Team interviews of Chun Meng Ji

News! "XXXHOLiC" is animated again! Team interviews with Ohara and Fukuyama

The OAD "XXXHOLiC Spring Dream" (previous edition) launched by Kodansha will be released together with the first limited edition of the manga XXXHOLiC volume 14 on February 17, 2009 On sale today. The price is 3,700 yen (tax included). The deadline for reservations is December 22, 2008.

This work is a video work of CLAMP's original comic "XXXHOLiC" which is serialized in "New Shōnen" (Kodansha Magazine). The latest work of TVA "XXXHOLiC" has been launched with the theatrical version and its TV series. At the same time, the development of the story and the relationship between the development of the OAD "TSUBASA Chun Lei Ji" is one of the charms of this work.

An interview between Tetsuji Kawaguchi, the producer of this game, and the voice actors of the characters has been made public.

──This year is the 4th year of welcoming "XXXHOLiC", please tell us how you feel now.

Ohara Yuko ("Yuuko Ihara"): This is a work that has taken such a long time to develop and develop to this day. Thank you very much. This is the first work in which I have played a major role, and I will always keep it in my heart. From the theatrical version to the game, the drama CD, and the radio broadcast with Mei Xiang, I think this is really a set of works that involves a very broad "縁分". In terms of just a few years, it might only be 4 years, but the feeling of being a "Yuuko" seems to have become a lifelong career. I'm really happy to have another chance to perform.

Junji Fukuyama ("April 1st Jun"): Four years of experience is indeed a long time, but while we are working, it doesn't feel like history anymore. A long time. When I was working on the theatrical version, I was working in a situation where I had no idea that there would be a TV version. As a result, the work has continued to this point with great enthusiasm.

In the story, Yuko often says that we will change as we meet different people. However, during these four years, her thoughts on the world, growth, etc. may have changed. Experience has also changed, and this change can basically be said to come from the feeling of "April 1st". Every time I feel this, I feel that this is a very happy thing as an actor. This time's version of "A Spring Dream" has a similar feel to the original work. Capturing "April 1st" in a different atmosphere and then interpreting it is a very pleasant thing this time. As Ms. Ohara said, this seems like a lifelong career and I want to do it forever.

Kazuya Nakai (played by "Hyakume Kisei"): When I first voiced the movie version, my thought was "Ah, I have to do my job well. Even in the current work, I still have this feeling." It feels good to hope that the work can be completed beautifully in advance. However, in "XXXHOLiC", I always hope that it will release something new, and it is a work that I want to keep working on no matter what. Regarding the supporting role in this OVA, I was really happy when I heard that I could play the "Hundred-Eyed Ghost" again, and I even felt positive and moved forward. Although I basically just turn my back to everyone, I still want to work hard.

Kikuchi Mika ("Mokona"): Basically, I was able to get the role here because I played "White Mokona" in "TSABASA". However, at that time, When I heard in the theatrical version of "XXXHOLiC" that the form of "Black Mana" would appear together, I thought that the voice should be played by the same person. However, after thinking about it for a while, I still felt that this was indeed a good choice. And my voice is capable of acting like a boy or a girl. Recently I have been thinking that being able to become a voice actor again is really a very lucky and fateful thing. During the recording of "XXXHOLiC", many seniors were often in a state of uneasiness when they first voiced the role of "Mokona" and could not even hear the words coming out of their mouths. However, now I can really say anything, and I learned a lot from other voice actors during the dubbing scene. .

Producer Kawaguchi: I only started joining during the theatrical version.

However, at first, our president told me, "There are works like this recently. Please take care of me.", and then I was handed a single book with the words "Production I.G decided" (laughs). Those words were really sudden and surprising (laughs). In order not to destroy the worldview set by Mr. CLAMP, it was no longer possible to consider things. It started from the situation that it was necessary to improve the quality a little bit, and at the same time, it was mostly in general. Or it ended due to circumstances, and it has been like this for 4 years. But it’s not like I’ve been working on it for four years. There were some regular breaks to keep this work fresh. The theatrical version has been revived into two more TV animations. However, although it has been a long time before post-recording is done, the feeling of "Yuko" and "April 1st" will not be the same every time. It has changed and become a work site where I feel like I have been working on it all the time without stopping. It may come as a shock. OAD will release two volumes, but I am also thinking about continuing to release them after the completion

--Everyone, besides working on "XXXHOLiC", do you also meet each other on a regular basis?

