Interview] The two major idol groups finally clash! Mai Kanno, who plays Sakura Kawasaki, and Amamiya Amami, who plays Rui Amadokoro, look back on episode 9 of the "IDOLY PRIDE" anime, which has reached its climax!

Legendary idol Mana Nagase, known as the "Starry Miracle," has carved her name in idol history. The much-talked-about winter 2021 anime "IDOLY PRIDE," which opened with the shocking first episode in which she dies in an accident, has continued to portray the true nature of idols ever since.

In episode 9, it was revealed that the heart of Sakura Kawasaki, an idol of Hoshimi Productions with a singing voice that sounds exactly like Mana's, actually belongs to Mana. Clashing with her group, Sunny Peace, is the idol group TRINITYAiLE, which is overwhelmingly popular and talented. At the center of the group is Rui Tendou, the absolute center of the group, who is called "the genius of the century," an idol who tries to surpass Mana.

The story of "IDOLY PRIDE" is reaching its climax, and one cannot take one's eyes off the action. Akiba Research Institute asked Mai Kanno, who plays Sakura Kawasaki, and Ten Amamiya, who plays Rui Tendou, about their impressions of the ninth episode, which plays an important role in this work.

Q: What are your impressions of the images in the "IDOLY PRIDE" anime?

Amemiya: I thought the images were very beautiful. I was especially impressed by the beautiful colors of the idols' eyes and the cut of the sky. I was also impressed by the variety of songs that were played, which made each episode seem to fly by. The live performance scenes are very well choreographed, and the camera work is very varied, keeping the audience glued to the action.

Kanno: The story develops at a dizzying pace, so you can't take your eyes off the action!　The scenes in which the characters clash violently with each other will have you on the edge of your seat. There are also many scenes that make me chuckle, and I enjoy watching them every week. I was very impressed by the vividness of the characters in the live performance scenes. Sakura-chan's twin-tail hair is so cute as she is jumping around, I keep watching it over and over again (laughs).

Mai Kanno

Q: There is an idol ranking program called the VENUS program, in which idols compete with each other.

Amemiya: I thought it was interesting that the AI ranked the idols in a very equal and easy-to-understand way. I think this is a good motivation, and inevitably the average level of the idols will be high. But with so many idols with so many different personalities, I'm really curious about the mechanism of how they judge the good and the bad. ...... (Laughs)

Kanno: I thought that a world where AI makes judgments and ranks them would be a little scary. But as you said, Mr. Amemiya, I think it is great in that you can clearly see how good you are, and you can immediately see what you are lacking and what you need to focus on to practice!

Ten Amemiya

Amemiya, you play Rui Amado, who seems to be obsessed with surpassing Mana. What kind of character is Rui as an idol?　And what do you emphasize in your performance?

Amemiya: Rui is a different type of idol from my image of brightness, hopefulness, and charm. She is clumsy, stoic, and very realistic, almost like an athlete. When I play Rui, I am usually very serious. But because of her career, she acts professionally and cheerfully when she is at work, and when she is with the members of TRINITYAiLE, she is conscious of a softness that is free from tension. Because of her professionalism, she is conscious of subtly changing her tone depending on the occasion and the people she is conversing with.

ーThe reading at the event was a great episode where the three members of TRINITYAiLE had a potluck and a sleepover together (laughs). What is your impression of Amemiya's character, Tendou?

Kanno: I thought he was a very cool and confident idol!　Her beautiful silver hair fluttering in the wind is like a swan, and I think she is a strong character, befitting the leader of TRINITYAiLE!

Q: What do you keep in mind when playing Sakura, who has been portrayed in the anime so far?

Kanno: Sakura is an energetic girl who is always cheerful and positive and makes everyone around her smile, so I enjoy playing the role and stay positive and close to the character.

Q: In episode 9, a new fact was revealed that your heart was transplanted from Mana. So your singing voice was similar to Mana's. What kind of difficulties did you face when singing as such Sakura?

Kanno: It was very difficult to get the voices of Sayaka Kanda, who played the role of Mana, and my voice are completely different, so it was very difficult to get them to sound the same. However, the difference in voice quality is something that can't be helped, so I sang with an awareness of trying to get the same atmosphere.

Incidentally, you mentioned in the special program that you are a big fan of Ms. Kanda's. What do you like about her?

What do you like about Kanda-san? Kanda-san is very kind and always easy to talk to. She is always happy to tell me about her fashion and cosmetic recommendations, in addition to work-related matters!　I love how she always wears makeup that matches her clothes at the time, and I can't help but stare at her face. ...... When I first heard "First Step," I was so moved by Kanda-san's gentle, delicate, and elongated voice.

Q: There were many serious scenes in episodes 8 and 9.

Kanno: The scene in episode 9 where Sakura confronts Mana. Mana said to me, "I don't want anyone else to sing that song. My song is for me and me alone! Sakura still sings Asana's song even though she is told to do so. One of the reasons for this is that Kotono asks Sakura to sing the song that her sister was supposed to sing on the Grand Prix stage. I was really impressed by the fact that Sakura and Kotono's relationship had deepened to the point that she respected Kotono's feelings even when Amana, the owner of her heart, told her It left a great impression on me.

Q: There are many scenes in the work itself that are very moving to watch.

Amemiya: I thought the scene in episode 8 where the members tell Kotono, who had lost confidence because she was compared to Mana and others, that it was okay for Kotono to be Kotono, was a great scene. I think it is very reassuring to know that the members closest to you recognize each other and understand each other's attractiveness as you continue to be an idol, which is subject to a variety of opinions!

Kanno: The scene in episode 9 where Sakura is asked a question by Mana and gives a confident answer. At first, she was acting on the pounding of her heart, but now she is pursuing a big goal with her friends and wants to continue to be an idol on her own initiative! I was very moved by Sakura's growth and her ability to think "I want to continue to be an idol!

Q: The characters played by Ms. Amemiya and Mr. Kanno belong to two groups, TRINITYAiLE and Sunny Peace, respectively.

Amemiya: I think Sunny Peace has a sparkling youthfulness and charm, while TRINITYAiLE is a mature group with impeccable performances, so I have a contrasting impression.

Kanno: The three members of TRINITYAiLE get along very well with each other, which makes me smile when I see them. I really like how Rui gets embarrassed when Yu-chan (Yu Suzumura/CV. Momo Asakura) messes with her!　Sumire-chan (Sumire Okuyama/CV. Shiina Natsukawa) is so firm that I can't believe she is a junior high school student, and I find her attractive because of the gap between her appearance and her personality.

Q: TRINITYAiLE and Sunny Peace are finally going to clash with each other. What do you want people to see about your group?

Kanno: I think that many of the groups in "i-pla" are cool. Among them, Sunny Peace is the only group that is bright, cute, and energetic!　Their songs, dances, and costumes are so cute that you just want to root for them. Also, all of the members are quite unique, so I hope you will pay attention to each and every one of them!

Amemiya: The things the three of them have built up and overcome together are unmatched by Hoshimi Productions, so I hope that you will see the bond between the three of them, as if they understand each other perfectly.

(Composition by Junichi Tsukagoshi)