The TV anime "Yani Neko," based on the manga by Nyannyan Factory currently serialized in "Young Magazine" (Kodansha), will begin airing on TOKYO MX and BS11 every Thursday at 12:30 AM starting July 2nd. The original manga depicts the daily life of "the most worthless cat." In anticipation of the broadcast, Ayaka Shimizu, who plays Kansai Neko, spoke about behind-the-scenes details of the recording.
--What were your feelings when you found out you were cast?
I remember thinking it was a present from Santa Claus because I received the notification that I had passed the audition on Christmas Day. I was so happy because I thought it would be really fun to play this role. Now that I had the part, I was determined to give it my all and was really looking forward to the first recording session.
--What are your impressions of the work?
When I read the original manga before auditioning, the more I read, the more I wondered, "Can this really be broadcast?" The determination of the staff who decided to turn this work into an anime is amazing...! There are a lot of nasty characters, but each one has their own cuteness, and somehow you can't hate them, which is great.
--What is the appeal of Kansai cats?
He seems somewhat normal among them, but he's not normal at all. When he drinks, he becomes incredibly troublesome, he gets heartbroken and cries, he's a completely different person from his university self, and yet he's surprisingly caring... Isn't that what makes him human? It's so relatable, and that's what's great about him.
--What influences have you received from Kansai Neko?
I learned the importance of having a strong will from Kansai, who keeps going despite his jokes falling flat and being ignored, believing that he is funny. Kansai is so cute.
--Which character is your favorite?
It's hard to choose because I like all the characters, but... I love Tatsuro-sensei, including Akechi (Riko)'s acting! He's a pretty sensible and nice guy, but when he's at his most perverted, he's so creepy and scary. His acting is great too! The balance is just perfect! I'm always trying to hold back my laughter during the actual performance.
--What are your thoughts on the recording?
It was amusing to see how everyone's sensitivity to harsher language became numb as the recording progressed. "This story is lighter than usual! In fact, it's kind of a nice story!" That was the kind of mood we were in, but then we'd suddenly snap back to reality and realize it wasn't lighter at all, there were smokers, drunkards and all sorts of other jerks, and we were using a ton of inappropriate words...
--What preparations did you make and what direction did you receive when preparing for the role?
I was given the direction, "Kansai thinks he's really funny!", so I made sure to keep that firmly in mind while acting. I think Kansai is all about being straightforward, spectacular, and completely failing.
--What aspects of the other cast members' performances impressed you the most?
I don't think I've ever seen another studio that goes to such lengths to record the sound of farts. Yuuko's dedication to her craft, insisting on getting the sound right ("No! That's not it...! Let me do it again!") was amazing... I really love it. I hope you'll pay close attention to every sound Yani makes.
--What was the most memorable thing that happened during the voice recording?
There's always laughter on set, and I genuinely enjoy going to the recording sessions for each episode! The main characters are great, of course, but the guest characters are also incredibly unique (laughs). Also, pay attention to the onomatopoeia. Please watch every detail!
--What was the most memorable scene you recorded?
In one episode, Kansai sings, and I sang with all my heart while feeling everyone's eyes on me. It was quite difficult to maintain the correct pitch, so I had to do several retakes, singing it over and over again. For several days after the recording, the song was constantly stuck in my head.
--Please give a message to those who are looking forward to the broadcast.
Before recording began, I thought, "Surely the anime will be a little more toned down than the original manga?" But that wasn't the case at all. Every episode is... a very powerful work! Please look forward to it!
