Translations Archive

★In commemoration of episode 69 “Goku vs Arale! The Earth Ends in a Wacky Battle?!”, airing Sunday, December 4th, we’ve got a super-special interview with Masako Nozawa-san (voice of Goku) and Mami Koyama-san (voice of Arale), plus a preview shot!

Goku and Arale run into each other for the first time in ages!

Koyama:

I was so happy when I heard they were doing an episode where Goku fights Arale-chan! I’m a big Mako-san [Masako Nozawa] fan, so it was a pleasure to get to work with her again!… I can’t believe I get to see Arale-chan‘s world of Penguin Village once more. I was so happy when I heard they were doing an episode where Goku fights Arale-chan! I’m a big Mako-san [Masako Nozawa] fan, so it was a pleasure to get to work with her again!… I can’t believe I get to see Arale-chan‘s world of Penguin Village once more. Nozawa:

I figure Goku is probably happy about getting to fight Arale-chan! But I bet he won’t just go “hey, she seems strong”; he’ll be more like “boy, this sure takes me back!” Because Goku becomes friends with everybody before too long. Koyama:

I still remember the first time I got to work with Mako-san. I was still just a rookie, and didn’t even know which way was up… I was working overtime recording 30 to 40 episodes, while in contrast Mako-san was giving a really energetic performance…! Nozawa:

The atmosphere in the recording sessions hasn’t changed a bit since back then (laughs). Koyama:

When I was a beginner, I would look at Mako-san and be astounded at how she could talk so well with such perfect timing.

Things are lively even in the studio

Koyama:

This recording was a delight too! There was a spirit of friendly competition in the studio, which made things a lot of fun. This recording was a delight too! There was a spirit of friendly competition in the studio, which made things a lot of fun. Nozawa:

It sure was fun here! And communicating that is important too, right? We all have a fun time talking because we want to bring the atmosphere inside the studio into the images onscreen. Koyama:

We all really did manage to record that fun studio atmosphere. And a lot of our fellow performers are from the generation that grew up watching Dr. Slump: Arale-chan and Dragon Ball… so they might have enjoyed it even more than us (laughs). Nozawa:

Yeah! Since everyone from that generation watched those shows. Koyama:

It’s been such a long time since I’ve had this many lines as Arale, so it was hard to prepare. I went to voice training to practice doing a high-pitched voice. Nozawa:

It’s only natural. After all, you’ve got to go “ki—in!“1 Koyama:

When I went “ki—in!“, my voice was so high-pitched that I gave myself a headache (laughs). I bet I was really annoying… (sweat) Nozawa:

Oh no, not at all! It was really cute. Koyama:

Really?! I’m so happy!

The characters live on in their hearts

Nozawa:

Characters that you voice for a long time always remain in your heart. They definitely stay with the actors. Characters that you voice for a long time always remain in your heart. They definitely stay with the actors. Koyama:

Yeah, I find Arale cute. And so part of me thinks “I helped create her!”, and that feeling sticks with me; I treasure that feeling. Nozawa:

That sort of feeling is definitely precious. Koyama:

When I looked at the pictures, that feeling came back to me. I felt it throughout my entire body! I guess my cells got excited or something. Nozawa:

Even Goku’s a bit different than usual. It must be because Arale’s there. He’s happy his friend came! That’s so like him; I love it. Koyama:

There really is love there. In both Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump. Since there’s love there, it makes it so much fun to do.

Dragon Ball is 30 and Dr. Slump is 35! Everyone please enjoy this collaboration together!