2023 Summer Anime] Interview with Kaede Motowatari (Llamis) of "Reincarnated as a Vending Machine, I Wander the Labyrinth," an anime highlighting the buddy feeling with the reliable chairman, Jun Fukuyama.

There are many otherworldly reincarnation stories, but a work in which a person is reincarnated as a vending machine is probably a rarity. The title of the work, "Reincarnated as a Vending Machine, I Wander the Labyrinth" (original story: Hachikuma, published by Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko), will be broadcast as a TV anime from July 5, 2023.

The main character and vending machine maniac reincarnated, Hakkon, is played by Jun Fukuyama, and Hakkon's partner, the energetic hunter girl Lammis, is played by Kaede Hondori.

Akiba Research Institute interviewed Ms. Hondowatari, who plays the role of Lammis. We asked her about her impression of this impactful work, its charm, how she plays Lammis, and of course about her collaboration with Ms. Fukuyama.

I realized how much I appreciate vending machines.

--What did you honestly think when you saw the sentence "reincarnated as a vending machine"?

Hondo: I wondered if I was looking at the wrong thing. I thought so (laughs). Let's take another look at ...... Oh, it's a vending machine after all! I thought, "Oh, it's a vending machine after all! I thought, "Isekai Tensei" is very popular and one of my favorite genres, but I didn't think it had come this far. I think it is one-of-a-kind, and when I came across this work at the audition, it had such an impact on me that I thought, "I don't want to miss this encounter! I thought it would be interesting from the title. I knew from the title that it would definitely be interesting, and when I actually read the original story, I found it really interesting, so I went into the audition with even more enthusiasm.

--I wonder what kind of idea or impetus inspired you to reincarnate as a vending machine.

Hondo: I imagine that the teacher is very much in love with vending machines... (laughs).

(laughs) -- Before this work, the original author, Mr. Hachiguma, also wrote a work in which he is reincarnated in a field (serialized in 2015 in "Watashi wa Hatake de Musou Suru"), didn't he?

Hondo: The teacher's (imagination) is amazing! It's amazing how people create from scratch.

--I'm amazed that you can create something from scratch.

Hondo: As the title says "wandering in the labyrinth," there are monsters in the labyrinth of another world with various levels, and there is a group to defeat them (......). In the labyrinth, there are fights and bargaining, and friendly competition while nurturing human relationships. Lammis carries a vending machine, Hakkon, on his back, and I thought, "Vending machines are so convenient! I thought.

Vending machines are not only used for drinks, but also for food, snacks, and many other things. Cold or hot food comes right out, and you can get nutrition as well. It fits perfectly with the demands of another world. I had never really thought about it because I am usually too familiar with it, but I realized how much I appreciate it.

--I realized how much I appreciated the fact that vending machines were so popular in Japan, and that they were even sought after by tourists from abroad. I heard that such a vending machine is unique in Japan.

Hondo: It seems so. This work is also being looked forward to by people from other countries.

--The vending machine is not the one you are playing, but the partner of the vending machine, Llamis. I know this is a bit sudden, but isn't Lammis a difficult name to say?

Hondo: Everyone tells me that (laughs). (Laughs.) It's so hard to say that I was at a loss during the audition. It became a topic of conversation among the cast members. We were all practicing "Ramisu...... Ramisu" (laughs).

(Laughs.) In this film, there are many people whose names you don't hear very often, not only Lammis. I think Hakkon is also originally Japanese, but the sound of his name gives the impression that he has come to another world.

--The position of the small "ッ" is the same, but "Hakkon" is easier to say, isn't it?

Hondoh: It is easier to say. LAMMIS is difficult because you have to close your mouth after the small "ッ".

■Speaking in the Kansai dialect style was a new challenge!

--What do you think is the charm of Llamis?

When I saw the visual before reading the original story, I thought she must be a very innocent, cheerful, and kind girl (......), and she really is. In addition to that, she is actually very strong. In the key visual, she is carrying a hakkon on her back, which shows the gap between her appearance and that of the other characters. But Lammis uses his monstrous power for the sake of his beloved friends and to continue to live a happy life. I thought he has a heart that really deserves respect.

I was also surprised by his Kansai dialect, which comes out unexpectedly when he gets excited. Even during the audition, I was thinking, "Oh my God, I've never spoken in Kansai dialect before. How accurate do they want me to be? I was very nervous about the audition.

