It makes me laugh and cry!" Aoi Yuki, who plays Cook, talks about "Kira Kira☆Pri Cure Aramode: Paritto! Millefeuille of Memories! The Charm of the Movie

On Saturday, October 28, 2017, the animated film "Kira Kira Kira Pretty Cure Aramode: The Movie, Paritto! Millefeuille of Memories!" will be released in theaters on Saturday, October 28, 2017.

Kira Kira Kira Pretty Cure A La Mode" is the fourteenth film in the "Pretty Cure" series for girls, in which the girls transform into Pretty Cure, warriors of justice, and play an active role in protecting peace from an evil organization. The story is about Ichikatsu Usami who becomes the legendary patissier Pretty Cure and fights to protect the sweets that are filled with love.

The anime movie "Kira Kira☆Precure Aramode: The Movie," "Parisito! Millefeuille of Memories! is the 23rd film in the "Pretty Cure the Movie" series. The Pretty Cure girls play an active role in the city of sweets, Paris.
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To commemorate the release of the movie, Akiba Research Institute interviewed popular voice actress Aoi Yuki, who plays the mysterious girl Cook in the movie!

A fan of "Kira Kira Pretty Cure Alamode" herself, she talks about the appeal of the film, her impressions of participating in the film, and her thoughts on the heroine, whom she had longed for when she was a child. We also asked her about the heroines she admired as a child.

Akira's "mama-mi" (mommy-like) personality is cute!

--How did you feel when you were chosen to appear in the film?

Aoi Yuki (Yuuki): Actually, I didn't audition for this season's "Kira Kira Pretty Cure Alamode," but I had auditioned for many other Pretty Cure shows in the past. However, I was aware that I myself was not "Pretty Cure-like" ....... Because (Precure) is sparkling and cute and gives children dreams and hopes, but I am prone to despair (laughs). (Laughs) Even so, I had a great yearning for the hero/heroine slot at Toei Animation, and I thought it would be a blessing just to be allowed to audition for the role.

So when I heard about this opportunity, I was surprised like in a certain advertisement, "Why did I become a Pretty Cure? I was so surprised (laughs). (Laughs.) I must have asked the manager three times.

I myself got really into Pretty Cure from "Kira Kira Pretty Cure Alamode. So I heard in various places, "The current "Pretty Cure" is really good! It's so cute! I never thought I would get to be in the show, so my wish came true.

--How did you get into "Kira Kira Pretty Cure Alamode"?

Yuuki: Up until now I had been auditioning for the show, so I honestly had mixed feelings (about seeing a film that I had failed in).

But there were voice actors around me who had become Precure, and I had heard about them. Also, every year when Precure becomes a new season, character design and other aspects become a big topic of conversation. So when the information about "Kira Kira Pretty Cure A La Mode" came out, I looked at the images online myself and found that Akira Kenjo (Cure Chocolat) was too cute for my liking. ......　So, at first, I watched the show with the misguided feeling that I would watch it because there was a cute girl (laughs), but the story was so wonderful that my heart was filled with sparkles every time I watched it.

Of course, I love and support Akira the most, but there is not a single character I don't like, and I can love everyone. It's a story that makes you love even the bad guys, and I was completely absorbed in it.

--What do you think is the charm of Akira Kenjo?

Yuuki: It is not unusual these days to see boyish or male Takarazuka-like characters, but I think Akira's appeal lies in the fact that she has followed the high road of the past, while still retaining her feminine side.

There are many patterns of receptiveness, but Akira's receptiveness is more like "follow me! Rather than saying, "Follow me! That must have been tough for you. ...... If anything, she has a strong "mama-mi" (motherly) side rather than a "papa-mi" (paternal) side (laughs). She has a feminine strength and is probably the most maternal of all the Pretty Cure members. I love the gap between her appearance and her personality. She's cute. ......!

In this movie, there's a strong gag theme, so Akira's motherly side has a strong "gyaru" feel to it (laughs). Akira-chan even turns into a crayfish in the movie, but I loved the fact that she didn't get upset at all.

--How was it working with the Precure members for the first time?

Yuuki: I was able to record with the Pretty Cure team. When I went to the post recording, I knew that as a professional, I shouldn't get excited, but when I saw the real thing, I was like, "Yay! (laughs). I was a guest, and I was aware that I usually make too much noise, so I thought it might be awkward if people thought, "Here come the fans ......," but everyone welcomed me very warmly. （I was very warmly welcomed by everyone, especially Inori Minase (who played the roles of Cure Parfait, Ciel Kirahoshi, and Kirarin), who I had worked with on other productions.

In particular, Nanako Mori, who played Chocolat, sat next to me and was very kind in teaching me about Pretty Cure. She knew that I loved Chocolat, and she told me that she was very happy for me, which I really appreciated.

I was also glad that I was able to see how the team was working together to create the film. I could see that the work site of "Kira Kira Pretty Cure A La Mode" is as wonderful and filled with love as the work itself. I am glad that I was able to be a part of it.

--Although you say that you are a fan of the work, you also approached the recording as a professional, didn't you?

Yuuki: Because I love this work, I thought it was most important to "be a part of the work. I know what is good about "Kira Kira Pretty Cure Alamode," and I couldn't let it be tarnished by me.

Even though I am entrusted with a single role as a voice actor, I believe that I must be good at looking at the work as a whole from a bird's eye view. So I got in front of the microphone thinking that it was important to keep in mind that I was only a part of the work.

