The fantasy manga "Magic Knight", which was serialized in "Best Friends" between November 1993 and April 1996 by the well-known group CLAMP, was adapted into a TV anime 20 years ago. The story tells the story of three young girls, Shido Hikaru Shido, Ryusaki Umi and Phoenix Temple Wind, who are summoned to another world while visiting Tokyo Tower and become magic knights to save the world. And in order to commemorate the 20th anniversary of TV animation,It was previously officially announced that the Blu-ray BOX of this work will be released。 Taking this opportunity, some Japanese media interviewed the two voice actors in this work - Biru Shiina, who voiced the protagonist Shido Hikaru, and Emi Ogata, who voiced Princess Emino.

■ Ms. Shiina is the voice of the protagonist for the first time, and Ms. Ogata is a princess for the first time

Q: What could you tell us about the story that happened when you confirmed your appearance in "Magic Knight"?

Shiina: When I auditioned, I chose the role of Hikari, so I thought that no matter what, I would be very energetic. At that time, I was very blunt and said, "Shitang Hikaru is 14 years old!" I still remember these words vividly. As for the worldview and plot of the work, I read the original single book to understand it, and I understood what kind of story this is.

Ogata: As for the role of Princess No, it's really rare for me to be able to play it. This has always been said to be NETA. At that time, the producer informed the manager of my office that "Ogata will voice Princess Emino". And when he received the notice, the agent was very surprised: "Huh? "Excuse me to say it again" "Ogata of our office got a princess character?" "The whole office was a sensation (laughs).

Before that, I had also participated in some dubbing works, but most of them were male characters. Therefore, this incident has caused quite a stir. On the day the first episode aired, everyone gathered around the office TV and waited. And when Princess Amenor spoke, a kind of "Is this really the ...... of Ogata dubbing?" wafted throughout the room? "The atmosphere.

Q: It's true that Ms. Ogata is dubbing a princess, which is really shocking. Personally, I knew from the beginning that Ms. Ogata was going to voice Princess Emino, so I didn't feel too shocked at first. And when watching the live broadcast, I think your expression in the second chapter of "The Total Attack of Sifilo City" is surprising.

Ogata: Is that really the case!? You're one of the few types. Before, whether it was CLAMP's teacher, director Toshihiro Hirano, or director Yasuo Urakami, they all told me that when the first episode was broadcast to readers that year, when the words "Emino Princess Emi Ogata" appeared in the end credits, the audience let out "Hey......!?" sound (laughs).

Q: Looking back, what do you think "Magic Knight" is?

Shiina: In the first few years of "Magic Knight", RPGs were very popular, but the main combat force was all female junior high school students, which was still very rare at the time. In addition, this work is not so much magic.,It's more of a down-and-out machine qì animation! (laughs)

Therefore, the work not only contains heroic fantasy elements, but also organic qì human colors. This gives the feeling of a combo attack. And it also makes the work more powerful, and the plot becomes very interesting.

Ogata: But even though there are many settings in the work, I've done my best to play the princess well. Therefore, I was thinking more about "what should I do?" "But the female junior high school student was slashed, bled and became wolf...... So I'm always worried and thinking, "It's okay!?" (laughs)

At that time, there were other combat-themed works with female junior high school students as the protagonists. However, the combat style is closer to the theme of the clan type, and the characters will not be beaten as badly as in "Magic Knight". But "Magic Knight" is really different. Blood flies...... Without mercy! Why is this happening? At the end of the story, I realized that the reason was actually myself (Princess Emino......

Q: In other words, you're the shady (laughs). Tell us about how you created your character. You just mentioned that when you decided to play the princess, you had a big impact on the people around you, so what kind of difficulties did you encounter when you performed?

Ogata: At that time, I was the first person in a sense. At that time, I was the only woman in the voice actor industry who voiced boys who were high school students or older. From my childhood to my growing up, dubbing is my routine. So when I had been working in this area, I suddenly took over the role of Princess Eminole, and to be honest, I really didn't know what to do.

And all the other female voice actors except me are the type that seems to be perfect for playing princesses. For example, when I read the line "Save my ......", Ms. Yoshida Konanna, who voiced the sea, and Ms. Yamazaki Qiao, who voiced Filio, both complained, "Who has the ability to save you!" "It made me think that acting was an ascetic practice (laughs). Of course, this is the way my predecessors care about me, and it belongs to "loving ridicule".

Q: What did Ms. Shiina think about this situation when she was in the dubbing scene?

Shiina: I didn't think much of it at the time, but I felt like I had to be Hikari. So I didn't have the time to pay attention to the situation around me, and I didn't even notice that something so interesting was happening (laughs).

Ogata: After all, Biru-chan is the first time to take on the voice work of the main character of a work, so it's quite hard.

Shiina: That's it. It was purely new at the time. Although I'm 20 years old, I still feel nervous about the role of the first protagonist, and the scene is full of seniors...... So I entered my own world.

Q: On the issue of creating a character, did the director give Ms. Shiina any advice?

Shiina: I remember the director told me that Hikaru is a very frank and innocent girl, so just show her frankness. I'm a sports girl with a hot-blooded stupid attribute myself, so it's natural to accept the nature of light.

