Mai HiME seiyuu: Interview with Noto Mamiko, the voice of Yukino Kikukawa

Voice actress for Yukino Kikukawa

Noto Mamiko

It's nice to have someone special. If there's one person in "My-HiME" I think that really applies to, it is certainly Yukino.

Yukino and Haruka seems like one person split in two. Even though they don't come off as girlfriends, I feel as though Yukino is always doing things for her precious Haruka.

She's gentle, clingy, timid...but even so, she's fighting to protect the person most dear to her.

I often wonder how scared she must be. losing someone who is as large a part of her as Haruka is would be much harder on a scared girl like her, which only deepens the bonds between them.

I find that aspect charming. I'm a little jealous, even...

Yukino's delicate, but there's still much that is strong inside her.

Though the story is much different in the manga, Yukino is still right there by Haruka's side.

I pray that no matter where those two go, they shall always remain together.

Profile:

Broad work as a VA and in commercials and radio. main roles: Shimako Toudou in "Maria-sama is watching," Nina in "Monster" and Moa in "Sgt. Frog."

Mai HiME seiyuu: Interview with Ryouka Yuzuki, the voice of Haruka Suzushiro

Ryouka Yuzuki

Haruka looks serious as a bit hysterical, but I really like how she tries her best, even if she looks kind of baka doing it "Her Way" when everyone's serious in a fight. (^_^) And she cries when it gets to the bitter, bitter end. I think she'd make a great cheerleader, giving everyone that never-say-die spirit.

I'm like her in the way she needs 5 or 10 tries what others do in three and saying, "Gotta keep going!" I don't have the guts for leadership like Haruka though. (^_^)

Haruka seems powerful in the manga, maybe because she has battle scenes. I like how the manga battles are totally different from those in the anime, too. Honestly, when no one knew who was a HiME in the TV show, manga fans were writing me saying "Haruka's a HiME, too" and I was like "Oh really!" I told the producers and they said they knew! I figured "She seems like a clueless airhead Enforcement Head but, she's actually a really cool HiME!" Well, not precisely...(^_^)

It's easy to imagine the voices when you've seen both the anime and manga, so see both and imagine my voice as Haruka's, okay? (^_^)

Profile:

Roles include Li-Mei Fong in "Angel Links,"Marie in Sister Princess," Black Widow in "Beast Wars," and Minagi Tohno in "AIR."

My thoughts:

I love Ryouka-sama's performance as Haruka. She brings out that cute yet assertive toughness in Haruka. Underneath Haruka tough exterior lies the heart of a caring person. She is over the top and very rude, but she does take her role as executive director seriously. Everyone has something they're passionate about, you can't dislike Haruka for that! Her relationship with Yukino is where the character truly shines, it's where we see the REAL Haruka under that hard exterior. I believe Ryouka Yuzuki captured everything about the character perfectly. Guts baby. GUTS.

Natsuki no Prelude 2010

The story about everybody's favorite blunette doesn't just limit itself to the Mai-HiME anime series.

Natsuki no Prelude is about events that made the Kuga. And the Kuga who became a legend.

All new translation from our very own Midori Sugiura99 from Mai-Multiverse Forum. Only on ShizNat Webs. Anyone out there wanna translate Natsuki no Prelude in any language except for English and have it added to our page, you're more than welcome! Contact me here or by email:

ShizNat4EVER@yahoo.com

For you English readers:

>> READ Natsuki no Prelude NOW!!! <<

BAM!

\^o^v

Mai HiME seiyuu: Interview with the voice actress of Mikoto Minagi

Ai Shimizu



At first, I was really lost trying to do such a wild, boyish voice -- I had to be careful to make my voice low enough. Mikoto's so active and cute. She sure is sharp to fight and move like that. (~_~) plus, she fights for herself instead of yelling, "Kagutsuchi!" and stuff. I worried about bringing out the charisma of such a strong, serious fighter.

Mikoto likes cats, eating, sleeping, and big breasts. Hey, small's good too. (~_~) can't copy the hair, though; how does she do it? (~_~) She might be like me in how she asks about things she doesn't understand.

I feel that Mikoto's close-ups are more innocent in the manga than the anime. The anime's unfolding mystery was fun, but the manga's scenarios are interesting and action-packed. I especially love Haruka and Yukino's relationship. I think it came off well in the manga, too.

Reading My-Hime isn't enough, so go for the anime, the figures, and radio and become a "My-HiME, PH.D," (~_~)

Profile:

Extensive work as TV and radio VA and singer such a Deraka ono in "Onegai Twins," Ren in "DearS," and drop in gag colors studio's "Croquette."

