The TV anime series "As an My Status As an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's(My Status As an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's)," based on the light novel by Akai Matsuri from Overlap Bunko, will begin airing on TV Tokyo and other channels starting October 6th. The story follows high school student Oda Akira, who is summoned to another world along with his classmates. He was supposed to have gained the powers of a mediocre assassin due to his low profile, but his stats easily surpass those of a hero, the most powerful profession. After being falsely accused, Akira takes refuge in the depths of a labyrinth, where he meets a beautiful elf named Amelia, and begins to become a true assassin. The series is also attracting attention for being directed by Nobuyoshi Habara, known for works such as "Fafner in the Fafner in the Azure" and "Space Battleship Yamato 2202: Warriors of Love." We spoke with Takeo Otsuka, who plays Akira, and Saku Mizuno, who plays Amelia, about the recording session.
◇Are Akira and Amelia similar?
-What is your impression of the work?
Looking at the title alone, I thought it would be about an invincible character , but various conspiracies are swirling from the beginning, and Akira is not the strongest. He goes through various experiences, including painful ones, and gradually becomes stronger as he stands up to them. The story is more expansive than I imagined from the title. Maybe the title is a bit misleading (lol).
Many of Mizuno's other-worldly transport stories have a hero as the protagonist, and some have an assassin as the villain, so I was surprised to see an assassin in this one. Akira has a cool, dark air about him, and at first I wondered if he didn't seem like much of a protagonist, but the more I read, the more I saw his kindness, and I was drawn to him. It's a setting I haven't seen much of before, and it's really interesting.
--I heard that you like stories set in other worlds.
Mizuno: That's true. I like stories about revenge in another world and read them often. I also like serious stories, and I felt that there were many parts of "My Status As an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's" that I could empathize with.
Otsuka-san: I don't know enough about the subject matter to analyze what category "My Status As an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's" falls into, but both the original and the comic book adaptation are wonderful, and the anime has a different atmosphere, which I think is one of the interesting aspects of media mix.
-What is your impression of the character?
Otsuka-san: Akira is a little more philosophical than his peers, but he's also excited about being transported to another world and being given status and a position, and we see him as a boy who longs for this kind of world. He generally doesn't actively seek out interactions with people, so he can be hard to approach, but he also has a kind side. He's not good at expressing his emotions, but he also has a straightforward side, and I wanted to express that occasionally in a calm atmosphere. Perhaps it was because he lived a life without much interaction with others that he unconsciously felt he could become a different person. When you think about it, being transported to another world is scary, but also a little exciting. I understand that feeling. And yet he adapts quickly. He's so calm. I think his ability to look at things objectively is also a distinctive feature of his.
Mizuno: My first impression of Amelia was that she was mysterious, cool, and yet lovely, with many different elements. She gives off a strong cool impression, but as the story progresses, it becomes clear that she's not cool at all, and is rather childish. Another point is that her feelings towards Akira are completely different from her feelings towards other people. Is that similar to Akira? Akira doesn't remember the names of his classmates, but he really does care for the people he cares about.
--When he first appears, he seems like a difficult character to grasp.
Mizuno-san doesn't even know why he's there. I wanted the audience to feel that he must be harboring some darkness, so I tried to keep that in mind as I performed the role.
◇Amelia seems like she'll get attached to you, but she's not.
-What was important to you when playing Akira?
Otsuka-san was conscious of the sense of distance. Akira is initially wary of Saran, the commander of the Knights of the Kingdom of Leitis, to whom he is summoned, but he opens up to her and changes. Akira has a sense of responsibility towards his classmates, so he doesn't want to put them in danger, and so he keeps a distance from them. There are times when his emotions are not clearly expressed, but I tried to act in a way that wouldn't be sloppy.
--He's a cool character, but it seemed like he had a lot of lines, including monologues.
Otsuka's monologues give us a sense of his thoughts, but we tried to avoid being too explanatory. At the same time, we tried to make it easy for the viewer to understand.
-What about Amelia?
Mizuno-san's feelings for Akira are special, so that was the thing I focused on the most. Amelia is attracted to Akira and changes. She changes even more from there, so I struggled while playing the role to figure out what level of love for Akira I should express. She's like a cat. She seems like she'll get attached to you, but she's not (laughs).
-What did you feel while working together?
I have worked with Otsuka-san before, but this was the first time we had a main exchange like this.
Mizuno- san is perfect for Akira! He exudes a slightly dark vibe, but also shows a gentle side, and the battle scenes are powerful. His technique is amazing! I always admire his back.
Thank you , Otsuka-san . Amelia is innocent, but also a little vulnerable, and I felt like I couldn't just leave her alone. The gradation of Amelia's gradual change is wonderful, and I felt a sense of affection as we interacted, which was really satisfying. It went smoothly and was fun.
Thank you Mizuno-san . I'm so happy! Please give me more (laughs).
I also like Otsuka-san's comedy scenes (laughs). They're funny and cute.
Mizuno: At first, I thought Amelia had a younger sister-like personality, but gradually I began to see her maternal side.
◇Everyone facing the same direction
--What did you talk about with Director Habara?
I had the opportunity to talk to Otsuka-san during breaks in recording and during meals, and it's the same with sound director Morishita Hiroto-san and series composer Okada Hirona-san, but they're a really great team. It really felt like we were all making it together. Director Habara told me, "It's perfect!", so I was able to act freely.
Mizuno-san praised me and helped me improve (laughs). The scene in episode 2 where Amelia appears was also in the audition script, and when Director Habara heard the lines he thought they were perfect. I wanted to bring out the atmosphere of the audition in the actual performance, so I re-recorded it several times.
We all recorded together with Otsuka-san , and it went really smoothly.
Mizuno-san, that was quick.
Otsuka: I think that shows how much everyone was working towards the same goal.
-Finally, please give a message to those who are looking forward to the broadcast.
The opening scene by Otsuka- san is a highlight, and it starts with you wondering, "What is this all about?" Episodes 1 and 2 are full of rapid-fire developments, and I think there will be some surprises. Episodes 1 and 2 also contain important scenes that will be connected to the subsequent developments, so if you remember the foreshadowing here, I think you'll find the rest of the story even more enjoyable.
Mizuno: The visuals are incredibly realistic. The buildings and spaces were very particular, and the acting had to be realistic as well. I think it's precisely because it's so realistic that viewers can feel immersed in the world of the film. I hope you'll pay attention to that.
