The Bunbungers were filming a collaboration with the popular video creator HIKAKIN at a racing circuit when suddenly, Nicola, the princess of the planet Trickle, who fled from the Hasilian invasion, appears. The Hasilians threaten to fire a “Planet Destruction Missile” at Earth if they don’t hand over the princess! Furthermore, the captain of the Hasilian detective squad, Damon Thunder, attacks, and the situation takes an unpredictable turn.
To commemorate the release of the first “BOON! Theater” film, Animate Times interviewed Iuchi Yuu, who plays BunRed/Normichi Daiya, and Suzuki Miu, who plays BunPink/Shibudo Mirai!
We spoke to him about a wide range of topics, including highlights of the movie and anecdotes from filming, as well as the TV series, which is now entering a new phase, and the growth of the characters he plays.
–It’s already been four months since the show started. Have you two had any moments where you felt a reverberation?
Yuu Iuchi (Iuchi), voice of Bunred/Norimichi Daiya: When the production was announced, I received a lot of comments like “Congratulations on your appearance!”, but now those comments have changed to “It’s interesting!”, “I watch it every week,” and other comments about the show. So I’m starting to realize that a lot of time has passed since the show started.
Suzuki Miu, who plays Bun Pink/Shibuto Mirai (hereafter, Suzuki): The number of reactions when we updated our social media accounts right after the broadcast was amazing. Yuuyo started using social media because of Bun Bunger, but I had been using it for a while, so I was really grateful and thought, “I didn’t know that fans who watch Super Sentai would respond so much to me…!”
Also, a childhood friend of mine from my hometown is an elementary school teacher, and he says that the kids are fighting over the “Good Job Stickers” from “Bun Bunger.”
Iuchi: Wow! That’s great!
Suzuki: It seems like she sticks them on kids who have done their homework well. I think it’s a great response since the show started. What’s more, the teacher says that “Pink is my friend,” and Bun Pink seems to be the most popular!
Iuchi: Hmm, maybe I should recommend Red too? (laughs)
— (laughs) From episode 16 onwards, Homura Sento/Bun Violet and Bun Diesel (Bundi) make their appearance in the TV series, and things are starting to take a new turn.
Iuchi: With Sendou joining the story, the story is progressing at a rapid pace, with Daiya, Bunbun (Bundrio Bunderas), and Bunbunger’s dreams. Bundy was a racer in the same BBG (Big Bang Grand Prix) as Bunbun, so new facts related to BBG are being revealed one after another.
Suzuki: Since Bundi appeared, we’ve started to learn more about Bun-chan’s past.
–I think “Bunbunger” is also a story about the bond between Daiya and Bunbun, but how do you yourself view the relationship between the two?
Iuchi: I think Bunbun is the person Daiya can trust the most. It’s when he’s alone with Bunbun that Daiya can show his younger self.
Daiya is the character that leads the Bunbungers, so when he’s with everyone, he unconsciously acts like an adult. I think that for Daiya, he’s like a little bit of a grown-up, and he can go back to being a kid in a good way. He’s a partner he can be comfortable with, a best friend… maybe even like a family member.
–For Daiya, Bunbun is the person he can show his true self to.
Suzuki: I’d be happy if you could show us a little more of your true self (laughs).
Iuchi: (laughs).
–In episodes 8 and 9, there was a scene where the Bunbungers almost split apart over Daiya’s true intentions.
Suzuki: That’s right. There are parts where I think “If only Daiya had explained it a little better.”
Iuchi: Daiya also doesn’t have enough words to express himself.
鈴木：ただ、それが大也のカリスマ性に繋がっていると思うので、難しいところです。
ーー少し前ですが、第12話では『炎神戦隊ゴーオンジャー』とのコラボ回もありましたね。
鈴木：『ブンブンジャー』の制作が発表された際に、クルマをモチーフにしたスーパー戦隊つながりで、「『ゴーオンジャー』や『カーレンジャー』とコラボしてほしい」というネットの書き込みを見ていたんです。なので、「本当に来た！」と驚きました。色々な世代の方が『ブンブンジャー』を観てくださるきっかけになったと思いますし、SNSでも普段以上に沢山の反響をいただいた気がします。
井内：自分は璃佑（阿久瀬錠／ブンブラック役・齋藤璃佑さん）と同じ『ゴーオンジャー』世代なんです。小さい頃に観ていたヒーローだったので、その頃の記憶が一気に蘇ってきました。現場でスピードルやマンタンガンを見た時、懐かしさとともに「そういえば、おもちゃ持ってた！」って。
鈴木：持ってたの!?
ーーそれを現場で思い出したんですか？
井内：そうなんです！ マンタンガンのおもちゃで遊んでいたことを思い出して。当時画面の向こう側にいた方々と一緒に作品を作れていると思うと、感慨深い気持ちになりました。
鈴木：そう考えると、改めてエモい回でしたね。
ーー世代を超えて楽しめる内容だったと思います。ところで、放送を観ていると、ブンブンの作る「ブンブンカレー」が美味しそうで……。
鈴木：「ブンブンカレー」はとにかく美味しいよね。
井内：優しい味じゃない？
鈴木：そう！ 給食のカレーみたいな（笑）。野菜がゴロゴロ入っていて、みんな大好きな王道の味って感じ。
井内：ルーは甘口な気がします。
鈴木：きっと、誰が食べても「美味しい！」と思うはずです。「スーパー戦隊レストラン」で出ていたカレーもあのままなのかな？
井内：同じ味だったら嬉しいですね。
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