Autumn anime "Kizuna no Ariru" second season broadcast commemorative cast interview! Part 2: Rina Kawaguchi (Quon) [PR].

As an anime project of the world's first virtual YouTuber "Kizuna Eye", the first season of the anime "Kizuna Ariru" has been broadcast since April 2023.

Following the first season, which can be called an introduction to the story of Miraku, a girl who follows Kizuna Ai's back and aspires to become a virtual artist, and her friends, the long-awaited second season will begin in October.

Akiba Research Institute continues to push this work, in which reality and virtuality cross over, to the hilt. We will be releasing daily interviews with the members of PathTLive, formed by the main character Miraku, as well as with the cast of the virtual artists appearing in the second season.

The second interview is with Rina Kawaguchi (Quon)!

─ ─ How do you feel now that the first season has been completed?

Kawaguchi: In the first season, we carefully depicted the story up to the point where the five of us got our feet wet and made a dash for the start. From here, many more characters will appear and the story will begin to move in a big way, so I feel that expectations are rising.

─ ─ What scene or line in the first season left a particularly strong impression on you?

Kawaguchi: The fireworks in episode 12. The five members, who were once seeking separate paths, rediscover their place in the world and come together under Miraku's care. I was also impressed by Quon's appearance in the story. Quon is an introvert, but he struggles in his own way and chooses to be next to everyone, and his appearance from that point on was very impressive. I think it's wonderful that Quon's character came out.

──How is the reaction of the people around you and your fans?

Kawaguchi: Since Quon is a character who shows various appearances in the real and virtual worlds during the production, it was inevitable that many people mentioned the different roles he plays. For more details, please watch the film, but I am very happy to hear people say, "I didn't know who he was! I am very happy to hear that (laughs).

─ ─ Now that you know the personalities of the characters better, if you could say something to the other characters, who would it be and what would you like to say to them?

Kawaguchi: In the real world, there was a scene where Noel was asking Quon about beauty (she was asking him about the secret to Quon's beautiful skin), and I personally would like to see more of the relationship between the two of them. I enjoyed Quon being overwhelmed by Noel's vigor, so I went to ...... (laugh).

─ ─ What kind of activities can we expect to see in the second season, which will finally start airing?

Kawaguchi: The five of us got off to a good start, but we got bogged down and tried to interact and create with the members of other units. ...... Everyone takes a different approach, so I hope you enjoy the show while keeping an eye on that part of it.

─ ─ Units other than PathTLive will also appear in the second season. Please tell us about the unit you are currently interested in, along with the reasons why.

Kawaguchi: It is hard to choose one, but if I had to pick one, I would say "VICONIC". It is completely personal, but Kawaguchi loves K-POP, so I am strongly attracted to "VICONIC" which has such an atmosphere.

─ By the way, at the "Chao x Ribon Girls Comic Fest" held the other day, you gave a live performance and read live for the first time at PathTLive in real life, didn't you?

Kawaguchi: From my own experience, I don't usually feel nervous about live performances. This is because, as a voice actor, I am allowed to put on the skin of the character, and I feel that it is not me who is on stage. But with Quon, it is a little different. That is why I was very nervous. But with the support of the four of us, I was happy to finish the stage happily. I would be happy if I could share such a feeling with you all, and I would like to continue to do my best so that I can create such opportunities in the future.

───I imagine that many things must have happened in the lessons leading up to the performance and in the dressing room on the day of the performance?

Kawaguchi: When we practiced our performance in the mirror together, it was interesting to see how each member had completely different movement habits, even though we were all performing the same choreography. Kawaguchi's secret pleasure is to see what everyone wears to the lessons. My personal winner was Yuzuka Nukui, who plays Noel, with her "boy's style for a day at the pool during the summer vacation. Please ask Ms. Nukui for more details! (Laughs)

T: You are also active as an artist in the XR artist project "Alleles.

