"Super Kaguyahime!", an original feature-length anime produced by Studio Colorido, known for the anime "Penguin Highway," and Studio Chromat, led by director Seigo Yamashita, is being released worldwide exclusively as a Netflix film. This "music anime" tells the story of the classic "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter," and features music from a stellar cast of Vocaloid producers, including ryo (Supercell), known for his hit song "Melt." The story depicts a live stage in the virtual world of "Tsukuyomi," filled with dreams and hope, and the bonds between girls connected by "song." We spoke to voice actresses Yuko Natsuyoshi, who plays Kaguya, a girl who comes from the moon, and Anna Nagase, who plays Sakyo Saiba, a 17-year-old high school girl who meets Kaguya one day, about their thoughts on the project and behind-the-scenes footage from the recording.
◇Princess Kaguya x Virtual Space: Exciting! Acting naturally
--What did you think of the worldview of this work, in which Kaguya, who comes from the moon, becomes a streaming live streamer (liver) who sings and dances in a virtual space?
Natsuyoshi: When I first received the materials, I thought it was a really beautiful piece of work, with its art combining a virtual space with the Japanese world. At the same time, the real world in which Kaguya and Iyaha spend their days is beautifully depicted, but it has a familiar atmosphere to it, and I thought it was a unique piece that combined the two so well. I was really drawn to it, and auditioned with the feeling that I absolutely wanted to be in it.
Nagase: I was surprised to see the themes of Princess Kaguya, virtual space, and streaming idols all being dealt with at the same time, and it felt really futuristic, so I was excited. It's a mix of new, near-future things and warm, familiar things, and I thought it was a really fun piece.
-What is your impression of the character you play?
When I saw Natsuyoshi- san's Kaguya, that voice didn't really come to mind. She's incredibly free-spirited and messes around with Iyaha, but at the same time, she has a cool-headed way of looking at things, and is able to just accept things. Kaguya sings a lot of songs in the series, but the reality is that if I get too involved in the role, it can be difficult to sing in the scenes, so at the audition stage, I wanted to find a line that would allow me to express my emotions while singing, and one that would allow me to act at the same time. I thought that if I sang and realized, "Oh, I changed it here," then it wouldn't be Kaguya anymore, so I tried to do it naturally.
--Have you always liked Vocaloid songs?
I love Natsuyoshi-san . I've listened to a lot of ryo (Supercell)'s songs, and I've always loved 40mP's songs, and when I was feeling down I'd sing various classics like "Torinoko City" at karaoke and vaguely think, "I wish I could be a voice actor." So, it's an honor to be able to appear in a work that has such great people involved, but it still doesn't really feel real... well, maybe it does because I've sung so much (laughs). I feel happy.
-Nagase-san, what is your impression of Ayaha?
Nagase-san's Ayaha has a tendency to suppress what she wants to do by watching the eyes and expressions of others, and I felt a strong affinity with her. During the audition, I had the opportunity to discuss with the director and sound director, and we carefully worked out questions such as, for example, does she hate her mother? Or is it because she loves her that she blurts out words knowing that she is restricting her movements? I think I was able to empathize with Ayaha's negative image and feelings while performing the role. The director also said that because Ayaha is a character that acts as a spokesperson for the viewers, it would be better to act naturally rather than overly elaborate.
◇Kaguya never does the same thing again. Iroha gradually changes.
-What did you keep in mind while acting?
Natsuyoshi : There's a scene where Kaguya hums while throwing a tantrum at Iyaha, and there were many parts where I was left to my own devices. For that scene, I thought about what I would do at home and rummaged through my drawers. Kaguya never does the same thing, so she never hums the same tune twice, and I think she's the kind of girl who can turn the fun she has at the time into a song. While capturing the atmosphere of the scene, I used my imagination to show a different Kaguya in each one. There was also a scene that was like an homage to the nostalgic internet, and I had to use my brain in all sorts of directions, hoping to convey Kaguya's acting while shocking people who lived on the internet at the time.
Nagase-san's Ayaha is a bit concerned about what others think of her, so she has a membrane around her heart. She always feels like she has to be on edge and not show her true feelings. However, as she spends time with Kaguya, that membrane gradually peels away, so I wanted to make a difference by speaking in a very familiar way. The director also wanted me to do that, so I took my time and recorded it carefully.
--Iroha changes gradually.
Nagase-san's transformation doesn't happen suddenly, but rather gradually spreads, like dropping paint into water. I've played a lot of roles where I had to switch quickly or change my mood with a single action, so that was a challenge and a difficult part. Also, there's a scene where Iyaha gargles, and I actually gargled there. The director seemed to be particular about gargling.
Natsuyoshi, that's when Kaguya is shocked.
Nagase: I asked the director why he was so taken aback at that moment, and he said that he was captivated by the expression on Ayaha's face as she spoke of her resolve in the scene just before.
Natsuyoshi said that as a living creature, he just thought Iyaha was beautiful.
Because it was Nagase-san , the scenes before and after the gargling scene were important, and I struggled a lot with that because it was my first time gargling during a recording session.
Natsuyoshi: That's true for everyone (laughs).
To be continued in interview (2).
