「KimiPuri」Matsuoka Misato: What Changes from Playing “Uta”? & Bouncing Back from Setbacks Before Her Seiyuu Debut [Interview]

Currently airing, the theatrical film for *Kimi to Idol Precure♪*, titled **`Eiga Kimi to Idol Precure♪ Omatase! Kimi ni Todokeru Kirakki Live!`** (which can be translated as “Hey! A Sparkling Live Show Just For You!”), is set to premiere on September 12, 2025. In this movie, **Matsuoka Misato** takes on the role of the protagonist, **Sakura Uta / Cure Idol**. Since her anime debut as the main character Mizusaki Tsubame in `Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na!`, she has consistently landed regular roles, steadily paving her way to becoming a popular voice actress.

Anime! Anime! had the wonderful opportunity to interview Matsuoka-san. We asked her about her feelings on becoming a `Precure` voice actress, the highlights of the movie, and reflected on her career since her voice acting debut in 2020.

[Interview & Photography = Yoneda Kaori]

Sakura Uta Erased the Pressure of Being a `Precure` Lead

――This film unfolds an astonishing story where the characters are invited to an idol fest on Ai-Ai Island, only to be sent back in time. Could you share your initial impressions after reading the script?

I really felt it was a very special kind of story, radiating a unique aura. I already consider the “idol live shows” depicted in `Kimi Puri` to be special, but the “Super Miracle Idol Festival” portrayed in the movie is truly the “No. 1 idol festival in the universe.” Not only Uta-chan, but many other idols appear, so I really hope everyone pays close attention to the details and finds their favorite idol.

Moreover, the sparkling narrative contains a deep, meaningful message, making it a work that adults can surely enjoy as well.

――It’s been about half a year since `Kimi Puri` began, putting us roughly at the halfway point. Have your feelings toward the series or the voice recording sessions changed at all?

Initially, I was very nervous, and the heavy responsibility of being the lead made me often feel anxious, wondering, “Can I really do this…?” However, Sakura Uta is a character that cannot be portrayed with such feelings. She’s incredibly bright and possesses the power to make anyone shine dazzlingly, so as I performed, my anxieties and sense of responsibility gradually faded away. Little by little, I’ve become able to play Uta-chan with more confidence.

Beyond that, the recording sessions are so much fun that they simply blow away any anxiety. The cast members I perform with, as well as the staff, have created such an enjoyable environment. I’m truly filled with gratitude.

――Do you feel that this shift in your feelings is reflected in your acting?

Yes, I do. Even in the beginning, when I stood before the microphone, Uta-chan’s positive energy helped me forget my worries. But afterwards, a wave of anxiety would often crash over me, making me wonder, “Was that okay?” or “Should I have done it differently?” I used to regret a lot when watching the broadcast, but I feel that has lessened now.

――Takamori Natsumi-san, who plays Shigure Kokoro / Cure Kyunkyun, is also a senior in the `Precure` series (Takamori-san has previously appeared in `Healin’ Good♥Precure`, `Delicious Party♥Precure`, and others). Have you ever sought her advice?

There are sometimes rules in the production sites of long-running series, and she taught me about them. For example, in `Precure` transformation scenes, it seems that ad-libs are generally not included. I didn’t know that and actually put one in during my first recording session (laughs). It was a scene where Cure Idol was laughing so adorably, so I thought I’d try it out in the test recording.
At that time, Natsumi-san told me, “I had the impression that ad-libs weren’t put into transformation scenes, but after seeing your ad-lib, I thought maybe it’s okay!” I was so happy that she affirmed my attempt. I’m still able to perform freely and expansively thanks to Natsumi-san and everyone else.

――Speaking of seniors, Uchida Maaya-san (as Tera, a girl who dislikes idols) and Sakura Ayane-san (as Amasu, the legendary goddess said to have protected Ai-Ai Island from calamity) are participating in the movie as key persons holding crucial roles in the story. How was it performing with them?

Their vivid acting was absolutely superb and left me completely overwhelmed. Both of them truly bring their characters to life as if they were existing right there on the spot. Tera-chan and Amasu-san became even more lively than I had imagined from reading the script, and I tried my best to keep up with their incredible performances.

“There’s Always Someone Better” Is Natural – Advice for Aspiring Voice Actors: “Don’t Give Up”

――`Precure` is an aspiration for young girls. When did Matsuoka-san first dream of becoming a voice actress and decide to pursue it?

I started dreaming of it when I was about in fourth grade of elementary school. A friend recommended anime to me, and as I watched, I thought, “Voice actors are amazing,” and “I want to be like that too.”

――What anime sparked that realization?