Q: How do you spend your time while recording?

Ogata:We work very each other, so it's especially easy to feel the urge to have a drink in this situation. We went to drink every week, and the director basically followed. At the beginning, CLAMP's Nanase Okawa was also involved. And Biliu-chan comes occasionally.

Shiina: That's what you mean! (laughs)

Ogata: However, Biryyu-chan generally likes to eat organic food, and the amount of food is not too large. I don't often go to an izakaya to eat.

Shiina: That's true (laughs). Maybe it's because I can't drink alcohol, so as Ms. Ogata said, I can only eat delicious foods such as vegetables and fish. I was surprised that the smell of the contents of the izakaya was so strong......

Ogata: Occasionally, when she goes with us, she eats some cool tomatoes and other dishes without any seasonings (laughs). I was talking to the director and Ms. Yamazaki to "What will happen to our bodies if we eat these heavy foods all day long......?" (laughs)

■At the production site, the voice actors and staff are united

Q: Do you have any memorable plots or memorable images?

Shiina: Yes, but you may complain, "Why is this here?" That's the plot of Xiaohai's battle with Asgot. Askot said "My friend" while driving the monsters to Xiaohai's side to fight, but when the monsters were injured in a counterattack, he said angrily: "How dare you do this to my friend!" So Xiaohai scolded him: "Since you are an important friend, why do you want to do such a thing!" "What kind of friendship is it to put a friend in danger!"

This plot may even affect the children, right? Asgot is a very simple person, and there is no malice. And Xiaohai did not accuse indiscriminately, but directly exposed the cruelty of the children among them. In addition, in the battle in the second chapter, Hikatsu Sea and Wind used the "Shining Spiral", and the line at that time was "DEBONEA~~~!!" It was very painful because it needed to be said in one breath. I was also very impressed.

Q: I guess I'm worried about how to behave xiàn?

Shiina: I was anxious and wondered "Where to disconnect?" What's the length? "Nowadays, animation is done on DVD substitute in advance and then in conjunction with live dubbing, but that wasn't the case at the time. It was only after the voice actors went to the scene that they were able to see the video for the first time. So before you go to the set, no matter how you read the lines, you don't know what the situation is, so the process is: watch the video before the rehearsal, test it, and officially record it. So, when I actually saw the image, I realized that the line "DEBONEA~" was very long. At the time, I thought that if I didn't take a deep breath, I might not be able to hold it (laughs).

Q: Do you have any memorable plots about Ms. Ogata?

Ogata: This is something that has been talked about a lot since then. In the second chapter of the Ig Reminiscences, Princess Emmenor appears, and after that memory ends, there is a line that says "What an elegant and beautiful voice". This is actually the most difficult line to say in my voice actor career (laughs). Also, the atmosphere at the workplace is still fresh in my mind. Masahito Yoshioka, director Hirano, and the art and sound crew all come together strongly, giving the impression that "this is a great team."

In the end, I also think that this is a work created by everyone working together.

Q: Both of you worked the dubbing of the first and second chapters, so how did you feel when you finished the last episode (Episode 49)?

Shiina: It's more of a sense of loneliness than a sense of accomplishment. Xiao Hai, Xiao Feng and the others, and the people they met in Sifiro were all created by the Zuò group of "Magic Knight", so after the dubbing, we also felt that we really had to say goodbye to Sifiro. The time we spent with each other and the time we spent fighting together were precious memories of the voice actors and staff at the dubbing scene. Still, it's lonely.

Ogata: In an anime, the scene of the production of zuò is separated from the scene of the recording. So there are also some differences in working hours, so usually, it is difficult for both sides to move forward in one pace. However, in this work, both the producers and the voice actors are trying to understand each other and express their ideas...... And those who actively promote communication also play a leading role on the scene, which is what makes the work so exciting. For this reason, even if the last episode is over, I feel that one day I will be able to meet those people somewhere again.

Q: Finally, would you like to say a few words to the readers?

Ogata: At last year's Kyoto International Anime Carnival, the organizers held a screening of "Magic Knight". I also watched this work again after a long time, and once again experienced the energy and enthusiasm from the work. In the limited time, the makers worked very hard and had a sense of mission: they needed to bring you a classic work. This energy is also transmitted from the picture. At that time, when digital production had not yet been realized, this work was also so precious. There are a lot of things that are not going to be done anymore. I hope you can feel the heat as well.

Whether it's today's animation audience, or the animation audience of the past. I'm afraid it's hard to imagine that there would have been such a great work 20 years ago. And 20 years ago, we actually did such an amazing thing. I hope you will appreciate this wonderful shock.

Shiina: I think this work can give children a real sense of what justice is and what four years are, and then they will be deeply attracted to the plot. For those who come back to watch this work as adults, I am happy if they feel that something very important is reflected in this work. After becoming an adult, there are many things that we have to give up. However, through this work, we can feel what is true and what is the truth of human nature.

There is a line in this work called "The heart of belief will turn into power", and the protagonist alone has the power of faith, if you want to give up, when you feel frustration, look at this work again, feel the true meaning of power in the work, then it will work. It can be said that this is really the shining power of all the people. Please be sure to get this power!

Q: Thank you for your time today!