The second season of the TV anime " I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability," based on a popular work from the novel submission site " Shosetsuka ni Naro, " is being broadcast every Wednesday at midnight on TV Tokyo and other channels. The story follows a magician who was not blessed with magical talent and died an untimely death, but is reincarnated as Lloyd, the seventh prince of the Saloum Kingdom, who has a strong magical bloodline, and meets friends to master magic. We asked Makoto Koichi, who plays Lloyd, and Fairouz Ai, who plays Grimoire, the demon who serves Lloyd, about the second season, while looking back on the first season, which aired from April to June 2024.
◇Koichi is leading the project!
--What was the most memorable scene or episode from season 1?
Koichi: I was surprised when the ending credits started earlier than usual in episode 8. The scene changed after the ending, and the staff's bold decision to insert the ending credits there was amazing! It left a strong impression on me.
I like the scene where Fairouz talks to Jade inside Gizarm. It was heartwarming to see Lloyd understand her feelings through magic.
During the recording of Koichi-san's scene, he learns Qi magic from Tao-chan and tries to activate magic while filling his lungs with air, and it was very difficult as he almost died of oxygen deprivation.
Fairouz and Grimo were not expected to perform technically like Lloyd, but rather to create excitement. They were expected to step up their game at full throttle, and they tried to achieve that.
--Grimo's high level of excitement and screaming were very impressive.
Even when Fairouz got into Lloyd's hands, I tried to keep up the momentum and be Grimoire. I acted with such volume that it was hard to believe the voice was coming from my hands. I was able to do it with all my heart because of this work.
--The dialogue between Lloyd and Grimoire is one of the charms of the work.
Fairouz: In the first episode, Akio Otsuka played Grimoire, and I was watching the play. Koichi is the one leading the production, so I'm just joining in.
Koichi: On the other hand, I tried not to get pulled in by Grimoire's passion. I really wanted to get on board with Fairouz's passion, but Lloyd has to remain calm. The difference in temperature is easy to see.
The way Fairouz's voice and expressions change when Lloyd is deformed is amazing! His adorable, slightly condescending way of speaking is irresistible.
I wanted to portray the character in a way that was close to the impression I had when I read the original novel by Koichi-san . I personally found the deformed Lloyd adorable but also a little irritating, so I tried to portray him exactly as I felt him. I was able to act freely.
◇ Crazy about Jilliel
--New characters will also appear in the second season.
Koichi-san, I love the arguments between Gilliel and Grimoire!
Fairouz, I love Gilliel! I've liked Gizarm since the recording of the first season, but Koichi told me, "If there's a second season, I think you'll like Gilliel." I was worried that people would underestimate my love for Gilliel, but the moment I saw Gilliel, I fell in love with him (laughs). I fell in love with him right away. I fell from grace when I saw his angelic appearance. His androgynous features and Morikubo Shotaro's voice are wonderful. I also love how his beautiful face crumbles with his comical expressions.
--The combination of Gilliel and Grimo is also worth watching.
During recordings with Fairouz , I often sit next to Morikubo, and he makes eye contact with me during the microphone work, so I learn a lot from him. As a character, Grimo is the one who acts like a senior (laughs).
Koichi-san: Exactly. Jilliel had a big reaction, and Grimoire acted like a senior and made a comment.
Fairouz Grimo makes a face like, "There was a time when I was like that," or "You were so young then" (laughs).
--Will Lloyd remain basically the same in season 2?
Koichi-san 's core hasn't changed. But I think his trust in the assassin's guild has increased in the second season. The assassin's guild will also play an active role in the second season, so I hope you'll look forward to seeing how Lloyd interacts with them. Babylon is depicted prominently in the key visual, so I hope you'll also look forward to the interaction between Babylon and Lloyd.
--What was the recording of season 2 like?
Koichi: It's fun to have more people in the cast . In the second season, Lloyd will of course be active, but the others also fight powerful enemies and express their own feelings, so both Lloyd and I have been able to watch the show objectively during recording. I can't go into details yet, but there was one scene that made me cry. I was moved by the original work, but the acting was so amazing that the tears started flowing. It was a scene where Lloyd wasn't in it, so watching it objectively made me feel emotional.
Fairouz: During the first season, we were unable to record together due to the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but for the second season, the staff made arrangements so that we could all record together as much as possible, and I was happy that we were able to record while feeling the temperature and rhythm. Unlike the first season, I'm happy that Grimo has more opportunities to talk to people other than Lloyd. I also found someone to talk to, Gilliel.
◇Lloyd's Depth
--What are your impressions of each other as actors?
I've always thought that Koichi-san's acting was wonderful, but I often felt that he could go all the way with Grimoire, and from the first time I saw the first episode, I felt that he doubled the fun of Grimoire. I've felt that his serious and delicate acting is also wonderful in other works, but in this work, the range is amazing. There aren't many people who can go that far, so I respect him. I'm learning a lot from him!
Fairouz: I'm very happy to be praised for something I think I'm good at! The boy that Koichi-san plays is very natural. In my case, when I play a boy's role, I go in with all my might, thinking, "I'm going to play a boy!" But Koichi-san doesn't force himself to have a low voice or a husky voice, which is a charm I don't have, and I respect him for that. He has the sense of age that comes from Lloyd's body, but he also has the persuasiveness, weight, and depth of having had a past life. On the other hand, he also has a childlike side, and it's amazing how he goes through seven transformations as the Seventh Prince! He's sensitive and stoic, and I love him as both a friend and an actor.
--Finally, please tell us what to look forward to in season 2.
Fairouz's second season will focus on sacred magic. The song of Isha is essential for the activation of sacred magic. How will it be expressed? Please look forward to it!
Ever since I read Koichi-san's original work, I've been looking forward to seeing how sacred magic would be portrayed in the anime. I want you to see how Isha and Saria, who are depicted in the key visuals, are involved, and how Lloyd will be involved. And who on earth is the mysterious priest? I hope you'll look forward to that too.
