"PSYCHO-PASS 3" Welcoming life-sized panel of Arata or Ren to your home!? Pop-up store is now open

A talk event right before the release of "'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba' the Movie: Mugen Train" (to be released on Oct. 16, 2020) was held on Oct. 11. The voice actors including Hanae Natsuki, Kitou Akari, Shimono Hiro, and Matsuoka Yoshitsugu, and LiSA, the theme song artist, and others appeared. ■What is the attractive point of each character? 'Tanjirou is truly innocent.' At the beginning of this event, Hanae was asked about the attractive point of Tanjirou, the brother, and Nezuko, his younger sister that became a demon. He answered about Tanjirou, and praised his strength and kindness, saying 'Tanjirou is truly innocent, honest, and has a strong mind, which made me respect him.' Kitou talked about the attractive point of Tanjirou and Nezuko, who still keeps the ties of family even after becoming a demon, saying 'the Kamado siblings care about each other a lot. I think that Tanjirou can do his best because he has Nezuko, and Nezuko can keep fighting even after becoming a demon, because she has Tanjirou, a thoughtful brother.' Shimono and Matsuoka were asked about the attractive scenes of the two unique characters, Zenitsu, a coward womanizer, and Inosuke, who is prone to rushing recklessly. Shimono immediately asked Matsuoka 'What do you think?'. Matsuoka replied, saying 'As you think, I would say the scene that Inosuke is rushing in recklessly.' Shimono replied with a laugh, saying 'He is always rushing in recklessly toward Zenitsu (laugh)', and Hanae was laughing beside them. They were in tune with each other as if Tanjirou, Zenitsu, and Inosuke had been there, making for a great performance and bringing laughs to the whole room. Shimono also talked about the attractive point of the two characters that are important to Tanjirou, saying, 'Tanjirou is having fun with Zenitsu and Inosuke who are his friends and members of the same group at the same time, which is also one of their attractive points.' ■What are some of the stories behind the epic dubbing session and what are your thoughts behind the theme song? In "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train", Tanjirou and others battle against Enmu, the strongest enemy. Hanae talked about the voicing for this work that depicts more fiercer battles than ever, saying, 'We played the role as if a chemical reaction had occurred between us. If one gets serious, the other 'tries to play better'. "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train" was born in such a challenging environment, so I would like you to watch it as soon as possible.' Matsuoka left an unexpected comment, saying 'I thought, I'm content enough if my career as a voice actor to finish it here .' Hanae agreed with him, saying 'I could not think about the next day during the voicing period.', and Shimono also added 'It was like there came a point in time when it would have been bad to go any further, but then I was hit with a bang (from the other voice actors' good performances) and I was like, "I don't care about tomorrow!" We played our role with all our heart, and with our life (for the TV anime), but the movie was even more full of spirit.' The theme song 'Homura' was written with Kajiura Yuki, who handled the composition. LiSA talked about the song, a beautiful ballad, which is totally different from the fast music such as 'Gurenge', saying 'Kajiura-san and all the other members wrote it enthusiastically. However, I would like you to enjoy the first long-awaited "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" movie, and to take it all in on the way home. I tried to put my feelings into words, and to make it a bridge between the film and you.' She said that she wrote the song, being considerate of the fans' feelings. ■Hanae Natsuki 'We will not let you down!' At the end, in commemoration of the release, "Special lighting" of Tokyo Skytree was shown. At the signal of Hanae's 'Total concentration!', Hanae, Kitou, Shimono, Matsuoka, and LiSA pressed the lighting button all at the same time. Tokyo Skytree immediately started shining in passionate and gorgeous 'houmura (flame) color' inspired by Rengoku's breathing technique, his sword, and the theme song 'Houmura'. Hanae said '"Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train" will be released on Oct. 16. "Mugen Train" is one of my most favorite episodes in the original manga. I didn't expect to see it in a theater, so I'm already really excited. "Mugen Train" features a strong will, so I would be happy if you can feel the will that all the Kisatsutai members shared, think about your beloved ones, and have a great time. We will not let you down! Please look forward to it!' He sent his heart with Tokyo Skytree in 'houmura' color in the background. The event came to an end with the cast's smile and cheers. '"Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" the Movie: Mugen Train' will be released on Oct. 16, 2020. (C)Gotouge Koyoharu / Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable

The latest information about "Aqours 5th Anniversary Jimoai! Take Me Higher Project", the 5th anniversary project of Aqours, the school idol from "Love Live! Sunshine!!", has been announced. The information includes the production of a CD single with an animation promo, new concerts, and exhibitions. The CD single, "Aqours 5th Anniversary Commemoration CD Single with Animation Promo" is the first CD single with an animation promo since the 4th single "Mitaiken HORIZON", which was released on Sep. 25, 2019. Also, a new online concert " Love Live! Sunshine!! Aqours ONLINE Love Live! -WHITE ISLAND-" has been announced, and the 1st live of AZALEA, a unit that consists of Aqours members, "AZALEA First LOVE LIVE! -Amazing Travel DNA- TRY AGAIN", which was initially scheduled for Mar. 2020, is going to be held on the 27th and 28th of Feb. 2021. In addition, an exhibition looking back on the 5 years of "Love Live! Sunshine!!", "Love Live! Sunshine!! 5th Anniversary Exhibition -Pieces of Aqours-" will be held at Kiramesse Numazu in Numazu City, Shizuoka, the city where the story unfolds, from Dec. 23, 2020, to Jan. 7, 2021. Check out the "Aqours 5th Anniversary Jimoai! Take Me Higher Project" special webpage for details. (C)Project Love Live! Sunshine!! (C)2017 Project Love Live! Sunshine!!

'Seishun Buta Yaro wa Halloween Party no Yume wo Miru in Marui (Rascal Dreams of Halloween Party in Marui)', a Halloween event featuring "Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai", will be held at Shinjuku Marui MEN and Shizuoka Marui. At 'Rascal Dreams of Halloween Party in Marui', Sakurajima Mai, Futaba Rio, and Makinohara Shoko will appear in Halloween costumes. Furthermore, goods with an original illustration printed on them will be on pre-sale, and you will receive a ticket on your purchase for 'Raffle Draw'. 'Rascal Dreams of Halloween Party in Marui' will be held on the 8th floor at Shinjuku Marui, and the 2nd floor at Shizuoka Marui from Oct. 23 to Nov. 3, 2020. Please check out the special web page for more information. (C)2018 Kamoshida Hajime / KADOKAWA ASCII Media Works / AOBUTA Project

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the first volume release of the original "Slayers", the largest collaboration event "Slayers Town" at the newly completed Cool Japan hubbase "Tokorozawa Sakura Town" will be held. At the same time, information about the "Slayers 30th Anniversary Event: If you don't come along, you'll be nuts!", which has been on since March, and the finale event "Slayers Original Special Talk Show" for the 30th anniversary year has been released. "Slayers Town" will be open for a limited time from Dec. to Jan. 2021, and each facility in Tokorozawa Sakura Town will collaborate with "Slayers". There will be a lot of entertainment such as the screening of a new motion movie, with Lina's 3D model singing and dancingwhich is sung and danced by Lina's 3D model, a travel hotel where you can fully immerse yourself in the world of the original manga, and an online launch inviting guests. You also can participate in the event in two ways, "Day Trip Quest" and "Accommodation Quest", and if you participate in both, you will receive a souvenir gift. Tickets are on sale for 11 days only from noon on Oct. 7 to 11:59 P.M. on Oct. 18. "Slayers 30th