Kawaguchi: There was a project called "Mainichi Alleles" in which a different member delivered a daily program, and I was in charge of Thursday with Tsukino-chan, who plays Cea. I was also able to deliver with Tsukinochan. I would be happy if I could deliver with Tsukino again.

─ ─ What do you feel you have gained and matured through this work?

Kawaguchi: As I studied Quon-ness, I discovered that I can act in this way, and that I am good at it. I am usually called a "gal" by people around me ...... (laughs). (laugh) But when I am in Quon, I value the image of "elegant, graceful, and ladylike," which at first glance seems the exact opposite, but I think I fit in well, so I was happy to discover that I can also act like that! It was a happy discovery for me.

─ By the way, if you were to actually enter the virtual world, what kind of avatar would you make?

Kawaguchi: A mysterious little girl with translucent white skin and hair, fragile and seemingly on the verge of disappearing, pure white like an angel. It is somewhat dazzling to wear white in the real world, because I always protect myself with the strong color of black, which is untainted by anything. So in the virtual world, I want to be a pure white, pure white, angelic girl.

───Finally, could you give a message to those who enjoyed the first season and those who are interested in the show but have not seen it yet?

Kawaguchi: I think such a virtual world where you can become the person you want to be really exists in the near future. So I would like people to feel familiar with Quon and his friends as if it were a story about the future a little further in the future. There are many characters in the story, so please try to find your favorite character in the story.

Production Information
TV anime "Kizuna no Ariru" second season

<Broadcast information

TV Tokyo October 4, Wednesday midnight 24:00~.
TV Osaka October 4, Wednesday at 1:35 am -
TV Aichi October 4, Wednesday at 2:05 a.m.
Animax Saturday, October 14, 9:30 a.m.

<Cast

PathTLive
Miraku: Ayumi Hihara
Quon: Rina Kawaguchi
Chris: Hikari Kodama
Noel: Yuzuka Nukui
Liz: Arisaki Hanawa

BRT5
Nisca: Yuri Matsuoka
Jessie: Ran Fue
Ellie: Yuka Yoshiki
Sarah: Hina Natsume
Hal: Hinaki Yano

VICONIC
Jua: Nozomi Nagumo
Seah: Tsukino

3DM8
Hymena: Ruri Arai
Zoe: Nawa Furuhata
Sophia: Yuna Kitahara

Kizuna Ai: Kizuna Ai

Auris: Maazumi Tazawa
Ada:Kana Ueda

<Staff
Director : Kenichiro Komaya
Series composition：Deko Akao
Character Design : Shiori Asaka / Fumina Morita
Chief Animation Director : Shiori Asaka / Futatsuna Morita / Mizuki Takahashi
Prop Design: Kai-Qi Dan
Color Design: Mitsuko Sekimoto
Art Director: Masakazu Miyake
Art Director: Masakazu Miyake ・ Art Setup: Kazushige Kanehira / Yuri Sanami / Hitoyuki Ogi
CG Director: Ryo Sasaki
Director of Photography: Mayuko Koike
Editing: Junichi Masunaga
Sound Director: Hitoshi Akutagawa
Sound Effects: Yui Ando
Music: Tsuyoshi Sakabe
Animation Production: WIT STUDIO × Signal M.D.

Second Season Opening Theme
Perfect World! (Sung by PathTLive)

Second season ending theme
Jankenhoi! (Sung by #kzn)

<Distribution information
Bandai Channel, Hulu, TELASA, J:COM On Demand Megapack, milplus, Smart Pass Premium, dAnime Store, NETFLIX, U-NEXT, Anime Unlimited, Prime Video, DMM TV, FOD Premium, Flat Video, ABEMA, Nico Nico Live, Lemino, Animax on Demand

XR Artist Project "Alleles
What is XR Artist Project "Alleles"?

Dive into "i" Let's dive into it, into the me you want to be.
This is a project in which 15 members with different origins and personalities from the TV anime "Kizuna no Ariru" will dive into the virtual world and grow up.

(c)KA/Kizuna no Ariru PJ (c)Kizuna no Ariru Production Committee