"The Little Prince: The Little Prince and Me" Japan Premiere Event

The Japan premiere for the animated film "The Little Prince: The Little Prince and Me" (distributed by Warner Bros.), opening in Japan on November 21, was held on November 10 at Tokyo Dome City Theater G-Rosso. Cast members for the Japanese version, Rio Suzuki, Asaka Seto, Yusuke Iseya, Christel Takigawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, Bibiru Oki, and Masahiko Tsugawa, took the stage. The film, featuring a 9-year-old girl and an elderly pilot, depicts the aftermath of the timeless classic "The Little Prince" through a fusion of stop-motion and computer graphics (CG) animation techniques.

Ten-year-old Suzuki, who took on the lead role of the girl and made her voice acting debut, beamed, "It was really difficult because I had to match my lines to the mouth movements on screen and convey emotions while keeping an eye on the timing. But it was so much fun!" Seto, also making her voice acting debut as the mother, praised her highly: "After the film was completed, I saw Rio-chan's dubbed parts and was truly amazed at how perfect they were. Her sensitivity is wonderful." Tsugawa expressed confidence, stating, "The charm of this film lies in the depth of every single line. The Japanese dialogue is so well-written that I highly recommend the dubbed version."

Iseya remarked, "It's a story that draws you in from the opening, with stunning CG that creates a tactile world. It's packed with wonderful elements, like words expressing life's truths. I'm honored to have been part of such an exceptional work." Takigawa shared, "I've read 'The Little Prince' many times in French since childhood, and it still captivates me. It's a mysterious book with parts I don't fully understand, but I have deep feelings for it. It was incredibly embarrassing to enter the recording booth alone and perform while people were watching." Takenouchi remarked, "Doing voice acting in a booth with only a monitor and a microphone was a completely different experience from usual. I really enjoyed it." Bibiru Ohki, who appeared in the same costume as his character, reflected, "It's a great honor to participate in a work like this. It was fun but challenging, and I tackled it seriously while wrestling with it."

Rio Suzuki, Asaka Seto, Masahiko Tsugawa

Yusuke Iseya, Christel Takigawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, Bibiru Ohki

Next, in line with the original work's theme and the message "What is truly important cannot be seen," which also appears in this film, the cast wrote "What I want to value most in 2016" on star-shaped balloons and presented them. When Suzuki announced, "Effort. Because when you work hard, you meet wonderful people," the panelists expressed admiration, and applause broke out from the audience. Seto and Takenouchi wrote "Encounters," Iseya wrote "future," Takigawa wrote "Unwavering Feelings," and Bibiru Oki shyly wrote "Giants Win the Championship." Tsugawa shared, "Once-in-a-lifetime encounters. I used to think 'once' meant 'today,' but I've come to understand it means cherishing 'this moment.' That moment only exists now; it won't come again tomorrow. So I want to treasure moments when I feel 'thank you.'" His words drew loud applause.

Finally, Suzuki took the stage to speak on behalf of the panelists. "A 9-year-old girl embarks on a grand adventure in the world of The Little Prince. It's a story about getting angry, crying, and being moved after fighting with someone important. So, everyone, please relax and enjoy it," he concluded in a steady tone.
http://wwws.warnerbros.co.jp/littleprince/#./