Hiroshi Kamiya, who plays Kusuo Saiki, says to Teruhashi, "Whoa! Director Hiroaki Sakurai of "Kusuo Saiki: The Difficulty of Kusuo Saiki" reveals how he raises the tension during recording.

The new anime series "Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-Difficulty: Ψ-Shooting Arc" based on Shuichi Aso's gag manga "Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-Nan" will be exclusively distributed as a Netflix original anime series starting December 30, 2012!

With the addition of new characters, the speed of the dialogue has increased even faster, and it is simply breathtaking!　Hiroaki Sakurai, the director of the Ψ Seibanhen following the TV anime series, talked about the highlights of the new series, the appeal of the new characters, the recording sessions, and his memories of the entire series.

ー From the time I first greeted you, you kept talking until you sat down on the sofa. ......

Sakurai: I talk a lot. Before the recording session started, I would go to the booth and give a kind of preamble to the session. It is my style to talk nonsense to ease everyone's tension.

I see that this is reflected in your work as well (laughs). The director's talk helped me relax!　Now to the main topic. First of all, what was your honest impression when you heard that a popular series was starting Ψ?

SAKURAI: I am really happy to be called a "popular series. I thought it "ended" with the last episode of Weekly Shonen Jump, but when I heard that there was a story after that, I definitely wanted to do that story. It was my wish to make it as long as there was an original story. When I heard that several other animated films could be adapted for this new series, I felt both a sense of "I've been waiting for this! and "I knew it was coming" at the same time. I have a high school student and an elementary school child, and they all love Saiki Kusuo. I couldn't tell them that I was going to continue (with the anime) until there was an official announcement, so it was hard to keep it under wraps. I'm so happy about it, I feel like telling you (laughs).

Q: What is the appeal of the new series?

SAKURAI: I would have to say the new characters, Dr. Takumi Iguchi (CV. Kosuke Toriumi) and (Suzumiya) Yoi-chan (CV. Nao Higashiyama). I was really looking forward to seeing how these characters, finally put into motion, would be voiced. The pose of Mr. Iguchi watching from the shadows, I thought, "Mr. Aso, you really draw great pictures.

A: A new character with such a strong personality must have quite an impact when there are already so many unique and strong characters in the game.

Sakurai: That's right. But when I heard his voice, I was surprised to find that I was more into him than I had expected. Of course, the same goes for all the previous characters, but I think the voice actors were prepared for this when they were cast in "ΨDifficulty of Kusuo Saiki" (laugh). (Laughs) The tempo of the lines is one thing, but I think the voice actors are also prepared for the strange demands I will be making on them when they play the characters.

Q: What kind of strange requests do you have?

SAKURAI: "Widen the dynamic range," or something like that. Maybe I didn't say this, but I make requests for things that I don't really understand in terms of meaning. But I don't really remember what I said (laughs). Basically, I leave the interpretation to the voice actors. It may be difficult, but all of them have played leading roles before, so when they come to me, I feel at ease and say, "Don't worry. I leave the character development to them.

A: You talk a lot, but you don't say anything about the play (laughs). (Laughs) So, for example, what do you talk about in the recording booth where you do the prerecording?

Sakurai: Basically, I just talk about unimportant things. The purpose is to make the place relax. I only check to make sure that the corrected lines are conveyed properly. For example, the line "Look here!" appears in the new series, and I wanted to request it in detail. I didn't actually do it, but I did want it to be in the vein of "Look out!" from Queen's first album "Modern Times Rock'n'Roll" or something. ...... Oh, I'm getting off track again (laughs). In the end, I just asked him to say that line "like a native speaker.

Mr. Kamiya (Hiroshi) commented, "The director was the only one who seemed to be having fun during the postrecording.

Sakurai: I really enjoyed it. I really enjoy stories in which Kusuo's friends appear, and I think, "It would be great if all these guys could get together. That's why we didn't animate stories with only Kusuo or stories with characters that are only seen in that particular episode. Kamiya-kun would be lonely by himself (laughs). We try to bring everyone out as much as possible. The main cast members who were not in the original story are in the anime, so I hope you enjoy the differences.

I was actually sad to see the original story end, so I had not read the last three volumes of the original (comic book version). But I've watched the anime in one sitting, so I'll compare the two.