Ohara Yuki: The person who wants to know must be there, but the main characters and staff are all Sagittarius. Shizu Ito, Ms. Wakabayashi who created the characters, Ms. Yonaga who was in charge of role assignment, and Director Mizushima are also here. Kawaguchi you…….

Producer Kawaguchi: I am a Scorpio (laughing). So I think deeply about every sentence I hear.

Ohara Yuki: I'm sorry (laughing) When I decided on that role, I didn't expect that Sagittarius would have such a grand event.

Kikuchi Yuki: The manager should be Mr. Nakai, but...

Ohara Yuki: I was rejected in the same way last year.

Kikuchi Yuki: We only got together once. At that time, Mr. CLAMP was invited to visit.

――Please share your final thoughts on the decision to produce this OAD.

Fukuyama: The content of the OVA has finally begun to approach the original work, based on the important core part of the connection between "TSABASA" and "XXX HOLiC". However, there has never been such a connection part in the TV animation of "XXXHOLiC". This time "April 1st" really plays the core part of the two stories. In addition, it was also because I had thought about working in such a way that the two works were interconnected, but this time I was really happy to work in a different form than before.

Ohara Yuki: This time, as Jun-kun said, all the members can only describe their thoughts in one sentence, that is, they all feel very happy. This OAD was started through direct dialogue with Mr. CLAMP. He said that he wanted to make a theatrical version while drinking. Among them, OAD has done very well until now. Because there are many contents that seem to be restricted for playback other than ON AIR, there may be ways to play the watch that are not very similar to the original. But this kind of post-recording is actually really interesting.

Nakai: The TV animation "XXXHOLiC" is not a type suitable for prime time broadcast, but it has a unique meaning when it is broadcast at the original time. If you suddenly watch it when you wake up at night, and then think "Ah, that's interesting", you will think it's OK and start watching it.

Kikuchi Yuki: Everyone said everything I wanted to say. All in all, very happy with the production decision.

――Do you realize anything about the fact that this time's OAD and the original manga are being released as tapes?

Producer Kawaguchi: Because the scripts are all written by Mr. Okawa, the core parts of the story are not necessarily known. In addition, the supervision and character design are the same as before, so there is no particular burden on my mood. But I'm a little worried about the part connected to "TSABASA". Because we didn't know the situation of "TSUBASA" at the "XXXHOLiC" site, nor did we know some special settings...

Kikuchi Yuki: That’s true.

Fukuyama: Come on, I only appeared once at "TSUBASA".

Nakai: It’s completely unrelated. The audition of "Black Steel" made me feel uncomfortable. (A hall full of joy).

――So what kind of negotiations did you have with Teacher CLAMP?

Producer Kawaguchi: At the beginning, I also considered whether we should establish a related point connected with "TSUBASA". The teacher becomes the mediator. Director Mizushima and the creator of the series, Michiko, came up with the idea together, and in the end, it turned out to be "It would be a shame not to use the plan that I had so hard to think of."

——Finally, I can say a few words to FNAS.

Producer Kawaguchi: I said it just now. However, I did it with the most perfect attitude. And for those of you who have already bought the original work, I have been working hard so that you will not be disappointed.

Kikuchi Yuki: In the original work, I am very impressed by the various characters of everyone here. This time it is a work released by the original work. I try to say to people who have never watched the animation that they must watch this OVA. In the future, we hope that our voices will continue to change in our minds with different loving works. Keep working hard.

Fukuyama: I have already said this and that. As for that area, let’s leave it aside for a while. Those who have watched the anime will want to watch the original work, and those who have watched the original work will want to watch the anime. That’s all I have in mind and I hope to keep working hard.

Ohara Yuki: I feel very happy to work at "XXXHOLiC" again with the same staff and the same role assignments. I am also very grateful to you all. "TSUBASA" also released an OVA together with the manga, so I hope they can work together.

Nakai: At this stage when I haven’t read the script yet, I have the idea of ??irresponsibility. However, until now, if I read it once as a fan, "XXXHOLiC" is Very interesting.