Translation for https://dengekionline.com/elem/000/001/543/1543237/ made by ChatGPT, then reviewed and corrected by Twitter user Alcor_MX
Interview Before the Anime Final episode! We Asked Megumi Han, and other staff who stars in "Little Witch Academia" about The feelings & the game adaption
Written by: Dengeki Online
As the anime "Little Witch Academia" reaches its climax, and with the announcement of the PS4 game "Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time," we had the chance to talk with the voice actors involved in both projects.
TV Anime "Little Witch Academia" Episode 25 "Tree of Words" Preview
The interview features Megumi Han (Atsuko Kagari), Fumiko Orikasa (Lotte Jansson), and Michiyo Murase (Sucy Manbavaran). We also spoke with Bandai Namco Entertainment's producer Yosuke Futami who is in charge of the game production
As the TV anime "Little Witch Academia" approaches its final episode, what did these three actors have to say? If you're curious, be sure to check it out!
(Image caption: From left to right, Fumiko Orikasa, Megumi Han, and Michiyo Murase)
—Please tell us your impressions of the characters you played.
Han: Akko is a cheerful girl who always acts on her impulses. When she's happy, she's 120% happy, and when she's sad, she's 120% sad. She's pure and gives her all in everything she does. In the TV anime series, Akko's bright side isn't the only thing we see but also her dark side is portrayed, which I think makes her more relatable.
Orikasa: Lotte is an ordinary girl compared to Akko. She is even referred in the tv anime as "the girl with a pressence as thin as air/ invisible Lotte" (laughs). She gives off the vibe of the girl next door.
Murase: Sucy is described as "laid-back and sharp-tongued" on the official website, but that’s probably because she's with Akko (laughs). She’s a character who believes in "you do you, and I’ll do me," but when she’s with Akko and Lotte i think theres something special about them. Also, she loves mushrooms (laughs).
—Which episode left the biggest impression on you?
Han: My favorite episode changes from day to day. It's like i love this episode when I'm feeling down, and this episode when I'm moved by someone's kindness (laughs). Lately the episode 18, the one about Constanze, made a really strong impression on me (laughs). All the episodes are so good so it's hard to choose.
—During the recording sessions, was the animation completed yet?
Han: No, only placeholders were available. The recordings happened quite a while ago, so when the episodes air, I can watch them with a fresh feeling. It's not that I've forgotten and I know the rest of the story but for some reason it's still very interesting.
Orikasa: There are lines that really moved me when I first read the script and then, after watching it on air, my impression of them became different.
—Are there any scenes or lines that left a strong impression on you during or after recording?
Han: The line "A believing heart is your magic," from the original short anime and which remains on the anime version, is unforgettable. I feel like it was the first line that introduced me to the world of "Little Witch Academia."
Orikasa: It's impressive how the show's tone has a different feel for different episodes. It started as a magical school anime but later at some point it became into a robot anime (laughs). There are a lot of parodies of various works too.
Han: Episode 18 had references to "Gurren Lagann." Understanding these parodies makes it more fun. The episode order is unique, for example, after several episodes with a comedy feeling then comes one who has a tear-jerker tone. The flow from the Sucy episode (episode 8) to the one about the principal (episode 9) is excellent.
Murase: Akko’s forcefulness in Episode 9 is what it made us getting a glimpse into the principal’s life. Lotte and Sucy couldn’t have done that alone.
Han: I was happy that the anime had episodes that focused on Lotte and Sucy (laughs).
Murase: In Sucy´s episode i was impressed when Akko said, "Sometimes I get annoyed with her." I thought, "Ah, so she did get annoyed with her after all (laughs).
Han: She was annoyed with her from the first time they met (laughs). I think Akko and Sucy have a relationship where even if they fight, their friendship doesn´t break off.
Orikasa: And Lotte accepts the two of them and is always there to say, "Stop it, you two" (laughs).
—Has your impression of the characters changed from the movie to the TV series?