--You have played a variety of roles in the past, but you have never played a role with a Kansai dialect.

Hondo: That's right. I have spoken (as a character) in dialects close to my own, such as Saga, Kagawa, and Hiroshima, and I was familiar with the Kansai dialect from comedians and from the sounds I heard on TV. But when it came time to try it out, it was more difficult than anything else. I wondered which scale was the correct one. I was like, "Which is the right scale?

--If you just go with your gut, it sounds fake, you know? It is a different world, so maybe it doesn't have to be real.

Hondo: It is a well-known dialect that many people know, so I wanted to get it right.

--It was a lot of work, but at the same time, it was the first time for you as an actor to try something new.

Hondoh: Yes. I am always happy to take on new challenges. This time, too, I was able to learn from those who knew what they were doing on the spot.

--Who would you say was your on-set mentor?

Hondoh: Among the cast, I would have to say Mr. Fukuyama (from Osaka, born in Hiroshima Prefecture) who played Hakkon. He was born in Hiroshima Prefecture). He was very knowledgeable and taught me things like, "There are parts of the Kansai dialect that are like this," and "If you pay attention to this part, you can say it better. He told me things like, "You have this kind of Kansai dialect," or "You can say it if you pay attention to this part.

First, I would try the test in my own imagination, and if I was wrong, not only Mr. Fukuyama but also the sound engineer would say, "There is someone over here who can tell you. Please make a note of it. I would listen to that person say in a loud voice something like "something yanen," and then I would write something like an arrow or graph in the script (to show intonation) and try it. If it was different, I would ask again and do it again. ...... I repeated the process. I hope you will pay attention to the dialect-chic lines from early on in the first episode.

■The amazing actor and chairperson, Jun Fukuyama.

--Did you basically get to record with Mr. Fukuyama?

Hondo: Yes. He tried to schedule us around the same time as much as possible. I was very grateful.

--I don't have to tell you that Mr. Fukuyama is a great actor, but he is also a master at creating an atmosphere as the chairman of the show. You also have a great spirit of service.

Hondo: You really do have a spirit of service.

--How was it working with him this time?

Hondoh: This was the first time for us to work together as buddies, so I was a little nervous, but once we started, he talked a lot. But once we started, he talked a lot. Even Hakkon talks more than other people, and he talked a lot even during the waiting time. He talked about local hidden dialects, vending machines, etc. He made us feel comfortable.

--How did you feel when you heard that Fukuyama-san voiced Hakkon?

Hondato: To begin with, I wondered what kind of voice and speaking style Hakkon would have. But the moment Mr. Fukuyama voiced Hakkon on the set, I really thought, "Ah, Hakkon is here! I really thought "Ah, there's Hakkon! It's amazing that he could guess the voice of an inorganic object so precisely.

The canned phrases of the vending machine, such as "Welcome" and "Thank you," were recorded in the first episode, so what Mr. Fukuyama guessed after that was the "monologue part as a human being. But he plays with them so seriously that we never get tired of listening to them, in fact, they make us want to listen to them more and more. It was really wonderful how he made us feel that although he was a vending machine, he was very expressive, and how cute Hakkon is.

--I think it is great to learn directly from your seniors' plays and behavior.

Hondo: Yes, it is great. There are so many things that can only be learned by recording together in the same space, and it is a great learning experience. I received the script and V (video for confirmation and practice in advance), and when I read the script myself, I was able to do voices for the other characters, but (in the actual postrecording) I was often asked to say lines in ways I had not imagined. Sometimes they ad-libbed or suddenly added puns, which made me laugh even when I shouldn't have. I am very glad that we were able to record the film together.

What kind of vending machine does Kaede Hondo want ......?

--I heard that you talked about vending machines during breaks, what kind of things did you talk about?

Hondowatari: We talked about unusual vending machines, after all. "Have you ever seen a vending machine that sells this kind of thing?" "Yes, I have! I've seen them on every street. If I didn't know where it was, I would make a note of it and try to go there. The atmosphere was such that people naturally fell in love with vending machines.

Also, this is just a wish, but we were all talking about how it would be like a dream if vending machines that speak in Hakkon's voice were spread throughout the country. There are vending machines that talk, but not that many. It would be great if they were all voiced by Mr. Fukuyama (laughs).

--(laughs) - although it would be scary if he suddenly started talking on the street at night. (laughs) So, is there any vending machine that you yourself have been curious or surprised by recently?

