AnimeJapan 2017 Part 3 – Sword Art Online – Ordinal Scale Cast Talk Stage Event
Welcome back to the 3rd and final article in my coverage of AnimeJapan 2017.
One of the big highlights of AnimeJapan that receives a lot of attention from attendees is the opportunity to attend the stage events throughout Days 3 and 4. Over the course of those two days, the Red, Blue, Green, and Open Stage become host to talk events where fans can see music artists and meet the voice actors and staff from their favorite and recent series including Konosuba, Danmachi, Is the Order a Rabbit?, Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls, and the recent movie to the hit franchise Sword Art Online.
Tickets for seating for these events are distributed by a lottery system as far as a month in advance via an online application process.
Taking place on the Red Stage on Day 3, which I was given an opportunity to attend, was the cast talk for Sword Art Online – Ordinal Scale. This was an event that was filled to capacity.
After a short introduction by the stage host welcoming attendees to the event and highlighting how successful Sword Art Online has been, including its impressive theatrical runs both in Japan and the US, the audience had a chance to meet the main cast of the series up close and personal.
Yoshitugu Matsuoka (Kirito), Haruka Tomatsu (Asuna),Kanae Ito (Yui), Rina Hidaka (Silica), Ayahi Takagaki (Lisbeth) and Ayana Taketatsu (Leafa) were greeted by fans with applause and a warm welcome as they each entered the stage. Each of them introduced themselves to the audience with an energetic “Ordinal Scale, Start!” in the voice of their character.
The cast members talked briefly about the series as a whole and the development of not only Kirito and Asuna, but about their individual characters as well.
The next segment of the stage talk event was an interactive “test” for the actors known as the “Augma Lab”. This segment of the event was the opportunity for the actors to participate in a fun little exercise and the chance for the audience to see them step outside of their character roles.
(Please note that the following segment is based on audio transcribed from the event from Japanese to English. Note that interpretations may slightly differ, and every effort has been made to localize the dialogue to English to as much accuracy as possible.)
Anncr: “The Augma Lab goes like this: In 2026, the cutting-edge AR “Augma” thas arrived and of course is spreading rapidly among those you see here. With this “Augma” these testers can think up the exact answer to “how many kilometers are in 100 meters” before they realize they even wanted to know! Now our aim here is for you to freely experience this. What do you think?
So we have some boards here… drawing a picture is fine since you can explain it out load. We want you to show us what the Augma can do. Essentially, it functions according to point of view, but in all actuality, if there is a new function for it, your Augma has it.
Female VAs: “Is it okay if we answer with what we wish it can do?”
Anncer: “Of course!”
A. Takagaki: “So like things that would be great if it had it?
Anncer: “Good or bad, either works. But do you understand the principle?”
R. Hidaka: “Well it’s a bit mysterious…
Anncer: “Whatever occurs, this is not an exam or anything. We just want to ask what you would like to see the Augma do.”
(After about a minute, the actors are ready to present their answers)
A. Takagaki: Yes!!! I’d like to go!
Anncer: Yes, go ahead.
A.Takagaki: Okay so for me, I think I’d make a great product line.
Anncer: Ah! So you’ve put some thought into this!
A.Takagaki: For me the use of the name “Augma” has a new feel, but it might differ according to your surroundings. So if I was using it in the mountains of Hokkaido, it would be: “Ookuma!”
(Holds up a drawing of a bear. Ookuma = Big Bear. This is a pun of “Augma”)
(Laughter from the guests and the audience)
Everyone: “Oh! I get it!”
Anncer: So if that were the case, what would you call it in future versions?
A.Takagaki: Right, so if it’s the upgraded versions: “Koguma!”
(Holds up a drawing of a bear cub. Koguma = Cub or little bear. Another pun)
Anncer: Upgrade you say? Well I guess that’s easy to understand… so it goes from 1st generation to 2nd generation like that?
A.Takagaki: Yeah, all of the models follow in the same way.
A.Taketatsu: Waaah! It’s really hard to present something….
Anncer: Ah! It’s okay, you don’t really don’t need to worry too much about it…
A.Taketatsu: I mean I’ll do it… but mine’s really bad…
Anncer: Ito-san, are you ready to share?
K.Itoe: It’s kind of a normal, everyday use… is that okay?
Anncer: Everyday use is just the thing Augma is used for! Go right ahead.
K.Itoe: Right! “Trying on Clothes!” (Written in text)
Female VAs: “Oh niiice!” “Awesome!” “That’s crazy good!”
H.Tomatsu: Mine’s a bit similar to that one.
Anncer: What a coincidence!
H.Tomatsu: It could be a continuation of Ito-san’s…
K.Itoe: Really?! I’d love to see the upgrade!
H.Tomatsu: I could use it as a simulation to try out hairstyles in advance. Then you wouldn’t have to worry if it looks bad!
Anncr: That’d certainly be helpful wouldn’t it? Would there be different versions?
H.Tomatsu: With the Japanese version you could see traditional Japanese styles. Like if you wanted to see if you’d look good in a samurai top-knot.
Anncer: Of course the top-knot. So Augma really could be used to wear all sorts of things?
H.Tomatsu: Yeah.
A.Takagaki: From breasts to hairstyles!
R. Hidaka: Though to follow up with mine… it’s really a lot like “trying on clothes”
K. Itoe: Well I thought it was a good one…
R. Hidaka: Well, here goes!
(Holds up drawing of a beaming girl, with long pigtails and noticeably large chest)
Others: Uhh… What is that?
A.Takagaki: Oh! Is it my own wish of having amazing hair?
R. Hidaka: Heh heh, well….
K.Itoe: Do you plan on trying on chests?!
