Explaining 17-year-old teachings to new voice actors in the recording studio! Interview with Noriko Hidaka as Aldi and Kikuko Inoue as Fermat in "Bermuda Triangle: Colorful Pastorale

The sixth episode "Tell me your name" of the TV anime "Bermuda Triangle: Colorful Pastorale" was broadcast recently.

Two important roles were played in the sixth episode: Aldi, the village chief who is sometimes harsh with the sonatas, and Ferma, the owner of Cafe Espoir. Noriko Hidaka and Kikuko Inoue, who play these roles and have been friends as actors for 30 years and are trusted by director Junji Nishimura, talked a lot about the work, their relationship with the new cast, the past and present scenes, and their performances in the latest episode 6.

Please watch the latest six episodes and then read on.

Even in the world of mermaids, 17-year-olds are taught!

─ ─ What did you feel about the world depicted in the work when you saw the animation?

Hidaka: The characters are mermaids, and the work as a whole has a very relaxed everyday life. The depiction of the undersea scenery is also beautiful and very soothing. The world is mysterious, with hijiki seaweed drying in the sea, and when bubbles appear with a popping sound, I remember that I was in the water (laughs). (Laughs.) Everyone swims instead of walks, so their movements are somewhat graceful.

Inoue: Because they are swimming, they are going up vertically in a whirlwind. It's a movement that would not be possible in our "everyday" life. It is interesting and beautiful, so I think it is a work that makes you happy just by looking at it. The mermaids that appear in the film are cute, some of them are calm, while others are energetic and kyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyakyaky. The story takes place at the bottom of the sea, but the leisurely time that flows through it is comfortable for us as well. It is strange that they are sometimes the same and sometimes different from human beings.

Hidaka: The setting is the sea and the characters are mermaids, but everyday life is just that, everyday. Parrel is a rural village, so everyone you meet is kind and friendly, like relatives. There are no bad people, and although the sonata girls have strong personalities, they are all nice!　I talked with the sound director about how we wanted to emphasize that kind of heartwarming, everyday feeling.

Inoue The sounds in the story are very impressive, and just listening to the sound of the water bubbles like the ones in ...... is soothing, so it is a work that you want to keep watching, not only for the images but also for the wonderful sound.

Hidaka That's true.

Inoue I think it is a good work!　I love it.

What do you think of Aldi and Fermat?

Hidaka: Aldi is the chief of the village of Parlel, and he is a very strong man. At first, I show that side of him, but when he talks with Ferma, his true side comes out. I hope to show both sides in my performance.

Inoue: Fermat is like the ...... mom at the coffee shop. I imagined her like a mom in a coffee shop. The store serves cakes and tea, but her outfit is sexy (laughs).

Hidaka: It looks fine from the front, but when you turn around, you wonder if it's safe to show so much backside. FERMA is a surprise to me.

Inoue She looks mature and has an atmosphere like a nightclub (laughs). After Sonata and the other girls go to bed, it may have a bit of an adult atmosphere.

Hidaka Mermaids are only girls, but there are also seal postmen and others.

Inoue Colorful pastorale at night?

Everyone （laughs） Hidaka

Hidaka It has a different atmosphere in the village. (Aldi) Yes, he got better after drinking tea, but didn't he just now sip a little alcohol or something? (Laughs).

Inoue: Well, the work depicts her as a kind, mature woman who serves delicious cakes, so I hope you will enjoy imagining what she might be like at ...... (laughs). （All five of them are cute, so when they come to the store to enjoy Fermat's cakes, I feel happy that they are all here! It makes me happy too.

Hidaka: When I first saw the picture, I was convinced that this is Kikko-chan (Inoue's nickname) and this is the character I play. Fermat is soft and fluffy.

Inoue: Fermat's calmness makes her very easy to play.

Hidaka: Aldi uses a lot of masculine language, doesn't he?

Inoue Actually, Nonko (Hidaka's nickname) doesn't have many roles like that.

Hidaka That's right. I have played many roles as boys, but I don't have much experience as an adult woman with a masculine tone of voice. I am trying to find a balance between the dignity of a chief and the femininity of a woman.

─ ─ The mermaids in the world of this work don't seem to age beyond a certain point in terms of appearance. I think that is exactly like the "17-year-old cult".

Inoue Thank you for the mermaid world.

Hidaka It seems like you have finally reached the age of 17 in your works!

Inoue Yes, I am glad that I have been saying 17 and 17 for so long. I am in sync with my role ......, but unlike Fermat and the others, I am a 17 year old who is in a state of flux. Time and space are warped.

Hidaka: In the studio, Kikko-chan is explaining in a loud voice what 17-year-old education is. The younger cast members don't know what 17-year-old education is anymore.

(*Ed. note: What is 17-year-old-ism?)

