Model and actress Rina Arashi voiced Chizuru, the girl the protagonist meets in the animated film "Paris ni Saku Etoile" (directed by Goro Taniguchi), which premiered on March 13th. This was Arashi's first time voicing a character in an anime. Because Chizuru wields a naginata (a type of Japanese pole weapon) in the film, Arashi actually practiced her voice by swinging a naginata. Reflecting on this new challenge, she said, "I learned so much."
◇I was disappointed because I didn't do well on the first day.
"Paris ni Saku Etoile" is an original work by director Taniguchi, known for the anime series "Code Geass" and "ONE PIECE FILM RED." Set in Paris in the early 20th century, it tells the story of two Japanese girls who, despite the difficult times, refuse to give up on reaching for the stars (étoile). Fujiko, who dreams of becoming a painter, and Chizuru, who is drawn to ballet, meet by chance in Yokohama and, as if guided by fate, reunite in Paris. The story follows the two girls as they pursue their dreams and struggle...
Arashi himself, upon seeing the finished film, said, "I was deeply moved by Fujiko and Chizuru's determination to pursue their dreams, and I was truly touched to the point of tears."
When playing Chizuru, a master of naginata (Japanese halberd) who secretly harbors a longing for ballet, the most difficult part was the naginata scenes.
"I had trouble with the breathing and vocalizations required when thrusting with a naginata because I have no experience in martial arts. Just projecting the sound from my diaphragm wasn't enough, and I struggled a lot. But the director instructed the staff to prepare actual naginata and wooden swords for the recording. The sound you make when you swing it forcefully and then stop it is something you can't really imagine, and there are ways of making that sound that you can only understand by actually doing it, so I practiced swinging them during breaks to practice my vocalizations."
I also keenly felt that I still have a long way to go.
"The way you project your voice is different when you're standing and moving around compared to when you're sitting and talking, right? I hadn't really thought about those things before, so I learned a lot, and the director's guidance was really helpful. Also, in terms of vocalization, it was difficult to figure out how to keep the ends of my words from fading out and how to convey emotion at the same time."
In regular video productions, it's easier to convey emotions because there's movement. On the other hand, this time it's all voice-only expression. "I had to make sure the emotions would be conveyed to the viewers, so it took quite a while to get the hang of that," she reveals.
"On the first day, I was frustrated because I couldn't do well. But the director was really kind and gradually helped me gain confidence. Because it was my first time, there were things I didn't know, and I should have looked them up myself, but the director taught me everything, saying, 'In this situation, you say it like this.' That's how I managed to get through it."
◇I've come to like my own voice a little more.
Arashi members confessed that, "To be honest, I didn't really like my own voice that much."
"I've often admired other people's voices, and when I've heard my own recorded voice, it's been completely different from what I expected, which has been quite a shock. I've been like, 'Huh, is this what I sound like?' So I was a bit anxious this time, but perhaps because of the role of Chizuru, I was using a different vocal technique than usual, and when I saw the finished product, I didn't mind it at all, and I think I've come to like my own voice a little more."
Having experienced voice acting for anime, I've come to realize some things I hadn't noticed before.
"In regular acting, I use myself, or rather, my very being, to play a role, so when I watch the finished product, I inevitably feel a sense of 'myself' in it. In that sense, with anime, because my appearance is not shown at all, it's incredibly refreshing to be able to become someone else completely. Even though the recording period was short, I felt like I was able to really get into the role, and I thought that was very appealing."
Furthermore, Arashi, with sparkling eyes, said, "I really felt the amazing talent of voice actors, and it was moving to see what it means to breathe life into a character." He also revealed some new insights.
"Being able to do voice acting for anime has broadened my acting range a bit, and I've become more confident in things like monologues. That's why now I want to do movies, dramas, and of course, anime. Now that one of my dreams of becoming a voice actor has come true, I feel like I've become more ambitious in a good way. I hope to be able to do performances that make more and more viewers think, 'This person might actually exist,' and I'm really eager to challenge myself with all sorts of different projects."
