The TV anime "Yanineko," based on the manga by Nyannyan Factory currently serialized in "Young Magazine" (Kodansha), will begin airing on TOKYO MX and BS11 every Thursday at 12:30 AM starting July 2nd. The original manga depicts the daily life of "the most worthless cat." Ahead of the broadcast, Misato Matsuoka, who plays the role of Yakuneko, spoke about behind-the-scenes details of the recording.
--What were your feelings when you found out you were cast?
When I read the original work, it was such an outlaw story that I felt a kind of excitement I'd never experienced before, and I devoured it like a madman. Being able to appear in such a work filled me with joy and excitement. I'm experiencing things I wouldn't normally experience in everyday life. I'm glad I became an actor. I'm grateful to Yakuneko.
--What are your impressions of the work?
I thought it was interesting that, in addition to the uncompromising gags, there were also some slightly sharp jokes. Yakuneko seems to be carrying some kind of heavy burden, and the way it's portrayed is realistic and natural. I really like the contrast between the big-picture humor and the realistic atmosphere. I'm starting to think that beastmen might actually exist.
--What is the appeal of the yakuza cat you play?
I think Yak-neko is incredibly serious. Because of his seriousness, he has a lot of past experiences that he carries with him and worries about, which makes him seem very human despite being a beast-man, and I really like that about him. I encourage you to watch the main story to find out what kind of past he has. The different atmospheres in his conversations with Yani-neko, the landlord, Hame-neko, and the other characters make you feel the relationships between them and it's really touching.
--What influences have you received from Yakneko?
You shouldn't be influenced by Yakuneko. However, if I may say so without fear of being misunderstood, I feel that we are fundamentally similar, so I don't particularly try to create a character. Only our essence is similar. Our circumstances are completely different, so I receive direction and act while imagining what it's like.
--Which character is your favorite?
I love all the characters because they're all so unique, but if I had to choose, I'd say I like Shizue (Yani Neko's mother) the most. She's just too unique. With a mother like that, it's strangely believable that Yani Neko would be born. I also find Imoko (Yani Neko's younger sister)'s existence mysterious. And of course, I like the landlady too. She really does a great job as the heroine of this story.
--What was the voice recording process like?
It's fun to be able to shout out lots of words that I wouldn't normally be able to shout in everyday life! ! I'm not sure if it's okay to say it's fun, though! ! And it's a very stimulating and educational environment! I feel that the human beastmen in this world live their lives very seriously. Although they're a little bit crazy somewhere!
--What preparations did you make beforehand for the role?
I asked smokers a lot of questions about cigarettes. I wanted to know if what the nicotine-smoking cats are feeling is true. I'm still figuring out what I should do to try and imagine what the nicotine-smoking cats are feeling. I used to work part-time at a convenience store, and of course we sold cigarettes, and I remember thinking things like, "This brand sells well to people of this age group," while I was working.
--What was the direction like during the recording?
What I found most memorable about the direction was the emphasis on "going all out with the tension, regardless of context." Of course, there are contexts that are important, but I felt that the emotional turmoil was what made this work unique.
--What was the most memorable thing that happened during the recording?
During our first recording session, the sound director told us to "turn 'terrible' into a compliment," and that's exactly what we've been doing—we're all laughing and saying "That's terrible!!" It's so much fun, and I'm always inspired by everyone's enthusiastic attitude while we're doing the voice acting!
--What aspects of the other cast members' performances impressed you the most?
I'm not sure how much I can say, but when several people did some dirty ad-libs, I was impressed by their completely over-the-top ad-libbing skills. It was a moment when I truly felt that I wanted to tackle this project with the same level of intensity. In this production, I can fully immerse myself in everyone's unrestrained acting, so I'm having a lot of fun and learning a lot!
--What scene was the most memorable for you?
Yak-neko sometimes seems absent-minded, but I find that atmosphere irresistible. I interact with Yak-neko in various ways, and it's great to see the different relationships we have...! Everyone has a different kind of summer...
--Please give a message to those who are looking forward to the broadcast.
I think this is a work that really pushes the boundaries! It has gags and thought-provoking (???) scenes that will stir your emotions. I myself am really looking forward to the broadcast, seeing how the Yak-neko characters move around so much during the voice recording! I wonder which parts will be censored!
