Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about my interviews! Here’s my brief talk with seiyuu Rie Tanaka (Chobits‘ Chii, Rozen Maiden’s Suigintou)– I wasn’t able to take the full time I was originally allotted but I still got a lot of good questions in. Enjoy!
Gia Manry: You’ve worked with a lot of seiyuu over the years, some of them muany times…are there any that you’re particularly close to or particularly enjoy working with?
Rie Tanaka: There are just so many friends among voice actors…lately Sakura Nogawa [GM note: Azumanga Daioh's Kaorin, Rozen Maiden's Hina-Ichigo], Yui Horie [GM note: Love Hina's Naru Narusegawa, Fruits Basket's Tohru Honda, Vampire Knight's Yuuki Cross].
GM: What’s the most difficult role that you’ve played, and how did you overcome it?
RT: [Gundam SEED's] Lacus Clyne, because the character has to be very reserved and commanding, even if she’s mad or showing some expressions, she still has to be a reserved character, and this was over a span of four years including Destiny, and it was very difficult.
GM: Are there any roles you’d really like to reprise in a sequel/continuation?
RT: Rozen Maiden’s Suigintou.
GM: That’s my favorite!
RT: Oh! Thank you! That makes me happy!
GM: You spend a lot of time blogging on Rie Rie World, what’s your favorite thing about blogging for your fans?
RT: It’s been difficult to update, but I like blogging and how if I imagine or think something, I have a network to go directly to the blog and post it. I actually type it and upload the pictures too, and it takes a long time and I’m really busy…but it’s like I can plug my brain into the network.
GM: Do you have any other hobbies?
RT:Nails! I use cal-gel [GM note: Calcium gel, I think] on them, and I like nail polish. I have tools and a UV dryer for myself too…I even do it for my mom.
GM: You also cosplay a lot– where do you get the costumes?
RT: Actually I have a stylist particularly for my cosplay, and they know my size and everything and they order the costumes for me. I don’t cosplay in private, it’s just for work!
GM: And you also sing! What do you like about singing, in comparison to voice acting?
RT: I did a birthday live this year, and when it’s singing, a concert, I get to see a real reaction from the audience…some people put up a pen light, or close their eyes and just listen, and I like to see the actual reactions to me. And if it’s singing, when I record something in a studio alone it’s a pretty solitary work, but I like to see the audience reaction.
GM: What do you think American fans are like compared to Japanese fans? Is there a difference?
RT: I feel that it’s all the same…it doesn’t matter what country you’re from or anything. Anime is a very exciting thing, everyone’s saying all around the world.
GM: Have you gotten to meet any American voice actors?
RT: No, I wanted to but I didn’t have time to meet them!
GM: Then my last question is, what did you get to do while you were here? Did you get to enjoy the convention, sight-see, anything?
RT: I was very excited, but because I came here for work I had no time for shopping or anything, but I was happy that I got to see Times Square.
GM: Do you have anything else you want to say to your American fans?
RT: I definitely want to come back to New York as a non-work trip, and I’ll never forget about this event. I had a good time here! Also, I’d like to leave my heart here and maybe people will invite me again, because I definitely want to come back!
