Voice actress Yuri Komagata becomes a solo singer. I want to fulfill the mission given to me by Pretty Cure!

The opening theme "SHINE! Kira Kira Kira Pretty Cure A La Mode" is sung by voice actress and singer Yuri Komagata. In the game "THE iDOLM@STER Million Live! and has sung several character songs. How do you feel now that you have been chosen to sing the theme song for "Pretty Cure"?　And what are your future goals as a singer?　We asked her to tell us all about her career to date.

I sang the song so that the ☆ and ♥ (heart) in the lyrics would be conveyed.

───What led you to sing the opening of "Kira Kira Pretty Cure Alamode"?

Komagata: It was an audition. I was very happy just to have the chance. The theme song for the previous "Pretty Cure" series was the assigned song, and I practiced it over and over again. It was a very difficult song, and I almost gave up during the audition, so when I passed, I felt that all the practice was worth it!

─ Was the audition only singing?

Komagata: It consisted of singing and an interview. It was not a very formal audition, just a relaxed "Do you like singing? It was a very relaxed audition.

─ Did you actually watch "Pretty Cure"?

Komagata: "Pretty Cure" started just as I was graduating from the anime for girls that I had watched as a child, so I did not watch the series in real time at the beginning. But I always liked the anime, so I watched it in one sitting on an online streaming service. I was more familiar with the "Pretty Cure" songs; my friends around me sang them at karaoke, I liked to listen to them, and many of the songs I knew from the beginning. I was reminded during the audition that I had been exposed to "Pretty Cure" for a long time.

───The concept of "Pretty Cure" changes with each series, but what do you think of "Kira Kira Kira Pretty Cure A La Mode" this time?

Komagata: I think this series has two concepts, sweets and animals, which give it a new appeal. I think this is the first "Pretty Cure" series to have costumes with such a clear animal motif.

I think this is the first time we've seen costumes with such a clear animal motif in a "Pretty Cure" series. How was the recording of "Kira Kira Kira Pretty Cure A La Mode"?

Komagata: We had a pre-production recording session before the actual recording, where all the producers, lyricists, composers, and other staff members gathered to discuss the direction of the singing, how to fit the lyrics, English pronunciation, and where to put the chorus. So the performance went smoothly. I sang in a way that was fun to listen to, with a bouncy, upbeat feel.

─ I think the vocals were actually very sparkling.

Komagata Thank you very much!　There is a difference between when I am talking in general and when I am singing an anime song, and people I know who are not familiar with anime are sometimes surprised and ask, "Are you really singing this song? But this time, I sang the song in a "Pretty Cure" style, so the tension was high, and I think the gap between me and my usual self came out more.

─ So you sang very close to the world of "Pretty Cure"?

Komagata: Yes. It is a song under Yuri Komagata's solo name, but I was much more aware that it was the theme song for "Pretty Cure. I sang the song not to show my own color, but to convey the charm of "Kira Kira Pretty Cure A La Mode" as much as possible.

───The lyrics are cute, just like "Pretty Cure".

Komagata: They are cute!　And there are lots of names of sweets in the song, like "choux creme" and "chiffon. The lyrics were written by Shoko Omori, who was particular about symbols such as ☆ and ♥ (heart), and they are also very cute to look at.

───There is a part of the lyrics where there are three stars in a row, but the size of each star is different.

Komagata: That's right. So, if you listen to the song while looking at the lyrics card, I think you will get a better understanding of the song.

─ Were you conscious of the ☆ and ♥ (heart) when you sang?

Komagata: The symbols made it easier for me to imagine how I should sing the song with this kind of expression.　For the "♥♥(heart)" part, I wanted to make it more lovely than the usual "kyunku" because of the ♥ (heart). I also paid special attention to the part where I sing the name of the work, "Kira Kira Kira Pretty Cure A La Mode".

─ You sing "Pretty Cure" and "A La Mode" followed by the "a" sound, right?

Komagata: That's right. That's why I made sure that the pronunciation of "Pretty Cure" sounded right.