Spring 2022 Anime] Interview with fresh main cast members Shuichiro Umeda (SEVILLE) and Miho Okazaki (LOW CRISTUS), who lead the authentic fantasy anime "The Wizard's Reign" with human drama as its highlight.

Shuichiro Umeda, who plays Saville, and Miho Okazaki, who plays Lo Christus, the main cast members of the spring 2022 anime "Wizard Reimeiki," appeared at Akiba Research Institute!

Wizard Reimei term" is a popular light novel written by Toranosuke Kakeru. Its TV anime version is currently being broadcasted by popular demand.

The main character, Saville, who somehow lost his memory and entered a magic school without knowing who he was, is one day told by the dean of the school that he is to undergo a dangerous "special training. He and his schoolmates are led on a mission by Lor Christus (a.k.a. Ross), a witch who goes by the name of "Dawn. ......

The cast is led by two fresh young voice actors, Shuichiro Umeda (who plays Saville) and Miho Okazaki (who plays Lo CHRISTUS). We spoke with the two about the highlights of the film and their enthusiasm for it.

--Please tell us how you felt when you were first chosen for the role.

Umeda: I was happy and surprised, but also anxious about how far I could go. I was happy, surprised, and anxious about how far I could go.

Okasaki: I was really happy that they chose me for the audition.

--Please introduce the character you played.

Umeda: Saville is an enigmatic character from ...... whose memories are sealed away and who finds herself attending a magic academy. He does not know how to communicate with others and often acts strangely.

Ross Okazaki is a young girl in appearance, but she is actually a witch who has lived for 300 years, and by chance, she becomes the "teacher" of the Savils and leads them. I like the fact that she is not arrogant and is very approachable even though she has lived this many years.

--What are your impressions of the original work?

Umeda: I was immediately drawn into the story, not only because of Saville's past, but also because of the strong personalities of her schoolmates at the magic school.

Okasaki: Of course there are comedic elements, but there are also many depictions that reveal emotions and traumas that people want to hide, and the work made me think about many things.

--Umeda: What did you pay attention to in your performance?

Umeda: As we went through the recording sessions, I realized that "Saville has no filter. I think he is having a hard time because he accepts everything. How can I share his feelings?　That's what I kept in mind when I played the role.

Okasaki: Ross plays such an important role in the film that he is called "the second main character" by many people. Because he is an influential character, I wondered what kind of performance would resonate with the characters in the film and the audience.　I went through a trial-and-error process in the postrecording. What is Lo CHRISTUS? I concentrated on chewing over the question, "What is Lo CHRISTUS?

--I think you are in a position to lead the production as a "chairperson" as well.

Umeda I don't really feel like a chairperson. ...... but that's not good enough.

Okasaki: At the recording studio, Umeda-kun would often ask me, "What should I do in such a case?" I was often asked by Umeda-kun, "What should I do in such a case? Umeda-kun makes the place feel comfortable just by being there, and I have seen how quickly he gets along with the cast members, so I remember advising him, "I think it's fine just the way it is.

Umeda: You are the one who is amazing because you are able to chat with the cast members without any separation. It was Okazaki-san who suggested that we call each other by our nicknames, and she has been very helpful!

--Is there any character you are interested in?

Umeda: Mr. Ross. There are many fascinating characters in this work, but I especially want to know more about her. Often I'm in charge of gag scenes, but I'm always asking myself, "What has she been thinking for the past 300 years?" What is she thinking about now? I am very interested in what she is thinking now.

Okasaki: When I play Ross, all my "students" look so cute. ...... I think Seb-kun (Sevil) is dangerous and I can't leave him alone.

--What are some of the highlights of this film?

Okazaki: The battle scenes. Ross's "Ludens' magic staff" is actually a demon, and by making a contract with Ludens-chan, she is able to use her powerful powers. The magic using the magic staff is flashy, and Ross moves well to begin with, so I think you will enjoy just watching her in action.

Umeda: If I recommend this part, I might be accused of something else (laugh), but it's the "hot springs episode".

Okazaki: What, that part (laughs)?

Umeda Of course, there are scenes that male fans will especially enjoy (laugh), but it's also a great story where you can feel the bond between Saville and her friends.

Okazaki I see (laughs). In Sev's case, he has to face his past and the main plot of the story is quite heavy, so I also think it is a valuable episode that shows his student-like nature to the fullest.

--In the case of Sevil, your memories of the past are sealed, but do the two of you ever hear people around you say, "You used to be ●●," even though you are not very aware of it?

Umeda: I am still friends with a childhood friend from elementary school, and he tells me, "Back then, I used to think, 'Ume-chan will probably lead the others even as an adult. In fact, back then, I was a member of the student council, and it seemed that I had developed an "honor student" character. Every time I see her, she teases me saying, "You've changed!

Okasaki: When I first moved to Tokyo, I was very out of touch with fashion ...... (laughs). (Laughs) Recently, a friend of mine said to me, "Miho's fashion back then was really terrible. When I showed him a picture of those days, he told me that it was really awful ...... (laughs).

--(Laughs) - One more thing, the word "dawn" means "a time when a new era, culture, or new literature begins.

Umeda: I was very surprised when I went to a certain conveyor-belt sushi chain and saw a machine that counted the number of plates just by holding them. But the waiter was counting them again just to be sure, so I thought to myself, "Double-checking is important. ...... What are we talking about (laughs)?

Okasaki: It was when I learned that I could sing with the "AI voice recognition service," which has become quite popular recently.

I can sing along with "What time is it? or "What's the weather like tomorrow? Now you can sing a duet with AI. It's an amazing evolution!

--Thank you very much (laughs). Finally, do you have a message for your fans?

Umeda: The members of the journey are full of individuality, and the characters we meet on our journey have their own unique personalities. I think the combination of the beautiful visuals and our all-out performances makes for a wonderful film. I hope you will enjoy the film as if you were on a journey with us!

Okazaki: I can't go into details, but I think you can feel various "forms of love" in this film. Although it is a so-called "fantasy work," there are many episodes that can be interpreted in your daily life, so please enjoy it!

(Interview, text, and photography by Atsushi Saeki)