Final Buddy Daddies Interview with Miri’s, Katsuki’s, and Rei’s Japanese VAs - Highlights!
So, the final (I would assume) interview on the Buddy Daddies website went up today. It’s an interview with Hina Kino (Miri), Toshiyuki Toyonaga (Kazuki), and Koki Uchiyama (Rei). This isn’t going to be a full translation of the interview, but just some interesting highlights from it. I’ll link to the interview in the comments below.
So, let’s start!
- All of them were hoping that no one would die. But they all thought that, if a character was going to die, then it was going to be Rei. Kino’s father was watching the show as a viewer (very cute, by the way, love that he was supporting her show like that!) and he saw that Rei’s character was growing and changing very rapidly, so he said, “I hope he doesn’t die.” Uchiyama also noted that Rei cheering loudly for Miri at field day was another death flag.
- Uchiyama notes that, before Episode 11 (specifically the scene with Kazuki outside the safe house), Rei had never spoken that much. Then he said he saw the script and scene with Rei and his father and was like, “That’s a lot...” He basically notes that it was around Episode 10 that Rei started speaking more, and since he had more lines in the second half of the show, he got to show more of himself, which was nice.
- The thing that surprised Uchiyama (that they talked about in other interviews) was the 10 year time skip. He talks about how he had already been playing Rei with an “adult voice,” so when he saw the time skip where they were older, he was like, “Oh, no! They should have told us that from the start!” because he couldn’t go any lower with his voice. That was it, lol.
- But that was fine, they didn’t any physical (or like voice in this case) changes, just for him to be more mentally mature. The VAs also confirm that in the time skip Kazuki is 39 and Rei is 36. (So, yay! I was right about that, lol).
- For Kazuki, since time skip Kazuki is around Toyonaga’s own age, so he wanted to express a calmness similar to his age. Kazuki didn’t really age much, but there is still an awareness of time having passed.
- Kino was worried about doing an older voice, since he usually voices child characters.
- The interviewer asked what would happen if Miri got a sweetheart, lol. Toyonaga notes that he thinks Kazuki and Rei would have a hard time with that, he wonders what happened to Taiga in the future, and if Miri and him are still in contact with each other. Kino states that Taiga might be in a bit of danger is he is.
- When asked about episodes or scenes that were memorable to them, Uchiyama notes that Miri sang a lot.
- When asked about favorite episodes:
Kino (Miri’s VA) : Episode 9
Uchiyama (Rei’s VA) : Episode 10
Toyonaga (Kazuki’s VA) : A tie between Episodes 7 and 8
- At the end of the interview, the interviewer asked for messages to the fans:
Kino (Miri’s VA) : She liked the peeks into the slice of life aspects of the show that she got to see in this 1 cour series and how, since she was playing Miri, she was reminded of her parents in many scenes. Specifically eating cereal and having her parents cheer her on at field day. Then she ended with a “Thank you very much for watching.”
Uchiyama (Rei’s VA): He notes that since this is an anime original series, there are a lot of “blank spaces” found in the anime. There are still many things that we don’t know about Kazuki and Rei’s pasts, the Organization, Kyutaro’s personal life, etc. He wonders what happened during the years, what things they discussed with Miri, how they ended up at the diner, etc. He thinks it is interesting to imagine these “blank spaces” and that, though the series is over, he hopes we continue to enjoy those “blank spaces” in the future. Then ended with a “Thank you for watching.”
Toyonaga (Kazuki’s VA): He thanks everyone for watching all 12 episodes of Buddy Daddies and talks about how this series challenged him as a voice actor. Then he mentioned how, since he is a father to a daughter around Miri’s age, this show was a good learning experience for him as both an actor and father, and he was able to compare his personal experiences with his role and the show. He thinks that the ending of the show is very beautiful and that instead of a sequel, spin-offs every now and again (like OVAs, I assume) could work and that he would like to see Kazuki, Rei, and Miri again. He also says that he is going to try and be a “real Papa” as a father and ended his thoughts with “Thank you.”
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Buddy Daddies is a P.A. Works anime original series. A P.A. Works original anime series has never had a sequel before, but it is nice (and promising) to hear that the VAs seem open to doing more with the series and characters, and the producer has been liking tweets about sequels and continuations. So, here’s to hoping (at least a little, lol).
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Buddy Daddies interview with Toyonaga Toshiyuki, Uchiyama Koki, and Kino Hina
Interview with Toyonaga Toshiyuki, Uchiyama Koki, and Kino Hina (voice actors for Kurusu Kazuki, Suwa Rei, and Unasaka Miri)
[Translator's note: This interview contains spoilers for the entire series.]
