The TV anime "Vigilante - My Hero Academia ILLEGALS -", based on the official spin-off of Kohei Horikoshi's popular manga "My Hero Academia (Hiroaka)", will be broadcast on TOKYO MX, Yomiuri TV and other stations from April 7th. Set in Japan several years before the events of the main story of "Hiroaka", the drama depicts the vigilantes, illegal heroes who cannot help but save people even if they are not recognized by anyone, behind the scenes of the heroes who are recognized by the people. In the run-up to the broadcast, the main characters Shuichiro Umeda, who plays Haimai Koichi, Ikumi Hasegawa, who plays Pop☆Step, and Mamiya Yasuhiro, who plays Knuckleduster, spoke about their joy at being in the show, their impressions of the work, and highlights.
◇A completely different story from "My Hero Academia" - the appearance of All Might and Endeavor is exciting!
-How did you feel when you found out you were going to appear?
I still have a little bit of the same feeling I had when Umeda-san was selected, and that's the feeling of "Is this really true...?" (laughs). I have a lot in common with Koichi, so I feel a sense of closeness to him. But of course, just because you have so much in common doesn't mean you're chosen for the role. There were a lot of people at the audition who were trying to bring out Koichi's charm, and I spent a while feeling agitated, wondering, "Did I manage to express more than that?" Then I received the news that I'd been selected, and I was so surprised that I wondered if it was a dream. It didn't feel real.
Mamiya: I played the role of Gigantomachia in "My Hero Academia". I was on the enemy (villain) side, not a hero, so when I heard about the audition, I remember thinking, "I was chosen as Gigantomachia, is that okay?" (laughs). The audition for Knuckle took place after Umeda-kun and Hasegawa-san had been selected as Koichi and Pop. The voices and acting of the two that came through the headphones were exactly like the Koichi and Pop that came through my head when I was reading the original manga. I think that they were probably looking at the balance between the two of them at the audition for Knuckle. I was so happy when I was chosen that I did a little jump for joy. I was contacted by my manager to let me know that I had been selected, but even then I asked, "I was chosen as Gigantomachia, is that okay?" (laughs).
Hasegawa-san: I was also really surprised when I heard that I was chosen to play Pop. First of all, from the audition, I received a lot of criticism about the "Pop image" I had created. It took up a lot of time, so I went home feeling pretty depressed, thinking, "The image of Pop I had in mind was completely different...". I was outside when the decision was made, because I was absolutely convinced that I would not make it, so I shouted out "Eh!" in surprise (laughs).
What was your impression when you first encountered the story?
Umeda: I was originally reading "My Hero Academia" and when I heard about the audition I read "Vigilante". The basic setting is the same, that "quirks" exist, but it's a completely different story. I knew that, but I was surprised that the main character had reached a turning point in his life and had somehow decided his place in the world, which was so different from Deku (Izuku Midoriya). However, even such a Koichi still had a heart that admired heroes, and I read it thinking that the way he acted for others was attractive.
Mamiya-san, the way you shine the spotlight and portray the characters is different from "My Hero Academia". Characters from "My Hero Academia" such as All Might and Endeavor also appear in it, and that makes my heart warm. This is a bit off topic from the impression talk, but I feel happy when I interact with the characters I play (laughs).
I understand, Umeda-san (laughs).
Mamiya: I think that's a point that gets people excited for "My Hero Academia." Since it's a story that takes place before the timeline of "My Hero Academia," it also depicts the pasts of many characters. On the other hand, there are clear differences between "My Hero Academia" and "Vigilante" and the appeal of "Vigilante" is that it starts from an underground place. I thought it was really interesting to see people who aren't heroes joining hands to fight evil.
Hasegawa: The story of "My Hero Academia" revolves around characters of the same generation who aim to become heroes, but the three main characters of "Vigilante" are all different in age, purpose, and everything else. I think that this imbalance is interesting and is what makes "Vigilante" so appealing.
◇ "That character" appears in the first episode, making the pop sexiness 30% more!?
--In preparation for the broadcast, please tell us what we should look out for and what we should look forward to.
Umeda: I think that many people who watch "Vigilante" are familiar with "My Hero Academia", but the first thing to look out for is the appearance of characters from "My Hero Academia". I want you to watch the anime to find out who will be appearing. "That character" will appear at the beginning of the first episode!
Mamiya: I've already seen the completed first episode, and Pop's drawing is amazing! Since the original is in black and white, seeing the visuals in color in the anime made it feel about 30% sexier (laughs). And the song is great, of course. There's a scene in the first episode where Pop sings, and all the male cast members who were there on the day recorded the interjections of the fans watching the live show. About 20 old guys worked really hard on it, so please pay attention to that (laughs).
I hope everyone will pay attention to each of Hasegawa 's characters. The story revolves around the main character Koichi, but Knuckle and Pop also have their own thoughts and goals, and each character has their own unique story. I hope everyone will pay attention to and love all of them.
--Please give a message to the viewers who are looking forward to the film.
Umeda-san, I just mentioned some points to note for fans of "My Hero Academia", but of course those who are not familiar with "My Hero Academia" can enjoy this work, and I think some people will be struck by the unique charm of "Vigilante". The world in which the characters live is depicted in a way that is close to the warmth of our daily lives, and there are many points of empathy and many touching scenes. I hope you will enjoy it as "your own story" rather than "a story in an anime". Please be sure to watch Koichi's growth as well.
Mamiya: Although it is set in the world of "My Hero Academia," a completely different story unfolds. The focus is on the citizens, not the heroes, and the scale of the story is similar to our own. It is a work that can be enjoyed by everyone, whether they are "My Hero Academia" fans or not. Personally, I felt refreshed when I saw Knuckle punching the bad guys. I hope the viewers will also feel refreshed!
Hasegawa's comments overlap with the two of them, but there's no need to worry, "I haven't seen 'My Hero Academia'..."! The world line is different from "My Hero Academia", and while heroes are active, there are probably many people who, like Koichi, have decided that they can't become heroes, and live their lives without thinking about it... I think you can enjoy the story from a perspective that wasn't born in "My Hero Academia", so I hope many people will watch it.
