Seiyuu Retrospective Megumi Ogata (Shinji Ikari) I first encountered him in the Autumn 3 years ago. Shinji is a normal boy -- the type of normal boy that you might find anywhere. How might he react when he is suddenly thrown into a non-normal situation? How might his body and soul quiver in fear? Just me as I am. I sometimes felt a loathing when I held the script. I thought that when the story was over, I would be able to view it somewhat objectively -- but I couldn't. Because it was still continuing -- because I am alive -- because the people I like are alive. So I think that I will surely repeat over and over as I gasp for breath amidst a certain peace of sorts. Foolish pursuits -- and the pursuit of an irresistible love. I love people. Kotono Mitsuishi (Misato Katsuragi) I am truly glad to have met her. It was difficult playing Misato Katsuragi even during the TV series -- because she is a person who doesn't easily speak her true feelings. During scenes where her feelings exploded or she poured out her heart, I also became a bit over-emotional and afterwards couldn't remember exactly what kind of performance I had given (- not a good thing). My hands shook and it took all my might to keep the script I was holding from rustling and making noise. (Times like these make me feel that voice acting is a bit restricting.) I have focused exclusively on Misato for so long -- wanting to know her, to get close to her -- concentrating all of my five senses on her. That's the way I am, so I am unable to objectively look at "Eva" right now after finishing the voice-over work. My perspective is still on the same level as Misato, but I feel that's fine. In episode 25' "Air" she was strong, brave and a woman. The sole survivor of Second Impact 15 years earlier, her cross necklace is the keepsake of her father. I wonder if it's just me who feels that she alone survived in order to give that cross to Shinji? It is a truly heavy cross to bear. My parting words to Misato: Megumi Hayashibara (Rei Ayanami) It may be very risky delving deep into the psyche of another person. The more you try to know another person, the more you find an endless depth. You may find out a little, and gain some pleasure, but you can never become that other person. You can never completely understand another person's heart. (After all, you don't even really know yourself.) Thank you, good night, and remember - the things you can see aren't everything. Yuuko Miyamura (Sohryu Asuka Langley) Evangelion has finally reached its conclusion.... Congratulations, everyone, on a job well done. No, really -- Thank you very much. 24 years ago as I gave my birthing cries in Kobe, surely not even Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto of the combined fleet or Nostradamus could have predicted that I would participate in the project called Evangelion. Evangelion's popularity is unstoppable -- like the raid on Pearl Harbor. I'm sure that every Eva fan with a Japanese Spirit will feel like singing none other than "Off to Sea" from "Sally Forth" as they watch this conclusion. If so, then I'd like to send everyone to the theater with a big cheer of "Banzai!" In case you couldn't tell, I think I had a "Kamikaze" feeling during the voice-over. (heart) Haha... (heart) Well done everyone. Yuriko Yamaguchi (Ritsuko Akagi) Ritsuko fades away with her final word, "Liar." But what was this "Liar" in reference to? The script for this last scene only has Gendo saying: "Ritsuko Akagi, I truly...." followed by Ritsuko saying: "Liar (gets shot)". I can imagine many words that might follow "I truly....", but I can't decide on any in particular. That is the complexity of Gendou and Ritsuko's relationship. From Ritsuko Akagi's inner feelings as a scientist, she could be considered a woman who blindly gave her love to Gendou Ikari, and also a foolish woman that walked the same path as her mother Naoko who committed suicide after being betrayed by Ikari. I personally wanted her to end as a convenient, submissive woman who simply wanted to die righteously. But in the previous movie (D&R) she ended as a deeply jealous woman filled with nothing but hatred toward Ikari. Feeling unsatisfied with this, I looked for a way to accept her death at the hands of Ikari. This made the interpretation of "Liar" very important. But the voice-over grew nearer and nearer.... Director Anno must have noticed how I felt. When it came time to do the voice-over, he showed me a single, hidden hint at the last moment. With that one incredible hint, I, and Ritsuko Akagi, were utterly defeated. It hardly needs saying, but Director Anno is incredible. Truly awesome -- a genius. I am truly grateful for the two and a half years that I have been involved with this project, and I would like to take this chance to thank from the bottom of my heart everyone in the staff and cast who helped and supported me when I needed it. Fumihiko Tatsuki (Gendou Ikari) From the TV