I really think Japanese guys should stop posing _that_ way >_>

I somewhat had the motivation to translate this fun little interview of the Seiyuu cast (and later on, director Sayama herself), though I got tired not long after and just summarized some of the parts orz. I asked help from my sensei for this because I fail a lot, and even he said this is complicated o.O I know this translation is not really accurate, but alas, I don’t think anyone else has bothered translating this, so you’ve got no choice haha. If anyone of you knows if there’s a Chinese translation available for this, do tell… that’ll help enlighten me more.

Update: It seems that there’s a concise and clearer version of this interview posted in the official homepage orz. I’ll go update this post once I get back from my trip.

And onto the interview!

Please tell us your first impression of the characters you’ll be portraying

Inoue: This is Marina Inoue from Sigma Seven.

Konishi: Eh, do we even have to say that? *laughs* [Lt: Do we have to introduce ourselves / say things from that point?]

Miyano: How polite. *laughs*

Inoue: Yes, I am polite. *laughs* When I first read Skip Beat, I found Kyoko to be a character who’s difficult to empathize with. She’s someone who was driven by her grudge to enter the world of showbiz — a character that’s far different from the roles I’ve done so far. But that’s as far as first impression goes, because I was gradually able to see her charm as I read more of the manga.

Konishi: This is Katsuyuki Konishi from Ken Production. Blood type is, as everyone would’ve already figured out by now, B.

Inoue and Miyano: Ahh~

Konishi: What the heck is up with that “Ahh~” *laughs* I’ll be portraying Ren Tsuruga, a role which I’m having quite a hard time with, given that this guy is supposed to be a cool guy by nature. Ren seems like a mature guy at first glance –- someone who’s perfect in everything he does, but turns out to have this ‘natural’ aspect (natural = realistic?). That, together with his childish side, makes him a guy who’s seemingly perfect, but that who actually has this human (and realistic?) side in him.

Miyano: This is Miyano Mamoru from the theatrical troupe Himawari! I’ll be playing Shou-kun, a character who I also find difficult to empathize with.

Inoue: Why so?

Miyano: Well, ironically, playing a character with a rotten personality as Shou’s makes me feel good about myself *audience laughter* (since no one else would compare to how rotten he is ). He hurls nothing else but abusive remarks against Kyoko, but he actually feels sorry for her. Whenever Shou exclaims “Wah, I can’t believe I said that!”, I can really feel [his regret?], and I’m going to try my best to make people see him in the same way too. (I got lost in translation in this one, but from what I understood is that Mamo is referring to Shou’s “rotten but not really” personality. Shou just blurts out harsh words on impulse, but he doesn’t really mean it. At least not the way Kyoko perceives it).

This should be your second recording, so please tell us about your experience so far.

Inoue: Kyoko has sooo many lines, I felt like fainting the moment I looked at the script! As a voice actor, I’m really thankful for having been entrusted this much lines to say, and I joined the dubbing session with that gratefulness. Anyways, since playing Kyoko is like riding an intense emotional roller coaster ride, I’m gonna have to get myself all hyped up early morning of the recording sessions.

Konishi: Yes indeed. And well, this is someone else’s problem, but I just thought that Inoue-san really has it hard. I mean, she’ll be portraying the emotionally high-strung Kyoko, at times as an angel or as someone with a deep-seated grudge. She becomes an amalgam of emotions, and she even has to check her acting at home to see whether she was able to portray it well. In just one episode, there’s like 8 versions of Inoue-san! I can’t help but feel sorry for her… *laughs*

And to think that I have no more than 2 dialogues [in the episodes we’ve dubbed so far]… I just watch her by the sidelines and cheer for her.

Inoue: You will get your chance [to say more dialogues/shine] someday!

(I had a difficult time translating the rest of the parts of this. Basically, Konishi talks about how enjoyable the rest of the dubbing will turn out to be considering that many of the interesting characters already made their appearance in episode 2. Miya on the other hand talks about Shou, how he finds him quite a bastard, but someone he can’t bring to hate. Those who’ve read the manga can totally feel this, ne? Miya also adds that he has to bring out Shou’s appeal, even in his SD devil form )

To continue, here’s a question for Director Sayama. What do you think are the highlights of the anime adaptation?

Inoue: The original [manga] is quite fast paced and brimming with energy, so we see to it that the storyboard and the scenarios remain as faithful in that aspect as much as possible. And as Inoue-san has earlier said, Kyoko is a non-conventional heroine, and we had her drawn in a way that people will love for her hardworking attitude and her enthusiasm in the world of showbiz.

