As part of the 50th-anniversary celebrations for the iconic anime Space Battleship Yamato, a special theater screening event is ongoing at Shinjuku Piccadilly. Over three weeks, nine selected episodes from the original TV series, chosen by director Hideaki Anno, are being shown on the big screen. On January 10, the finale program, featuring episodes 23, 24, and the final 26th episode, began with a screening followed by a talk event.

In the event, Hideaki Anno hosted a discussion featuring Yoko Asagami, the voice actress for Yuki Mori, and Michio Murakawa, the manga artist behind the Space Battleship Yamato 2199 adaptation. The event was filled with heartfelt nostalgia and candid moments.

Hideaki Anno: "Yuki Mori Was My First Love"

Anno, who was 14 years old when the anime first aired, openly shared his admiration for Asagami, saying, "I was smitten. I would watch any work if I saw the name 'Yoko Asagami.' Yuki Mori was the first character I ever felt love for—she was my first love."

Asagami reflected on her early days as a voice actress, admitting she was inexperienced when recording for the show. "I had no idea how my voice would sound until the broadcast. I’d often watch the dubbing sessions and even talk to the sound effects director, Mr. Mitsuru Kashiwabara, who recently passed away. His loss is deeply saddening," she shared.

Nostalgia and Reflections on the Industry

Asagami also reminisced about her admiration for Michiko Hirai, who played Starsha. "She had such an aura, like a princess. I felt like I had to observe and learn from her." Reflecting on her early career, she shared how her love for Princess Knight inspired her voice work but noted how different her voice turned out in the anime adaptation.

"Many voice actors back then saw it as just a job to get by. But for me, seeing Yuki's character and lines, I thought, 'This is a dream role.' I gave it my all, and director Atsushi Tashiro noticed, saying, 'Only someone genuine could produce such raw emotion.' It was a proud moment," she recalled.

Anno agreed, highlighting the authenticity of her acting. "It was so natural. Yuki’s laughter in episode 23, after taking a photo, was incredible—unrepeatable and unique."

Murakawa's Insights and Asagami's Sentiments

Murakawa discussed Yuki Mori's development throughout the series, likening her initial demeanor to a class president but noting her growing emotional depth as the story progressed. He also fondly remembered Asagami's debut single, Satin of Sorrow, saying, "It reminded me of 1974's Yuki Mori. It was like Yuki was singing!"

In response, Asagami joked, "Maybe I should sing the theme for the new Yamato!" eliciting laughter from the audience.

Exciting Announcements

While Anno remained tight-lipped about new Yamato projects, he did reveal details about the upcoming Space Battleship Yamato Complete Records Exhibition, set to take place at Seibu Shibuya. Additionally, Murakawa announced plans to publish a Yamato artbook, aiming for a release by March to coincide with the exhibition.

This event, blending heartfelt nostalgia and anticipation for future projects, highlighted the timeless appeal of Space Battleship Yamato.

Source : ORICON NEWS