original:https://www.crank-in.net/trend/interview/173578/1
The latest installment in the "Pretty Cure" series, the idol-themed anime "You and Idol Precure♪" (ABC TV/TV Asahi network, every Sunday at 8:30 AM). Its theatrical version, "You and Idol Pretty Cure the Movie: For You! Our Kirakilala Concert!", is now showing nationwide since September 12. Set on the mysterious "AiAi Island," the Idol Precure, who are set to perform at the "number one in the universe" idol festival, strive vigorously to save the island and the world from a crisis. To commemorate the movie's release, Crank-in! Trend interviewed Cure Idol/Sakura Uta's voice actress Misato Matsuoka, Cure Wink/Aokaze Nana's voice actress Minami Takahashi, Cure Kyun Kyun/Shiame Kokoro's voice actress Natsumi Takamori, Pururun/Cure Z-Swoon's voice actress Yoshino Nanjo, and Meroron/Cure Kiss's voice actress Mihana. In addition to the highlights of the work, we asked each of them about the things they "love the most in the universe" or are currently obsessed with.
■This is also a very exciting work for those who are keen on supporting idols
―― Please tell us your thoughts when you first read the script for this work.
Matsuoka: The diverse cast of idols and the sheer scale of the "Universe's No. 1 Idol Festival" made this a truly unique film, distinct from the TV series. I hope everyone will find their ideal idol!
Takahashi: When I read the script, I felt it contained all the bittersweet aspects of supporting an idol ("oshi-katsu"). I myself engage in "oshi-katsu" regularly, and I could relate to it so much that I cried while reading the script. It's a story that really expresses the emotions of us "oshi-katsu" enthusiasts. I think it will be a wonderful movie for everyone who does "oshi-katsu," and I hope you can see it soon.
Takamori: Among the passionate lines unique to the movie version, I was deeply moved by the words of the senior Precure from "HiroPuri" ("Hirogaru Sky! Pretty Cure") and "WanPuri" ("Wonderful Precure!"). I also cried due to the sheer intensity, so I hope you'll pay attention to the senior's lines as well.
Nanjo: I probably cried at the same part too (laughs). I want you to see the senior Precure's active roles, and I also think the grand scale of each element is unique to the movie version. The excitement builds up more and more towards the latter half, culminating in a great release at the end, so I hope you can soon enjoy it on the big screen in theaters with powerful sound.
Hanai: The story and the interactions with the movie-original characters are also depicted very vividly. The antagonistic characters this time aren't just scary; they have proper backstories, so please pay attention to that aspect as well. And above all, the live performances! As expected of the "number one in the universe" idol festival, the scale is truly grand. I hope you'll swing your Kiraki Lights together in front of the screen and enjoy it.
―― How was the voice recording studio? Please tell us any memorable episodes.
Takamori: The series director for the TV series, Chiaki Kon, came to visit... no, to cheer us on (laughs). She brought us banana snacks as a treat.
Takahashi: She told me, "Since they're banana snacks, Nana will definitely eat them!" and gave us the treat, but there were only four pieces in it. Even though there are five of us!
Takamori: The five of us said, "Is this meant to start a fight?" (laughs).
Takahashi: That's how we felt, but Kon-san left the banana snacks and her smile behind and went home (laughs). That's also a good memory.
―― We heard that the five of you also observed the voice recording session for the past Pretty Cure series.
Takahashi: It was so cool!
Nanjo: The history of how they have fought up until now seemed to emanate from them. Seeing the seniors' example, we felt motivated that we must become like that too. It was really cool.
Matsuoka: When I heard the seniors' voices, even in a pinch, I thought, "We will definitely be saved!" There was a power that made me feel very reassured.
Hanai: It was also impressive how the distinct colors of each senior were strongly expressed per series.
Takamori: I felt the reliability of the senior Precure, who had built up their experiences over a year and ran through to the very end.
Nanjo: Their unison lines were also perfectly in sync. After watching the senior Precure's recording, I felt, "We also have to show our good points to the seniors."
―― Please tell us about the things you love the most in the universe or are currently obsessed with!
Matsuoka: I love eating until I'm full! Lately, I can't help but find it incredibly fun to stuff my mouth full of delicious food, even beyond being full.
Takahashi: When we all went out for a meal, a really large dish came out, and I couldn't finish it. Then Matsuoka-chan said, "I can handle it!" and ate it for me. She was really reliable.
Matsuoka: I'm good at eating, so leave it to me!
Hanai: When it comes to food-related things, I've loved sour plum candy since I was little. I have plenty of stock at home, and I still like it so much that I always have some in my bag.
Takahashi: We often share snacks immediately at the recording studio, and the sour plum candy we ate then was on a level that was moving!
