The cast members talk about the key points of their acting and the charm of the work! Interview with Chiaki Kobayashi, Junichi Suwabe and Natsumi Fujiwara from the popular summer anime "GREAT PRETENDER"!

The TV anime "GREAT PRETENDER" has been broadcast on Fuji TV's "+Ultra", BS Fuji and other stations (Kansai TV/ Tokai TV/ TV Nishinippon/ Hokkaido Bunka Broadcasting/ BS Fuji) since July 8, 2020 (Wednesday), and is being distributed on Netflix by popular demand.

Directed by Hiro Kaburaki of "91 Days" and "Onikan no Reito"; character design by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" and "Nadia of the Secret Garden"; script and series composition by Ryota Furusawa of "Confidence Man JP" and "Date - What is Love? This work is produced by WIT STUDIO of "Shinkage no Kyojin" and "Kabaneri of the Iron Castle," and is brought to you by the most powerful team of this century. This is the most exciting crime entertainment featuring a group of credit fraudsters (confidantes).

The main character, Edamame, is played by Chiaki Kobayashi, who calls himself Japan's number one genius fraudster, but is by nature a serious and good-natured person. The world-traveling French credit fraudster Laurent Thierry is played by Junichi Suwabe, and Abigail Jones (Abby), a credit fraudster with a supple, toned physique and outstanding athletic ability, is played by Natsumi Fujiwara. For this interview, we spoke with Kobayashi, Suwabe, and Fujiwara, who play the three main characters.

⇒ [ Interview! June 2, Netflix distribution begins ahead of schedule! Director Hiro Kaburaki and Ryota Furusawa (screenplay and series composition) constructed the story of the summer anime "GREAT PRETENDER" with the length of a movie in mind.

I played the role in a naturalistic way, conscious of "not being conscious".

--This film is about a credit fraudster, and the character you play is also a fraudster. How did you prepare for the role of a swindler?

Kobayashi: I didn't have a specific idea of what I was going to do because I was playing a swindler. The script was really a conversation between ordinary people, and there were no strong characterizations or unusual endings, so I just relaxed and relaxed more than usual.

Suwabe: I read the materials I received about the film and the script, delved into them in my own way, and developed my own image of the role. I was not particularly conscious of the fact that he was a con man. Rather than formulating a detailed acting plan, I tried to build up the character of Laurent, put it into my mind, and try to express "how Laurent would speak in such a situation" naturally and without being self-conscious, in accordance with the various situations in which he is placed in the play. I tried to express it naturally without being overbearing. If I had to say, I would say that I was conscious of "not being conscious" (laughs).

Fujiwara When Abby goes undercover, she becomes a different person than she normally is, so I was more conscious of that than of being a con artist. I tried to express that distinction in my performance.

--I was very impressed with the natural acting and the dialogue between the actors. However, maybe it was because I had a preconceived notion that he was a con man, or maybe it was because Mr. Suwabe was so good, but all the lines, especially for Laurent, sounded false.

Suwabe: Laurent's words and actions are a mixture of falsehoods, but if you watch the play with a preconceived notion, you may be drawn to the false side and get that impression.

Kobayashi That is also our goal (laughs).

Suwabe: It looks like a lie, but there is also some truth. So we feel that we have done the right thing (laughs).

--I heard that the script you wrote was highly praised by the staff. Did you receive the entire script for the chapter (CASE) so that you knew what was going to happen?

Suwabe: No, I received the script one episode at a time.

Kobayashi: So, when I was acting the script, I knew only that much about the content. For example, when I recorded episode 4, I was acting without knowing what was going on in episode 5.

Fujiwara That's right. We didn't know either.

Kobayashi That's why we were so excited every time.

Suwabe Whenever I got the script for the next episode, I would read it right away because I was curious about what was going to happen next. It was like "The Great Pretender Weekly.

Fujiwara I wondered how this character from the previous episode would be involved in the next one. I was looking forward to it.

--How was the actual postrecording experience, including the performances of the other cast members and the atmosphere on the set?

Kobayashi: "Fun" is the only word I can use to describe it. I have never had the opportunity to talk with so many senior members of the cast, so it was very stimulating.