Anniversary Event: If you don't come along, you'll be nuts!" is an event that will finally be revived with real performances and distribution after setting off in March. It will be held on Dec. 20 at Tokorozawa Sakura Town Japan, Pavilion Hall A with one day and nightone night's performances. With Yoshida Hisanori as MC, Hayashibara Megumi as Lina Inverse, Matsumoto Yasunori as Gourry Gabriev, Suzuki Masaki as Amelia Wil Tesla Seyruun, Kawamura Maria as Naga the Serpent, and Okui Masami as a LIVE guest will appear. Tickets are available at "e+" (e-plus) from noon on Oct. 7 to 11:59 P.M. on Oct. 18 for the real venue. Goods of "the Slayers 30th Anniversary Event" are on sale at the "Slayers" special site in the "Kadokawa Store", so feel free to buybut them before the event and enjoy them on that day. "Slayers Original Special Talk Show" is the finale event of the 30th-anniversary celebration, which will be focused on the original "Slayers". Kanzaka Hajime, the original novel writer who has been working on "Slayers" for 30 years, and Araizumi Rui, who has been illustrating the world of "Slayers" for 30 years as well, will give a special talk. Hayashibara Megumi, who voiced the main protagonist Lina Inverse and sang the theme song, will also appear as a guest. It will be a blissful time of various discussions. The venue will be Tokorozawa Sakura Town Japan Pavilion Hall B, and two performances are scheduled for Jan. 10, 2021. Detailed information will be announced later. Please visit the "Slayers" 30th Anniversary Project Special Page and official Twitter page for more information about "Slayers Town", "Slayers 30th Anniversary Event: If you don't come along, you'll be nuts!", and "Slayers Original Special Talk Show". (C) KADOKAWA CORPORATION 2020 (C) Kanzaka Hajime, Araizumi Rui

From "Haikyu!! To The Top", originally designed T-Card featuring the new visuals have been released, commemorating the premiere of the second cour. In addition, goods including beanbag, accessory stand, and card holder will also be on sale. Pre-orders are available at 'T-Card Haikyu!!' official website. The new designs of 'T-Card Haikyu!!' to be released this time include Inarizaki High School ver. and Aoba Johsai High School ver. as well as the new uniform of Karasuno High School. Additionally, new goods 'to decorate a room with Haikyu!! goods' will also be built to order, including beanbag, accessory stand(2 types), and card holder. 'Beanbag Fierce Match! Karasuno High School vs Inarizaki High School' has a soft, good texture. The members and a written message of the banner of Karasuno High School are printed on the front, and those of Inarizaki High School on the back. Let's watch the Karasuno High School vs Inarizaki High School match, holding the cushion. 'Accessory Stand (2 Types)' is designed to hold accessories such as necklace, wristwatch, and earrings. It has two designs of Karasuno High School and Inarizaki High School. You can enjoy displaying your favorite accessories. 'Slide Card Holder (2 Types)' has two designs of Inarizaki High School and Inarizaki High School. Please use it for T-Card featuring "Haikyu!! To The Top". Pre-orders for 'T-Card Haikyu!!' and other goods featuring original illustrations are available at 'T-Card Haikyu!!' official website. (C)Furudate Haruichi / Shueisha, 'Haikyu!!' Production Committee, MBS

From 'Osomatsu-san' comes 'Oie de Sugomori [Stay at Home] T-Shirts ' (a total of 6 kinds) featuring 6 deforme caricatures of the children and 'Washable Mask' (total 6 kinds) with a simple design of the six children's image color and pine mark. Pre-orders are now being accepted on CharaAni.com and other websites. "Osomatsu-san Sugomori T-Shirt" features Chara-Ani's original 'Niitengomu!" illustrations making this a cute and cheerful t-shirt with lots of illustrations. There are a total of six different designs for each of the six children. The various expressions of the six children are beautifully printed on the t-shirt, and it is an easy to wear, loose-fitting t-shirt made of light, comfortable fabric. Let's wear these T-shirts at home and enjoy watching anime. "Osomatsu-san Washable Mask" is a washable cloth mask in the color of each of the