Thoughts:

The over-the-top innocence of Mikoto couldn't of been brought to life without Ai Shimizu. Her performance is amazing, especially in fights scenes where she unleashes the most intense foley ever heard in anime. To those who don't know, foley is non-speaking sound effects performed by voice actors. This includes grunting, heavy breathing, moaning, coughing, sighing, laughing, etc. Watch the V/A extra in the seventh DVD volume of Noir, they'll explain it in better detail. ^_~ Anyway, Mikoto's emotional scenes, like when she broke down while eating Fumi's eating (Nobody likes your ramen, Fumi. lol). Those are the kind of scenes where Shimizu-san really makes us feel for Mikoto's character.

P.S. Don't worry, Shimizu-san. We love small boobs too. :3

Celebrating Mai-HiME Birthdays: Mai Tokiha and thoughts on Saeko Chiba!

Main heroine of Mai HiME has a birthday today and you're invited! ^_^ Mai Tokiha actually had her birthday celebrated in the anime, which was part of one of the best episodes in the series: Cake Wars!

Best wishes to the big breasted one! ^__^ We'll be posting birthday shout outs to her at Mai-Multiverse Forum

Since I missed out on my afterthoughts for Saeko Chiba, here it is for your reading pleasure:



Natsuki's distant and lone wolf ways were really felt with Saeko Chiba. Out of all the V/As in Mai-HiME, she really got into character as Natsuki. She hinted that it was overwhelming in the beginning, never playing a character like Natsuki in the past. Those dramatic moments with Shizuru is where Saeko steps up her game. As her character begins to slowly accept people in general, Saeko begins to open up as a Natsuki that's more sure of herself, with more love in her heart. Try hunting down her song "Kirei na Yume no Sono Hate Ni", one of my personal favorites from the Mai-HiME Character Vocal Album. Such a beautiful song, you won't regret it. ^_~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTbRB6nbJ28

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bp9vB3R3dE

Mai HiME seiyuu: Interview with the voice actress of Natsuki Kuga

Next up on our seiyuu interviews from TOKYOPOP, Saeko Chiba as Natsuki Kuga/Kruger!



At first, I was overwhelmed by a cool, but aggressive. Lone wolf character like Natsuki. I'm bad at decisive, cool lines, so we had a lot of re-recording. Her cuteness and other aspects became clearer; the role feels completely natural now.

Natsuki is distant, unable to talk softly to others, obsessively self-reliant, and very stingy. I think her heart finally opens because of her wonderful friends.

It seems backwards to me, but in the anime, the more fate hurts people, the closer their fates become, and the more fates binds them...I think that's what made every week compelling. I really had fun wondering what'd come to pass in the next episode.

The manga, with the same characters but a different plot and background, is interesting too. "Oh, that's what they did!" etc. In the manga Natsuki's so gentle. I can tell the manga characters are very faithful to the anime, probably because they studied our work a lot. Glad to read it.

I'm glad even those who haven't seen the show can "hear" our voices through reading.

Profile:

Saeko Chiba: numerous stage/singing/voice-acting roles. Her 2nd album, "Everything" is in stores. Roles include Lapis-chan in "Tottoko ham taro" and Akiho Sudou in "Iria's sky, Ufo summer."

Mai HiME seiyuu: Interview with the voice actress of Mai Tokiha

What you're about to read is an interview with the Japanese seiyuu of Mai Tokiha: Mai Nakahara! ^_^ Straight from the Mai HiME manga from TOKYOPOP.

Mai Tokiha-chan seems to me, most of all, a strong girl. Of course, she has her weaknesses, but she feels the pain of others. if I were into girls, she'd be my ideal girl. having a girl like Mai-chan as a close friend would be great, too -- I've grown quite fond of her.

Today, I recorded ep. 14. I feel that Mai and the others at the academy have grown and changed a great deal since the beginning. things haven't been all fun -- In fact, they were often quite difficult--but I feel that a strong girl like Mai-chan will overcome these things as part of the growing process.

When I first read the manga, I was totally shocked at how differently it was. "Why's Mai already at Fuuka Academy?" and "Huh, what's a key?" but the battle scenes were really cool, so I had lots of fun. The "I don't need a child, I'm fine with just an element" line stood out. I thought, "oh, that's too cool~~!"

Though the characters are the same, I think that doing the manga from a different point of view than the anime makes for twice the fun. For those who want even more "My HiME," make me happy and listen to the radio drama, too.

- Mai Nakahara

Quick thoughts (MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN MAI-HIME):

Nakahara is truly the essence of Mai Tokiha. Whenever she expresses happiness, concern, sorrow and loss, you can feel it. She delivers an amazing performance in every episode. My personal favorite moments were any time she became furious. More specifically, furious at Mikoto for causing Takumi's brief demise (thanks to the defeat of Gennai, Akira Okuzaki's Child). Also the moment Mai finally becomes honest with herself and says she loves Mikoto in episode 26. Truly an unforgettable performance in the V/A industry.