series to the spring theater release (D&R), and now to this conclusion -- normally this would be like plodding along toward the peak of a steep mountain. Inside of me, however, the "days of maturation" over this period declined against my will, leading me to confirm anew the fickleness of my soul. I feel that the more I say about Evangelion, the more I am "living the wrong way." However, as long as I can liberate the feelings in my heart, I feel that my performances as a "voice actor involved with Eva" might not be merely a bunch of fine plays and bloopers, but rather a series of mysterious and concealed performances. Although I took the approach I cannot find words enough to thank Director Anno for stolidly watching over this forlorn role, as well as the Acoustical Director and numerous staff for their immense support. Motomu Kiyokawa (Kouzou Fuyutsuki) It must have been just after the final voice-over session that Director Anno told us to redo the recording with fairly detailed instructions. Thus, after having recorded the entire voice-over, we went back one cut at a time and recorded almost all of the lines again. I'm sure that Director Anno put his heart and soul into this work. And it was quite difficult for we actors to give a performance befitting Director Anno's heart and soul, because compared to overseas drama, Japanese drama is still at the kindergarten level. Thus, I approached the final recording filled with the thought that if only we were more skillful, we could give a performance worthy of Director Anno. I was riding the subway about the time of the spring theater release (D&R), and overheard three junior high school aged kids discussing Evangelion. The discussion basically took the course of: "That part means such and such," "No, I disagree," and so on. There haven't been very many anime works that people have really discussed, and I think this is one of the great things about Eva. I feel that even when acting on stage, the type of drama that makes the audience feel and think various things is interesting drama, and also good drama. Of course, the audience won't imagine anything if the drama is devoid of content. Director Anno created many such places in Evangelion where the audience can imagine things. That's why I think it is great. In this movie as well-- especially in the second half -- there are numerous places which make you think "Huh!?" Director Anno must have made a lot of different anime in order to create that "Huh!?" feeling. It made me feel once again that Director Anno is an incredible person. Hiro Yuuki (Makoto Hyuga) The voice-over for the cinema edition is finished, and so is my work as an Evangelion voice actor. All that is left now is to view the finished product. I look back on the first episode of the TV series with fond recollection. We actors seem fated to approach each work with an attitude of extreme indifference. As soon as one job finishes, we must turn our thoughts to a different job. However, I was been able to be involved with Evangelion for a long period from the TV series to the first and now the second movie, although there was some interval between each. This has led me to develop a deeper attachment to my character. Makoto's confession of affection toward his superior... that scene left a deep impression. Inside myself I ruminated over the different things that he must have thought, must have felt.... I think that because I could be involved for so long, I was able to let my heart roam freely. Personally, I gained many things from the experience, although I'm not sure whether these appeared in my acting. Takehito Koyasu (Shigeru Aoba) What is "normal"? Miki Nagasawa (Maya Ibuki) It was a work that made my heart ache, Akira Ishida (Kaworu Nagisa) Profuse in speech and with very adult-like words and actions for just a junior high school student -- the type that's a little hard to draw close to. But the frankness and good nature to speak to someone he's just met with a smile makes a good impression. Starting from nothing more than this perception, the character of Kaworu Nagisa began to express itself with each passing day. The circumstances surrounding Kaworu Nagisa established him as a navigator for delving into the labyrinth of Evangelion, and give new insight into its unspoken meaning. Having come this far, I have considered straining what little wits I have and searching for the meaning of Evangelion through Kaworu Nagisa, but despite Kaworu's self-assured words there are just too many things I don't understand. But what is the meaning of Kaworu Nagisa, who Luckily, however, this time I was able to associate myself with Evangelion as Kaworu to the very end. Was Kaworu's choice correct? Did Kaworu really "keep on living"? While this answer appears to have been entrusted to Shinji, I am honestly happy to have been lucky enough to see it through to the end with my own eyes.
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