Fire Force Season 3 Sparks Buzz as “Mysterious Live Action Woman” Appears in Anime: The Making of Sumire Sugita and Her 100 Plus Auditions

Fire Force Season 3 has ignited major online buzz after the sudden appearance of a mysterious live action woman in the anime. Episode 20 of the second cour of Fire Force Season 3 officially titled Fire Force: San no Shō aired late at night on the 27th on TBS. The episode featured the long talked about mysterious live action woman who had previously shocked readers during the original manga serialization.

The character, known as Sumire Sugita, was portrayed by actor Sachiyo Motoki, who has appeared in dramas such as Professional Insurance Investigator Ren Amane and Caster. It has been revealed that she is a different person from the woman who appeared in the manga and that she won the role after an audition process involving more than 100 candidates.

Sumire Sugita first appeared suddenly in the February 17, 2021 issue of Weekly Shonen Magazine. Immediately after publication, she became a trending topic online, leaving readers with a strong sense of discomfort and impact. The manga chapter spanned 20 pages, and the character dominated 11 of them. She first appeared as a normal two dimensional manga character across two pages, recounting her past. But upon turning the next page, readers were confronted with an unprecedented image of a mysterious live action woman in three dimensions.

Introducing herself as Sumire Sugita, she struck a strange pose, prompting a flood of reactions online. Comments included: “Sumire Sugita is pure impact,” “Seriously, who is this woman?” “Is she the author’s mother?” “Is she the editor?” “This is the first time a manga has genuinely given me chills,” “This is way too scary,” and “That pose looks like Akaza from Demon Slayer.” At the time, Sumire Sugita even trended on social media.

In Episode 20 of the anime, she finally appeared again, occupying the first four minutes of the episode. Online reactions quickly followed: “The whole country or maybe just me is confused. I am watching Fire Force,” “Fire Force just aired that legendary episode and it was live action again,” and “I thought I was watching the Fire Force anime but suddenly it turned into a live action drama. I do not even know what I am saying.”

Following this, interviews were released with director Tatsuma Minamikawa, animation producer Reo Honjogaya, and actor Sachiyo Motoki, who played Sumire Sugita, revealing the full story behind the production.

The Challenge of Bringing Three Dimensional Expression into Anime

What were your thoughts when you first encountered this scene? Tatsuma Minamikawa

It was during the production of the second season. It had already become a hot topic at the time, so I was mentally prepared. I remember thinking about how to portray three dimensional elements within anime. Should we incorporate live action like this time, or use a different kind of meta expression? We considered many possibilities.

Reo Honjogaya

When we began production on the third season, the first thing we discussed was how to handle this episode. It was such a talked about chapter, so we decided to face it head on. I happened to know staff members who work in live action production, so we thought we would reach out to them.

How did the production process move forward? Reo Honjogaya

The live action staff agreed to take on the project. First, we completed the script for the episode and measured the running time. Then we discussed it with the directors and had them create the storyboards. After that, we produced a video storyboard and moved into filming.

Tatsuma Minamikawa

They approached it with great enthusiasm, and the image gradually took shape. Since we wanted to get as close to the original manga as possible, we even went location scouting at Kodansha, where the original photos for the manga publication were taken. Preparation progressed steadily.

Reo Honjogaya

The next issue was casting. We reached out to the person who appeared in the original manga, but due to the unexpected reaction at the time, they declined this time. So we decided to hold new auditions.

How was the audition process conducted? Reo Honjogaya

We received more than 100 applications and began with a document screening. After narrowing down the candidates, we invited selected applicants for a second round, where they performed the relevant scene and even did a dance like performance. From there, we selected a few finalists and made the final decision in consultation with the original creators.

Tatsuma Minamikawa

What we valued most was whether the performer could convey the atmosphere of the character Sister Sumire. Fortunately, the passion of the audition participants was incredible. Because the series is well known and because appearing in live action within an anime is so rare, everyone delivered strong performances. It was a difficult decision.

Reo Honjogaya

After the second round, we narrowed it down to a few candidates and, after discussions with the original creators, selected Sachiyo Motoki. Including preparation, the process took about a year before we finally moved into filming.

Sachiyo Motoki on Playing Sumire Sugita

What did you think when you first saw this scene? Sachiyo Motoki

The impact of suddenly shifting from a two dimensional world to a live action scene was enormous. I found the direction bold and fascinating, even though it felt almost absurd. At the same time, I thought about how, once adapted into anime, I as a performer could embody that shock. I wanted to leave space for the eerie mystery present in the original and perform in a way that would allow viewers to use their imagination.

How was the experience of actually performing the role? Sachiyo Motoki

In dramas or films, I often expand on the image of a role myself. This time, however, there was already abundant information in the original manga. The staff also provided many materials, including storyboards and video storyboards, so I was able to understand the intended direction in advance, which was very helpful. Sumire Sugita is such a unique character, and I approached her through both a sense of realism and a stylized performance.

What did you focus on while acting, and did the directors give you any particular direction? Sachiyo Motoki

I was conscious that this was only one part of an anime. I studied my facial expressions in the mirror, trying to move my muscles as freely as rubber. I also experimented with how much emotion I could convey through a blank expression. Since my own voice would not remain in the final product, I wanted to be especially delicate in how I used my expressions. At the same time, this was a scene with very large scale lines central to the story, so I carefully considered the meaning of each word to avoid sounding superficial. On set, most of the direction was technical.

Aiming for the Fine Line Between Anime and Live Action

After filming, the footage was edited and processed to blend with the anime. Were there any particular challenges in combining the two? Tatsuma Minamikawa

After filming, the footage was edited, and then we refined the details to match it with the anime. We worked with Mr. Ohashi, who handles VFX for the anime. If we simply inserted live action, it would feel like anime then live action then anime as separate parts. We adjusted it so that it would function as one integrated expression within the anime.

For example, the highlights in the eyes. In live action, lighting naturally reflects in the eyes, which added more visual information than expected when matched with anime. We had to reduce that information in a way that would harmonize with the animated world.

Reo Honjogaya

The live action team responded to many requests. Live action is usually filmed at 30 or 60 frames per second, while anime runs at 24 frames per second. The live action team even suggested filming at 24 frames to better integrate with the anime. They constantly considered how to bring the footage closer to the animated style.

What were your impressions after seeing the finished version? Tatsuma Minamikawa

The live action team did an outstanding job. I could only smile with my arms crossed and nod in approval. The result blends anime and live action while still retaining a sense of impact and discomfort. It was a rare challenge, and I had concerns, but the final result exceeded my expectations. I am grateful to everyone involved.

Reo Honjogaya

Even without us saying much from the anime side, the live action team understood our intentions. They made various proposals and incorporated their experience in live action production, while adapting it into an anime style. It was not simply anime and live action side by side, but a delicate balance right on the edge. I am truly glad we asked them to take this on.

Source : ORICON NEWS