Autumn anime "Kizuna no Ariru" second season broadcast commemorative cast interview! Part 6: Yuri Matsuoka (Niska) [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 the virtual cross over, with all its might. Akiba Research Institute will continue to push the show, and will publish daily interviews with the cast members of the virtual artists who will appear in the second season.

In this sixth installment, we will be interviewing Yuri Matsuoka (Niska) of BRT5!

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

Matsuoka: Honestly, I couldn't believe it. It was the first time for me to play a main character in an anime, so I had mixed feelings of nervousness and excitement. However, I was still very happy! I was excited to see how much of the world I had never seen before with this work and all the people involved. I couldn't hold back my excitement. It's the same now.

──Please tell us about the character you are playing, Niska.

Matsuoka: Even though it is just before the start of the second season, what I can say is limited, but I feel that Niska is a mysterious, solitary (?) child. I feel that Niska is a mysterious and solitary girl. However, I believe that she actually "likes people. I also think that she is similar to me in the way she is ...... to the impression people around her have of her (laughs). I think she is searching for her "self" through heart-to-heart contact with others as she strives to reach a higher level.

What was your first impression of Niska?

Matsuoka: A prince. When it came time to play the role, I wondered if I would be able to play such a cool guy. I would be lying if I said that I didn't feel uneasy ...... (laugh).

─ What kind of unit is "BRT5"?

Matsuoka: I can't say enough about this one either ......, so let me give you my personal impression. Very, very blue. I feel that they are such a unit. I had an image of cold colors from the beginning, but I also have an impression of the members' sharp coolness, and I feel that they have a lack of cohesiveness because of everyone's ability. ...... When I looked at the individual members, I thought, "Is this group made up of these members?" I felt that the group was not disjointed. It's not that we're all in pieces,...... but I think we're still a little green. There is room for growth! (Who do I think I am? （) I can't help but look forward to the day when these members will truly unite.

─ ─ Please tell us about any episodes you had with the "BRT5" members during postrecording or recording.

Matsuoka: Actually, the BRT5 has not yet been assembled (full members). ......! But after the recording of the first part of the project, the members of BRT5 almost came together, and we had a chance to have a brief meeting ...... to start the project. The BRT4, not BRT5, gathered at a coffee shop until the staff had finished their work, and I remember it was quite a ...... meeting (laughs). I can't wait to see the full group and sing on stage with everyone!

───What episodes from the recording sessions did you have with the other members of the unit?

Matsuoka: One of the most memorable episodes for me was the day when I had to retake the recording several times because I was the first main cast member of an anime, for which I was very grateful, but the recording did not go well because there were not a few long lines.

When I had to repeatedly tell the staff, as well as my co-stars, "I'm so sorry," because I felt sorry for them. ...... Narichan (Rina Kawaguchi) who played Quon and Mappi (Hikari Kodama) who played Chris, who had been participating in the recording since the first season, told me, "This is our first time to play the main role in an anime too! I remember how reassuring it was to hear that they were kind enough to help me with my concerns about .......

─ By the way, what is your impression of Kizuna Ai, who is an important character in this work?

Matsuoka: Even before I joined this project, I felt that Kizuna Ai was like a "bridge" connecting many people and things. I was able to feel it so close to me. （I am so happy that we are able to receive the baton (until Ai's return) and be a part of this "bridge". It was a series of miracles. It is very moving to think that these miracles are connected by the "trail spun by Kizuna Ai" (......).

I would like to "connect" with many people, not just in formal words, and I hope from the bottom of my heart to convey and share the excitement I received from Kizuna Ai and "Kizuna no Ariru" with many people!

─ What do you think are the highlights and interesting points of the anime "Kizuna no Ariru"?

Matsuoka This is a story about a girl, Miraku, who is still a nobody, who wants to be like the person she admires and struggles to become the best virtual artist she can be. I sometimes feel that I am one of those people, but I feel that there are many people in today's world who feel that they have not yet become anything. At the same time, I think that everyone who feels this way is someone who wants to be someone else. I think this work will be easy for such people to relate to. Not for what Mirak says or does or does not do, but for his vague energy. I would be happy if you could touch, connect, and enjoy this expanding world with me!

─ What are the highlights of the second season of the anime "Kizuna no Ariru"?

Matsuoka: Without a doubt, it is the performances and music that are becoming more powerful! In the first season, we saw the path to the formation of PathTLive. The second season will show the connection and expansion of the world beyond the first season. ...... It's amazing. It's aggravating. Both the stage and the feelings. I can't wait for you to see and hear it. Wait for it, Ariru "Hurricane" of Kizuna (laugh)!

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

Matsuoka: Thank you for a fresh and exciting scene every day. I would like to deliver more and more of this excitement to our viewers. As "Alleles," I don't want to end up as a VTuber or VSinger. I know it is not an easy task, but as an XR artist, I will keep my antenna up and focus on singing, which I love (laughs), but I hope to deliver my multiple charms! I will do my best in singing, dancing, and talking.

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

Matsuoka: Actually, it's been a while since I've been on Akiba Research Institute. I am Yuri Matsuoka. (Nice to meet you, if it's your first time!) (Nice to meet you if it's nice to meet you!) If you continue to be active in this way, you will encounter each other. I believe this encounter was also brought to me by Kizuna Ai! With this new encounter in mind, I would like to search for more "kizuna" together with those who have already taken our products in their hands. ......Get Ready?

Production Information
TV animation "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
Seer: 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