Interviewer: In the final arc of "Buddy Daddies", some disturbing developments unfold in the lives of Kurusu Kazuki, Suwa Rei, and Unasaka Miri. How did that make you feel?
Kino: Kazuki, Rei, and Miri seemed to have become a real family, but once Miri's mother reappeared, I wondered just how things would progress towards the climax. Since it's an original series, I really was going ahead with zero idea of what was in store. I hoped no one would die, but in the end, Miri's mother did, and Kazuki and Rei took Miri in - that was a bit of a surprise. I was imagining all sorts of things, like, "I wonder if Rei's going to die..."
Uchiyama: Huh? Really?! (laughs)
Toyonaga: Even in the recording studio, we were chatting about "is someone gonna die..."
Kino: My father was also one of the viewers, and as he watched Rei's speedy evolution, he said, "I sure hope he doesn't die." (laughs)
Uchiyama: Come to think of it, him shouting, "Go for it!" at sports day really feels like a death flag.
Toyonaga: When it comes down to it, Miri-chan is in the most tragic situation of all - she's gone through the disaster of losing both her real parents. It's just Miri-chan's age that keeps her from fully understanding her circumstances; when we were recording live, I kept thinking that this must be so tough for Kino-san, who understands everything, but instead has to keep up that pure innocence the whole time.
Kino: The storyline and character backgrounds are rather dark, so I figured surely Miri would be heartbroken and burst into tears, sometime in the final arc. But there was no scene like that, all the way to the very end. Her only crying scenes were when she was throwing tantrums, so throughout the whole series, she stands out being as a girl with a bright smile. But I feel like the reason why Miri can stay ignorant of all this is because Kazuki-papa and Rei-papa take such good care of her. So I also tried to play the role without letting any stray thoughts get into my head.
Toyonaga: Her papas might have stayed a "comedian" and an "oil baron" until the very end. (laughs)
Interviewer: Kazuki and Rei's feelings towards Miri also underwent major changes, compared to how they started out.
Toyonaga: The entire plot was structured around the idea that the assassin job would hinder them in being parents; eventually, as a result of them being subordinates to the organisation, their ties - to Rei's father and so on - would get in the way. If so, what decision would the two of them make regarding Miri-chan? That was how things played out. And they did exchange blows with Ogino (Ryo) after all. In episode 10, they thought, "We can't change," and temporarily decided to return Miri to her mother - but in episode 11, both of them were incredibly hung up on this, and they ultimately couldn't let go. I think that's just how indispensable Miri-chan's presence had become to Kazuki and Rei, over the course of those 11 episodes.
Uchiyama: In the episode 10 ferris wheel scene, Rei expresses some lingering reluctance, with a melancholy look we've never seen from him before. That's where you can really see his emotional development. Another striking moment is in episode 11, where Rei confirms that Miri is unhurt, and brings up wanting to adopt her. It's quite a bold change for Rei to say something like that, even though Kazuki is saying it'd be better to step aside. He's voicing his feelings, in the longest lines of dialogue he's ever had, in order to change Kazuki's mind; it really has such a climactic feeling to it. I was wondering exactly how I myself should play this, in order to sway Kazuki emotionally.
Toyonaga: You really never talked so much before episode 11.
Uchiyama: In episode 12, there's also a scene where he's giving his father a long speech; when I saw the script, I went, "That's a lot..."
Toyonaga: Yeah, that was me all the time, up to episode 10. (laughs)
Uchiyama: Sorry! (laughs) Anyway, Rei's dialogue increases drastically in the second half of the show, and he displays a side you haven't seen at all in the first half. It leaves quite an impact.
Toyonaga: The fact that he can say so much to his father - that's new too.
Interviewer: After all that, in the final episode, we're shown how the trio's future plays out.
Uchiyama: That was a real surprise. If Miri's a high school student now, that means about ten years have passed. I was totally in the dark about that ending until I saw the script. I incorporated quite an adult tone into my voice whenever I was voicing Rei, so I thought, "If you're going to jump ahead into the future, give me a heads-up first!" (laughs) He's a dark character who's lived as an assassin this whole time, so I was already pulling out all the stops to make him as adult as I could manage. "I can't make him any older than this!" I thought.
Toyonaga: I was right next to him in the studio, and he told me, "No, I can't go any lower than this." (laughs)
Uchiyama: Actually, they didn't ask for any major changes. They weren't going for a simplistic sense of ageing - they just wanted him to seem like he'd matured somewhat emotionally. I appreciated that. Kazuki is 39 years old, I think.