The recording itself went quite smoothly, but I was told to "make it funnier," which made me wonder if I was hired for the comical part (laughs). (Laughs.) The Cook-chan that I play is a very tough type of character, or rather, a rather funny character.

--What was your impression of Cook, and what did you pay attention to when you played him?

Yuuki: He looks very small and cute, like a fairy. There are many scenes where he plays pranks, but I told him to make it in a way that would make the audience laugh, and that it was important that the content be something that children could laugh at. And they told me, "Even when you do something silly or mean, please do it at a level that is funny.

--I guess the acting is quite comical as well, since this film has a strong gag flavor.

Yuuki: Basically, everyone is comical. But there are also scenes that make you laugh!　The direction was so skillful that it was like, "I'm frustrated, but I'm going to cry! I was like, "I'm so frustrated, but I'm going to cry!

--If you were to become a Pretty Cure in the future, what kind of Pretty Cure would you like to be?

Yuuki: I don't have the confidence to play the center pink, nor do I have the confidence to play the cool blue, cool red, or stylish yellow. ...... So, I am fine with any Precure as long as you ask for it!

However, the image colors of my characters that I have played so far have been orange and yellow. In fact, I've been called for orange and yellow in many of my previous Precure auditions.

What are the roots of Aoi Yuki's heroine, and who is her mentor?

--Did you have any heroines that you admired when you were a child?

Yuuki: "Sailor Moon" or "Card Captor Sakura" or ....... I think "Sailor Moon" is the best. I looked forward to watching it every week in front of the TV, and we used to play transformations. Everything around me was "Sailor Moon," including the drawstring bag for my gym uniform, my pencil case, and my underwear (laughs).

(Laughs.) Even back then, I liked so-called boyish characters, especially Sailor Jupiter. Incidentally, when I saw the recent revival of "Sailor Moon Crystal," I fell in love with Sailor Uranus. So I guess my tastes had been leaning that way since I was a child (laughs).

(laughs) -- What kind of child were you when you were little?

Yuuki: As a child, I was rather shy and quiet. It's strange for me to say, but I was the mysterious type. I was the kind of child who enjoyed watching people having fun. That's why I was always staring at "Sailor Moon," and my parents thought that showing it to me would keep me quiet, so "Sailor Moon" was playing all the time at home.

Since I started acting as a child actor, I have had to go out and talk a lot more, so I think I have become more active. However, I used to be honest and withdrawn, but now I feel like I talk to hide my shyness, so I guess my roots haven't changed much. ...... (laughs).

--Cook, played by Yuuki, works with Ciel's mentor, Jean-Pierre Zilberstein.

Yuuki: My mentor is Miyuki Sawashiro. Well, she always says "I don't take disciples," so she is my "self-proclaimed" disciple (laugh).

When I first started junior high school, I couldn't speak well with my friends, so I was watching anime all the time. At that time, I saw the anime "Dezi-Charat" and thought the voice of Puchiko (Puchi Carat), played by Sawashiro-san, was really cute. At first, all I knew was that her voice was cute, but as I watched more and more works, I saw your name in various places, and I began to think that your acting was very good.

Not only can you do a variety of voices, but you also have a different soul for each character, and your acting is different from the way you breathe. I can tell that the character has this kind of physique and that he/she breathes in at this speed because of the way he/she speaks. Even when listening to the drama CD, for example, you can tell that the character is talking through a couple of sheets of fusuma. It is amazing that you can feel the conversation even though there are no pictures!　I was so impressed that I thought, "Someday I want to be able to do a play like Ms. Sawashiro's." -- Ms. Sawashiro's debut was also at 14.

--Your debut was at the age of 14, and like Yuuki, you have been working since you were a child. Did you feel sympathy for him in that way?

Yuuki: When I first met Ms. Sawashiro, I asked her about the difficulty of striking a balance between her age, what she does (work), and how she is seen by others. At that time, he said, "I know you have that kind of thing, I understand. But sometimes time solves it, and sometimes it's a question of whether or not time is the right solution.　I was told, "It's also a question of whether time can solve it. I thought he was very cool as a senior staff member because he accepted my advice in a serious but honest manner. So, Mr. Sawashiro is my mentor, and I have always been his "self-proclaimed" disciple.

--Thank you very much. Now, let me conclude by saying that as a Pretty Cure fan, I would like to thank you for your support of the movie "Kira Kira Pretty Cure Aramode: Paritto! Millefeuille of Memories! and what are the highlights of Cooke's work?

Yuuki: Personally, I was very moved by the scene where everyone transforms into different animals!

Ichika Usami turns into a turtle, Akira turns into a crayfish, etc. ...... Aoi Tategami, who transforms into a sloth, was especially cute. She is usually so full of life, but she is a little languid and sexy. Then there is Yukari's strength, which remains unchanged no matter what kind of animal she becomes (laughs). You can see a lot of different expressions from everyone, and I am sure you will find them cute.

Also, Cure Parfait, who can do anything and is kind and has a strong sense of justice, keeps screwing up this time.

And Cook is a character that is not easy to play. If you are wondering, "Why is Aoi Yuuki in Pretty Cure?" If you watch the movie, I think you'll be like, "Oh, I see...! (laughs). (Laughs) I think they will be quite surprised. Personally, I was impressed by his last line as Cook, so I hope you will watch the film!

--I look forward to seeing you in the film. Thank you very much for your time today!

(Interview and text by Michi Sugahara)