Actress Kyoko Yoshine attended the screening of Disney & Pixar's latest animated film, "Hoppers," (directed by Daniel Chong, released March 13th), held at the El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles on February 23rd (local time). Appearing on the green carpet inspired by the animal kingdom in a brown dress with a unique beaver-like design, Yoshine burst into tears, saying, "I'm overwhelmed with emotion" at her first world premiere.
"When I Became a Beaver" tells the story of Mabel, an animal-loving college student who learns that the forest she holds dear will be destroyed by a highway project. In order to protect this precious place, she uses secret technology to transform into the appearance of a beaver and devises a plan to protect the animals and the forest.
In the Japanese version, actress Kyoko Yoshine will play Mabel, Kote Shinya will play the king of the beavers, King George, while Miyata Toshiya from the popular group Kis-My-Ft2 will voice Loaf, a soothing beaver who is so laid-back he often gets eaten. Watanabe Atsuro will voice Mayor Jerry, the human who threatens the beaver forest.
Yoshine, who has now joined the ranks of Pixar voice actors, expressed her joy by saying, "The recording was so much fun and I was excited just for that, but coming all the way to Los Angeles and being able to walk through such a wonderful place is like a dream and I'm so overwhelmed."
Producer Nicole Paradis Grindle said of the film, which was made with the cooperation of beaver experts, "Beavers are heroes of the forest. They create a beneficial environment for all the animals and plants that live there. That was important to our story. The message is that we should all create a better environment for others in this world." She also sent a message to Japanese fans, saying, "I think it's really important to see this film in the cinema, because it's so much more fun to watch it with other people on the big screen. So please go see it in the cinema!"
◇Meeting between the Japanese and American actors playing Mabel
This time, the Japanese and American voice actors for Mabel also met face to face. Piper Curda, who voiced Mabel in the original version, and Yoshine are the same age, born in 1997, and they immediately hit it off and became good friends the moment they met. Curda spoke about Mabel's appeal, saying, "If there's something Mabel wants, she goes straight for it and doesn't let anyone get in her way. That's really inspiring, and while I was acting, I felt like I wanted to be even more like that. I hope that people who watch the movie will be inspired by Mabel. And I think it's really wonderful that I was able to play such a character," and Yoshine agreed with a smile.
When asked what animal she would like to be if she could enter the animal world, Piper Curda replied, "My favorite animal is a bear, so I think I would probably be a bear. I love sleeping, so I would love to be a bear and find out what hibernation is like." She then shared a message for her Japanese fans, saying, "Everyone in Japan, please watch the movie. I hope you like not only the character of Mabel, but also her voice, because Kyoko's acting is truly amazing! I would also be happy if you praise Kyoko's acting!"
When they met again on the green carpet, Director Chung said, "I heard it's your birthday soon, so I brought a surprise present for you," and presented Yoshine with a hand-drawn postcard featuring Mabel and the animals that appear in the film, as well as a Mabel stuffed toy. The director said, "It's not an easy role. Mabel has to do many things, like laugh, get angry, cry, and scream. She has to be strong and she has to fight. At the same time, she has to have a broad heart and passion. It's really difficult to do all of that. So, thank you so much for taking on this role," to which Yoshine thanked him, holding back tears, saying, "It really feels like a dream, I feel like I'm going to cry."
She also met Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter. When Docter asked Yoshine, "What was it like participating in this project?", she replied, "I couldn't contain my excitement, and it was over in a flash!" Docter then said, "Mabel is a character who shouts a lot, but wasn't that unpleasant? Some actresses don't like being made to shout a lot..." to which Yoshine replied with a smile, "I didn't hate it at all, and I had a lot of fun acting! Plus, it was so much fun to be able to express my emotions as Beaver!"
After the premiere screening, Yoshine emerged from the venue, overwhelmed with emotion and unable to stop crying. "It was my first time seeing a film overseas, so when I saw them laughing here, or when the applause broke out during the credits, everything was new to me and I couldn't stop crying... Ever since I got the role of Mabel, it's felt like a dream, and tonight is truly a dreamlike night. Ever since I was little, I've been inspired and inspired by so many Pixar films, and my whole life has been just watching them, but to think that I've been allowed to be a part of such a wonderful film is so moving, I'm truly moved. I never thought the director would even celebrate my birthday with me, and that a night like this would come in my life... I'm truly overwhelmed," she said, deeply moved.