Toyonaga: Yeah, he grew a beard and all.
Uchiyama: And Rei being 36 was a shock.
Toyonaga: Likewise, rather than "Kazuki's gotten older", it was more like we should simply be aware of the passage of time. And when you think about it rationally, the 39-year-old Kazuki is around the same age as me now. I turn 39 this year. So I thought it'd be nice if I could portray a certain age-appropriate composure. Kino-san, I bet you were even more surprised?
Kino: That's right. When I received the script for episode 12, there was a drawing of a grown-up Miri on the back cover, and it gave me such a shock. Then I checked the footage and saw that she really had grown up; I was so taken aback! I usually play a lot of little kids, so I went into the studio thinking, "Will this really work out?" During rehearsals, I was keeping her age increase in mind, so I tried to give a pretty subdued performance. But I was told that the bubbliness was "very Miri", and it would be best to keep that. So I course-corrected for the actual performance. I think Miri's total emotional stability must be the result of Kazuki and Rei's trial-and-error parenting, and that's why all of them were able to find their happy ending. You can sense that they've become a real family.
Toyonaga: I once asked Director Asai, just in passing, how it would all turn out in the end. He said something like, "For a story like this, a tragic ending is also a real possibility..." So I was also on tenterhooks, wondering if they'd all die. I think the director fretted over it a lot too, but in the end, shouldering their various burdens, they moved forward together and became a family. I feel like it's an incredibly heartwarming ending, don't you?
Interviewer: Now that Miri is a high school girl, what will happen if she gets a sweetheart...?
Toyonaga: I think it'll be really tough to win Kazuki and Rei over.
Kino: I agree. In Kazuki's fantasy scenes, he said something like, "I'll kill you!"
Uchiyama: Right, he had fantasies of the future too.
Kino: There were scenes of Miri as a gyaru. And some predictions of a future with Taiga-kun.
Toyonaga: I wonder how Taiga-kun's doing in the future. Are they still in touch?
Kino: If so, Taiga-kun might be in danger. (laugh)
Interviewer: Looking back at all twelve episodes, which scenes or incidents left the strongest impression on you?
Uchiyama: Miri sang a lot. At the beginning of that episode, and at the end too.
Kino: She did. I practised once I got the scripts, but for her mother’s song, I received a demo song beforehand. Since Miri's mother was a singer, Miri loves singing; that's part of the whole setup, which was rather nervewracking. As for the kids' TV programme, I listened to the music through headphones and sang along on the spot - I went like "aaa-aaa-aaa~ ♪"
Uchiyama: It's not like Miri is in a musical - the songs contain different fluctuating emotions, and the point isn't to just sing them as beautifully as possible. It has to be a more varied portrayal. Also, Kazuki is a great cook, so I remember them eating lots of delicious-looking food.
Toyonaga: But you guys only ever grumbled about it. (laughs)
Kino: There really were quite a few scenes of "Miri hates this!"
Uchiyama: Rei has the same palate as Miri - he can't handle anything too elaborate. As for Miri, the taste of premade meals reminds her of her mother.
Toyonaga: When Rei was helping to make bento, he stuffed gummies in the onigiri.
Uchiyama: But it went over well with the children. All that food content was fun.
Toyonaga: Besides that - basically, Miri-chan's always a cutie.
Uchiyama: The thing about Miri-chan is that she doesn't just have cute or charming faces. There are plenty of "meanie Miri" expressions.
Kino: There really are. She seriously has such a rich range of expressions; as we went into the second half of the show, I kept thinking, "Wow, we get to see faces like that too?" It made me feel like my vocal performance had no restrictions either - like, "I can just let myself loose."
Toyonaga: How are you so good at playing a four-year-old?
All: (laugh)
Uchiyama: You make an incredibly realistic four-year-old.
Kino: Really? Thank you!
Toyonaga: Amazing, isn't it? When did you get this good?
Kino: When, huh... There are little kids who are naturally quiet, and there are those, like Miri, who scream "Boring!" and kick up a fuss. But starting from the audition, I figured I'd express my emotions innocently, just as they were. I wailed "Aaahh!" so much, things probably got really loud. When I was overdoing it, I was directed to dial it down a bit, and I adjusted accordingly.
Toyonaga: Whenever Miri-chan was happy or excited, she let out this incredibly high-pitched "Aaaahh!" I loved that. Kids really do react just like that.
Kino: Thank you very much. (laughs)
Interviewer: Can you tell us your personal favourite episodes?
Kino: The sports day scenes in episode 9 almost made me cry when I watched them. Kazuki was actually bawling, but it was such an incredibly warm and fluffy episode. I love it.
