The TV anime " The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How to Game the System, " based on a popular work that originated on the novel submission site " Shosetsuka ni Naro, " will begin airing nationwide simultaneously on the MBS/TBS anime block "Super Animeism TURBO" every Thursday at 12:26 AM starting July 2nd. The Shosetsuka ni Naro is a comic adaptation of "The The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How to Game the System," which was serialized on "Shosetsuka ni Narou." The manga began serialization in February 2022 on "Young Magazine" (Kodansha)'s website "Yanmaga Web" and is currently being serialized in "Young Magazine." Elma, who manifests as a heavy knight, a class considered "defective," and is banished from the count's family after losing the position of the next head of the family, regains her memories of her past life and realizes that this world is exactly the same as the world of a game, and sets out to conquer the world. The anime is directed by Shingo Suzuki and produced by GoHands. Takeo Otsuka will play the protagonist Elma Edvan, and Shion Wakayama will play Luce Rubis, the clown who becomes Elma's party member. We spoke to Otsuka and Wakayama about recording the work.
◇Get even more energetic!
--What are your impressions of the work?
Personally , I've always loved games, so I was thrilled to be reincarnated into a game world and to see the game's settings depicted in such detail. Elma grows through hardships, utilizing her knowledge from her previous life. It was exciting and exhilarating, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I think it's a work that people of all generations can enjoy.
Wakayama and Elma initially seem to be at a disadvantage, but I think it's exhilarating to see them level up and turn the tables by utilizing their knowledge that "heavy knights are actually strong." There are many times when you wonder if they'll be able to overcome the challenge, but they do so with the game knowledge they've accumulated up to that point and by coordinating with their companions. It's also exhilarating to see them acquire treasures using Luce's incredible luck skill, and I couldn't stop reading.
--The beautiful visuals created by GoHands are also likely to become a hot topic.
The animation was already completed when Otsuka-san did the voice-over, but seeing the animation with the sound on it is really fun; it's like the game world has come to life in animation. I saw it during the voice-over as well, and the power of the visuals and camerawork is amazing.
It almost seems like Wakayama-san and GoHands aren't even considering the animation costs. You can feel their passion for creating great visuals. The finished animation has a fantastic pace, and I finished watching the first episode in no time. It's almost like playing a game, and I felt it was something only GoHands could do.
It was my first time working with Mr. Otsuka and GoHands. The video already had a finished performance, so it felt like I was just building upon that. I understood the characters' expressions very well, which made it very easy, but it was challenging because I had to perfectly match the lip movements.
Wakayama-san, I had the pleasure of working with you on "Momentary Lily" and "The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses," and I knew to some extent that the recording would be done with beautifully produced footage, so I was desperately preparing, thinking, "I have to match this footage." When I see the finished video, I'm glad I worked so hard back then.
--What are your impressions of the character you play?
Ms. Otsuka's Elma story begins with her realizing she is a reincarnated person. She is sincere, passionate, and her good upbringing is evident in her interpersonal relationships. Like a typical protagonist, she can't ignore people in need. She faces hardships in battles, but she also seeks out those hardships, and it's as if she's living her life like she's playing a game. In my acting, I tried to portray her honest, straightforward, and refreshing side. As for the battles, the visuals were already completed, so I tried to live up to them. I created the character together with the visuals.
Wakayama-san's Luce is bright and cheerful, just as she appears. She's treated unfairly because of the way her skills are distributed, and because of that, she lacks confidence at first, but after Elma-san takes her in, she gradually grows into a character who thinks, "Maybe I can do something too..." I think she's a sweet and adorable girl. Thanks to her incredible luck, high-value items drop, and she's genuinely surprised by the huge amounts, which is also cute. During recording, I was always directed to be "bright and energetic" and "high-spirited," so I did my best to put out all the energy I could.
--What was the most memorable thing about the recording?
Ms. Otsuka basically recorded two episodes a day, which allowed me to concentrate very well. It also made it easier to follow the flow and get into the story.