Hondo: I was surprised to see frozen ramen in a vending machine. I haven't bought it yet, but it seems they also have curry.

*External link: "Hakkon," a frozen vending machine with original wrapping, will be available for a limited time.

--I was surprised at the food-related items. When I came across a samgyetang vending machine, I had to look twice (laughs).

Hondo: When you press the button, samgyetang comes out, right? (laugh).

--(laughs) - I think so.

Motofuji: Another thing I do whenever I see one is a vending machine, I don't know if you can call it a vending machine, but it's a machine with a "gacha-gacha" toy. The plastic bottles are lined up with figures and other series, and when you press a button, one of those series comes out at random. It's a lot of fun.

--It's very interesting. How about a vending machine with extremely spicy food? How about a vending machine with spicy food that gets spicier and spicier in stages?

Hondo: I would like that!

--I bet you would start with the hottest one, wouldn't you?

Hondoh: I think I'll go for the max (hottest) first (laughs). (laughs) I would definitely buy it if it were available! No, I want there to be one!

--I'm looking forward to that kind of vending machine talk. Finally, please tell us about the highlights of the first episode and the future.

Hondo: Various dramas will happen from the first episode. The way Lammis and Hakkon meet is unique to this work, and I tried my best to speak in a dialect (like a dialect). When Lammis encounters an inorganic object called a vending machine, he gets very upset and speaks in many dialects. This is also a cute aspect of Lammis, so I hope you will enjoy it. What will Hakkon offer as a vending machine in a village in another world, and what will happen to him as a result of what he offers? After the first episode, various friends and enemies will appear, and Lammis will grow up and become a wonderful child along with Hakkon, so I hope you will support him.

(Reporting, writing, and photography by Kenichi Chiba)

Anime Information

Reincarnated as a vending machine, I wander the labyrinth.
＜Broadcast Information
Broadcasting will begin on July 5, 2023 (Wed.)

　TOKYO MX: Every Wednesday from 22:00
　BS Nichtele: Every Wednesday from 24:30
　AT-X: Every Wednesday from 22:00 (repeat broadcasts: every Friday from 10:00 and every Tuesday from 16:00)

<Distribution information
Distribution will begin on July 5, 2023 (Wed.)

　dAnime Store, DMM TV: Simultaneous distribution with terrestrial broadcasting from 22:00 every Wednesday.
　U-NEXT, Anime Unlimited: Every Saturday from 22:00
Other platforms to follow in order of distribution
ABEMA, FOD, Hulu, J:COM On Demand Mega Pack, Lemino, milplus All you can watch pack Prime, Prime Video, TELASA, Smart Pass Premium, Nico Nico, Bandai Channel, HAPPY! Video, Movie Full Plus

＜Video, Movie Full Plus

Based on the novel "I who was reborn as a vending machine wanders the labyrinth" (Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko/KADOKAWA)
Director : Noriaki Akitani
Series Composition: Tatsuya Takahashi
Character Planning：Hagure Yuukihime
Character Design： Takahiro Sakai
Monster Design: Ryo Akizuki
Assistant Director: Masayuki Takahashi
Chief Animation Director：Naoki Yamauchi, Nanako Tazu, Yoshiaki Tsubata
Sub-character Design：Yuki Koresawashi (Digital Noise), Toumu (Digital Noise)
Vending Machine Design: Michiru Odaka (Digital Noise), Kodakamon Dai (Digital Noise)
Color Design: Yoko Suzuki
Art Director: Eiji Iwase (Studio Churippu)
Director of Photography: Shinji Uoyama (Chiptune)
Editing: Kentaro Tsubone (REAL-T)
Sound Director: Hirotaka Gobun
Music: Yuta Uraki, Keita Takahashi

Produced by: Slow Curve
Animation Producer: Tetsuya Tomioka
Animation Production: Studio Gogumi xAXsiZ
Production: "Reincarnated as a Vending Machine, I Wander the Labyrinth" Production Committee

Opening Theme: BRADIO "Fanfare

<Cast

Hakkon: Jun Fukuyama, Ramis: Kaede Motowatari, Hulumi: Shiki Aoki, Shui: Miu Tomita," Keri Oil: Kazuya Nakai, Firmina: Ai Chino, Chairman Bear: Atsushi Miyauchi, Red: Daiki Yamashita, White: Junya Enoki, Michele: Takuya Eguchi, etc.