Chiikawa: The Secret of Mermaid Island, the first theatrical anime film in the Chiikawa franchise, opened in theaters on July 24, 2026. The movie got off to a spectacular start, earning 5 billion yen at the Japanese box office within its first two weeks.
A lengthy new interview with Ari Ozawa, the voice actor behind Usagi, has now been released. During the conversation, she reflected on making the transition from the original short-form TV anime to a full-length film, shared her thoughts on the character, and offered a glimpse behind the scenes of the movie’s production.
Since the television anime premiered in 2022, Ozawa has watched the characters grow alongside Haruka Aoki, the voice of Chiikawa, and Makoto Tanaka, the voice of Hachiware. Below is the interview presented in a Q&A format.
Q: First, how did you feel when you learned that the Island arc, also known as the Siren arc, would be adapted into a movie?
Ari Ozawa: Before the TV anime began, I was interviewed together with Haruka Aoki, who plays Chiikawa. At the time, we talked about how, “Even though each TV episode is only one minute long, it would be wonderful if Chiikawa became a movie someday.” I never imagined that what we talked about back then would actually come true years later.
At first, it was difficult to picture what the movie would be like, but more than anything, I was simply happy. I was genuinely delighted that Chiikawa was becoming a work made for the big screen.
Q: You began recording the movie together with Aoki, correct?
Ari Ozawa: Yes. There were times when I recorded on my own, but most of the sessions were with Haruka. We talked about all kinds of things during the breaks, which was a lot of fun. Acting for a television anime and acting for a movie are somewhat different, and this time there was much more improvisation. It gave me an opportunity to reconsider how I should portray Usagi.
Each recording session lasted around 20 minutes. However, because I was working with the same familiar recording team as usual, the whole process went very smoothly.
Q: Chiikawa and Usagi do not speak through conventional dialogue, which seems difficult to perform. Yet both of you were able to adjust immediately after receiving even brief directions, and the recording proceeded very smoothly.
Ari Ozawa: I think that is because everyone shares the same understanding of the characters and is working toward exactly the same goal. Because of that, we rarely need to try numerous performances that go in completely different directions.
The Usagi I imagine is almost identical to the Usagi envisioned by the production team, so I hardly ever find myself wondering what the staff wants from me. However, the movie introduced many new challenges, so there were still plenty of difficult moments. I sometimes worried about whether I was successfully maintaining the qualities that make Usagi who he is.
Q: Usagi seems to require a particularly great deal of stamina. The boat-rowing scene in the movie was especially powerful.
Ari Ozawa: That scene was genuinely exhausting (laughs). At first, I could not get the breathing rhythm right, so we had to record it several times. It was also the first time in my life that I had shouted “Iyaha!” so many times in a row. There was almost no time to breathe between them (laughs).
If that scene had appeared in the TV anime, it probably would have taken up an entire episode by itself. Being able to extend a single moment for that long was another fresh experience made possible by the feature-length format.
Q: You spent several times longer with Usagi in the movie than you normally would. Did you discover any new aspects of his appeal?
Ari Ozawa: Usagi’s greatest appeal is that he remains completely free no matter what is happening. Whether he is having fun or caught in a crisis, he continues doing things at his own pace. That is what makes Usagi so distinctive.
He is always expressionless and composed. He never panics or shows fear, and because he remains so consistently calm, he actually comes across as incredibly dependable. The movie allows both that freedom and dependability to shine. Even when everyone is in danger, Usagi’s presence alone makes you feel that things will probably be all right.
Q: When playing Usagi, which aspects do you find especially enjoyable or difficult, and what details are you most particular about?
Ari Ozawa: I have always tried to avoid making Usagi sound too “human.” For example, even when he is eating, I do not add the kind of detailed breathing sounds I might use when portraying a human character. Instead, I want to convey Usagi’s unique composure while deliberately keeping the performance from feeling too realistic.
The movie contains many action scenes, and I probably had to improvise about ten times as many reactions as I normally would for the TV series. Throughout the process, I kept reminding myself not to lose the qualities that make Usagi who he is.
Voice acting also has to match the animation. Whether a character’s mouth is open can limit where we are able to insert a reaction, so there were many restrictions on the improvisation. That was one of the most challenging aspects. However, I think we were only able to accomplish it because the team has developed such strong chemistry after working together since the television series.