Hanai: It was my first time encountering that particular sour plum candy!
Takahashi: We were so impressed that we ordered it online together right then and there. I think both our houses now have a large stock of that candy (laughs).
Takamori: I love cookies. The simpler they are, the happier I am!
Nanjo: We went to a cookie festival together.
Takamori: We bought loads, didn't we? I've never bought that many cookies purely on instinct. Something important inside me broke loose there (laughs). I don't think I'll ever hold back on cookies again from now on.
Takahashi: For me, it's not food, but I really love idols. So much so that I feel I can't live without consuming it daily, just like food. I watch everyone dancing and singing every day, making it the thing I watch the most in the universe. I think about idols 24 hours a day, including in my dreams (laughs).
Nanjo: I love looking at menus. Izakaya menus have lots of delicious things written on them, right? I just can't stop getting excited. At one point, I thought maybe I'd be happy if I set a menu as my phone wallpaper (laughs). Also, I love games too and play them sacrificing sleep time. I'm living freely (laughs).
Takahashi: That’s the best!
―― Please tell us about something recent that made you feel "Kirakki Ran Ran".
Takahashi: I also love watching idol live performance production. When I encounter the best production, I think, "I've never seen this production before, it's the best!" and I can't help but raise my fist in the live venue. In that moment, I thought, "This is Kirakki Ran Ran right now."
Nanjo: My nieces watch "KimiPuri" for me. It seems they also cherish Pururun. The child of a gaming friend also watches it, and recently reported to me that they learned the word "oshi". Also, when I returned to my hometown during the Tanabata season, there was a strip of paper hung at a drugstore that said, "I want to become a Pretty Cure! I want to meet them!". When I see things like that, I feel that our message is reaching people, and I think that's Kirakki Ran Ran. It makes me happy and touched.
Hanai: I have a favorite cup yakisoba that I'm a fan of. It's really spicy. Until a little while ago, I used to see it often, but recently it suddenly disappeared. Even though I loved it enough to buy it by the case, it suddenly vanished, and I was feeling sad, but the other day when I stopped by a convenience store on a whim, it had returned with a 50% reduction in spiciness! I bought it immediately, ate it while remembering the old times, and felt Kirakki Ran Ran. That cup yakisoba made me feel anew that you should support your "oshi" when you can.
Takamori: Following that flow, recently I've been engaging in activities where I go to live performances of people I've wanted to see live at least once in my life. One I went to this year that was really fun was the joint performance by Kishidan and Group Tamashii. I watch live performances of people I've liked since childhood or wanted to see at least once, savoring the gratitude that my "oshi" are active, and through that activity, I experience Kirakki Ran Ran.
Matsuoka: When I listen to "KimiPuri" songs, I can't help but feel like running at full speed. I really like the "KimiPuri" songs and listen to them daily, but one time, I thought, "I kinda want to run with all my might!" as if I found a fragment of something "sparkling". I thought, "This might be the moment!" and started the activity of running around a nearby park while listening to "KimiPuri" songs. Running was a bit of a heavy task for me, but listening to the songs made me want to do it. I thought that was Kirakki Ran Ran.
―― Please give a message to everyone looking forward to the movie's release.
Hanai: As it's the "number one in the universe" idol festival, idol girls gathered from across the universe come together, sing, dance, do fan service, and the story progresses. I hope you all can enjoy it together by swinging your Kiraki Lights.
Nanjo: The movie version is made so that Kirakki Ran Ran things overflow within each of you. The movie-original characters also perform in a very fun and wonderful way, so I hope you enjoy that aspect as well.
Takamori: For the "Kimi" watching, this might be their first movie, or their first live, or their first festival, or their first vacation. I think this theatrical version will be full of such firsts. Various ways to enjoy it are scattered throughout, so I hope you can fully enjoy the visuals, sound, and music without reserve.
Takahashi: It's a theatrical version filled with laughter, tears, songs, and Kirakki Ran Ran – truly wonderful and packed with things to love. I'd be happy if it becomes one of the works that remains in your life. And I hope that someday you will look back and remember this movie. We also performed with all our hearts. The Precure also fight with all their might, so please come to the theater with sparkling hearts to cheer them on. We'll be waiting!
Matsuoka: It truly became a work that delivers Kirakki Ran Ran to "Kimi" with all our might! While watching, you will probably feel various emotions, and all those emotions are "Kimi". I hope you won't forget what you felt, what you thought was sparkling in that moment, and accept that this is who you are. Because that version of you is also truly wonderful! I hope you watch the movie and find your own Kirakki Ran Ran. Please enjoy it to the fullest!
(Interview & Text: M. TOKU Photos: Hiromi Takano)
