Interview to Commemorate the Release of the Movie "BLAME! Part 3: "The highlight of the film is "Nice 'Hey! and "awesome beam"! Interview with Takahiro Sakurai (Kirii) and Mamoru Miyano (Sutezo)!

BLAME!" is the debut work by Tsutomu Nibei, a brilliant manga artist who has created a series of hard-hitting science fiction manga such as "Knights of Sidonia," which became a TV anime, and "Ningyo no Kuni," which is currently serialized in "Monthly Shonen Sirius" (Kodansha). Since its release 20 years ago in 1997, this work has attracted many readers and creators both in Japan and abroad, and is now being made into a movie, which will be screened for two weeks starting May 20, 2017.
The film will be produced by Polygon Pictures, a leading production company in the 3DCG animation industry that has produced the TV anime "Knights of Sidonia" and "Ajin".

To commemorate the release of "BLAME!", Akiba Research Institute conducted interviews with the original author, Tsutomu Nibe, director Seshita, deputy director Yoshihei, sound director Iwanami, and voice actors Takahiro Sakurai and Mamoru Miyano, who are also voice actors in the movie "BLAME!　In this third installment, we asked Takahiro Sakurai, who voices the main character Kirii, and Mamoru Miyano, who plays Sutetsuzo, the young leader of the "Denki Fishermen," to talk about the appeal of this film.
⇒Interviews commemorating the release of the film "BLAME! Tsutomu Nibe, the author of the original story, talks about the appeal of the movie version.
⇒ Interview with Tsutomu Nibe, author of the original manga, on the appeal of the movie version! 　Interview with Director Seshita, Deputy Director Yoshihei, and Sound Director Iwanami, key persons in the sound of "BLAME!

Too cool! Charm of the main character, Kirin

--First of all, please tell us about your impressions of "BLAME!

Sakurai: First of all, it is a work with a strong worldview by Tsutomu Nibei, and I felt that it is a royal work of science fiction. It is a work that is meticulously made, and it shows all of the attention to detail and attention to detail that the Japanese people have given to science fiction. Although it is a hard SF, it is not only about details, but also about human drama and warmth. But at the same time, it has a slightly cold touch and feel. ...... I thought it was a work in which I could strongly feel the interest of science fiction.

MiyanoI learned about "BLAME!" when I heard about the audition, and I was attracted by the worldview of the work and the originality of the language used in the materials I saw. The balance between the two was also interesting and intriguing.

--What do you find attractive about the characters you play?

SAKURAI: Kirin is a mysterious being. He appears out of nowhere, is extremely strong, and gives away food. The villagers say, "Wow! but he is also incredibly suspicious (laughs). It's that perfect blend, isn't it?

Miyano: A perfect blend (laughs).

Sakurai: The foghorn is a character who appears with many possibilities and ultimately becomes a new beacon of hope. He is not able to communicate clearly, but even so, because he is in human form, he is able to communicate with them and is probably a good person, and Zuru (CV; Amemiya Ten) tolerates him with a childlike sense of acceptance. The villagers also tolerate Kirihai because Zuru allows it. On the other hand, Sutezo, because of his own position, does not let down his guard against Kirihai. In this way, as the story progresses, we begin to see the human side of the story. In the midst of all this, Kirihai, who had only one goal in mind, "to find the gene for the Internet terminal," begins to act as if he is developing some kind of solid relationship with the villagers. I found this fascinating to watch.

Miyano: The worldview of the "Sutezo" is that of a world that is indispensable, yet has continued to exist as a matter of course since birth. Sutetsuzo is the leader of a group of young people in the village who were born and raised in such a world of common sense. As his friends are dwindling more and more, an alien who may or may not be the hope to break out of this situation comes in and decides what he needs to do to stay alive. He is also portrayed as having feelings for a girl he has a crush on, and I played his character by letting myself be carried away by his characterization of such an honest, humanistic principle of action.

--You also played Kirihai in "BLAME! Terminal Remnant City," a play within the "Knights of Sidonia" TV anime.

Sakurai: In "BLAME! Terminal Remnant City," I mostly acted as a reaction actor. At the time, I didn't think that "BLAME!" would become a theater piece, so at the time I was just thinking that I was lucky to be in it (laugh). However, I still think Kirinai would be cool if he were a boy. He shoots the "awesome beam" ("graviton radiation ejector").

Miyano "Amazing beam" (laughs).

Sakurai: No matter how old I get, I still find such expressions, which are the best part of science fiction, cool and exciting. One thing I would like to mention is that Kirinai also looks a bit comedic or cute in scenes such as the scene where he hits Shibo (CV; Kana Hanazawa). So, although he has a slightly metallic and bleak image, I think he is a character who sometimes has a strange sense of humanity and body warmth.