six children's characters. It is designed in soft color with a pine mark and star pattern. The cloth is made of cycling jersey and the inside is a combination of antibacterial and deodorizing silver ion and bamboo charcoal fibers. The material is quick-drying and washable, and there is a pocket on the inside of the mask to store filters and tissues. The price of 'Osomatsu-san Sugomori T-Shirt' is 4,500 JPY (excluding tax) each. "Osomatsu-san Washable Mask" will be sold for 2,000 JPY each (excluding tax). Pre-orders are now being accepted on CharaAni.com and other websites; the items will be released in Dec. 2020. (C) Fujio Akatsuka / Osomatsu-san Production Committee

From "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED" comes Providence Gundam released under the action figure series "METAL ROBOT Spirits". Pre-orders are currently available at "Premium Bandai". "METAL ROBOT Spirits Providence Gundam" is a 3D model of Providence Gundam, one of the Mobile Suits from the ZGMF-X series, which are powered by nuclear energy, including Justice Gundam and Freedom Gundam. It has been given a frame using die cast parts and a distinct texture from various coloring styles such as gloss, metallic, and mat. It's main weapon, the 11 pods of DRAGOONs, can be detached, and by using newly molded effect parts and the designated stand for the DRAGOONs, you can display them being launched for battle. Also, the figure comes with the Judicium Beam Rifle, Composite Armed Shield System on its left arm, and the large beam saber which was given an even longer and larger mold, letting you recreate the heated final battle from the show. "METAL ROBOT Spirits Providence Gundam" is priced at 16,500 JPY (tax included). Pre-orders are currently available at "Premium Bandai", and shipping is scheduled for Mar. 20201. (C)Sotsu, Sunrise

The collaboration of the TV anime "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" and ICE-WATCH is now available for a limited time. The pre-orders of the collaboration model imaging Tanjirou and Rengoku Toujurou are currently available on the special website of "'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba' and ICE-WATCH Collaboration". "'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba' and ICE-WATCH Collaboration Kamado Tanjirou Model" comes with a shining siren dial in the character color with a gradation. The colored flexible silicon rubber belts are different from one side to another side. The graphic of a dial is made of stainless parts to recreate the view of the world with straight vertical lines like a katana. "'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba' and ICE-WATCH Collaboration Rengoku Kyoujurou Model" is in the design which used parts of the Nichirin sword and the design of his jacket. Other than these two models, the collaboration models of Kamado Nezuko, Azuma Zenitsu and Tobihira Inosuke are also available. "'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba' and ICE-WATCH Collaboration Watch" is priced at 16,000 JPY (tax excluded) each. Pre-orders are currently available on the special website of "'Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba' and ICE-WATCH" collaboration website. (C) Gotouge Koyoharu/ Shueisha, Aniplex, ufotable

While awaiting Blu-ray and DVD for the latest series "PSYCHO-PASS 3 FIRST INSPECTOR" on Jul. 15, 2020, the interviews will be released 3 consecutive weeks. Miyano Mamoru, who played Homura Shizuka, talked about his impression of playing a mysterious character and his opinion about the society controlled fully by "the Sibyl System" through the 3rd volume of the official interview. <Full comments are listed below> ---Please tell us your impression about playing the character from the 3rd season "PSYCHO-PASS 3" (rephrased as "PP3") to "PSYCHO-PASS 3 FIRST INSPECTOR" (rephrased as "PP3FI"). Miyano Mamoru (rephrased as "Miyano"): I felt "PP3" became a hard-liner mystery because 60 minutes were given per episode. When I played Homura Shizuka, I asked the director (Shiotani Naoyoshi) about his impression of the character, like "why would he take such action?" or "what is his goal?". Every time I received an answer, I was always surprised by