It is a voluntary organization in the voice-over industry that was born when Kikuko Inoue referred to herself as an eternal 17-year-old. In the 2000s, Yui Horie and Yukari Tamura joined the group, and the "17-sai-kyo" group became a major force in the voice acting industry. In the 2000s, Horie Yui and Tamura Yukari joined the group. When she announced herself as "Kikuko Inoue, 17 years old ♡," the audience responded, "Oh, come on! The audience is accustomed to giving a "Hey, hey, hey!

Hidaka: She talks about why she is 17 years old and the wonderful things she can get from that age.

Inoue We talk about it during breaks in the recording.

Hidaka I felt that the way everyone was listening to him was a bit like the world of this work (laughs).

─ ─ Some of the main cast members also mentioned the 17-year-old teaching and the "Hey, hey! was one of the things that impressed me during the postrecording.

Inoue: I'm kind of sorry, I'm sorry. I should have learned more, but I was kind of having fun at that time.

Hidaka It was interesting to hear one of the guest voice actors passionately say, "The 17-year-old teaching should be preserved as a tradition! It was interesting to hear him say so passionately (laughs).

Inoue The young people were staring at him, and I felt really sorry for them (laughs).

Hidaka How many years have you been saying you are 17?

Inoue 3...... No, no, I started saying it in the latter half after I turned 17, so I think it's been about 20 years.

Hidaka: It's already strange that you have been saying you are 17 years old for 20 years.

The connection with Director Nishimura over 30 years and the relationship with the new cast members

─ I heard that the director Junji Nishimura wanted to use Mr. Hidaka and Ms. Inoue. I was very impressed when the director told me before the broadcast that Aldi and Ferma are the eldest and third daughters of the Tendou sisters.

Inoue That's very kind of you!

Hidaka We were very indebted to Director Nishimura for the work "Ranma 1/2" (based on the original story by Rumiko Takahashi. Nishimura directed the second half (episodes 70-143) of the anime "Ranma 1/2: Nekko-hen," in which we played sisters. It was almost 30 years ago, but the director is still going strong, and we have been able to continue working as actors, so we were able to work together like this. When I meet with the director now, we still talk about "Ranma 1/2. For me, it was the film where I met Kikko-chan, and I have fond memories of it since there are many actors of the same generation in the film.

Inoue I am very happy that you invited me because of that.

─ ─ And since the series was composed by Michiko Yokote, it really is like a reunion of the late 80s and 90s.

Inoue That's right!　When I open the script and see Director Nishimura's name and Yokote's name, that alone makes me swoon. I couldn't be happier to be able to work on a new film with him.

Hidaka: The director said to the young cast members, "These two first worked together in my film "Ranma 1/2," but at that time they were newcomers just like you," and I thought I was an older sister than them (laughs).

Inoue: "Ranma 1/2" was my first regular work. I was so nervous that I couldn't speak at all, and then Nonko sat down next to me. She was like a god, always helping me out, saying, "Kikko-chan, here is a bracelet, and you should read these words slowly. It has been 30 years since then, and I am still here today, so I am very deeply moved.

Hidaka: So when I heard what the director said, I felt that we, as the older generation, would be taking on the young people on this project! I really felt that we were going to be the ones to take on the young kids as their seniors. Some of the main characters are participating in postrecording for the first time. When we were newcomers, we were given a lot of instruction, but the way we felt in our twenties back then was completely different from the way we feel today as teenagers. So we have already passed the age of older sisters like Aldi and the others.

Inoue & Hidaka Mothers!

Hidaka That's right!

Inoue: That's how I feel.

Hidaka: Amane Shindo (who plays Caro) is 14 years old?　She is younger than my daughter.

Inoue I asked her if she is going to take an entrance exam. I asked her if she was going to take the entrance exam next year, and she said, "I'm in the second year of junior high school, so I'll be in the third year of junior high school next year. I was surprised. I was surprised to hear that. I was also talking with Moka Hiraguri (who plays Kanon) about how she is one step above me.

Hidaka: You are one step above me, you are a ...... high school student.

Inoue: "Yes! (laugh).

Hidaka We have been taught by our seniors, so now we have to do our best to fill that position.

───What did you think when you actually saw the newcomers during the recording sessions and breaks?

Inoue: I can't help but think they are all so cute. Each and every one of them is cute and attractive. There are many productions with many girls, but they often end without me getting to know each one of them. In this production, I feel very much like I want to get to know them all, so I can talk about them all!　Rari-chan (Tago Takeda Rarisa Takeda, who plays Sonata) is a hard worker!

Hidaka: That's true.

Inoue She is a diligent hard worker, and the way she tries her best to play the main character is precious. Moka-chan (Moka Hiraguri, who plays Kanon) is in her first production, and yet she doesn't make you think so. She is very quiet.

Hidaka: She has a strong core.

Inoue: I can feel that. She is a mysterious girl with a quiet but fighting spirit, and her words are cute.

Hidaka When Moka signed her first poster, she signed her name on her character's face. So my first advice to Moka was, "You should put your signature below your face" (laughs).

Inoue: Boryisa-chan (played by Boki Boryisa as Fina) is also very funny. She is both cute and funny.

Hidaka: She has a haughty and comedic side. Her character is quiet, but I don't think she is (laughs).