Sakurai: There are additions unique to the anime, so please enjoy it. I think you will be able to enjoy the original work even more as your brain will be complemented. There are parts that make me feel like, "I can see it! I can see!

I'm looking forward to it. It pains me to ask you for your favorite from so many characters, but I would like to ask you about your favorite at ....... If you had to choose one, what would it be?

Sakurai: Mr. Teruhashi!　Teruhashi-san raises the tension between me and Kamiya-kun. During the first season, when I told Kamiya-kun that Teruhashi-san was not going to be in that day's episode, he said, "Oh, I've lost my motivation. I felt the same way, so I encouraged him by saying, "I'll try to make it up as much as possible! I encouraged him. Like my daughter, Teruhashi-san is popular among girls. Then there is Shun Kaito. I also like Ryo Yoshizawa-kun's intonation "It's Kaido Shun. (The director performing an impersonation of the live-action version)

How was the live-action version, by the way?

SAKURAI: I wanted to direct the live-action version as well (laughs). (Laughs) I think it would be difficult because it's different, but I wanted to work on both the animation version and the live-action version. I would be happy to do anything that comes my way. I will do whatever work I am offered, as long as it is work that I enjoy!

Q: I would like to see the film!

Sakurai: There are differences between 2D and 3D (CG) even in the same animation, so I think there are more differences between live-action and animation.

I'd like to take a peek and hear what the (live-action) director has to say. Speaking of excitement, how do you feel about distribution in 190 countries around the world?

Sakurai: It's amazing, I can't imagine having dubbed versions in 8 languages and subtitled versions in 28 languages. I am looking forward to it and would like to see it.

Q: Do you have any advice from the director of the original version regarding the production of the subtitled or dubbed version?

SAKURAI: No, I don't have any advice!　I am especially looking forward to seeing what kind of direction you will give. I'll probably only get impressions like, "Wow," or "You did a great job. I also want to hear what kind of voice it will have. Kindo's "Oh? is the same in every country (laughs).

Ramen is now a word that can be understood around the world.

Sakurai: But I wonder if it will change because of the different pronunciations.　I am really looking forward to those details. As for advice, I think it would be more correct to say "I can't" rather than "I don't have any".

Q: Do you have any memories or impressions of the series so far?

SAKURAI: I thought "Weekly Shonen Jump" was great. I was asked many questions by my children's friends, and I was often told by fathers I knew that their children also watched the series. Whenever I heard such a comment, I would think to myself, "I have to be careful about the dialogue so as not to have a bad influence on my children! I had to be careful with my lines so as not to have a bad influence on the children! But the thing I am most careful about is to preserve the flavor of the original work.

Q: Who seemed to have the most difficulty with the new version of "Ψ"?

SAKURAI: The other day, when I watched the second season, I thought that Teruhashi-san was speaking at a very fast pace, even though it was recorded at a normal speed. Considering the amount of lines and phrases, I think Kusuo is the hardest to work with.

Akechi (Toruma) (CV. Yuki Kaji), for example, is so used to it that I don't feel his speed anymore. When he appeared in the original work, I thought, "There are so many characters! so I was grateful that they made it into an anime. Even though it's fast, it's easy to listen to, and I'm grateful for that. I listen to it with headphones.

Sakurai: As for Akechi, he appeared in the original work after the first season of the anime, so I asked Mr. Aso, "Isn't that a challenge for the anime?" I asked Mr. Aso, "Isn't this a challenge for the anime? He smiled and said, "Yes, it is. It was really thanks to Kaji (Yuki). I really recommend listening to it with headphones!

Q: Finally, do you have a message for the whole world?

SAKURAI: This is a really fun work. And we had a lot of fun making it, so I hope you enjoy watching it. Thanks to "Saiki Kusuo no ΨDifficulty," I myself have come to understand the importance and appreciation of ordinary, everyday life. Kusuo enjoys his daily life because he is a friend to his friends, even though he calls them nuisances. Even if you are going through a tough time, you can have a good time by watching "ΨDifficulty of Kusuo Saiki". Please enjoy this world with Kusuo and his friends.

(Reporting and writing by Shinobu Tanaka)