R. Hidaka: What?! No! Wait wait! (Keeps protesting)
(Audience laughter)
A.Takagaki: Oh really!? Are you sure?
R. Hidaka: Well, as you might have expected, mine’s also about clothes…
A.Takagaki: So you would use the Augma to change one point about yourself you’re timid about?
H. Tomatsu: If that’s the case, wouldn’t that be something that would’ve already been around for a long time?
R. Hidaka: While that would be great; let’s say you had a complex about not being able to wear your ideal clothes, like with brand new jeans that don’t fit… (Everyone responds in agreement) or if you wanted to keep up with the season. With this you’d be able to wear your ideal look.
Anncer: Certainly 9 times out of 10 it would be used for lots of shopping for fun
R. Hidaka: Yeah, pretty much.
Anncer: It certainly seems that way, right?
K.Itoe: Wouldn’t it be better than online shopping?
Anncer: That’s true.
Female VAs: (murmur in agreement) “It’d be so convenient…”
A.Taketatsu: Well mine is also close to that, though it’s a little different.
Anncer: Right.
A.Taketatsu: For mine, I’m not saying this is for myself, but… “Fan/Supporter Dress Up!”
(Flips over her sketchbook showing her answer in text)
Everyone: “Ooooh!
A.Taketatsu: Yep! It would be for both 3D and 2D fans. For example, in the case of a fan of Ayami0chan, they could put kitty ears on her. Similarly, you could do the same dress-up with an ideal fictional girl.
Female VAs: “Of course!”
A.Taketatsu: Even now, there are guests here in the hall here who would like to see her in kitty ears, don’t ya think?
A.Takagaki: And each of us here have our own respective supporters…
A.Taketatsu: Yeah, right?
H.Tomatsu: That’s amazing! With this Augma function, you could dress up in things like swimsuits and stuff.
R. Hidaka: So like, maybe we’re all dressed-up in the ideal swimsuits.
A.Takagaki: Holy cow! If were the case, then to all of those people, we’re sitting here in swimsuits!
Female VAs: “Ha, ha! Yeah probably… Shouldn’t we be embarrassed?”
Y.Matsuoka: That would have to be a crazy good “premium pass ticket”!
Female VAs: “Yeah, that’s for sure.”
Y.Matsuoka: But anyway, if it could do all those things for fan dress-up, you’d want to use it too right?
H.Tomatsu: Why would you want to use that feature?
A.Taketatsu: (Hesitating embarrassed protest sounds)
A.Takagaki: Oh? Maybe you want to use all of it?
K. Itoe: Let’s just leave it there. I think this is less about that, and more of an example right?
Other VAs: (Murmur in agreement)
Anncer: Wow. You looked like you went to pieces worrying about that.
A.Taketatsu: Well you know, it’s a nice “dream function.”
Anncer: That’s true. So like, Matsuoka, in your case, did you write anything down?
Y.Matsuoka: Well, it’s already supposed to have lots of functions… so when I thought about it freely: (Flips over sketchbook) “Physical Full Burst!!!”
(Physical Full Burst is from the series Accel World by Reki Kawahara,who is the creator of both series, and this is a super move/feature for the AR in that setting)
(Applause and Laughter)
Anncer: It seems for a lot of people here, that’d be a cool feature! Now tell us about its function.
Y.Matsuoka: Right, the function. So with Physical Full Burst….
(Long pause when he realizes he can’t explain) (Audience laughter)
Anncer: So with Physical Full Burst, you would accelerate right?
Y.Matsuoka: Yes.
Anncer: You’d barely have any limits right?
Kirito: Yeah. So it’s no big deal but… the shoes stop. So you wish you had them with you (while bursting) but they’re back where they were.
Anncer: I get it. You’d want the shoes and stuff to go with you as you burst.
A.Takagaki: Okay, so I really don’t get it, but in any case, if you’re barefoot, please put on some shoes!
Y.Matsuoka: (laughter) Oh really?
A.Takagaki: Seriously!
(Audience laughter)
After a round of two questions, this segment concluded with applause from the audience who seemed to enjoy the fun little exercise they got to see.
Up next, there were some announcements of releases including the Sword Art Online Song Collection II compilation and also a special incentive available to returning movie goers of the special shikishi art boards for the characters in the movie.
Bringing the event to a close, each of the actors took the opportunity to thank everyone for their love and support of the series, as it has been an amazing project to be part of over the years and to please keep supporting the series.
To wrap things up, one last thing: a surprise guest for the audience with music artist LiSA performing “Catch the Moment”, the theme song from the movie.
Conclusion
With AnimeJapan promoting itself as an event for all things anime to an international audience, this is a unique experience, much different than attending an anime convention in North America. Many components of a convention for example are done differently here versus an anime convention. Everything from the exhibitor booths to the cosplay areas are set up with a heavy focus on organized lines and set directions and paths for movement of traffic. This I felt helped to minimize delays in getting to the different areas of the Eastern Exhibition halls at Big Sight, which I felt made for an enjoyable experience for both the casual and serious fan alike, with very little stress associated with it.
With a reported 140,000+ total attendance over two days, everything about AnimeJapan always felt to be in constant motion. With an event like this being heavily industry driven, I felt that this allowed the major companies to be able to fully present the experience to the fans, while striving for efficiency. And if this happens to be your speed of anime related events, AnimeJapan is definitely worth checking out. I know I will be again next year.
AnimeJapan 2018 will take place at Tokyo Big Sight on March 22nd to 25th 2018.
Special thanks to Grace Clegg for transcribing and translating the audio portion of the Sword Art Online – Ordinal Scale event.
Photos provided courtesy of Aniplex Inc. and also submitted by Sahvin Panichpong.