Suwabe: The age range of the cast is very wide. From veteran senior members to newcomers. And there is no gender bias. I think that created a good chemical reaction.

Fujiwara I hope you will enjoy that as well.

Some of the little things and characters are foreshadowed in the film.

--I heard that you have seen the completed video up to the halfway point, so please tell us what you think.

Kobayashi: It was wonderful. I wanted to see it in a movie theater.

Fujiwara The pictures, music, sound effects, and everything else were really amazing when I saw it again. (In a word) amazing is a bit of a flat word (laughs).

Suwabe The quality of the images is high and the story is really interesting. The story is really interesting and draws you in. I had a good feeling about the quality from the recording sessions, but when I saw it from an objective viewer's perspective, it turned out to be even more entertaining than I had imagined.

Kobayashi I watched the whole thing in one sitting.

Fujiwara I watched it too.

Suwabe That's right. I watched the entire episode that was given to me at the time. Once I started watching it, I couldn't stop. I realized once again that this is a dangerous work (laughs).

--I was surely thinking, "What was that all about? What was that all about? I was really curious about what was going to happen next. I'm really looking forward to the week when it goes on the air.

Suwabe: I'm sure there will be many people who will be thinking about it, and although each episode is composed of several episodes (CASE1, CASE2, ......), there is also a big story spun through all the episodes on the vertical axis. After watching the last episode, I am sure you will say, "Let's start from the first episode again! I'm sure you will say, "Let's start from the first episode again!

Fujiwara That's right. There must be something I missed.

Kobayashi I'm sure there's a lot, and it's great that you've managed to collect it all.

Suwabe However, I think it is best to watch the film without any preconceptions and with a flat feeling, rather than poking around in the corners of a heavy box.

--Suwabe: I think that the production and action scenes that color the story are also highlights of the film.

Suwabe: There are not only interesting conversations, but also visually interesting action scenes. The characters have rich facial expressions. And the music is stylish. Anyway, everything is highly recommended.

Kobayashi The air race in CASE 2 is especially amazing!

Fujiwara It's amazing, isn't it?

Kobayashi Also, Abby often attacks the edamame, and the expressions on her face are wonderfully drawn.

--I think it's great that Abby is able to draw such a wonderful expression on her face when she attacks Edamame.

Kobayashi: He has mental strength, so I think he is strong to some extent, but he is weak in ...... fights (laughs). I think he hates to lose.

Fujiwara That's true, a lot (laughs).

--I think he is a strong person to a certain extent, but he is weak in a fight (laughs). Without giving any spoilers, who are the characters we are interested in?

Suwabe: If you mean without spoilers, I can't mention any of the characters at this point (laughs). (laughs) For now, let's just say that many unique characters will appear.

Kobayashi That's right. There are some very cool characters with intimidating voices.

Fujiwara Personally, I also like the people who play a lively role and engage in interesting dialogue.

--I think it would be interesting to keep the various characters in mind. There seems to be a lot of foreshadowing in the characters.

Kobayashi: That's right. Even characters who don't really stand out may have something to do with the story in the future.

Suwabe Please look forward to the cast members who will be playing the guest characters. They are all very talented. They were wonderful.

--Lastly, please answer with a yes or no. Are you good at lying?

Suwabe (in a very nice voice) I'm a no (laughs).

KOBAYASHI I doubt it (laughs). If I had to say yes or no, I would probably say yes. I play a lot of board games, so on that level, yes.

Fujiwara I am no.

Kobayashi What? I'm the only one who says yes! (Laughs)

--Thank you very much!

(Interview and text by Kenichi Chiba)

Production Information
TV animation "GREAT PRETENDER

＜Broadcast Information
Broadcast on Fuji Television Network "+Ultra" from July 8, 2020 on Wednesdays at 24:55
Broadcast on BS Fuji and other stations
Broadcast dates and times are subject to change.

Exclusive prior distribution on Netflix starting June 2, 2020
CASE 1 (episodes 1-5) June 2
CASE 2 (episodes 6-10) June 9
CASE3 (episodes 11-14) June 16
CASE4 Coming Soon
Distribution dates and times are subject to change.