Inoue It's funny how he sometimes says something like, "It's something, sir.

Hidaka I sympathize with his attitude of going all out to get a laugh.

Inoue That may be the same line as Nonko's.

Hidaka I look at her thinking, "I'm watching you, I know what you're doing. I have the impression that she is a little bit the older sister of the five.

Inoue In that sense, Hikaru-chan (Hikaru Tono who plays Serena) is also an older sister. I feel like I have to protect Amane-chan. Hikaru-chan and Lisa-chan share the same office with Amane-chan. It is heartwarming to see her like that. Hikaru often asks me questions about how things are done.

Hidaka: He asks me what it means when a senior actor puts his hand over his ear during recording.

Inoue I can really feel that they want to grow as voice actors.

Hidaka I can feel it!

Inoue We also want to support them.

Hidaka In our days, when we went out for drinks with our seniors, we were often taught such things. But nowadays we do a lot of recording during the daytime and don't have such opportunities very often, so we are happy to have them share their questions with us in the studio. So it's kind of like we are like teachers for them (laughs).

Inoue: I'm glad that you can close the distance with us like that. Hikaru wrote us a letter today, saying that he is not good at expressing his feelings.

Hidaka It makes me happy to know that he loves me. I would also like to say the same for Amane (Shindo Amane who plays Caro).

Inoue: Amane is cute, isn't she!　So cute!

Hidaka: In a studio, we usually sit facing the screen. But Amane-chan's knees were facing me. When I asked her, "Do you want to talk about something? she would say "No." Inoue: Amane-chan is close to me in terms of distance.

Inoue: Amane is very close to me.

Hidaka: When we talk, she gives off an aura that she wants to be a part of our group! She gives off an aura of "I want to be a part of this group!

Inoue She looks at us longingly and smiles. She is a free spirit and cute like the youngest child.

Hidaka: I haven't seen her recently, but she has a big candy pouch with crunchy plums and kelp sweets that her mother picked out for her, and when I looked at it, she would ask me if I wanted some (laughs). (Laughs) I keep thinking that one day I should buy some sweets and give them back to that pouch.

Inoue Just looking at them cheers me up!　They come to the site in their youthful miniskirts and really make me feel like a relative's aunt.

Hidaka Everyone is full of motivation, and I can feel their will to do their best.

Inoue: The sound director, Chikako Yokota, is like a teacher, leading everyone and giving precise instructions, which I think contributes to the atmosphere at the site.

Episode 6 is the story of Fermat and Aldi

─ ─ Episode 6 is the story of Aldi and Fermat, and there is a mysterious scene where Aldi talks to the Fermat of the past.

Hidaka: Actually, when Kikko-chan first read the script, she thought she was going to play the younger Fermat as well (laughs).

Inoue: Kaede Hondo played the role in the production. She was super cute and I felt like I got a lot out of it!

Hidaka: The other girls, except for Aldi, were not aware that the mermaid in the kine orb was Ferma when they were talking, so it was not possible for them to have the same voice.

─ ─ Personally, I would have liked to hear Inoue-san's performance of the young Ferma, who is so young that people don't even notice her.

Inoue: I think they would probably recognize her right away (laughs). (laughs) I asked her to play the role of a cute young woman.

Hidaka I thought that Fermat was in a position to be so kind and close to the children because she had experienced so many things.

─ I think the key point of episode 6 is Aldi's performance as he talks to Fermat in the past. How did you put your feelings into the performance?

Hidaka: That's right. For Aldi, who is now an adult, Fermat is his best friend. That's why I wanted to save Fermat when she was a child. I confidently told her that you will be fine. There was a distortion of time and space, and I played the role while thinking that perhaps Fermat is here today because of these words, and that they might be connected. That is why I felt I had to convey my feelings sincerely to Fermat.

─ ─ How did you feel when you saw her performance?

Inoue: I was happy. I could feel her feelings overflowing from the dialogue.

Hidaka: In terms of conveying my feelings, I think I expressed my feelings most strongly as Aldi in the dialogue of that scene. I wanted to know what Fermat went through to become the Fermat of today.

Inoue How did she get into that sexy outfit?

Hidaka Well, I guess that's not what I was talking about (laughs).

Inoue There must have been a lot going on (laughs).

─ ─ Finally, could you give a message to your fans?

Inoue Anyway, it is a very wonderful work that makes you happy just by looking at it or listening to it. It is full of cute girls, so I think both little girls and their big friends will enjoy it. It is a very gentle world, but there are many scenes that make you realize something important. I hope everyone will see it and enjoy it!

Hidaka: It is a heartwarming work, but each one of us has our own problems, and we all face them with all our might. There are many big stories in it, such as people's feelings for others and adults' attempts to protect children. But simply, the heartwarming atmosphere of the mermaid world and the soft and beautiful images will make you feel relaxed when you are tired, and I believe that this animation will enrich your life. I am sure that this work will reach everyone's heart!

(Reporting and writing by Kiri Nakazato)