The movie version of the 22nd installment of the popular anime series "You and Idol Pretty Cure with You and Idol Pretty Cure Keep You Waiting! A Sparkling Live for You!" will be released on September 12th. The story follows Uta and her friends as they take part in the Super Miracle Idol Festival held on the mysterious Aiai Island, only to be transported back in time. We spoke to Yoshino Nanjo , who voices Cure Zukyoon /Purirun, and Miharu Hanai, who voices Cure Kiss/Meloron, about their thoughts on PreCure and the movie.
◇ Pure feelings that remain unchanged even after transformation
--When Prirun and Meloron transformed into PreCure in the TV series, it became a big topic of conversation.
When it was announced that Nanjo-san would be playing the role of Purirun, fans were very happy and said, "I'd be happy if you became a Precure someday," but now they're happy that she's become a Precure! It's a work with a long history, and some fans are from the generation that grew up with Precure, but even fans who didn't grow up watching Precure said, "It was very moving," and it was impressive to see everyone enjoying it like it was a festival.
Hanai: There were fans who had always said, "I want you to become a Precure someday." That's why I wanted to tell them as soon as possible. I didn't know how to process the turbulent feelings, but I savored the joy and happiness and always wanted to share it with my fans. There are some difficult aspects to playing Cure Kiss and Meloron, but it's been a valuable experience.
-Does transforming into PreCure change your acting?
When Nanjo transforms from Purirun to Cure Zukyoon, she becomes an older sister and her voice quality changes, but she remains as straightforward, innocent, and pure, and her feelings remain those of Purirun. Although her appearance changes when she transforms into a Precure, it's easy to imagine how Purirun would speak as an older sister. Seeing her move further stimulated my imagination. I began to think that maybe it's okay to show her more innocent and cute side than I had thought, and I felt like I could balance coolness and cuteness, so I'm having a lot of fun doing it. When she first transformed, she had lost her memories of Hanamichi Town after meeting Uta, and she was driven only by her desire to protect the Cure Idols, and she acted sharply and coolly. Since her memories returned, viewers have told me that they feel a "Purirun-like" quality in her, but it also feels like she's become more Purirun-like.
Hanai's personality doesn't change even when she transforms. Meloron is knowledgeable and also has a tendency to shift into an older sister role. Her feelings towards Neetama haven't changed at all; to Meloron, Neetama is her light, her sun, and she wants to be with her forever. The only thing that has changed since she transformed is her voice. As the story progresses, she opens up to everyone, develops a sense of camaraderie, and changes, and Meloron is able to confidently say that "the five of us are friends." There has been a change in that regard.
Nanjo-san says Meloron "Hey, sweetie," but I think Meloron is the real big sister. Purirun is like a mass of light, and I try not to let any evil thoughts or my cunning feelings get in the way. It's fun! It's delicious! That's how I feel (laughs).
I like how Hanai-san eats a lot.
Nanjo-san is a big foodie, so I want to live like Purirun (laughs).
◇ Misato Matsuoka will lead the way!
--What do you feel is unique to the movie version?
Nanjo-san, the sense of scale is huge. Visually, the scale of the islands, the ocean, the starry sky, etc. is large, and it will be impressive to watch on a big screen. The story is also large in scale, and there is a lot to see, such as co-starring with "Wonderful PreCure!(Wanpuri)" and "Soaring Sky! Pretty Cure(Hiropuri)".
Hanai: Since this is the "Universe No. 1" idol festival, everyone's live performances are also a big attraction.
Nanjo: Up until now, Meloron and Uta haven't acted together much, so the scenes in the movie where they interacted with each other were both nice and sad, as it felt like she was separating from her older sister... (laughs). I'm actually happy that Meloron's original kindness has now been directed towards people other than Purirun. For me, I also felt like, "Oh my! You've grown up!"
- Were you able to record with the cast of "Wanpuri" and "Hiropuri"?
Hanai-san made it! Everyone's backs look so big and cool. Amazing!
Nanjo-san is so reliable. I was really moved by her entrance scene. I think I'll cry if I see it in the theater. Each group has a different color, "Hiropuri" is cool, "Wanpuri" is warm and fuzzy, and we're described as "cheerful". I don't think I'm very cheerful though (laughs).
--What is the combination of the five members of Kimipuri?
Nanjo-san and Misato-chan (Misato Matsuoka, who plays Cure Idol/Sakura Uta) are the pillars of the group, and they're so solid that they can deliver their lines in perfect harmony. They really lead the group. They really give off the feeling of being the leader, and that's what brings the five of us together. People who notice things like microphone work also step in to help.
Hanai-san's microphone is often next to Neetama, but when it's not her, she gets nervous.
I understand Nanjo-san ! Of course, being a professional means it's fine to use a separate microphone, but it's still a relief to be next to him. From the very beginning, our lines were perfectly synchronized and we were in sync! I was so happy, but recently I've been thinking too much about it and it's sometimes not working out. Is it bad to be too conscious of it?
That's right, Hanai-san (laughs).
◇Precure is a special existence
-- "Pretty Cure" is very popular among children. Do you find the support of children to be a source of strength?
I went to Nanjo-san's debut concert for Zucchin Kiss, and when I saw the children dancing, I thought, "It's so precious!" The children's "Do your best!" was 100% pure. I want to perform Purirun with a high level of purity, but seeing the genuine, sparkling cheering right in front of me made me sparkle too, and I was deeply moved.
Hanai: I've been watching PreCure since I was little, and it holds a special place in my heart. Whenever I watch it, it reminds me of the feelings I had as a child, and activates my cells. I think PreCure has that kind of charm. I think those feelings will remain with the children even when they become adults, and I want them to remain as special memories.
After Nanjo-san took over, everyone on the "Wanpuri" team said, "It will go by in a flash," but time really does fly. The staff all have a strong love for PreCure, and they feel the weight of its history. Their passion was so great that I too fell in love with PreCure all at once. Since I started working on the series, I have felt that it has a truly magical charm.
Hanai: To me, PreCure is a hero, a special existence. They never fade, they are cool, and they are always on my side. The sparkle I felt when I was little will remain with me forever. The love I felt as a child has become a treasure in my life, and it's a miracle that I was able to come across this series. I want people all over the world to see it, and I want them to continue to be everyone's heroes.