Han: Akko has become more human. While there were hints of her darker side in the movie, the TV series shows her feeling down more often. She can be superhuman at times, like being dragged by a broom and still being fine, but she also worries, which makes her more human. Also, she’s now a girl who can properly say "thank you" and "sorry." I think that’s a very Japanese trait (laughs).
Orikasa: I didn’t realize it while acting but apparently after the Lotte episode people starting to call her the spokesperson for otaku (laughs). In the TV anime series she spends more time with Akko, so there are more scenes where she is inspired by Akko and I get the impression that she has grown stronger and assertive.
Murase: Sucy, who used to seem like a perfect witch, now shows more girlish traits, often influenced by Akko. There were many scenes where I felt that she secretly accepted Akko.
—What are some challenges or techniques you use while performing?
Han: Not thinking too much (laughs). I overthought things in the first episode and realized that it was distancing me from Akko. So I stopped thinking and focused on feeling and acting. After all Akko acts by feeling, rather than thinking. Also, I started to enjoy the interactions with the people around her, like Lotte, Sucy, and Amanda, etc.
Orikasa: I tried to play "ordinary" at first, but the more I tried, the less ordinary Lotte seemed. So I decided to keep it natural and stay alongside Akko without overacting. It was challenging at times, but as the series progressed, I think I got the hang of it.
Murase: I also aimed for a natural feel without exaggerating. Also, to keep Sucy’s calm tone and avoid sounding too energetic, I tried not to take in deep breaths and speak.
—Do you often improvise during performances?
Han: Most of the lines are in the script, but during scenes where there's a lot of commotion in the background, we ad-lib sometimes.
—Are there any characters besides your own that you find interesting?
Murase: I like Hannah and Barbara, who are part of Diana's circle. They’re cute (laughs). Jasminka is also adorable!
Han: It was a shame that there were no episodes where Jasminka has the spotlight. Her family probably looks just like her (laughs). I think the family environment is also a factor in her growing up to be such a healthy child!
Murase: Jasminka´s mom is probably a good cook.
Orikasa: I was impressed by the scene in Episode 18 where she’s knitting. Up until that point she’s usually seen just eating (laughs).
Han: I’d like to see more of Constanze’s family, who only appeared in photos.
—Now, let’s talk about the upcoming game. What were your thoughts when you heard about the game?
(PS4 "Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time" Teaser CM)
Han: I was happy to hear that I could see Akko and the others again anytime. I was curious about the story and which characters would be playable.
Orikasa: I can’t wait to walk around Luna Nova. I’m so curious about everything!
Murase: Because of this news, I didn’t cry during the recording of the final episode, even though it was sad (laughs).
—When did you first hear about the game?
Han: At Anime Japan 2017. I was surprised when I heard it directly from Mr. Futami.
—What kind of characters will be playing an active role in the game?
Futami-P: I can't give away any details yet, but characters who didn’t get much spotlight in the anime will have their moments in the game, so please look forward to it. The story of ○○○○○ will also be thoroughly depicted in the game.
(Image caption: Producer Yosuke Futami)
—What kind of story will the game have?
Futami: The story branches off from Episode 7 of the TV series and involves a time loop thus the same day keeps repeating. It's been made with great care to preserve the everyday feeling of the first episodes of the anime. When we started writing the story, we didn’t know how the TV series would develop, so we experimented with adding some strong elements like Sucy’s poison attacks. The game also has a lot of battle elements and some adventure features, so please look forward to it.
Han: Since it’s based on Episode 7, does that mean Andrew and Professor Croix won’t appear?
Futami: Those two won’t appear, but most of the characters introduced up to Episode 7 will. We’ve even given names to some background students who didn’t have them in the anime, and some of them have important roles. I think playing the game will change the way you see the background characters when you watch the anime again.
-- What are the characteristics of the characters' actions?
Futami P: They reflect the characteristics of the anime. For example, Akko has lower magical power but a lot of stamina, making her quite resilient. Lotte's abilities are average but can command spirits. We are also considering how much of her transformation magic we should implement. Beyond the action elements, there are plenty of other features inspired by the anime.
