Continued from Interview (1): A new TV anime adaptation of Shinzawa Motoei's comedy manga "High School! Kimengumi," which was serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" (Shueisha) in the 1980s and also became a popular TV anime, will be broadcast on Fuji TV's anime slot "Noitamina" every Friday at 11:30 pm starting Getsuku. This will be the first new anime in about 39 years since the TV anime aired from 1985 to 1987, and the all-star cast of voice actors is also attracting attention. We spoke to Tomokazu Seki, who plays Ichidou Rei, Takeuchi Shunsuke, who plays Reikoshi Go, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, who plays Idese Kiyoshi, Kobayashi Chiaki, who plays Oma Jin, and Chiaki Kobayashi Kikunosuke Toya, who plays Monohoshi Dai, about their thoughts on the new anime, what goes on behind the scenes of recording, and the appeal of the Reiwa era's "Kimengumi."
◇Fun with no room for improvisation.
-What was the recording like?
Takeuchi-san , I feel like it's a really fun atmosphere. I look forward to every week. Seki-san is a leader who is trusted by the actors, so it's easy for us to work with him. There isn't much ad-lib, and just by moving forward with the work itself, it creates a harmonious atmosphere, so I feel like everyone is working cheerfully.
People say that this is a work in which Seki-san will do a lot of ad-lib, but because the work is so interesting, there's actually no room for him to interject.
Takeuchi: That's true. The dialogue and development are both much faster than in other works.
Seki-san , your ad-libs are interesting because you add a bit of non-seriousness to something serious. This production is non-serious to begin with (laughs). You really enjoy that. Also, there are a lot of cast members. The CO2 concentration in the studio skyrockets every time.
There are many moments when Toya-san has to hold back his laughter, and I often see Matsuoka-san hiding his face with the script.
Matsuoka- san, wait a minute, you too!
Don't try to put the blame on Kobayashi-san (laughs). However, there are surprisingly many serious scenes.
Takeuchi: That's right. Although it seems like a crazy story, this anime also has a student coming-of-age drama feel to it.
◇The amazing cast of Kimengumi
-What do you feel are the charms of each other while working together as Kimengumi?
Seki: To begin with, everyone is kind and has a great personality. I have the opportunity to talk with everyone in between recordings, but I'm quite shy and haven't had much time to talk to my juniors.
Is that so, Takeuchi-san ? (laughs)
Kobayashi-san, how many decades has it been since you last spoken? (laughs)
Seki-san , not really, that much. I have a junior character, so I'm good at talking with seniors, but I don't have much contact with juniors. It's been a while since I've had the chance to talk a lot with people my junior age, so that alone was really fun. It really felt like I was at school, and I loved this recording time.
Takeuchi: Throughout the recording, I can say without a doubt that Seki is amazing. He really is a leader. Also, personally, what really struck me from the first episode was Matsuoka's first words as Kiyoshi. I had no idea what kind of character he was, but with one word from Matsuoka, Izumo Kiyoshi's character suddenly came out. I thought, "He's just as you'd expect."
If Matsuoka-san says that, then I have no choice but to say something back.
Takeuchi-san, that sounds like you're fighting (laughs).
I thought Matsuoka- san and Takeuchi-kun were very versatile. I thought it was interesting that Go-kun is rough and intimidating, yet also cute. He's an amazing person.
Kobayashi-san , I think it's a really well-balanced set, with Seki-san as the leader and senior, Yoshitsugu-san as a senior, Shunsuke as my age, and Toya-kun as my junior. Today is the first interview with all five of us together, but it feels like we could do it for hours. I was reminded today that the atmosphere where we can talk candidly may also be what makes it easier to act.
Toya-san , you are all seriously my seniors, so when I'm recording, I look up to you and think how amazing you are, and it makes me want to work hard too. You're all so amazing.
I feel like Takeuchi- san and Toya-kun are naturally lovable people. They talk to all kinds of people and connect people. They have a gentleness similar to Dai.
Toya-san, it's because everyone is so kind.
◇A new anime that learns from the past and presents dialogue that is unique to the Reiwa era
--What are the highlights of the Reiwa era's "High School! Kimengumi"?
Seki-san always compares the original work with the old anime before recording, and new material has been incorporated. It retains the flavor of the previous work, but it also skillfully incorporates the things the current staff want to do and their sensibilities. It's a well-balanced remake, like learning from the past. There were parodies in the previous work, but in this one some have been changed to parodies of other things, and some have been deliberately left as parodies, which is fun.
Matsuoka: I think what makes Kimengumi the Reiwa era is the quality of the expression that can only be achieved now. The accessories are modern, and everyone has a smartphone. But the things from back then are also depicted properly, so I think you can watch it with a fresh perspective.
Takeuchi: The previous anime was a long-distance sprint, and the number of episodes was simply different. In that sense, the energy of this Reiwa Kimengumi is very strong. I think that's a point we can be very confident about. If the previous TV series felt like it was gradually becoming familiar to viewers in their living rooms, this time it's like opening the treasure chest and going "Wow!". Then when you close the treasure chest it's like "What was that just now?" In a good way, there are parts that can only be done now. Each episode is tightly condensed, and I feel like the energy is even higher.
Kobayashi: Speaking of which, back then it was broadcast in the evenings, right? So, there were a lot of expressions saying that it was aimed at Jump subscribers and their parents, but this time it will be broadcast in "Noitamina," a time slot that's just big enough for children to watch. There will be jokes about the Famicom and Super Famicom, as well as some current buzzwords, so people who watched it back then will be able to watch it with their kids. The range of parodies has also expanded, so I think it will be enjoyable for a wide range of people.
Toya: I feel that there are some lines that Dai-kun says that are only appropriate in the Reiwa era. There are also parts where the original lines have been rephrased, and because of that consideration, I feel like I can watch it with peace of mind. He's saying important things, but in a way that doesn't hurt anyone.
Kobayashi-san has an excellent sense of humor. He leaves out what he wants to convey, but not more than necessary.
Toya-san: I think that even people who have known it for a long time will be able to enjoy it.
The new "High School! Kimengumi" is a perfect blend of Showa nostalgia and Reiwa newness. Be sure to check out the Reiwa Kimengumi, portrayed by a stellar cast of voice actors. (Shiroinu/MANTANWEB)
