Otakon Day One – Kikuko Inoue Panel Q&A, Pt 1.

Kikuko Inoue is a famous seiyuu associated with many popular anime. Her past performances include Belldandy of Aa Megami-Sama, Kasume Tendou in Ranma 1/2, Rune Venus in El-Hazard, Kazami Mizuho in Onegai Teacher, Lust in Fullmetal Alchemist, Miria in Claymore, Grace O’Connor in Macross Frontier, Akane in Higurashi, and Cecile in Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion. She answered questions at Otakon.

Onee-chan

You often say you’re seventeen.  Why seventeen?

Seventeen is chosen because it’s bittersweet.  Eighteen is adult; sixteen is a kid.  I like the sound of seventeen.

What was the hardest role you ever had?

Actually, archetypical girls are pretty easy.  Normal girls are the hardest to do with their full range of expression.  Let me think . . . Furukawa Sanae of Clannad, she had a wide range.

Who inspired you as a voice actress?

Masuyama Eiko: she was Fujiko in Lupin III, the mom from Tensai Baka, and of course the voice of Cutie Honey.  I still look up to her to this day.

Did you like your last role? Would you do it again?

It’s not like I can pick and choose whatever I want!  [laughter] I audition like everyone else!

What inspired you to be a seiyuu?

When I was down, anime lifted my spirits.  I thought it would be a great thing to do in life to lift peoples’ spirits.

Of all the scenes you’ve done, what was your favorite scene?

You mean, in anything?  That’s a lot to ask . . . There are so many good scenes!

How about naming your top five?

Okay . . .

5. Tsubasa in Captain Tsubasa had a secret technique called the Drive Shoot. I thought that was cool.

4. In Clannad, the character got worked up over her bread not tasting good. [laughter]

3. In Onegai Sensei – the title character separated from Kei, crying at the station.

2. In Ah My Goddess, Bell-chan [Belldandy] comes out of the mirror in Keiichi’s room and offers to grant him a wish.

1. The number one scene is the one in your heart.  The one that really moves you. [laughter]  I answered that well, huh? [laughter]

What type of personality do you like to play?

I like them all, but maybe the big sister type . . . though maybe bad girls suit me, actually (laughs).

[Ed. note: Inoue is known in Japan as “Onee-chan,” or big sister, due to the overwhelming number of times she has been cast thus.]

Do you like watching yourself broadcast?

It’s not done when I do the voice, so I like to see the finished product air.

How is it different working on some doujin like Touhou as opposed to a full scale anime production?

It’s not really different.  You go in and do your best.

At this point, Hidenori Matsubara joined Kikuko Inoue on stage.

To be continued . . .

Author: moritheil

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6 thoughts on “Otakon Day One – Kikuko Inoue Panel Q&A, Pt 1.

  1. Ahh sweet memories! I never thought of her as a seiyuu to be noted, but Otakon 09 and meeting her in person is a great experience!

  2. hmmm….

    Onee-chan sounds like a nice person.
    If I were her I’d be answering the questions with
    incredibly stupid answers, That’s just the kind of guy I’ am.

    Where’s Part 2????

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