Since Wakayama-san's recordings were in the morning, every time we did the first test in the morning, he would say, "Everyone, be one step more energetic!" (laughs). That was especially true for Luce. Even in the tests, I tried to be as energetic as possible, but every time I received direction, I would reflect on whether it wasn't enough and then shift into a higher gear with full power for the actual recording.
Otsuka-san, you're right, there were a lot of directions like, "Go all out more than you think you should." You might think that because the video is already made, there's no room for error, but that's not the case at all. There were all sorts of reactions, which made it challenging, but it was also fun.
◇Helping each other
--What did you feel while working together?
Wakayama-san has been receiving a lot of help from Otsuka-san all this time.
Mr. Otsuka , no, no, the pleasure is all mine.
This is a story woven together by the lines spoken by Wakayama- san and Elma-san, and there are a lot of monologues. And Elma-san always says lines that elicit a reaction from Luce, so she really guided me throughout the whole process.
Thank you, Otsuka- san. But actually, I feel like the pleasure is all mine. Elma does a lot of talking, but everyone's reactions are so great that Elma gets carried away by them and a lot is brought out of her. In particular, Wakayama-san's portrayal of Luce has a huge gap between her cute and her real self. She's cute when she's being cute, and when she's making a crazy face, she really goes all out, and she really pulled me along, making me think, "I can go this far too." I was truly grateful for her help.
Wakayama- san, no, not at all. Thank you.
--When Luce made an amazing expression, were you also making an expression yourself, Wakayama-san?
I think Wakayama-san probably made a pretty crazy face in front of the microphone (laughs). Since Luce was opening her mouth that wide, I had to open my mouth wide too to make any sound, and I think it was a face I wouldn't want anyone to see. It was a really fun set.
--Elma is talking the whole time, including in her monologues.
Mr. Otsuka explains his worldview, and he also talks about all of his own feelings. Since the guide's voice was included, it was easy to time things, but it's rare to see the video completed to this extent, so it was refreshing and challenging.
I think Wakayama's vocal strain was significantly less than Otsuka's.
Otsuka-san said that on the days we recorded this project, he was completely focused on it and put his life on the line (laughs). We recorded two episodes in one day, but we basically recorded them in the time it would take to make one episode. We only did a test for the first part of the first episode, and there were no more tests after that. It was an experience unlike anything I'd ever had before.
Wakayama-san , I recorded in the same way for "Momentary Lily," but there had been a bit of a gap since then, so I needed a little rehabilitation. I was honing my skills to avoid overlapping with other people's lines.
--The scenes where he uses techniques (skills) such as "Castle Wall Reversal" are also a highlight.
Otsuka-san's direction was, "When it's time to make a move, make it spectacular." As the story progresses, new skills keep appearing, and the direction is elaborate. With more skills being added, when I pulled out the "Castle Wall Reversal," I thought, "This is it! This is it!" (laughs).
--Luce is a character who can change the atmosphere of a place, thanks to her lightheartedness in a good way.
Wakayama is an exceptionally energetic and pure girl who doesn't doubt people, so I tried to portray her in a straightforward and energetic way. I myself am not a particularly carefree person, but I tried my best to find and bring out the carefree side that is within me.
Otsuka-san has incredible explosive energy. Elma is calm, but she does have emotional ups and downs, though she's basically composed. Luce's reactions to that are really satisfying. In a good way, she's loud (laughs).
Wakayama-san, I'm so happy!
When Ms. Otsuka and Luce appear, the atmosphere becomes vibrant and cheerful, and I always wanted them to be there.
As we continued recording, I felt that Wakayama and I were really developing a strong partnership as partners.
As I gradually got used to the recording process with Ms. Otsuka , and we started to understand each other's approaches, I felt like we were really clicking into place.
GoHands' meticulously crafted and dynamic visuals, delivered with overwhelming energy, and the passionate performances of the voice actors, which breathe life into the characters, seem to be perfectly synchronized. I urge you to see for yourself Elma's exhilarating heroic feats and the bond between the two buddies. (Manami Anima/MANTANWEB)
