Fruits Basket - Atsumi Tanezaki (The Voice of Uotani) Interview with Animate

Here’s a translation of Atsumi Tanezaki’s interview with Animate.

This interview was released on June 12, 2021.

Please tell us about any scenes, lines, or favorite scenes that grabbed your attention in The Final.

There are too many of them, but the one that comes to mind first as “grabbing my attention” is the scene at the end of Rin’s journey. Haru’s voice, words, and actions were all filled with love for Rin-chan. She was embraced by his love for her and she just looked very happy. The interaction between the two of them was really wonderful, and I found myself watching it over and over again.

I know that the recording format was different from the previous seasons, but how was the post-recording process? How was the dubbing session? What did you pay attention to in terms of direction and acting throughout the entire season?

As far as Fruits Basket goes, I feel that the show has its own unique space. I’m always conscious about it.

That and — there were a lot of times when Uo is intensely rough on her own. At times like that she would yell a very violent and passionate “urghhh….” but I was always instructed to say things as they were written, so I naturally became more careful about that (laughs).

Uo’s affections for Kureno I feel is very cute and precious. Her love affair with him will continue to be a point of interest, but how do you think the two of them will develop their relationship?

The two will share a pleasant sense of distance between each other, but Kureno will show his natural airheadedness at times, while Uo will blush, smile, and snap. They’ll both be like this with each other for forever.

I hope the two will continue to be so warm and fluffy with each other. But no matter how much they age, no matter how much time passes, I’m sure they’ll be fine in the future.

Please tell us what you have learned and what you have gained through the work of Fruits Basket and the role of Arisa Uotani. Also, what do you think is the most attractive thing about Fruits Basket that makes it loved by people of all ages?

I’ve thought many times that changing the present way of things depends entirely on your feelings and actions. If you think it’s important, then you need to go through with it. Those “obvious choices” can be very difficult to do.

I was really moved by the characters who were doing these difficult things because it’s the “obvious choice”, and who had the courage to step out and do them.

The most attractive thing about Fruits Basket is Tohru Honda. I think life is about impactful events, places, and people like Tohru and whether or not you can meet or find them.

“Humans are so stupid. Yet they’re so loving.”

I believe that this work, which gives us so many things, will continue to be loved by many people in the future.

You’ve been with Arisa Uotani for a long time counting this season. Please give us a message from yourself to the character you played.

As you know, I’ve loved Uo-chan the most since I first read Fruits Basket. She’s strong, kind, cool, cute, and charming.

I’m sure you get the message, but I’ll always love you the most, Uo-chan.

Thank you. And I love you. Thank you.