and wants to become a hero, as a new character at the center of the story.
When asked how she felt when her appearance was decided, Aoi commented, "Last year, my good friend Aya Ueto was a voice actress, and I thought that was great, so I'm really happy!" She also said that she told her husband, Ryota Yamazato of the comedy duo Nankai Candies, about her appearance, saying, "My husband is really jealous, and I thought that if I told our daughter that I was going to enter the world of Anpanman, she would be confused, so I didn't tell her. So I'm trying my best not to let her know (laughs)."
Regarding the character Chapon, which he plays, he commented, "For us adults, the character makes us truly want to believe in this child's strength, so I feel very happy to be able to voice such a courageous child."
The latest work will have an unprecedented storyline in which "Anpanman becomes Chapon's older brother!?" Aoi commented on her impressions after reading the script, "It's a work filled with many things that we want to value in life, so of course I want young children to watch it, but I also want people of all ages to watch it. I want people to feel the meaning of life, the meaning of being born, relationships with people, the importance of friends, and the strength of connections that aren't blood ties."
The film also places greater emphasis on the concept of "heroes," so when asked "who is a hero to you," Aoi replied, "My husband is one of them, but right now my heroes are the people who are protecting my daughter's life. The obstetrician, the midwife, the pediatrician, the shop staff who were so kind to her, and the teachers at nursery school. Those people who protected my daughter's life are my heroes now," she said, expressing her gratitude to the people who are important to her and all those who support her.
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. Anpanman, on his usual patrol, meets a mysterious boy named Chapon who falls from the sky. Chapon, who doesn't know where he came from, learns the joy of helping others and making them smile as he spends time with Anpanman and his friends, 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 decides that "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. 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.
