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Bakuman, a manga that was serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump beginning in 2008, is now becoming a live-action movie. Coupled together with the combination of author Tsugumi Ohba of Death Note and Takeshi Obata, the manga has received enthusiastic support from a broad fanbase that includes general readers and those in the business ever since it first began serializing. Spanning 20 volumes, there are over 15 million copies of this huge hit work in print. Three seasons of the TV anime have also been made, which have proved popular as well.
Among all this is the newly announced live-action movie, which is already gathering considerable attention. Announced this time is that actress Nana Komatsu will be playing heroine Miho Azuki. Komatsu is a young actress who has been in the spotlight lately for performing in director Tetsuya Nakashima’s new work The World of Kanako and in a commercial for Docomo d-Video. Of course, the role she’s playing is that of a classmate to the previously appointed Takeru Satoh as main character Moritaka Mashiro and Ryunosuke Kamiki as Akito Takagi. Satoh’s recent roles include Rurouni Kenshin and Kanojo wa Uso o Aishisugiteru, and Kamiki’s recent roles include Kirishima, Bukatsu Yameru-tte Yo and The Secret World of Arrietty.
Komatsu is challenging herself with the most heart-throbbing scenes. She is also undertaking post-recording voice work seeing as the character she plays, Azuki, is a voice actress. She will add charm to the movie as a heroine who is in love with Moritaka.
Commanding the megaphone on this live-action movie is director Hitoshi One, a genius who broke new ground in the Japanese movie world with his work Moteki. Shooting for the film ended in late June and it is currently being edited. Even more members of the wonderful cast will be announced soon. Look forward to new cast announcements until the movie is released.
Comment from Nana Komatsu (Miho Azuki):
Azuki is a pure girl who holds on tightly to what she believes in, and I think she is what men imagine their ideal girl to be. Because she has decided on pursuing a big dream and is giving her all, I performed as her with empathy. It’s really cool to see main character Moritaka and Akito also pursuing their own dreams, and she wants to support them.
I was really uneasy about performing the role of “voice actress” while performing as Azuki, and I asked the director for lessons prior to filming. I was able to get lessons from an actual voice actor, so I think I was able to improve a bit for the filming.
Satoh, who plays Moritaka, would also give me pep talks on the set when I was nervous, and because of that I was able to relax and enjoy filming. Please look forward to pure and bittersweet scenes between Moritaka and Azuki. We are trying our best with this film, so I hope many people see it.
Source: animeanime
Source article written by Yushi Makari