it. There are many hidden features in "PP3", and I feel love for delicate designs. I wondered how many things does he want to do through the anime. I think the biggest appeals of this work are the abundant settings and neat structures. ---How did you understand Homura Shizuka? Miyano: You cannot understand what is he thinking only by looking at his actions. Being mysterious is one of his appealing points. But I thought that I cannot keep Homura as a mysterious character through my acting, therefore, I asked the director to update Homura's settings, and I always had Homura's believes and sense of justice in my mind. There are not many expressions of his belief and sense of justice in the anime, but I tried to voice him according his thoughts. ---So there was a movement in his feelings behind the scene. Miyano: There is just one scene in "PP3FI" that Homura kindly talks to others, and how he talked was much different from how he usually behaves. It slightly shows his spirituality and belief toward his goals. It is the first moment when he showed his emotions openly to others. I am sure that scene makes him look mysterious. ---What did you think about the inspectors Shindou Arata and Kei Mikhail Ignatov, who oppose to the mysterious organization "Bifrost", where Homura belongs to? Miyano: I believe that one of the appealing points of this series is the characteristics of two characters (Arata and Kei). I believe many of you had surprised from the appearances of a new type of partnership and new abilities, and there were changes to the flow of the story after the interactions between the characters were made. I like how the relationship between the two gradually changes and the story of each inspector gets depicted as well. ---In episode 8 of "PP3", Shizuka meets Kei and invites him as the 13th inspector. What impression did you get from Kei in episode 8? Miyano: Kei is an honest man with a strong sense of justice and a clear weak point. (His wife, Maiko Maya Stronskaya) I think Kei was an easy man to handle for Shizuka. I think a tricky part of Shizuka became evident with it. ---At the same time, Shizuka confronts "Bifrost"'s congressman, Shirogane Haruki and Saionji Eiko in "PP3" and "PP3FI". How did he understand the environment of "Bifrost"? Miyano: I was stunned when I talked to the congressmen in "Bifrost". I did not want to lose to them (Shirogane and Saionji). I always rely on the actors playing them (Shirogane is played by Naka Hiroshi and Saionji is played by Tanaka Atsuko), since they are more experienced than I am, but I feel like confronting them as Shizuka. I exchanged words carefully while being nervous. ---The secret of "Bifrost" is revealed n "PP3FI". What's your thought on the society controlled by "Sibyl System"? Miyano: I know, I know that "Sibyl System" is right...but is it acceptable? I think the interesting point of this series is that you always have "but" in your mind. A decrease in the number of criminals can be expected (by arresting the possible future criminals), and the safety can be intensified. I think having your career chosen is an efficient way of living your life, but following the right and efficient paths may not be the only interesting way. I think I am allowed to work in multiple fields because I had experienced many things in my life. I believe having many experiences is the method to foster your life with more choices. For example, when choosing a career, I like to look for things which suit me well. That is why the theme of "'Sybl System' and humans" is interesting. You never get any mistake when you rely fully on the system and there is a possibility of believing in the wrong form of justice. That is why system needs humans, and it is depicted in "PP3FI" as well. ---How do you want the fans to enjoy "PP3FI"? Miyano: I think many fans so far thought that Shizuka is a quiet character, and I think many people also believed that he is the last enemy. How he behaves in episode 8 toward Kei is clearly hiding something. (laugh) But if you take a look at "PP3FI", you will quickly realize that Shizuka is one of the main characters. I am relieved to hear that by knowing the story plot for "PP3FI". Please enjoy the progression by watching the series. (C) PSYCHO-PASS Production Committee

