It was revealed on May 14th that voice actor Yuji Mitsuya will be voicing the alien Pleakley in the Japanese dubbed version of the movie "Lilo & Stitch" (directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp, to be released on June 6th). Mitsuya also voiced the same character in the 2002 Disney animated movie of the same name.
The film is a live-action adaptation of the Disney animated film of the same name produced in 2002. It is a fantasy set on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, depicting the important bond of "ohana (family)." A young girl named Lilo and her older sister Nani, who have lost their parents, are confronted by Stitch, a rowdy alien who knows no family love. Stitch's unpredictable actions cause chaos on the peaceful island, but this miraculous encounter eventually changes the sisters who were close to losing hope.
It has already been announced that in the Japanese dubbed version, Stitch will be voiced by voice actor Koichi Yamadera, Lilo will be voiced by child actress Yuno Nagao, and Nani will be voiced by MOMONA from the 11-member girl group ME:I.
Mitsuya plays Pleakley, an alien from the Galactic Federation who is knowledgeable about Earth and was sent to Earth with Professor Jumba to capture Stitch.
When it was announced the other day that Yamadera would be continuing to play Stitch, social media erupted with excitement, and many also expressed their desire for Mitsuya to continue playing Pleakley. Upon hearing the news that he would be playing the long-awaited role of Pleakley, Mitsuya reflected, "When I heard through rumors that it was going to be made into a live-action version, I was excited because it was such an exciting story," and expressed his joy, saying, "I was worried about whether I would be able to play Pleakley again, but when I received the offer, I jumped for joy. Pleakley is a character that is very similar to me, and I love her."
In this film, when the aliens Dr. Jumba and Pleakley go into hiding on Earth, they don't simply disguise themselves like in the animated version, but instead take on human forms to blend in with Earth's residents. Regarding the unique way of portraying Pleakley in the live-action version, Mitsuya said, "I was surprised at how realistic Pleakley's real form was, but even after she turned human, Pleakley's personality didn't change. She's cute, a little clumsy, and lovable, and that's how it was really exciting to act her out." He also revealed his commitment to playing the character differently between the alien and human forms, saying, "When I was in Pleakley's real form, I played her with the same image as before, but after she turned human, I lowered the tone of my voice and made adjustments to my acting, being conscious of the actor's appearance. It was a difficult challenge, but very rewarding."
In response to the excited voices of fans, he sent a message saying, "Wow, I'm so happy. I also love the character Pleakley, so I'm honoured to have everyone's support. I've really portrayed Pleakley in this live-action version, so please look forward to it."
Regarding his co-starring with Yamadera, who is reprising his role like Mitsuya, he said, "I am happy to be working with Yamadera, a junior whom I respect. Yamadera's performance of Stitch is one of a kind. No one else could do it. Yamadera has driven the story, and I think the production has turned out to be thrilling and happy." He added, "I hope you will see how Stitch comes to Earth, stirs up trouble for the people around him, and grows into a being who makes people happy. Of course, don't miss the exploits of Pleakley, who is a bit of a nuisance!"
