The TV anime "Chi. - About the Earth's Movement" is based on a manga by Uoto , which was also the subject of much discussion after being selected for the Manga Grand Prize at the 26th Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize. Set in 15th century Europe, the story depicts people risking their lives to research the heliocentric theory, and after the stories of Rafal and Hubert in Chapter 1, Okji, Badeni, and Jolenta in Chapter 2, Dulaka and Schmidt in Chapter 3, and Novak, who appeared in Chapters 1 to 3, the series has entered its final chapter. Voice actor Shoya Ishige plays Alberto, a young baker who is the main character in the final chapter. "I really felt the baton being passed on to me as someone who lives through the same work," says Ishige. We spoke to him about the behind-the-scenes recording and the appeal of "Chi."
◇ "Chi." depicts beauty and happiness. Encounters are coincidences and inevitability.
The series is based on a manga by Uoto that was serialized in Weekly Big Comic Spirits (Shogakukan) from 2020 to 2022. The anime will begin airing on NHK General TV in October 2024, and is garnering attention for its depiction of the lives and deaths of people surrounding the heliocentric theory. After reading the original work, Ishige said he felt "the beauty and happiness of being passionate about something and doing something even at the risk of your life."
"Of course, I don't think it's unhappy to have nothing to risk your life for, but in my own life I am often moved and inspired by people who risk their lives or do things with a burning passion, so I find that aspect of "Chi" appealing."
He says he was particularly drawn to the "encounters" in each chapter.
"If it hadn't been for the incident with Hubert , Rafal wouldn't have died, and he wouldn't have risked his life so heavily for the heliocentric theory. Oxy is with Badeni in the second half, but it would have been impossible without Glass in the first place. Glass entrusted his mission to Oxy, and Oxy understood Glass's feelings, which led to him going to meet Badeni, and from there he gradually became connected with Jolenta. Dulaka, including his interactions with the uncle, wouldn't have turned out the way he did if he hadn't met Schmidt. When you think about it, it really feels like a fateful encounter. The meeting itself was a coincidence, but it also feels like it was inevitable."
◇Alberto and I are similar.
Ishige was cast in the role of Alberto after passing an audition. In fact, he had auditioned for a different role before that, and ever since then, he said, "I've always wanted to be involved in this production."
"After failing an audition once, I thought 'I guess I won't be able to be involved in this again,' but then I was asked to audition for Alberto and thought 'I definitely want to pass,' so I took the audition. Alberto has some negative characteristics. I myself am very negative, so the feelings and thoughts that Alberto has are very similar to my own, and I felt like I would be able to speak the lines as they came to life. I was able to speak the lines with real feeling, and rather than playing Alberto, it felt like the role suited me."
Alberto is a young man who helps out at a bakery. He used to love learning, but due to a certain incident, he lost his academic curiosity. Ishige-san focused on "warmth" when acting. "Sound director Kisuke Koizumi told me that he didn't want the lines to be dramatic, and that it would be fine as long as I spoke naturally, rather than in an anime-like way," he said.
Ishige said that "not expressing too much" took courage.
"In scenes where Alberto talks for a long time, I want to make some changes. Because it's a scene where he talks steadily, I end up putting in too much emotion. It's not a line that gets the audience excited, but there is bound to be subtle emotions in it, so if I don't convey that in the words, I get anxious, thinking, 'Will the audience get bored?' So, when I tried to put in a little emotion during the test, I was told, 'It's okay to be more depressed,' or 'You don't need to express it as much.' I didn't need to worry about that, so the task was how to step back with confidence. In that sense, it was a challenging role, and I probably had to have courage. Having the courage to step back."
◇ "Chi." What about the end? A comfortable sense of tension during recording
In "Chi.", the main character changes with each chapter. Chapters 1 to 3 are set in the "Early 15th Century Kingdom of Poland," but in the final chapter the specific year and country are revealed to be "1468, urban area of the Kingdom of Poland."
"The final chapter feels like the conclusion of the story, condensing everything from chapters 1 to 3, starting with Rafal and ending with Duraca. There's a scene in chapter 3 where Antoni tells Novak, 'You're not characters in history,' and I feel like this final chapter contains that kind of thing as well."
Ishige, who plays Alberto, said, "I really felt the baton as someone who lives in the same work." He also had a strange feeling at the recording site, saying, "Alberto's appearance was the very last, so of course I was nervous, but it was a comfortable tension that was different from the tension I felt at other locations, and I was able to speak calmly."
He also said that through working on the piece "Chi." he was reminded that "various experiences and knowledge are never wasted."
"More than 10 years ago, I played a role similar to Alberto on stage. The character was convinced that it was his fault that he had killed his father, and was afraid to move forward. I hadn't played a role like that since then, but while playing Alberto this time, I felt a strong sense of naivety back then, so it felt like the emotions that I no longer use in my daily life, or that I no longer feel as often, were not meaningless."
Just like his characters who have faith in the heliocentric theory, Ishige takes acting seriously, saying, "In terms of acting, an actor's job is not to create something from nothing, so you can't just take a casual look at the work of someone who has created something from nothing. You have to devote yourself to it seriously and with passion."
Regarding the final chapter, he said, "I hope viewers will enjoy seeing what thoughts Alberto, who suddenly appears, has as he progresses through the story of 'Chi.' I think the final chapter will create different emotions for each person who watches it. I hope viewers will enjoy 'Chi.' including their interpretations, thoughts and considerations."