As the release of the Blu-ray & DVD of "Psycho-Pass 3: First Inspector", the latest title of the series, on Jul. 15, 2020 is getting close, a 3-week interview has been conducted. This is the 2nd part in which Horiuchi Kenyuu as Azusawa Kouichi talks about what difficulty he felt in playing the lunatic character, his impression of the character, and his thoughts on his role. <Full comments are as below> Horiuchi Kenyuu as Azusawa Kouichi ――What was your impression on the TV series "Psycho-Pass 3" (hereinafter PP3)? Horiuchi Kenyuu(hereinafter Horiuchi): I was told that the "Psycho-Pass" series was very popular, so it was a pleasure as an actor to be part of it. ――How did you interpret the role of Azusawa Kouichi, the First Inspector who does the dirty work for the mysterious <Bifrost>? Horiuchi: I've been informed that he was a "villain", but when I saw the line "I'm happy" in the 1st episode and was told to "Portray him as an elusive character," it made me confused since there were so many patterns to play him in. But after a few takes, I got a kind of "Not knowing if he is good or bad" feeling, and as the story developed I could grasp his past. The relationship between Azusawa and (Shindou) Arata's father (Shindou Atsushi) made me think he must have a scar in his heart. It was quite a challenge to figure out the elusive character little by little, but at the same time, was very interesting. ――Azusawa's character got revealed episode by episode. In episode 4 we found out that he was good at martial arts. Horiuchi: He was so strong that the Audio Director told me not to use too much breath, haha. He even says "Ack-chooww!" Anyway, he was an interesting character. Oh, and he gives Enomiya Haruki a "choice" yet drives him to his death. He doesn't directly kill him, he lets him choose (death)... Azusawa is really crafty, haha. ――Azusawa, the First Inspector of <Bifrost> was one of the smartest criminals of the series. Horiuchi: I've seen many villains in various series, but he may be the sharpest of them all. He dodges through the <Sibyl System> and kills people without staining his hue. How he gives his victims a "choice" was so scary, I would even call it lunacy. But to him, this is just life. Everything that happens is within his expectations, so it doesn't mean much to him. In a way, he's a genius. Still, he has a hole in his heart, and his ambition comes from his desire to fill in that hole. I felt that sorrow of his in Azusawa's lines when I played his role. ――Azusawa's partner, Obata (Chiyo)-chan, is a tough female that denounces him. But Azusawa doesn't mind, and even adores her. What do you think of their relationship? Horiuchi: She was quite the partner. Exchanging lines with Obata-chan (Yahagi Sayuri) came naturally to me. I still wondered why Azusawa, as a superior as an Inspector, let Obata-chan be so harsh on him, haha. But Azusawa has a lot of trust in Obata-chan. He never gets mad at her for making a mistake, and tells her it's okay. I once asked the director (Shiotani Naoyoshi) about their relationship, and he told me that Obata used to be an apparel designer, and she accidentally reached <Bifrost> when she was hacking in her spare time. Azusawa headhunted her to become an Inspector. (Shindou) Arata and Kei (Mikhail Ignatov) are called climbing partners, but I believe Azusawa and Obata-chan have the same kind of relationship. ――So, they're the counterpart of Arata and Kei. Horiuchi: In the scene where Azusawa tells Obata-chan about the story of "The Nutcracker (and the Mouse King)" (in episode 8), he is indirectly telling her about his plans. But since their conversation is so comical, the story sounds casual. I thought it was a beautiful scene. ――What did you think of the detectives of the Public Safety Bureau? Horiuchi: I believe this is a series with many complex words. However, the actors play their roles so well that you can understand their lines, thanks to their skills. Personally speaking, I liked Todoroki (Tenma). He is a member of an elite family, yet he's a tough-looking Enforcer. It's amazing how carefully the past is depicted in the story. The scene