The 4th interview with the cast of "PathTLive" is with Hikari Kodama, who plays the role of Chris! In the fourth installment, Hikari Kodama, who plays Chris: "I want Chris to bring out the charm that I couldn't bring out as a singer-songwriter" [PR].

The interview project of the cast of the popular spring 2023 anime "Kizuna no Ariru" has begun! The fourth installment features Hikari Kodama, who plays the role of Chris!

Kizuna no Ariru" is an anime project of the world's first virtual YouTuber "Kizuna Ai". It is the story of Miraku, a girl who follows Kizuna'i's back and aims to become a virtual artist, and her friends. WIT STUDIO × Signal M.D. will be in charge of animation production.

Akiba Research Institute is paying close attention to the heroines of this work, which is attracting a lot of attention this spring! As the first installment, we will be publishing an interview with the cast of "PathTLive," the unit to which the main character Miraku belongs, in a series of five articles.

This time we have Hikari Kodama, who plays Chris!
(*April 9, 2023: Some of the names in the text were incorrect and have been corrected. Our apologies.)

───Please tell us how you felt when you were chosen to perform in this film.

Kodama: I am usually active as a singer-songwriter, but I have always been interested in voice acting, and this was my first time to audition for an anime. I didn't know what I was doing right or left, so I didn't expect that they would choose me! I was really surprised that they chose me! I was really surprised. At the same time, I strongly felt that since I was chosen, I would do my best to work with Chris and this animation. I was still very surprised and happy! (laugh) I was moved to think that there is such a life in this world.

(Laughs) ─ Please tell us about the character Chris.

Kodama: Chris is a somewhat inorganic and mysterious girl who is always curious and questioning about the people around her, the world, and what kind of being she is. After meeting Miraku, her desire to know herself grows even stronger. She has her own unique view of the world, and sometimes makes comments that leave those around her in a state of shock, but I think she is a very kind girl who values the bond between them and watches over Miraku more than anyone else!

─ What was your first impression of Chris?

Kodama: I got the impression that she is a transparent girl. She has long, slender, fair-complexioned arms and legs and beautiful, clear-cut eyes. (Laughs) When I actually played the role of Chris, I really loved the way she opened her heart to everyone around her as the story progressed, and how she gradually became more open to everyone. I hope that you will watch the movie until the end and see how Chris's feelings change.

─ Do you see any similarities between Chris and Kodama-san?

Kodama: We are similar in that we are both curious about people! I like talking to people and hearing about their different ways of life and ways of thinking! I love to talk to people and hear their different ways of living and thinking, and that's what makes my life worth living. So I felt a lot of sympathy for Chris, who was interested in Mirak and thinking about what his own existence is.

─ What kind of unit is "PathTLive" that Chris belongs to?

KodamaI think it is a unit where the individuality of each of the five members shines through. I think we are like a community of destiny, bringing out the parts of each other that we don't have and that we can't bring out on our own. I believe that the five of us have a strong bond that no one person can lack, and that we can aim for ever-higher goals.

Please tell us about the episodes with the "PathTLive" members.

KodamaIt was my very first experience in postrecording, and there were many things I didn't know, such as how to hold the script, how close to the microphone, how to read the monitor, etc. But when I asked them what I didn't understand on the spot, everyone in PathTLive was very kind to me right away. Thanks to that, I was able to go into the postrecording without any worries. Nuku-chan (Nukui) and Nari-chan (Kawaguchi) would gently tell me if they noticed anything on set, Aacha (Hanawa) helped me a lot, and before the first recording, I asked Ayumi (Hihara) to come practice with me once. ....... I really can't thank everyone enough!

─ What was your impression when you first heard the theme song "mirAI wave!

Kodama: I genuinely thought it was a perfect song for PathTLive. Especially the chorus is a very positive and wonderful lyric, and I remember learning it right away and humming it a lot. I am very happy that everyone in PathTLive can make their major label debut with this song!

─ If you were to play a member of PathTLive other than Chris, which character would you like to play?

Kodama: Noel. She is a hard worker who strives for perfection, and she is a firm and reliable older sister! I love the gap between her and the other characters. I am usually the younger sister character and I am always spoiled by everyone, so I admire Noel who can pull me along! (Laughs)

─ ─ What is your impression of Kizuna Ai? Also, what do you think of her presence and performance, and are there any aspects of her that you yourself take as a reference?

Kodama: Of course I have known about Ai-chan, the leading figure in the virtual world, for some time and watched her videos, but I remember seeing the reaction of her fans when she announced Ai-chan's sleep, and I was moved by how truly great she is and how she is a source of energy for everyone. Since this is a story about a school of kids who yearn to become virtual artists like Ai-chan, I watched a lot of videos, including live videos and talk videos, before recording.

──What are the highlights and interesting aspects of the "Kizuna no Ariru" anime?

Kodama: I think it's the way the characters grow as virtual artists, delivering talk shows and singing and dancing performances in the work. The 3D images are very beautiful, and I think you will enjoy the vividness of Chris and his friends! I also sang a lot of songs in the production! We sang a lot in the film! (Laughs)

─ ─ In addition to your appearances in the anime, you are also active as the XR artist project "Alleles" on the YouTube channel. What kind of activities do you want to do as "Alleles" in the future?

Kodama I think that "Alleles" has the charm of being able to encounter a new you by diving into the virtual world as Chris, and of course it is my first attempt to sing while dancing, but I am hoping that Chris will bring out a lot of charm that I could not bring out as Hikari Kodama, a singer-songwriter. I am trying my best to bring out the charm of Hikari Kodama, who is a singer-songwriter, in Chris!

I hope that the 15 of us will walk together to bring cheer and smiles to everyone who supports us.

─ ─ Finally, do you have a message for the readers of Akiba Research Institute?

KodamaThank you very much for your patience up to this point! This is my first work as a voice actor, but I have sincerely breathed life into Chris, so I hope you will be able to see it from beginning to end! I hope that I can connect with many of you through our bond!