The D4DJ multimedia project has been airing as part of the fall 2020 season and we had the opportunity to get in some questions with the director and cast recently during a session in Japan. In attendance were the director, Seiji Mizushima, and the following cast, Yuka Nishio (voice of Rinku Aimoto), Aimi (voice of Kyoko Yamate), and Risa Tsumugi (voice of Saki Izumo). First, an interview session was held with the cast:
Q: To start off, could you introduce yourself and your character?
Yuka Nishio: I’m Yuka Nishio and I’m the voice of Rinku Aimoto from Happy Around!
Rinku can sometimes be seen as an oddball by others since she is from an island filled with wilderness in Africa. Rinku is extremely bright and cheerful, like the sun that gives energy to everyone, and also like a storm that pulls everybody around her into whatever she’s interested in.
Aimi: Hello everyone. I’m Aimi and I voice Kyoko Yamate.
Kyoko is the vocalist of Peaky P-key and is a cool charismatic girl.
Risa Tsumugi: Hi! I’m Risa Tsumugi and I voice Saki Izumo! Saki chan is… if I describe her in one word, the universe. Her interaction with the big sisters in Photon Maiden who support her warmly is very cute!
Q: Please tell us the most charming part of your character.
Yuka Nishio: Rinku’s charm is that you just can’t hate her regardless of her lack of common sense, and her extremely cheerful nature due to growing up in the wilderness!
Aimi: Kyoko spares no effort to improve her music and is strict with herself, but she shows smiles to her friends often. That character gap is her charm.
Risa Tsumugi: Saki is just so adorable!… Please excuse myself from being agonized by her cuteness every time I play her. (Laughs) Even though she appears to be a person with common sense, she can be odd and goofy sometimes. However, her style on the stage is totally different from how she usually is, which is her charm. She also has “synesthesia” so please take notice of that part of her as well!
Q: “D4DJ First Mix” released the first episode on October 22nd for an early streaming. Are there any scenes from the 1st episode that were memorable to you? Are there any parts that the fans should pay special attention to?
Yuka Nishio: The scene where Rinku learns how to DJ from Maho was a memorable scene for me.
Maho shows Rinku how to DJ, and she explains it as well so the audience can also understand what a DJ does, so please take a close look at that scene! Another scene would be the one right after that where Rinku senses that “WOW WAR TONIGHT” is coming up next; it was also a memorable scene to me since I have similar experiences often.
Aimi: The concert scene with Peaky P-key! It was so lively! I felt the excitement and couldn’t stop myself from dancing! I want everyone to watch it again and again!
Risa Tsumugi: The first episode was already very “Happy Around!” like! (Laugh) I love their energy and how lively they are. The opening song is filled with their energy, and I love it! I also sing in the opening for a little bit as Saki with Kyoko-san, and their relationship is so precious… so please enjoy the opening song as well!
Q: “DJ” is the theme of “D4DJ”. What kind of impression do you have about DJ’s? Was there any change to your impression before and after joining the project?
Yuka Nishio: My impression of DJ’s didn’t change since I used to DJ at a club before joining D4DJ. However, clubs had an intimidating impression for me since I thought it would be full of party people before I started DJing. Now, DJing is a fun tool to share our favorite music and to enjoy music indefinitely by mixing and arranging!
Aimi: I didn’t have much knowledge about DJs before, but I got to feel how limitless music is! There are no restrictions to the performances, so I enjoy trying different methods to create exciting concerts!
Risa Tsumugi: Since I also play a role as a DJ in a different title, I appreciated the joy of DJing through my role again. In the beginning, I was wondering “what does a DJ do?”, so I hope more people will know about the DJs through D4DJ!
Q: When playing your character in the anime, is there anything you prepare in advance?
Yuka Nishio: Rinku is usually full of energy and excitement, so I uplift my mood as well before I play her by listening to my favorite songs or by running to physically energize myself.
Aimi: Kyoko is a role that requires convincing dance skills and high-level performances, so I started with building my stamina. I’m going to try my best to create her charismatic atmosphere!
Risa Tsumugi: Actually, I had recorded for “D4DJ Groovy Mix” before the recording for the anime, so I was able to go into the role smoothly compared to back then. When I play her, I’m extra careful about not faking her cuteness. Saki has this pure and natural cuteness, so I try not to break that image of her.
Fandom Post Q: What are some of your favorite music artists and/or groups? Of course, if you have some favorite DJs, we’d love to know that, too!
Yuka Nishio: “Nana Mizuki”, “LiSA”, “EGOIST”, “UNISON SQUARE GARDEN”, “Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas” and there are more, but I like anime songs and rock music in general!
Aimi: I like BUMP OF CHICKEN and Bruno Mars!
Risa Tsumugi: Among D4DJ, I like Pikipiki-san (Peaky P-key)! The crown in their logo represents them well because their music, singing, and performance have the atmosphere of the undisputed champion, and they’re at the top of everything… That’s how I feel everyday. I will try my best to be able to perform and show the worldview of Photon Maiden even more!!
Q: Please tell us what you hope for the fans to expect in the future development after the 1st episode from your own perspective.
Yuka Nishio: All the members will be gathered and Happy Around! will be formed. Please look forward to how Happy Around! will grow, and how they build their friendship. There are concert scenes in each episode, so that’s also something to look forward to as well!
Aimi: In the first episode, the story of HapiAra-chan (*Happy Around!) excited me all the way from the beginning to the end. I think Kyoko felt the same way. Please look forward to how the members of Peaky P-key will come into the story!
