The TV anime "Snowball Earth," based on the manga by Yuichiro Tsuji serialized in "Monthly Spirits" (Shogakukan), is airing every Friday at 11:30 PM on Nippon Television's anime block "FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT (FuraAni)." It's a sci-fi x monster x robot action series set on Snowball Earth, an Earth covered in snow and ice. The voice actor for Tomokazu Sugita. How did Sugita approach the role of Itsuki, who harbors a strong hatred for Tetsuo?
◇A self-proclaimed hero who couldn't become a hero
--What aspects of "Snowball Earth" made you feel a sense of "passion"?
Perhaps it's Sagami's inner desires and the obsession that accompanies them. You could dismiss it as misplaced resentment or arrogance, but there are also those who are being saved, so it's not just simple, unrestrained evil. I've been curious about the fate of this self-proclaimed hero who couldn't become a hero in a different way than the protagonist (I think the protagonist is the kind of person who can abandon the very concept of being a hero) since the audition stage.
--What do you find appealing about it as a robot anime?
This is a question I'd especially like to hear from the original author and the director of the anime. As the voice actress for Sagami, I feel like they might be expecting me to answer "That's myself," and then have that answer contradicted in the main story, leaving me feeling satisfied! Please watch the main story to find out.
--What kind of loneliness did you analyze Itseki to be a man who was struggling with?
He has an insatiable sense of self-esteem, but it seems that those around him don't understand him, and he doesn't want them to understand him either. He's the type who could easily turn into a terrorist, but it's true that children adore him, which is both amusing and sad.
◇Of course I'm going to win!
--I sense that Itseki has an aspect of being a "hard-working adult," but also a "desperate purpose and belief" behind it. What do you value most when playing him?
On the contrary, he comes across as a child agonizing over things not going his way. However, given his appearance and abilities, I kept in mind the absurdity of injustice directly hitting him.
--What were your impressions of working with Takuto Yoshinaga, who plays Tetsuo?
I had worked with Yoshinaga-san when he was a teenager, and I was happy to see him again after so long. He has grown into a mature adult who is facing his desires head-on, so I'm looking forward to seeing what he does in the future. I think he's a perfect fit for the character.
--Episode 10 will depict an "all-out confrontation." Please give a message to the fans who are looking forward to the broadcast.
I'm obviously going to win! I'm the hero Sagami Itsuki, wahaha! That's about all the prior information you need. Enjoy!