It was `FAIRY TAIL`. The characters used magic, and I thought, “I want to use magic too!” That was the trigger.
I had watched anime before that, but it was always just casually watching whatever was on TV when I got home from school. I hadn’t even consciously realized that there were voice actors giving voices to the anime characters. Thanks to my friend, I became aware of it for the first time, and it became my dream job.

――You debuted in 2020 with `Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na!`, playing a main character in your very first role. Looking back at that time, was there any discrepancy between your dream and the reality of voice acting?

I was around 18 when I appeared in `Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na!`, and truthfully, I’d barely had any part-time job experience before that. It was almost my first time encountering “work” itself. So, rather than being surprised by a difference from my image, I was more surprised by, “So *this* is what work is like!” (laughs).

Also, I believe it was fortunate that the first anime I was involved with, `Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na!`, was about anime production. I came to understand that anime production involves people with various roles—producers, animators, scriptwriters, setting designers—each with their own circumstances, compromising to create a work. I went into recording thinking that I needed to not only grow as a voice actress in this environment but also learn about anime production. Even now, I reflect on those recording sessions, and it makes me stand a little straighter.

――Since then, you’ve continued to appear in popular works such as `Kawaii dake ja Nai Shikimori-san` and `Tengoku Daimakyou`. Which work do you consider a turning point for you?

Since I’m only in my fifth year as a voice actress, I want to say “all of them” (laughs)… but `Precure` definitely feels like a work that has brightly illuminated my life, or rather, my path forward.
However, `Eizouken ni wa Te wo Dasu na!`, which we just talked about, also changed my life, and `SHOW BY ROCK!!` and `Uma Musume Pretty Derby`, which allowed me to experience embodying characters through song, showed me sceneries I had never seen before. Truly… it’s all of them! I am who I am today thanks to every character I’ve ever played.

――Since becoming a voice actress, what has been your happiest moment, and what was your biggest setback?

When I receive direction and can’t respond as I’d hoped, that’s when I feel sad and frustrated. It makes me realize that I’m still immature if I can’t adapt to it. And when I *can* respond well to it, that might be my happiest moment.

――Among all the directions you’ve received, or words and advice from seniors, what has left the strongest impression or what words do you cherish the most?

It connects to what makes me happiest: the moments when my manager praises me, saying, “(Your acting) has improved!” Each of those moments accumulates like a treasure within me. My manager is the person closest to me, observing and feeling the changes in my acting. So, I can genuinely feel that “I am growing.”

Also, I’m happy when I see my ad-libs being used when watching the broadcast. There are just so many happy things (laughs). I want to continue accumulating these happy moments and grow.

――By the way, do you ever talk about acting with your manager or fellow voice actors?

It’s not very frequent, but sometimes after a recording session, if we go out to eat, they might say, “That scene was great!” or I might ask, “How would you play this scene if you were in my shoes?” I feel truly blessed to be able to work with such people and in such environments where we can inspire each other to improve.

――Surely, there will be children who watch this film and dream of becoming a `Precure`, an idol, or a voice actress. Do you have a message for them?

I’m not someone who can speak of grand things, but what I can say from where I stand now is, “It’s important not to give up.” I mentioned setbacks earlier, but I think I felt moments of defeat more often *before* my debut. I started attending a voice acting training school when I was in my first year of junior high, and it took me four years to debut. This was even while some people got roles soon after starting school, and others debuted without attending any school at all. There were many times during my pre-debut period when I thought, “I can’t do this.” But it’s natural that “there’s always someone better.” This isn’t just limited to the voice acting industry; you’ll encounter such moments many times throughout life. Once I started thinking that way, I felt a lot more at ease.

I still often tell myself, “Instead of comparing yourself to others, compare yourself to your past self.” If you can objectively see how you’ve changed compared to your past, I believe you can grow even more. Although I might not always succeed in practice (laughs). But by not giving up on growth, I was able to become an aspiring `Precure` voice actress. Of course, this is all thanks to the support of everyone around me, so I hope I can always remember to be grateful.

――That unwavering spirit is something that can also be felt in this film, `Eiga Kimi to Idol Precure♪ Omatase! Kimi ni Todokeru Kirakki Live!`. Once again, please share its highlights.

I pursued voice acting because I thought, “I love voice acting and anime!” That feeling of “love” can become both a “catalyst” and a “driving force.” There are moments when it’s hard to keep loving something, but if you return to that initial moment when you first thought “I love it,” I believe you can continue to love it. Watching this film, I felt the importance of cherishing that initial “love.” I hope everyone receives that message as well.

Film Information

`Eiga Kimi to Idol Precure♪ Omatase! Kimi ni Todokeru Kirakki Live!`

《Yoneda Kaori》

Related Links

• `Eiga Kimi to Idol Precure♪ Omatase! Kimi ni Todokeru Kirakki Live!` Official Website

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