Risa Tsumugi: Please make sure to check out when and how Photon Maiden will be involved in the story, and how they will interact with HapiAra-san (Happy Around!) I suppose the key point is that Photon Maiden is a unique group since it has a producer and the members were selected from an audition!
Q: The Official YouTube channel is streaming “D4DJ First Mix” with subtitles in 7 languages, and anime fans all over the world are watching. Is there anything you would like to tell the overseas fans?
Yuka Nishio: Please enjoy D4DJ through the anime and also its music!
D4DJ original songs are allowed for everyone to remix and upload, so I’m looking forward to listening to everyone’s remixes!
(*Please refer to the official website for the regulations on the usage of D4DJ original music. URL: https://d4dj-pj.com/news/20200923/post-418)
Aimi: We will try our best to deliver the music of D4DJ to the world! I promise the best music and the best time at the live concert, so please come see us one day!
Risa Tsumugi: WOW!! Hello everyone!!! I’m really happy that many people from different countries know and are watching D4DJ!! Anime, concerts, games and more are coming out, so check them out now!!
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Later, an interview session was had with the director which had similar questions and a few others, including one from us:
Q: “D4DJ First Mix” released its first episode on October 22nd for an early streaming. Are there any scenes from the 1st episode that were memorable to you? Are there any parts that the fans should pay special attention to?
Seiji Mizushima: Besides the DJ scenes and concert scenes, the scene where Rinku hands her shells to Maho is the part I would like the fans to watch closely. I believe we were able to capture the cuteness of Rinku well.
Q: You are also a DJ yourself. As“DJ” is the theme of “D4DJ”, are there any parts where you put particular emphasis in the anime with your experience?
Seiji Mizushima: Of course, whenever the DJ plays. We asked DJ WILDPARTY to help us with depicting realistic mixing scenes.
Q: When you started the production of the anime “D4DJ First Mix”, was there anything you prepared in advance?
Seiji Mizushima: I went back to study dance music and its nature. To portray those in a D4DJ style, I needed to learn and have a deeper understanding of the DJ culture and dance party culture that I was planning to show in the anime.
Q: Can you tell us the most charming parts of Rinku, Kyoko and Saki? When you depict them, what did you emphasize about them?
Seiji Mizushima: Rinku is full of energy and extremely optimistic. Curious and avid for anything she sees.
Kyoko appears to be cool-headed, but she actually is a passionate and inspired girl who always looks after her friends.
Saki is quiet, but she is a talented girl with a great artistic sense and ardent heart.
The three will influence and help each other grow.
Fandom Post Q: What are some of your favorite music artists and/or groups? Of course, if you have some favorite DJs, we’d love to know that, too!
Seiji Mizushima: There are a lot. THE BACKHORN, ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, LOUDNESS, AC/DC, AVICII, PORTER ROBINSON, RASMUS FABER, Hello! Project, Nogizaka46, Hinatazaka46, Gen Hoshino etc……
If it’s within D4DJ, I especially like Photon Maiden and Merm4id.
Q: Please tell us what you hope for the fans to expect in the future development after the 1st episode from your own perspective.
Seiji Mizushima: The characters’ initial drive to enjoy the music through DJing, how they start to get into it, and the friendship and youth spread by music. I would like the fans to enjoy the experience where Happy Around! discovers the joy of playing, creating and mixing their music together.
Q: The Official YouTube channel is streaming “D4DJ First Mix” with subtitles in 7 languages, and anime fans all over the world are watching. Is there anything you would like to tell the overseas fans?
Seiji Mizushima:Music is the common language of the world. I believe we can connect with everyone all over the world through D4DJ. I would be happy to see everyone enjoying the music from Rinku and her friends, and D4DJ! With the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been a difficult time for everyone, but I am looking forward to the day where we can gather and party together!
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To celebrate the global release of this interview, D4DJ is hosting an autograph giveaway featuring Yuka Nishio, Aimi, Risa Tsumugi, and Seiji Mizushima for 12 lucky winners!
To participate, please follow the instructions below. Share or retweet our social media post about this interview.
Facebook: Facebook
Twitter: @FandomPost
Follow at least one of the following D4DJ Global Social Media channels to stand a chance to win an autograph.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/D4DJProjectEN
Twitter: https://twitter.com/D4DJ_pj_EN
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d4dj_global/
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The series has Seiji Mizushima directing it with SANZIGEN Animation Studio handling those duties. It’s working from an original story by Ko Nakayama who worked on BanG Dream!.
The “Happy Around!” DJ unit will be handling the opening theme song for the series with the lyrics by Ko Nakamura and composition by Hyadain. A music video was also released for the “Photon Maiden” unit song “A lot of life song” that SANZIGEN animated.
Anime “D4DJ First Mix” is available on the D4DJ Global YouTube Channel with subtitles in 7 languages for free! You can join the Watch Party on the D4DJ Global YouTube Channel for each episode every Friday at 8:00PM (PST) / Saturday at 4AM (UTC)!
Share the excitement with other fans from all over the world!!
Subtitles in other languages are also available on the streaming platforms in various countries. For more details, please visit the official website.
https://en.d4dj-pj.com/animation/streaming/
Check out the official site and Twitter.
Plot Concept: Following in the music-driven spirit of Bushiroad’s previous projects, including BanG Dream! and Revue Starlight, D4DJ First Mix serves up a DJ-themed mixed media experience that is sure to send pulses racing! With an original story by Kou Nakamura (BanG Dream!), fans follow the aspiring DJs of D4DJ First Mix as they hit the decks with hot new music as well as remixes of classic tracks.