What do you find most noteworthy about the manga (original work)?

Inoue: Lory Takada. *straightforward answer*

Konishi and Miyano: Ah, though so.

(Again, translation laziness ensues!)

Inoue-san finds Lory Takada a great character, in more ways than one. “Just looking at him is enough to make you happy,” she says She then talks about how Lory is involved in much of the serious aspects of the story and is looking forward to seeing him in the anime.

Konishi on the other hand shares about the scene he’s most looking forward to seeing, and that is Kyoko and Moko’s CM audition.

Miyano Mamoru also finds Lory to be an amazing character, and comments on how each and every character are unique and splendid. But among this, what he finds most interesting is the relationship between Shou and Ren, and is looking forward to seeing the “ashtray kicking” scene (which was said to be the scene they acted out in the Skip Beat audition)

Sayama-san throws in her two-cents about this, and shares that she’s looking forward to seeing ‘Kyoko’s success story’. “More than a Cinderella story, I find this to be a story filled with a strong [sportslike] spirit”, says Sayama, and shares her desire to bring the passion-filled Kyoko-chan to life.

It’s just the second episode, but any favorite lines so far?

Miyano: There are so many…

Inoue: More like, you have to choose from among them…

Konishi: Well I only have a few lines… *audience laughter*

(attacked by the translation laziness bug, my deepest apologies)

Inoue finds her lines directed at Shou to be real fun (I’m looking forward to that too! Kyoko x Shou antics! XD)

As for Konishi, his favorite line is Kyoko’s “Ren Tsuruga no ahou! (”Ren Tsuruga is an asshole!”, which Kyoko blurts out with all tsuntsun might!). That left him with the biggest impression, he says. (and until I sink deep in thoughts understanding the rest of the lines he said, no translation or explanation for the rest of what he said).

Shou: Well Shou-kun has a lot of dialogues.

Konishi: Something like “I’m going to make your heart go swoon (*zukyun*)~!” (I can imagine Konishi matching this line with a wink and “shooting for your heart” pose xD)

Miyano: I’m definitely not saying that!! *laughs* And well, there’s this scene with Shouko-san where I was instructed to say the line “But that’s coz Shouko-san is my type~” like a naughty kid, and after trying it out once, I was told to make it sound more erotic *laughs* So this time around (for the second recording), I’m going to do just that! And you, dear audience will be the judge. *laughs*

(I can’t quite understand what Sayama-san says here, but from what I understood she really liked the situation where Shou was “crushed”… when he was in the brink of despair perhaps… not so sure orz)

Then Miyano replies that he’s happy beyond words with what Sayama-said.

And lastly, is there anything else you’d like to share to the fans?

Inoue: [Kyoko] might seem like an unlikely shoujo manga heroine, but you’ll see her live up to her role as the lead girl of the show as she overcomes the hurdles in showbiz. First-time viewers might be shocked at Kyoko at first, but I do hope you guys will get to see her charm and cheer her on [in her endeavors].

Konishi: I think the original manga was adapted well (the beauty of the manga was adapted into the anime well), so fans of the manga can be rest assured. I found it really difficult portraying Ren Tsuruga’s natural coolness, but I did my best to portray it as close to the “dashingly cool” image of Ren Tsuruga, and I’ll be very glad if people will indeed think of him that way. I hope you stick with watching it till the end!

(and since I’m sooo running out of time I’ll just summarize the rest… again.)

Miyano said that Shou-kun could be considered a character who’s very much human, especially with the way he performs, and how various feelings are borne out of this passion of his. It is in Miya’s deepest hopes that he’ll be able to impart that “amusement factor” that Shou brings (or so that’s what I understood x__x).

Sayama-san mentions that all the characters of Skip Beat are unique and have their own charms, but the one that stands out among them is the super hardworker Kyoko. Sayama hopes that the audience will brim with the same energy upon seeing Kyoko, and be influenced by her dauntless spirit.

…and that’s it. 以上です！

Comments and translation corrections are more than welcome!

Similar Posts:

• The Skip Beat Seiyuu Cast Ultimate Solid Proof, To Finally End All Doubts
• The REAL Skip Beat Seiyuu Cast
• Skip Beat Anime KITAAAA!!!! Pandora’s Box, UNLOCK!
• Life Lessons from Skip Beat 01: This Calls For a Revolution!
• Would You Wear a Haiku?

Popularity: 1% [?]