An interview with Natsuki Hanae, who plays Asaya Kanata in the movie “A Few Minutes of Cheers” | I also do some video editing myself, so I understand how difficult it is from that perspective.The animated film “A Few Minutes of Cheer,” dedicated to everyone who knows the joy of making things, will be released on Friday, June 14, 2024.

This work is a life-sized youth ensemble drama about “craftsmanship” brought to you by the up-and-coming video production team “Hurray!” and Tohru Hanada, who has worked on “Love Live!” and “A Place Further Than the Universe.”

His main tool for drawing is the free 3DCG software “Blender,” and his unique and delicate image creations have attracted attention.

In this article, we bring you an interview with Hanae Natsuki, who plays Asaya Kanata, a high school boy attending a high school in Ishikawa Prefecture. Asaya Kanata becomes interested in music videos (MVs) after coming across a video on the internet by chance. We asked him about his impressions of Asaya Kanata, who begins to make his own MVs, and the appeal of this work.

──First of all, please tell us what the appeal of the film “A Few Minutes of Cheer” is.

Hanae Natsuki (Asaya Kanata) (hereinafter, Hanae): I think everyone has had experience making something.

The sense of accomplishment when you long for something or pursue the ideal you have in your head, but it doesn’t always go as you planned, and you finally create something that satisfies you after a long time.

This work depicts the hardships and wonders of making things.

Of course, I was also involved in this work from an acting perspective, so I put my heart into my performance while feeling both the difficulty and the joy.

──After reading the script (or the script) of this work and actually recording, what was your impression of “Asaya Kanata” that you play? Also, please tell us if your impression changed before and after recording.

Hanae: He was a very earnest person who wanted to move people’s hearts and create things, and it reminded me of the way I was when I was younger.

Of course, I still feel that way, but it’s amazing because it’s so easy to continually produce that youthful energy that’s so reckless and overflowing with passion.

After the recording, I recorded an audio drama of his junior high school days, and it left a very different impression on me. Children at this age are constantly changing, so they’re full of potential.

──Asaya Kanata is interested in MV (music videos) and has just started making things through video production, but from your perspective, what do you think about the character’s inner self and what did you pay attention to when acting? Also, what kind of direction did you receive?

Hanae: There’s a scene in the music video where you’re talking to yourself and building up an image for yourself.

I really entered my own world, and was in a sort of zone, and the lines kept coming one after the other.

I tried to make sure that I could express the inquisitiveness that allows me to concentrate on something I love so much.

I was told that I could act at a scale that was comfortable for me, so I was grateful that I was able to convey his kindness and reckless curiosity through the tempo of his conversation.

— Kanata’s emotions seem to vary widely throughout the story. Could you tell us any memorable lines or scenes involving interactions with other characters?

Hanae: A casual everyday conversation scene

In particular, conversations at school are unique to student life, and I think it’s a relaxed, open-minded space where people talk without thinking too deeply.

There were a lot of exchanges like that in the scenes with Tonozaki, so it was fun and made me feel younger (laughs).

However, I also liked how realistic it was to see the inner thoughts of the characters, such as their envy of things they don’t have, or their dissatisfaction despite their superiority.

──The theme of this work is “manufacturing,” and I felt that it had something in common with acting in terms of “expression.” Please tell us what you felt about the work, such as the feelings of the characters you sympathized with and any discoveries you made.

Hanae: I could really empathize with Kanata, so it was very easy to act as him.

One aspect is expressing the story through acting, but I also do some video editing, so I was able to understand how difficult it is from that perspective.

–Finally, I’m sure there are many highlights, so please tell us which scene is your favorite.

Hanae: Is this a scene from Professor Orishige’s live performance?

胸に刺さりました。やはり前に向かって気持ちをぶつけ表現する姿はいつ見てもカッコいい。