Interview with Aki Toyosaki!　More than just a battle of beautiful girls; why the TV anime "Ange Vierge" is so inspiring!

Set on the blue world of "Earth," which is connected to the four worlds of black, red, white, and green, "Ange Vierge" depicts "progress," girls who have awakened to their special ability "Exceed," and "alpha drivers," beings who draw out that ability, fighting to save the world. The TV anime version is not only cute, but also has a story that focuses on human relationships, which is one of the major attractions of this work.
One of the most moving episodes was the clash between the naive angel Elle and her one-winged best friend Remiel in episodes 6 and 7. Aoi Toyosaki, who plays Elle, talked to us about the character of Elle and the episode with Remiel, played by Aoi Yuki, before the climax of the anime!


Elle is an angelic girl who is loved by everyone!


─ ─ What do you think of the TV anime version of "Ange Vierge"?

Toyosaki: There are many different types of girls in the anime, and it looks very cute on the outside, but I felt that it actually depicts the deepest parts of human nature, and that it deals with raw, negative emotions. I think it is a work that will leave a mark on the hearts of those who see it, as it deals with the dark side of the heart that cannot be imagined from the beautiful pictures.

─ ─ Sometimes, the story develops in such a way that it cuts into the weak points of human beings.

Toyosaki: There were quite a few times when I was asked to deliver heart-wrenching lines, so I made a conscious effort to convey them persuasively. I enjoyed the recording sessions very much in the sense that I was able to open up a wide range of fun and cheerful parts and negative parts, which allowed me to draw out various aspects of the character.

─ ─ What was your first impression of Elle, the character you play?

Toyosaki: A girl like a puppy. She is loved by everyone, and she is really straightforward, with no two sides of the same coin. When she introduces herself, she says "Angel of the Red World! but I really thought she was like an angel.

───Is there anything you were conscious of in order to create that kind of image?

Toyosaki: I tried to make the girls like me. In the smartphone version of the app game, there were some interactions that had a slight romantic element, so I was a little conscious of the male audience. But since most of the characters in the anime are girls, I felt that the most important thing for Erl to do was to blend in without being obnoxious.

I think it makes a difference who she interacts with.

Toyosaki: Erlle is equal to everyone and can basically get along with anyone, but she can change her position depending on who the other person is. I think she has the ability to easily get into places that are comfortable and pleasant for others, and I played her while thinking that this is the reason for her charm and why she has so many friends.

─ Did that impression change as the story progressed?

Toyosaki: Well, I think I may have climbed the ladder of adulthood through my battles with Remiel, who has fallen into the darkness. Remiel accuses her of being a liar who is full of pretty words, and Elle herself is shocked for the first time when she says, "I thought we were friends, but the other person didn't think we were friends. Up until then, she had been trying to calm everyone's moods and to have fun anyway, but I feel that this episode made her think about what it means to be a friend and what it means to care for others. If you really care about someone, there are times when you have to tell them clearly without being afraid that they will hate you. ...... Learning about relationships that are not just pretty words and taking it a step further, Elle has become a little stronger.


I knew that Ao-chan would hurt her well, so I played her with peace of mind.


───There was a scene in episode 6 where you confront Remiel who has fallen into darkness, what did you talk about with Aoi Yuuki who plays Remiel?

Toyosaki: I really enjoyed playing that scene!　Ao-chan (Aoi Yuuki) has played my partner in another film, and we have had many opportunities to work together. In episode 6, Erl could only deny what she was told, but I wondered which of Remiel's words hurt her the most. Remiel and Ao-chan discussed many things, such as which words of Remiel hurt her the most and where Remiel was trying to express her feelings to Elle most. Unlike battles fought with force, in the case of Elle and Remiel, it was a mental attack, wasn't it? I really took Remiel's words to heart, and every word I said hurt her, so it's tough to look back on it now. ...... At the end of episode 6, Remiel said to me, "How envious I am," and Elle cried and we continued to episode 7. We were all worried about how they would make up. I'm glad things were eventually restored to normal (laughs).

──We were told by those around us that they were "out of touch," right?

Toyosaki: Elle's Exceed is something that she can use with the help of her friends, so I think the fact that she couldn't use the Exceed was the most convincing thing for her. Her belief that "even if Remiel-chan had fallen into darkness, as long as I could use her power, Remiel-chan would still be my friend" was shattered. Elle can use everyone's power, but it is a double-edged sword because if she makes a mistake, she will become a child with no fighting ability at all.

──What was the thought behind the tears at the end of episode 6?

Toyosaki: Even though she was desperately replying "No," to Remiel's words, I don't think she had thought deeply about what a true friend is at the stage of episode 6, and was just saying "No" as a wish without any basis. So when he actually said, "Even if you like him, I don't like him," I think he hit a sore spot. Rather than feelings toward Remiel, I was made painfully aware of my own helplessness and had no choice but to cry because I felt unwilling to do anything. She has always been a girl who does not have negative feelings toward others, so I felt that her tears were because she knew how bad she was.

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