Uchiyama: Sports day was very exciting.
Toyonaga: It's fluffy and feel-good, but it makes you want to cry.
Kino: Rei cheering for Miri and regretting it afterwards was also very cute.
Uchiyama: It's true that Rei yelling like that totally threw Miri off. As for me, I'll say episode 10. It feels like a turning point in the story, plus it made me want to go to an amusement park. (laughs) There's something very appealing about a place like a ferris wheel. Out of all the various attractions, a ferris wheel feels most like a private room - it's an enclosed space where sound is cut off. I think it's a very special kind of space. After having fun all day, deep conversations can naturally arise within that sort of atmosphere. It was the perfect match for those story developments. You can really feel the misery of the final arc setting in; it's very memorable.
Toyonaga: And I'll go with episodes 7 and 8, which are standout episodes for Kazuki and Rei respectively. In episode 7, Kazuki talks to (Izumi) Karin-chan, his late wife's younger sister, and I kept all that incredible dramatic weight in mind when playing that scene. Approaching that material was a real challenge to me as an actor, so in that sense, it left an impression on me. And as for episode 8, when Rei is interacting with the boss of the organisation, you can really see the chains he's been shouldering this whole time, and everything that's made Rei the way he is now. Getting to learn about these things was definitely memorable.
Interviewer: Once again, what do you think is the appeal of "Buddy Daddies"?
Kino: Kazuki, Rei, and Miri all bear their own heavy burdens from their past. Miri is separated from her mother, Rei's father has only ever taught him to live as an assassin, and Kazuki is also shackled by a tragic history. If you look at it that way, it's a dark story, but when the three of them are together, there are so many comical scenes that make you laugh, or upbeat flashy scenes. It's an exquisitely maintained balance, and you really can't get enough of watching it. There are scenes that will warm your heart, and scenes that will make you cry. That wide variety means this show can reach all sorts of people, and I think that's what makes it so wonderful.
Toyonaga: I think that different people who watch this series find different things to connect with emotionally. It can be enjoyed and judged in totally contrasting ways, depending on the viewer's individual experiences, lifestyles, and circumstances. That makes it a very fascinating show. People who are relatively young might relate to Miri-chan, and may project Kazuki and Rei onto their own parents. And that could lead to a lot of diverse opinions and reactions being exchanged - to me, that's one of the most appealing things about this show.
Uchiyama: The atmosphere of the series turns on a dime from comedic to serious, changing between one scene and the next, so you can barrel right through each episode without it ever feeling stale. I find that very enjoyable. And it ends with a timeskip to the future - that came as a real surprise to us too. All in all, the colourful plot twists and unpredictability really set this show apart. There's the unique sense of awe you only get from an original story.
Interviewer: Finally, please give a message to all the fans who have enjoyed "Buddy Daddies".
Kino: Through recording this one-cour story with a total of twelve episodes, I feel like I've gotten a glimpse of the sheer depths of human experience. I'm truly happy I could work on a series like this. As Toyonaga-san also said, it's a show which people can enjoy from many different perspectives, but since I played Miri, there were so many scenes which reminded me of my parents. The delicious cornflakes I ate as a child, being cheered on at sports day - all sorts of memories came back to me. I really hope this show also reawakened some warm memories for everyone in the audience. Thank you so much for watching to the very end.
Uchiyama: "Buddy Daddies" is an original series, so in a sense, it has plenty of blank spaces left. Kazuki and Rei's pasts, the details of the organisation, Kyu-chan's (Kugi Kyutaro's) private life... there are still some things we don't know. Also, what happened in the missing years during the finale's sudden timeskip? What sort of conversations took place as Miri was growing up? How did they end up at the diner? I think it's a lot of fun to fill in those gaps with your imagination. The anime is over, but I hope you will continue to enjoy yourselves in those blank spaces. Thank you very much for watching every episode.
Toyonaga: To everyone who watched all twelve episodes, thank you from the bottom of my heart. "Buddy Daddies" presented me, the actor Toyonaga Toshiyuki, with so many opportunities to challenge myself, and it really has been a delight. I'm also a father of one - I'm raising a daughter around Miri's age. Through playing this role and mapping it on to my own circumstances, I've learnt a lot in this one cour - both as an actor, and as father to a child. The series ended in an incredibly beautiful way, so rather than a sequel, I feel like it would lend itself well to occasional standalone spinoff episodes. I also look forward to being able to meet Kazuki, Rei, and Miri-chan again, and in the meantime, I will do my best as a real papa. Thank you so much.
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