Anime Anime Global

February 1st is M. A. O.’s birthday.

M.A.O. made her voice acting debut in the 2010s, and in 2020 she took on the main character roles in a wide range of titles such as “ID:INVADED”, “Interspecies Reviewers”, and “BEM the Movie – BECOME HUMAN”.
In the 2021 winter anime season, she is currently appearing in “Horimiya,” “Gekidol,” and “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime”. She has also worked in SF and dramas under the name Ichimichi Mao.

At Anime! Anime! to celebrate M.A.O.’s birthday, we conducted a reader survey the same as last year entitled “Which character do you like the most out of all the characters M.A.O has played?” We received responses from 147 people during the survey period from January 13 to January 20.
We received responses from 147 people during the period from January 13 to January 20, with the ratio of males to females being about 70% and 30%, respectively. About 35% of the respondents were 19 years old or younger, about 30% were in their 20s, and about 20% were in their 30s.

■SF dramas topped the list! Titles to be broadcast in 2020 are also popular
Luka Millfy/Gokai Yellow from “Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger” took 1st place. With an approval rating of about 20%, it took the top spot improving from last year’s 2nd place.

A reader said, “It’s a special effects work, but it’s the heroine played by M.A.O. (Ichimichi Mao). If “Gokaiger” were to be made into an anime, I would love to see her play the role.” “The money-loving, crooked, and energetic character was very cute and cool! I love the voice of the voice actor who dubbed Gokai Yellow after her transformation.

Also from the Super Sentai series, Raptor 283/Washi Pink from “Uchu Sentai Kyuranger” ranked 12th, and Chibi Garu from “Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger” ranked the same at 14th. Characters from anime as well as SF are gaining popularity.

2nd place
2nd place went to Pecorine from “Princess Connect! Re:Dive” with a 14% approval rating, up significantly from last year’s 10th place.

M.A.O.’s voice is perfect for the energetic character. Her innocence attracts her fans, who say, “It’s cool that she says ‘Oh no!

“I love Pecorine because she expresses her cheerfulness and kindness in a wonderful way. The scene in the anime where she talks to Kokoro about her past and reveals her weaknesses was also very good,” said one reader, referring to the scenes where she interacts with her friends.

3rd place
3rd rd place went to Hanasaka Yui from “One Room”. Her approval rating was about 8%.

As one comment said, “I like the way she gradually becomes an adult from the first season to the third season,” she plays a character of different ages in each series. She is a high school senior in the first season, a college freshman in the second season, and a 23-year-old newcomer in the third season. I think it’s because of M.A.O.’s voice that I feel that way.” The character’s age may be different, but the charm of the role remains the same.

Here are some of the other comments!

For Wakasa Yuuri from “School-Live!” , she said, “She looks like a strong older sister, but surprisingly she has a weak heart, which is good for a high school girl.
For Luluco from “Space Patrol Lurko” Luluco, “I was impressed by the way she expressed her passionate lines and various emotions at a fast pace.

As for Iris from “Fire Force”, they said, “I love the cute and sometimes natural Sister Iris! I used to say the word ‘rathom’, which is a prayer, along with Iris’ lines.
For Kazumi Schlierenzauer of “Brynhildr in the Darkness” they said, “Her Kansai dialect is cute, and M.A.O. herself is from Osaka, so I want her to play more characters that make use of that!” as well as other votes for characters due to the dialect they speak.

In the 2021 version of the survey, the roles played in SF dramas topped the list. Anime! The 2nd to 4th place are the titles whose TV anime will be aired in 2020, and new titles also stand out.

Overall ranking
“What is your favorite character that M.A.O. has played? 2021 edition”
1st Luka Millfy/Gokai Yellow “Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger”
2nd Pecorine “Princess Connect! Re:Dive”
3rd Hanasaka Yui “One Room”
4th Komagome Azuzu “Warlords of Sigrdrifa”
5th Iris “Fire Force”
5th Nakamori Aoko “Magic Kaito 1412
5th Wakasa Yuuri “School-Live!”
8th Sagisawa Fumika “THE iDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS”
9th Sakuragi Hinako “Hinako Note”
10th Yukari “Teasing Master Takagi-san”
11th Shion “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime”
12th Raptor 283 / Washi Pink “Uchu Sentai Kyuranger”
13th Merascylla “The Seven Deadly Sins”
14th Azarashi “Chronicles of the Going Home Club”
14th Onishima Homare “Sounan desuka?”
14th Chibi Garu “Kishiryu Sentai Ryusoulger”
14th Badarzewska “Classica Loid”

(Response period: January 13, 2021 – January 20, 2021)