Interview with Tomori Kusunoki as Junatsu Kan in "Muv-Luv Alternative

The popular "Muv-Luv" series was first released as a PC game in 2003, and has since expanded into various media mixes, including novels, manga, and anime, as well as other works in the series. The latest work in the anime series, "Muv-Luv Alternative," began airing in October 2021.

In this work, which forms a single story together with the first work in the series, "Muv-Luv," the main character, Takeshi Shiragane, is suddenly transported to one of the countless parallel worlds. It is a world invaded by an extraterrestrial species called "BETA. Takeshi joins the United Nations Army and fights alongside his training platoon in a humanoid weapon called a tactical walking fighter (Tactical Platoon). ......

This time, we interviewed Ms. Tomori Kusunoki, who plays the role of one of the main heroines, Kagami Sumika, Takeshi's childhood friend.

⇒ Please also check this page!
One lucky person will win a paper autographed by Tomori Kusunoki, who plays the role of Junatsu Kagami in "Muv-Luv Alternative! The review campaign has started!

At first, I thought it was a "hot robot anime.

--How did you feel when you were chosen to play the role of Junatsu?

Kusunoki: Since the original work was the basis for the development of this anime, I first used the performances of my predecessors as a reference. During the audition, I tried to give a natural performance without being too conscious of my predecessor, as I wanted the sound directors to confirm whether my performance would fit her or not. However, I thought that my performance would not be very close to Junatsu's (......), so when I was informed of the decision, I was probably more under pressure than happy.

--Please give us an introduction of Junatsu Kan, the character you are playing this time.

Kusunoki: She is a childhood friend of Take-chan's. She is energetic, lively and innocent. I had the impression that she beat up Take-chan at every opportunity (laugh), and I had an image of her as powerful, so I had the impression that the anime Junatsu had a lot of cute parts. However, as the story progressed, I think the "strong Junatsu" that I felt when I played the original came out.

--Have you heard of the "Muv-Luv" series?　What is your impression of this series?

Kusunoki: Of course I knew the theme song "Mirai e no Roar" sung by JAM Project, but I didn't know much about the work itself until the audition ....... I thought it would be a "hot robot anime," partly because of the theme song, but I was very surprised by the serious storyline. At first, I had a hard time following the storyline. In the process of playing the game, I felt that "it is not natural that we are living like this.

The reminiscence scene that made me aware of the "Junatsu image" in Take-chan's mind.

--How was the recording?

Kusunoki: Junatsu started appearing in the fourth episode, so she joined the recording session in the middle of the episode. She appeared in the second episode (the first episode was an original story, so the main cast members appeared in the second episode).

I was honestly worried that the fans would think that I was not the right person for the role. I was also a bit worried that I might not fit the role. So I was very nervous when I made my first speech.

--Kusunoki: Was there anything you were conscious of when playing Junatsu?

Kusunoki: She often appears in Takeshi's reminiscence scenes, so she doesn't have much interaction with the other cast members except for Koichi Kamiki who plays Takeshi, and she doesn't have many lines, so I had to concentrate on my performance.

As I mentioned earlier, based on playing the original game, I had an image of Junatsu as a "strong girl" at first. However, on the set, I was directed to express my feelings of love for Take-chan more fully. Hearing this, I decided to interpret it as meaning that I should play the role with an awareness of the "Junatsu image" in Take-chan's mind, rather than playing a realistic version of what actually happened.

Specifically, I was conscious of the scene in episode 4 when she gives Take-chan the "Game Guy" (a portable video game console). In the original story, I would have acted in a normal way, but when I tried to act cute, the staff told me that it was good because it was very Junatsu-like. I tried to play it cute, and the staff said, "It was good, just like Junatsu. I was able to think, "In the anime "Muv-Luv," I can play Junatsu as Takeshi remembers her!

I also thought about the recollection scene, "Why did Take-chan remember that event in her fragmented memory?" I came to the conclusion that Junatsu was probably cute at that time. In other words, I became convinced that Junatsu always shows cute gestures in her recollections, and it became easier for me to play the role.

I am of course aware of the original performance, but I have come to realize that it is important to play Junatsu as "Junatsu in the anime version" without being bound only by that.

--Is there any character other than the one you play that you are interested in?

Kusunoki: Mikoto. I was completely smitten by her dignity in the exercises!　As Lynn, who plays Mikoto, said during the stage greeting at the advance screening, I really like her performance of "not being too tense, but making sure to tighten up where she needs to tighten up.

I also saw BETA in action for the first time on the day of the advance screening, and the design of the "fortress class" is my favorite. It is inorganic and cool. I would love to have a figure of it when it comes out!

Each cast member's view of the work differed.

--How was the screening?

Kusunoki: I participated in the recording session from the middle of the show, and since the recording was done with a limited number of people, I was hardly able to join in with the other members of the cast. So, first of all, I enjoyed meeting the main cast members. I heard the comments of everyone, including Koichi Kamiki, who plays Take-chan, and I could tell how seriously they were taking the work and what kind of mindset they had as they performed it. Since the screening was for the first two episodes, Junatsu did not have a part to play in the first place, so I could only say, "Please wait a little longer! I could only say, "Please wait a little longer!" ...... (laugh).

--What kind of communication did you have backstage?

Kusunoki: In the dressing room before entering the theater, the cast members watched the first and second episodes for the first time. While we were fascinated by the amazing tactical aircraft depicted by Graphinica, I and Iori Saeki (who played Kei Ayamine), who did not get to see any of the characters, were sickened by the series of spectacular scenes. ...... (laugh).

Also, in the backstage, there were stills taken, video comments, and other recorded material, but every time Mr. Kamiki made a mistake, there was laughter, and the atmosphere was friendly the whole time. I could tell that Mr. Kamiki was under a lot of pressure because this was his first leading role, even though he is a character to be teased. So, as a partner who would help make the film more exciting, I tried to ease his tension as much as I could.

--If there is a "parallel world", what kind of world would you like to visit?

Kusunoki: I don't have the confidence to survive in a world where BETA roams around (laughs). (laugh) So, as a slight change, I would like to live in a world where men and women are switched, like in the "Muv-Luv" series, where Takato in armor and Mikoto in armor. I would like to feel the difference in values between men and women, and I would also simply like to date a cute girl (laughs).

--Lastly, could you give us a message?

Kusunoki: I think there will be more battle scenes in the future, and I am looking forward to seeing how Take-chan and his friends will face the future. I am also looking forward to the development of the story. Also, the emotions and backgrounds of the characters will gradually become clearer, so I hope you will enjoy that as well. I hope you will enjoy it as well. Please look forward to the future broadcasts.

(Reporting and writing by Atsushi Saeki)