A Witch's Life in Mongol:Akira Sekine:"My heart is filled with emotion" - Behind-the-scenes stories of voice recording shared with Ami Koshimizu, Jun Saito, Hiro Shimono, and Ryota Suzuki - The visual beauty of Science SARU

The world premiere screening of the TV anime " A Witch's Life in Mongol, " based on the manga by Tomato Soup, which was also selected as the No. 1 female manga in " Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2023" (Takarajimasha), was held on June 13th at United Cinemas Aqua City Odaiba (Minato-ku, Tokyo). Episodes 1-3 were screened for the first time in the world, and the voice actors for the anime, including Akira Sekine(Sitara), Ami Koshimizu(Dregene), Jun Saito(Muhammad), Hiro Shimono(Ogedai), and Ryota Suzuki(Trui), appeared on stage to talk about the appeal of the work and behind-the-scenes stories from the voice recording.

◇ To Jun Saito: "Ah! It's young master Muhammad!"

"A Witch's Life in Mongol " is a manga set in 13th-century Mongolia, serialized on Akita Shoten's manga website "Souffle". The story follows Shitara, a former slave girl who becomes a prisoner of the Mongol Empire, and her encounter with Dregene, the sixth wife of the Mongol Emperor, who also harbors complex feelings towards the Mongol Empire. Together, they use their wits to shake up the empire. The anime is directed by Naoko Yamada , known for "The Tale A Silent Voice The Heike Story ," "A Silent Voice," and " The Colors Within ," and directed by Abel Gongora, known for " Dandadan" Season 2. Kenichi Yoshida, known for "Eureka Seven," "OVERMAN King Gainer," and "The Orbital Children," is in charge of character design and chief animation. It is produced by Science SARU, known for "Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!", "The Heike Story," and "Dandadan." It will air on TV Asahi's anime block "IMAnimation" from 11 PM on July 4th.

Sekine commented, "The recording studio was truly overflowing with the desire of all the cast and staff to make this film the best it could be, so when I saw the finished video, I was filled with emotion. The cute, stylized artwork is interspersed with realistic depictions, and that's why it feels so raw and heartbreaking. I was simply overwhelmed with emotion."

Koshimizu said, "It's drawn in a picture book style, soft and warm, but because of that warmth, you can accept the serious developments that follow, and that unique balance is amazing," while Shimono said, "The visuals were so amazing that we felt we had to work hard to live up to the quality of the drawings," indicating that they were overwhelmed by the beauty of the visuals.

Sekine, who plays Sitara, spoke excitedly about her feelings when she was cast, saying, "I was really happy." She continued, "She's a character with many different sides, including hidden feelings, so there are delicate nuances to consider. She's a really rewarding character to play, and I thought it would be a very enjoyable experience as an actress."

Saito, who plays Muhammad, is trying his hand at voice acting in a TV anime for the first time, and he said with humility, "Among all the veteran voice actors, I was anxious and nervous, thinking, 'Huh? Why me...?' I also felt that the range of my vocal expression is incredibly narrow." Shimono, on the other hand, gave his seal of approval, saying, "The conversation between Sitara and Muhammad was gentle and sparkling, which was great," and Sekine, "When I saw the finished animation, I was filled with the thought, 'Ah! That's young master Muhammad!'"

When Suzuki praised his voice, saying it was "refined and intelligent," Saito responded with a naive "Please stop! It's embarrassing! Please move on to the next question!" Shimono reflected, "I realize now that I've become an old man. What was that sparkling feeling? I'm just an old man who loves to chat."

◇A work that is interesting even just to listen to.

When asked about the visual expression created by Science SARU, Shimono commented, "Even in the state where the images were uncolored for voice recording, I had a feeling that it would turn out to be a beautiful anime. I was actually drawn in from the opening. Not only are the images and art beautiful, but the music and sound effects used are also a perfect fit for the world of the work, and I thought it was an interesting work just to listen to."

Suzuki revealed the pressure she felt, saying, "The buildings have complex structures that are different from those of today, so expressing them in a picture-book style is extremely difficult and requires skill. I wondered if I could avoid disrupting the worldview when my voice was added to such a visually stunning work."

Finally, Suzuki said, "The stories of Mongolia that we learn in textbooks and classes tend to focus on battles, but this film depicts the schemes and strategies of the wives waiting for their husbands who have gone off to war, and it really resonated with me that knowledge and wisdom are assets." Shimono expressed his hopes, saying, "I hope you will enjoy the film to the end, experiencing the wonderful visuals, the wonderful music, and everything else with all your senses while listening to the dialogue where each character's intentions are at work." Saito appealed to the audience, saying, "I hope you will take the emotions you felt today home with you and enjoy the rest of the story. Through this work, I too have come to realize that wisdom is something that elevates you."

Koshimizu said, "What will you feel and how will you interpret this work? I think everyone will have different thoughts, but I hope you will cherish what you thought of this work. I hope you will take your own interpretation to heart and make it a treasure in your heart." Sekine added, "Many fascinating characters will appear in the future. There are also customs that give a sense of Mongolia throughout the series, so if you look into anything that catches your eye, I think you will gain new knowledge and enjoyment, just like Sitara in the story. The opening and ending themes are also wonderful, but I think you will feel something even more if you look at the lyrics and illustrations after watching the anime all the way to the final episode. Please watch until the very end."