The film will be released today! The actors' performances, which were carefully discussed and refined with director Yoshiura, are the focus of this interview! Interview with Haruka Fukuhara and Asuka Kudo for the movie "Let Me Hear You Sing Ai

The feature film "Let Me Hear You Sing AI," written and directed by Yasuhiro Yoshiura, who is known for his meticulous visuals and sci-fi minded style, including "Time of Eve" and "Sakasama no Pathema," will be released nationwide on October 29, 2021.

Ms. Tao Tsuchiya, who plays the role of Zion, the main character of the film, who suddenly starts singing like in a musical during the play, played the difficult role of AI with great skill and gave a wonderful performance in singing.

The other heroine, Satomi, whose daily life is changed by Zion. Akiba Research Institute interviewed Haruka Fukuhara, who plays Satomi, the central character in the story, and Asuka Kudo, who plays Touma, Satomi's childhood friend and a machine maniac!

We asked them how they approached playing the characters.

Asuka Kudo's Unexpected Connection to Anime

Please tell us how you felt when you were chosen to appear in the film, and how you feel about actually playing the role.

Kudo: Animation and voice acting is something I would like to try someday. I myself love anime, so I was thrilled to be asked to participate. And I cried when I finished reading the script. ...... I felt that the work would reach my heart that much, so I was very enthusiastic about it.

However, I don't like my own voice, so I spent many days worrying about how it would turn out, but I was able to work through to the end while talking with the director in detail. The finished video was very nice, and most of all, Fukuhara-san's voice was wonderful. ...... I was the first one to record, so I couldn't act while listening to everyone else's voices, which was a little disappointing (laughs).

Q: Did you always like anime?

Kudo: I love anime. Since I was a child, I was able to watch CS anime channels, so I watched "Jarinko Chie" (1981) and other Showa-era anime.

Q: That was unexpected. I hope you will continue to be involved in anime productions in the future.

Kudo: I would like to take on any challenge that comes my way!

How about you, Mr. Fukuhara?

Fukuhara: I cried when I read the script. I had participated in the audition, and I cried when I read the script I received at that time. I don't usually do that kind of thing, but I told the director how much I loved the film and how I felt about it. I was very happy when I got the part because I was sure I wanted to play this role, and although I was anxious, I decided to do my best. I was very moved by the work because I could feel the strength of the bond and love between people (AI).

Q: What moved you the most, Mr. Kudo?

Kudo: When everyone risked their lives for Zion and when Zion's actions toward Satomi were connected, something moved me. ...... I was moved by the moment that transcended the barriers between human and AI, not because they were human and not because they were human.

Q. How did you each approach character creation?

Kudo: I raised the key of my natural voice. Also, when I put on a sound, I didn't hit it straight (into the microphone), but diffused it a little, so that I could let my breath go out. When I was excited, I would go for it, but I felt that would make my intention too strong, so when I was anxious or something, I tried to let my voice tremble a little. I felt that this made my voice softer, and the director told me to keep it that way.

You are not very confident in your acting, are you? Did you come up with the acting plan by yourself?

Kudo: I thought it up. I love anime, so when I heard various voice actors' performances, I thought, "Maybe I can't do this voice," or "Maybe I can do it this way. So I tried various things at home. I also change the key of my voice for different roles in dramas. But when I got tired during recording, I would go back to my natural voice, so the director would tell me to "raise the key" when that happened.

Q: How was it for you, Mr. Fukuhara?

Fukuhara: I did the recording with Mr. Kudo's voice, but when I first heard it, it didn't sound like his voice. I was surprised that he was such a different person. It was very natural, and although we did not act together in the dialogue, we were able to catch each other naturally and it was easy to work with!

As for how I approached Satomi, I wondered if my natural voice and Satomi's image would be different. I had a feeling that my natural voice and Satomi's image would be different. I had the impression that she was a bit cool, or that she had a lot of thoughts deep inside, but they didn't show in her facial expressions. I tried to lower the tone of her voice, and I was conscious of changing it a bit from my own voice except where I felt like it was too bright, so that it wouldn't sound too cheerful.

Q: It's nice to see more and more of your true self coming out.

Fukuhara: After meeting Sion, Satomi's bright side comes out more and more, so I wanted to make sure I changed that.

Q: Did you discover any new aspects of the character through playing each of the characters, or did you find any appealing aspects of the characters?

Fukuhara: When I saw Satomi's drawing, I had an impression that she was cool, but after reading the script and acting, I realized that she is a normal girl who is bright, very soft, and has many weak points! I felt that she was a normal girl! I thought this gap was wonderful while playing the role. Satomi is a girl who has more feelings and love for others than anyone else. She has deep-seated love for her mother and Zion, as well as for everyone else, but she just can't let it out. I think that is what makes her so attractive.

Kudo: In my case, there was no gap between the image I had and the image I got from the director's story. In that sense, it was easy for me to work on it. Rather than new discoveries, it was more like I was becoming more and more convinced that I was not mistaken.