where Todoroki is delighted of getting a Dominator was so cute, haha. Also, when I saw the scene where Irie (Kazumichi) fiddles with the music box, I was like "Yeah, there are people like that." Oh, I just remembered, Irie used to be a delinquent too... It was fascinating to watch the detectives being themselves, but pulling up their socks when they need to. ――In "PP3FI", Azusawa takes over the Public Safety Bureau building. What was your impression on "PP3FI"? Horiuchi: Even Obata-chan being taken in custody in the Public Safety Bureau building was within his expectations. I was purely impressed by his actions. There were also scenes where Obata-chan showed her skills, and seeing the relationship between the two was interesting. ――Azusawa finally confronts Shindou Atsushi's son, Shindou Arata. Horiuchi: I would like everyone who watched the show to imagine what happened to Shindou Arata and Azusawa. Azusawa climbed the ladder from Enforcer to First Inspector, and wanted more. His expression when he talked about what his goals were was so intense. It was terrifying, but at the same time, he seemed like he was in ecstasy. He had calculated way through so far, but just twice, he gets it wrong. The ending was quite sad. Obata-chan's last scene left a strong image on me. ――<Bifrost> gets unveiled in "PP3FI". How do you feel about a society controlled by the <Sibyl System>? Horiuchi: There may really be a society controlled by an AI in the near future. But I think there will be people who try to take advantage of the system. <Bifrost> does exactly that. They're playing a game by taking advantage of the <Sibyl System>, so probably the same thing will happen in the near future. However, I also thought that maybe the people of <Bifrost> were trying to create a better system than the <Sibyl System>. ――What are your thoughts on playing the role of Azusawa. Horiuchi: It wasn't difficult to take on the role of Azusawa, but I can't say I could fully grasp what kind of person he was, he was quite complex. To be honest it was hard work. However, it was a great opportunity to take on such an interesting role. What's amazing about this series is that you can enjoy it from various perspectives. Each of the main characters or even different from them. The story doesn't conclude that Azusawa is "evil". This gives the series the depth it has. ――How would you like the fans to enjoy "PP3FI"? Horiuchi: Many elements from the former series appear in the show, so I believe all the "Psycho-Pass" fans can enjoy it. However, we need more explanation from Azusawa. I was talking with Kaji (Yuuki)-kun (as Shindou Arata) the other day, and I said "Maybe Azusawa will come back as an Enforcer." He told me Azusawa has too strong of a character, haha. I wish that someday, he will tell us more about himself. (C)Psycho-Pass Production Committee

The rain ponchos inspired by "EVANGELION", "PSYCHO-PASS 3", "Godzilla", and "Shin Godzilla" are here. The release is scheduled on early Aug. 2020 from the official characters' goods/ apparel brand "Cospa". This summer, there will be new rain poncho by "Cospa" and it is n item that can help you to prepare against the rainy season, sudden rain, and the typhoon in summer. The line-up includes: "EVANGELION Model Nerf Rain Poncho" will allow you to experience being a member of Nerf, "PSYCHO-PASS 3 Public Safety Bureau Rain Poncho" filled with the urban feel that a member of the public safety bureau might wear, "G-Force Rain Poncho", and "Giant Unknown Creature Disaster Affairs Administration Rain Poncho" for Tokusatus lover. Each of the product is made with a light-weighted and high water-resistant fabric and the large size can cover you completely even when you are carrying a backpack. As it comes with a storage pouch that is easy to carry, so it will surely be a convenient item during the sudden rain. "Nerf Rain Poncho", "Public Safety Bureau Rain Poncho", "G-Force Rain Poncho", and "Giant Unknown Creature Disaster Affairs Administration Rain Poncho" are all priced at 5,000 JPY (tax excluded) and the release is scheduled on early Aug. The advanced sale is scheduled for mid-Jul. （C）Khara （C）PSYCHO-PASS Production Committee TM&（C）TOHO CO., LTD.

