by ” TO BE HERO X, ” a completely original animation created by bilibili, a China-based platform immensely popular among young people, and Aniplex, the creator of numerous masterpieces, is currently airing on Fuji TV and other networks. It’s available every Monday on
The story is set in a world where heroes’ ranks fluctuate based on their “trust value.” The more trust a hero garners from the public, the more powerful they become; if they lose confidence, they lose their abilities. The story centers around the 10 top-ranking heroes. HOMINIS interviewed Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, who played Little Johnny in the mascot-like, charming hero duo “Little Johnny & Big Johnny.” He spoke about his reexamination of his view of heroes and the depth of the work he felt while acting.
How did you approach your performance throughout this film? “I honestly felt that the work focused on the inner workings of each character as they strive to become a hero, and that it was portrayed with great care. We have the impression that a hero is someone who does it for someone else, but for some people it’s for themselves, and I think there are all kinds of heroes, but it made me think again about what it means to be a hero.” For a Sunday morning broadcast, the content is quite heavy, and the visuals are unique. How did you receive it? “I thought it was an interesting attempt. As it evolves further, I’m sure some interesting expressions will be born in the future.” How did you feel when you were confirmed to be appearing? “When I heard about the work ‘TO BE HERO X,’ I wondered what kind of work it would be.
The quality of animation has been steadily improving recently, and bilibili made this work. Still, the idea of doing what needs to be done remains the same, so I was both anxious and excited to see what would happen when I went to the set. However, when I saw the cast list, I was relieved that it would be fine.” –From episode 8, “The Lucky Cian Arc,” the entire production was in 2D. What were your impressions when you first saw the footage? “I thought the worldview was interesting.
The heroes are cheered on by the people, and that support fuels their determination to achieve their goals. If everyone thinks, ‘That person can fly,’ they can fly, and if they think, ‘That person is the strongest,’ they become the strongest. Depending on how it’s used, if a bad person puts on the mask of a hero and acts as a fraudulent hero, they can be misused. So, where do you look and how do you see a hero? There are many different types of heroes, and at the same time, there are many different ways that heroes can be, and the worldview is interesting.
Many voice actors are friends with Matsuoka who appear in the film, but what about your co-stars? Do you have any stories to share with the other members? “We recorded separately. There was never a scene where we all recorded together. I did talk to Shimazaki Nobunaga, who was in the waiting room next door, when we all gathered for the Japan premiere.”
This film has a Chinese version of the original audio, and the Japanese version is a dubbed version, but was there anything different about the acting in it? “I do dubbing as part of my job as a voice actor, so it’s not much different. When you have the original audio, it serves as a guide for acting, and then you flesh out the Big Johnny and Little Johnny that you imagined. As long as you remembered the direction and personality of the acting that you got from the original audio, it wasn’t too difficult.”
What was your first impression of Little Johnny, the character you played? “At first, I got the impression that he was a very innocent and lively boy, but when I got to know him better, I found that there was something quite dark about him. He’s surprisingly lazy, and there’s a point where he says to Big Johnny, ‘Da-chan is my son!’ I thought Da-chan was just cute, but he has a pretty violent side to him, and I wondered what was going on between these two people who are so synchronized in their thoughts.”
There’s a sense of danger in that cheerful atmosphere. “Yes, that’s true. I thought, Huh? Is this kid trying hard to create his character?” Big Johnny is touted as a character who is united by human kindness. How do you reflect that in your acting? Little Johnny and Big Johnny are ranked high in the hero rankings, but what makes them so popular is that they are so popular. “I don’t draw a line around Big Johnny, and he’s a ‘beast’. I see him as family and as an equal. You can see that he’s not a pet but family when he says, ‘He’s my son.’ When the two of them are on the same impulsive wavelength, Big Johnny becomes more flamboyant, and the more their emotions run high, the more they synchronize.
It wasn’t something I tried to express; it was just the way it turned out. I consulted with everyone about the balance.” What is the appeal of the two of you as a duo? “There are some things that only the two of you can do. Even when you watch their daily lives, Little Johnny is trusting, so you can’t take your eyes off him. That’s why I think these two are so interesting.” Little & Big Johnny are ranked high in the hero rankings. What do you think is the reason for their popularity? English: “Maybe it’s because they’re both so cute together. From the beginning, it’s so natural for Little Johnny and Big Johnny to be together, so if one of them isn’t there, you’re left wondering what’s going on. So I think the story wouldn’t work if they weren’t together.” Are there any episodes with other heroes that left a lasting impression on you? “The car scene with Mokusatsu in episode 1 of the Little Johnny & Big Johnny arc was great. He’s taken aback by what Little Johnny says.” It’s precisely because Mokusatsu has his inner comments that it’s so endearing to see him feeling Little Johnny’s mood alone. What did you think of your interactions with Queen? “I think it’s more accurate to say that I became friends with Queen by force. If I wasn’t careful, it could have seemed like I was flirting, so I tried hard to make sure I wasn’t being too pushy. In the end, I’m glad that people thought, ‘Big Johnny is so cute!'” Are there any scenes from the Little Johnny & Big Johnny arc that left a powerful impression on you? “The story of Little Johnny’s father made a big impression on me. It was that scene that became the driving force behind my desire to become a hero, and I hoped that it would help reduce the number of children who have to go through the same experience.
Also, when Big Johnny’s anger or sadness exceeds its limits, he synchronizes with him and grows incredibly large and violent, so he is a character that only comes from having a partner who is one man and one beast. Are there any similarities between you and Little Johnny, the character you played, and conversely, any differences? English: I think the idea of ‘seeing people smiling’ is something that lies deep within me. Our private lives are probably very similar (laughs). When I get home, I collapse onto the sofa and find myself in a silent room with tired eyes.
On the other hand, one different thing is that I used to have the stamina of Little Johnny, but now I don’t have the stamina to be as clever as he is. There’s a limit to what a human being can do alone, and the more experiences I have, the more overwhelmed I become…I wish I could have a shadow clone.” Finally, please say a few words to all the fans reading HOMINIS.
“There are many different heroes in ‘TO BE HERO X’, and as you see, each one of them lives with their own beliefs and various pasts, carrying them with them as they become heroes, you will probably find some you can sympathize with and some you just can’t. I think you’ll easily get the idea that this is the image of the hero you’re looking for, so I hope you’ll watch until the final episode and get a feel for what a ‘hero’ means to you.” Text by HOMINIS Editorial Department