On the day of postrecording, I had to be more conscious of the technical aspects, such as having to say the terms I was explaining faster than I thought I would.

Fukuhara Sounds like fun! (laughs) In that sense, the director told me to leave my voice as it was in the audition without any deviation from the image I had, so I didn't have to make much of it.

After all, a movie has to be seen on a big screen!

Q: What kind of impression do you have of each other, Mr. Kudo and Mr. Fukuhara?

Fukuhara: It wasn't in this film that we first met, but I had a chance to talk with him there. He is a very kind person and talked to me from the beginning. I have the impression that he is a very gentlemanly and nice person.

Kudo: (embarrassed). No, I'm not used to receiving compliments, and when I get too many compliments, it scares me (laughs). I knew that Fukuhara-san was a wonderful actress, and I wondered what kind of voice she would come up with since we were going to work together on the anime. I thought that Fukuhara-san's voice would be perfect for playing an anime character because I am an anime fan. However, in his video works, he has a different voice, and I have always been attracted to his versatility, so I was happy to be able to work with him in the anime series. But that is why I wanted to do it while listening to his voice (laughs).

Q: So, how did you feel about Zion, the role played by Tao Tsuchiya?

Fukuhara I thought it was a very difficult role! I was like, "What an expression! I also felt that the singing was not just singing, but it was not just singing, but singing in an AI-like way, but also with feelings. I don't know how to describe it, but I was moved by each word!

Kudo: Your voice is surprisingly clear. It comes directly to my ears, but it is also very comfortable to listen to. Sometimes I feel that she doesn't sound like an AI, and I realize that even though I think she is a normal girl (......), she is still an AI. I felt that it has the power to make you forget about it for a moment.

Q: Lastly, what are the highlights of the anime?

Kudo: I guess it would have to be the fireworks scene that was shown in the preview!

Fukuhara: That scene almost made me cry. I was almost moved to tears by that scene. It's so beautiful, and the idea is amazing, isn't it?

Kudo: The use of solar panels.

Fukuhara That was really wonderful and a highlight of the film. What I also thought was a mysterious worldview was the depiction of entering an electronic world. When I saw it on the big screen, I thought it was so sparkling and detailed.

Kudo: I was not able to go to the preview screening, so I am looking forward to seeing it on the big screen and wondering how powerful it will be. I am looking forward to the fireworks scene where everyone sings together. I think it's something you have to see on a big screen.

Fukuhara I saw the movie in the screening room and it still gave me goosebumps!

I hope you will enjoy it on the big screen. By the way, were you asked to sing badly when Touma sings?

Kudo: I was told to. When I sang as usual, I was told to sing badly, and when I sang badly, I was told to sing even worse (laughs). (Laughs.) But if I sang out of tune, it would be a different song, so I sang the parts where I was right, consulting with the director.

Fukuhara: But the parts that weren't so well sung were really wonderful (laughs)!

(Interview, text, and photography by Junichi Tsukagoshi)

[Film information

■Let me hear Ai's singing voice
＜STORY

A mysterious beautiful girl, Zion (cv. Tachiya Tao), transfers to Keibu City High School and becomes popular at school with her outstanding athletic ability and innocent personality, but... she is actually an "AI" under examination!
Sion suddenly starts singing in front of Satomi (cv. Haruka Fukuhara), who is always alone in class, and tries to make her "happy" in an unexpected way.
Satomi discovers that she is an AI, and her childhood friend Touma (cv. Asuka Kudo), a machine maniac, Gokchan (cv. Kazuyuki Okitsu), the most popular handsome guy, Aya(cv. Mikako Komatsu), a strong-willedgirl, and Thunder (cv. Satoshi Hino), a member of the judo club, are all moved by her dedication and her voice, although they are pushed around by Zion. However, they are moved by Zion's earnestness and his singing voice.
However, one of Zion's actions for Satomi's sake leads to a great commotion.
A heartwarming entertainment featuring the slightly clumsy AI and his classmates!

<CAST
Tao Tsuchiya, Haruka Fukuhara, Asuka Kudo, Kazuyuki Okitsu, Mikako Komatsu, Satoshi Hino, Sayaka Ohara, Kenji Hamada, Kenjiro Tsuda, Miyu Sakiki, Kazu Laser (Maple Chogokin)

<STAFF> Original story, screenplay, director
Original Story/Screenplay/Director: Yasuhiro Yoshiura
Co-writer：Ichiro Okochi
Character Planning: Kii Kanna
Chief Animation Director/Character Design：Shuichi Shimamura
Mechanical Design: Mika Akeki
Prop Design: Makoto Yoshigaki, Yoko Ito
Color Designer：Mayumi Tenbashi
Art Director: Yuji Kaneko (Blueprint)
Director of Photography: Yoshio Okochi
Sound Director: Miwa Iwanami
Music: Ryo Takahashi
Lyrics: Yohei Matsui
Animation Production: J.C. STAFF
Distribution: Shochiku Co.
Song: Tao Tsuchiya

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