The latest work of the series, "Psycho-Pass 3: First Inspector" is set to go on sale as a Blu-ray & DVD in Jul. 15, 2020. In the meantime, the first part of a "3-week official interview", where director Shiotani Naoyoshi talks about many topics such as the origin of the project, the two main characters featuring the film, the sound work, and the dubbing session, has arrived. <Full comments are below> Director Shiotani Naoyoshi -- PSYCHO-PASS 3 FIRST INSPECTOR (PP3FI) marks the conclusion of "PSYCHO-PASS 3 (PP3). The 3rd season of "PSYCHO-PASS" revolves around the two rookie inspectors, Shindo Arata and Kei Mikhail Ignatov. Please tell us where the idea of completely changing the main characters came from, along with the origins of this project. Shiotani Naoyoshi (Shiotani): Around the time we were releasing "PSYCHO-PASS The Movie" (released in 2015), I had a conversation with the producers about what we should do next. "Isn't it time for the "PSYCHO-PASS" series to take a leap forward? The new series doesn't have to be centered on some officer from the Public Safety Bureau, it could tell the story of young rookie inspectors", this kind of thoughts came up. I was confused at first, but then I realized it was the perfect timing to think about the new work by following that idea, so I decided to introduce a new protagonist for the 3rd season. By doing so, I thought that also the timeline should be different from the 1st and 2nd seasons. In addition, I proposed to the producers that I would like to create the trilogy "Psycho-Pass: Sinners of the System" (PPSS), which stands between the previous film and the next (3rd) season. --That's the reason why the trilogy "PPSS" was made before "PP3". Shiotani: "PPSS" was also a test case for "PP3" in terms of production. For "PP3", I tried to portray the human drama thoroughly with an hour-long episode each, to make it like a live-action overseas drama. "PPSS" was about 60 minutes each episode, but it was a hard challenge to make it instead of the usual 30 minute-episode of the TV anime series. We had to put a lot of stuff together in terms of story composition and development, and also the workload on the production floor was very heavy. We spent quite a bit of time on "PPSS", but despite the difficulties we had, it worth doing all the work since we moved forward on two sides at the same time by also using its production as a test case for "PP3". --How did you want to portray Shindo Arata and Kei Mikhail Ignatov? Shiotani: I wanted to make them an eccentric duo in many ways. I wanted Arata to look like a powerless man with poor fighting skills. He's is the shortest character in the "PP" series with 168 cm tall versus Kei who is 182 cm. The idea was also to create them as two contrastive figures, both externally and internally. Arata is very careless about his clothes since he always wears the same t-shirt in the garage where he sleeps. His hair is also ruffled, whether it's a natural perm or a sleeping habit, and he has the ability to focus on something while being blind to everything else. On the other hand, Kei comes from a different country where he was born, and for that, he's treated unfairly by the racists. He seems to be very calm, but in reality, he's the type of person who doesn't express his true feelings. Arata and Kei are connected by a past incident, and in "PP3" they support each other despite their differences. --What about the sound work in "PP3"? Shiotani: The staff in charge of the sound said to me, "Every episode is like a theatrical version" since the film was divided into three different themes: economy, politics, and religion. I think they were able to make a great job with the sound thanks to the three-structure and the 60 minutes format, despite the tight work schedule. --About the recording session with Kaji Yuuki-san (voice of Shindo Arata) and Nakamura Yuuichi (voice of Kei Mikhail Ignatov), was there anything that impressed you? Shiotani: I had to choose from over 50 people for the roles of Arata and Kei. As soon as we finished all the recordings, I was happy that I did the right choice about the cast. In the "PP" series, we don't let the actors know what they don't need to know (before recording). But this time, since the situation was pretty much complicated, I had to talk with Kaji-san about Arata's past. After the recording, I thought the two of them were the only able to play these characters. Kaji-san's performance of Arata gave me a deeper impression of the mysteriousness of the character, and when I saw the nuances of Nakamura-san's acting, I could feel the steadiness of Kei but at the same time his tendency to hide his true feelings. Everything was like I imagined it, it was perfect. --How would you like fans to enjoy "PP3FI"? Shiotani: I wanted to make "PP3FI" as a "live-action story in one place with a limited amount of time". I wanted to show a lot of action, such as the fight between Arata, Kei and Azusawa Kouichi, who is able to commit crimes without getting his hands dirty, in the isolated, disconnected box of the "Raided Public Safety Bureau Building", and the assault to the Public Safety Bureau building, where the security system is considered as the strongest and safest in the world. I also wanted to show how Arata's past was connected to Sibyl. The relationship between humans and machines is a common theme in the PP series, but also this time, I wanted to show how humans prevail over machines. Shizuka, a man with his own justice which is left untold, is depicted as well. I hope fans will enjoy this concluding chapter of "PP3". (C) Psycho-Pass Production Committee