Han: Will Lotte’s "Nightfall" book appear in the game?
Futami P: Initially, we considered including a feature where you collect "Nightfall" volumes within Luna Nova. We're still deciding whether to implement it (laughs). Also, there are some within the development team saying "We want to implement Grand Charion!" (laughs).
Han: I'd love to see that implemented (laughs). If it happens, could it also appear in "○○ Wars"?
Futami P: Since our development departments are right next to each other, I might suggest the idea (laughs). There's no harm in asking, after all (laughs).
-- Do you have any requests for the game?
Han: Besides the Grand Charion, I'd like to see a bit style mini-game.
Futami P: Actually, we're currently considering a feature where you can battle using Chariot Cards.
Orikasa: Then, I'd love a mini-game where you avoid the alpaca´s spit in Sucy's dream (laughs).
Futami P: That sounds interesting (laughs). A small mini-game like that could work, so I’ll look into it (laughs). By the way, do you have any ideas for expressions you'd like to see in the game?
Han: I'd like an evil-looking expression with gums fully exposed (laughs).
Futami P: That might be challenging to implement (laughs). But speaking of expressions, we’ve already created Lotte's sparkling face from "Nightfall" and Sucy's scheming face. I also love Akko’s disappointed face from the first episode when she couldn’t ride her broom, so I’ve been pleading with the team to include it.
Orikasa: For Lotte, I’d like to see the expression where her glasses break when she realizes she can’t go to the town (laughs).
Murase: I’m sure Sucy already has a variety of expressions included.
-- Please tell us your thoughts on recording for the game.
Han: I’ll make sure to conserve my energy (laughs). Since there will likely be a lot of lines and shouting, I plan to enter a phase of self-discipline.
Orikasa: I'm looking forward to reading the game's script. I'm so excited to be able to enter the world of Little Witch Academia again (laughs).
Murase: Since I'll basically be recording the game lines alone i'd like to remember the performances of the others as I go into the recording sessions.
-- Do you usually play games?
Han: My golden era of playing videogames was during the Super Famicom era. I find it a bit challenging to get used to modern games since you have to move and control the camera simultaneously and that makes me feel like an old lady (laughs). But since Little Witch Academia seems to have side-scrolling gameplay with minimal camera movement I think I’ll be able to enjoy it.
-- Other than your character, which character would you like to play as?
Orikasa: I’d like to play as Sucy.
Murase: Then, I’ll take Akko (laughs).
Han: I’m curious about Lotte’s movements. Does she control spirits through her songs?
Futami P: That’s not included yet, but I’ll consider adding it (laughs).
-- Please give a message to readers who are looking forward to the final episode of the anime and the game release.
Han: Until I saw the script for the final episode, I was really hoping it wouldn't end. But after watching it, I felt satisfied with how the 25 episodes turned out. Rather than feeling sad, I feel optimistic that this will lead to something new. I believe the game is one of those things, so I hope everyone continues to enjoy the world of Little Witch Academia which is not over yet. Please look forward to the game release and continue to support us.
Orikasa: As the story reaches its climax, there were many developments that I, if I were Akko, wouldn’t have been able to handle. But itst’s truly a wonderful and touching story, including Akko's growth, so I hope everyone will stay tuned until the end. The game also looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun, so I’m excited for it. I think more people will start watching the anime after playing the game, and I look forward to seeing the magical world continue to expand.
Murase: The TV anime series, which has seen so many talents flourish over the past five years since Anime Mirai, has turned out to be a satisfying 25 episodes. Even though the anime is ending, the game will allow you to keep enjoying the world of Little Witch Academia, so I hope you continue to enjoy it.
(-- Megumi-san and the others made various requests to Futami P. It will be interesting to see how these are incorporated into the game.)
The final episode of the TV anime airs tonight! Episode 24 ended with a very tense tone, with an ominous warning sound playing in the background while Akko was smiling… What will happen next? Fans who have watched it so far make sure to not miss the finale!**