To commemorate the release of the movie “Given: To the Sea,” Animate Times conducted a series of interviews with the main cast members while counting down to the release date.
There are only 7 days left until the movie is released. In the first part of this series, we bring you an interview with Shintaro Asanuma, who plays Ugetsu Murata. We asked him about his approach to acting in “Given: To the Sea” and his thoughts on the current relationship between Ugetsu and Akihiko.
–After the first part of the two-part film series, “Given the Movie: Hiiragi Mix,” Asanuma-san’s character Ugetsu will be making his first appearance since “Given the Movie.” How do you feel about the film’s release?
Asanuma Shintaro (Asanuma), voice of Murata Ugetsu: Thinking back, even though there should have been quite a gap between the two, it didn’t really feel that way. I wondered if that was because they were still playing music somewhere.
— Ugetsu seems to be a key person in this work. Please tell us about your approach to acting in “Given: To the Sea” and what you were conscious of.
Asanuma: Since I’m in the position of gently pushing Mafuyu forward, I tried to give her a slightly more relaxed feel compared to before, a “more adult-like” feeling (from Mafuyu) and a “motherly warmth that embraces you like the sea.”
–A lot has happened between you and Kaji Akihiko up until now, but how do you feel about the relationship between Ugetsu and Akihiko now?
Asanuma: We may be apart now, but when we do meet, we can exchange greetings and nasty remarks as if we were together yesterday. That’s why we don’t force ourselves or hold back. It’s not something that happens by chance, it’s something that we let time take its course… that’s what I hope for (laughs).
–The anime began airing in 2019, and the story up to the final volume of the original manga has been developed in TV anime, OAD, and movies. Please tell us what you felt while acting out Ugetsu’s growth, changes, personality, etc. throughout the story from beginning to end.
Asanuma: Of course, Ugetsu himself has changed and grown, but I think he was more of a “person who inadvertently made others grow.” But he probably doesn’t realize it. His natural genius wasn’t just musical talent.
――Next, what do you think looking back on the entire series of Given?
Asanuma: I was reminded that music doesn’t just appeal to the sense of hearing. It also contains smells, textures, and feelings. It connects people, but it also separates them. I think this work carefully and slowly depicts that.
–Finally, please tell us your favorite scene or point of interest.
Asanuma: Both the TV anime and the movie feature live performance scenes. After all, this is a story about people who are fascinated by music and who put their feelings into music, so I think this is an area that cannot be left out.
[Text by Chihiro Sasamoto]
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