Q: You also recorded a rap scene for the movie. What was your first reaction when you heard about it?
Ari Ozawa: My first thought was, “So the day has finally come!” The scene was already in the original manga, and fans had often told me they wanted to hear me perform the rap in Usagi’s voice. I had always assumed that we would eventually reach it, but I had no idea how long that would take.
When it finally became a reality in the movie, I was incredibly excited.
Q: A rap performance seems like something that would require advance practice.
Ari Ozawa: It did. I had never performed rap before, and the music in Chiikawa is often completely unpredictable in terms of style. So I secretly practiced on my own while reading the original manga, thinking that I should at least prepare myself.
But when I finally received the actual track, it was completely different from what I had imagined, so all that practice went to waste (laughs).
Q: While reading the original manga, was there a particular scene that you had always wanted to perform?
Ari Ozawa: It would definitely have to be the rap scene! Once I received the actual music, recording it was genuinely a lot of fun. Whenever I perform one of Usagi’s most popular scenes in the television series, I feel a great deal of pressure and give it everything I have. I was nervous about the rap as well, but I worked very hard on it.
The boat-rowing scene I mentioned earlier also left a strong impression on me. When I first read it in the manga, I never expected it to be expanded into such a large and spectacular sequence for the film.
Q: The movie’s visuals are another major attraction. Which aspects are you personally most excited about?
Ari Ozawa: Even from the trailer, I could tell that the overall pacing was much more relaxed and completely different from the one-minute television episodes. The characters’ movements are more detailed, and every scene is given plenty of time to unfold.
All the expressions the characters make while enjoying island life are incredibly cute. Simply watching them is soothing. Both the characters and the scenery seem to sparkle, and the entire production truly has a cinematic quality.
There have been battle scenes in the past, but the scale and impact of the movie are entirely different. Even though the footage I saw at the time was still unfinished, it was already incredibly powerful. I am really looking forward to seeing how impressive the completed version will be.
Usagi usually acts alone or travels with Chiikawa and Hachiware, but this time everyone fights side by side and works together. That is another quality unique to the movie. I also hope viewers pay attention to the extensive score heard throughout the film.
Q: You have worked with Haruka Aoki and Makoto Tanaka throughout the television series. Have you noticed any ways in which they have grown?
Ari Ozawa: Chiikawa often has to communicate delicate emotions such as happiness or concern through a single sound. Haruka is always able to understand the director’s instructions immediately and express exactly what is needed on the spot.
She has improved so rapidly over the past few years that whenever we record together, I cannot help saying, “That was amazing! So cute!” (laughs).
Makoto is extremely skilled at controlling the pitch of his voice. The more consciously you try to control the pitch, the more difficult the acting becomes. Sometimes, lowering the voice even slightly can make the character sound like a completely different person.
Watching him deliver a full performance while preserving the character’s distinctive voice makes me realize just how hard he has continued to work.
Q: Have you noticed any changes in yourself after playing Usagi for such a long time?
Ari Ozawa: I think I may have developed more of a “larger-than-life presence” than before (laughs). When I first started playing Usagi, I thought of him as a “tiny, adorable creature,” so I deliberately used a higher voice.
But without realizing it, my voice gradually became lower and lower (laughs). When I watch older footage now, even I am surprised and think, “My voice used to be that high?” Sometimes I wonder whether I may have unintentionally diminished some of Usagi’s original cuteness.
Q: Finally, do you have a message for everyone looking forward to the movie?
Ari Ozawa: Ever since the television anime began, Chiikawa has placed great importance on preserving Nagano’s world and remaining as faithful to the original manga as possible. That means the movie should appeal not only to fans who love the atmosphere of the original work, but also to people who normally know Chiikawa simply as something cute. I believe they will be able to fully enjoy its appeal as entertainment.
The movie is naturally very cute, but it also preserves the distinctive atmosphere of Nagano’s work. I think fans of the original manga will find themselves watching it and saying, “Yes, exactly! This is what Chiikawa is supposed to feel like!”
I hope everyone looks forward to the great adventure awaiting Chiikawa and the others, and comes to experience it in theaters!
via： 『映画ちいかわ 人魚の島のひみつ