What's Up? Pararai [23rd edition]
There are still many things about the new Paralive groups that are shrouded in mystery. Today, we're featuring the mysterious trio, 1Nm8!
Interview with Kitamura Ryo
You were recently cast in Paradox Live. Please share your thoughts on this.
I first became familiar with it because of Paradox Live on Stage, because many people I know were cast in it. I got curious, so I started listening to the music. All of the songs were really cool, and I had a lot of fun seeing the worldview unfold through the music videos. It made me get really interested in rap. So when I received the announcement that I had been cast, I was so excited I practically yelled out loud. I was so excited, I kept thinking things like, "I want to rap soon!" and "I wonder what kind of music the character I play will do?".
Kitamura-san, please tell us about Itsuki, the character that you play.
He's a very cool-headed young man, as you may be able to tell from his character design, but he also has some flaws that underwrite that impression of him. I thought it might be difficult to portray him, but my imagination ran wild as I considered how I might express the trauma and flaws that he has lurking inside of him.
Itsuki has an ability known as "Shutter Eye", which allows him to perfectly remember everything he sees.
I have a pretty poor memory in my real life, so I won't lie, I'm a little jealous of that. [laughs]
When you had the chance to play Itsuki in the recording, was there anything you discovered about the dialogue between the characters?
I feel like when he's with 1Nm8, there is a warmth to his character that you don't get from the cyborg-like feel he has in public.
Now that you've had the chance to record the audio drama, what's your impression of 1nm8 as a team?
That they're a family.
With the audio drama in mind, what is your impression of Miyama Kei?
He seems like a very reliable older brother. But, he also has a sort of maternal quality to him. But-but he also has a fragile side to him that seems like he might fade away if you take your eyes off him, so I want to support him.
And what about Rokuta?
He's the kind of person who can bring a smile to your face with his innocence. But there are times that that bright innocence kind of made me sad. If Kei is the mother and Itsuki is the father then Rokuta is the son... or something like that! [laughs]
Please share your thoughts on performing 1Nm8's song.
The number of words and the amount of information that Itsuki manages to rattle off so calmly is so cool, it really gives off that cyborg feel. Since the role has a very restrictive and tight mood, I sang it in a low and cold tone. I don't do this very often, so I think it makes a strong impression.
Aside from 1Nm8, which team are you most interested in?
BAE. They're the ones whose songs I've listened to the most; in fact, I got to sing "EmBlem!!!" at my audition.
Please share a message for the readers about what they should look forward to in the future.
I'm really excited about the heated battles that have taken place so far, and the unknown territory that lies ahead. I'm looking forward to giving it my all and participating in some real heated battles as Itsuki from 1Nm8, so please keep an eye out for it!
Design Points (by hou)
Itsuki: Since the wire frame glasses draw attention to his eyes, I paid a lot of attention to the thickness of his eyeliner and his eyebrows and the like. His costume also includes elements that evoke a cyborg, such as garbled text and error messages.
Rokuta: I made sure to make his hair thicker to give it an extra fluffy look. I think there's a danger in innocence, so I made his eyes red to give that little hint of danger. Still, I tried to give him a cute appearance overall.
Kei: Since I was told that he has basically no life skills, I dressed him in loose clothing that he would be able to sleep in just by taking off his jacket. The slits in his shirt are fastened with metal fittings.
Designer Interview
hou is an illustrator. Their other credits include Lanling Wang from Fate/Grand Order and key visual art for Genshin Impact.Please tell us about 1Nm8's designs.
The key concepts are immaculately clean, impersonal former test subjects. I felt like this gave an atmosphere like a hospital ward or science fiction, so I added some geometric elements to the designs. I've always been a fan of simple fashion, and the mysterious, ominous feeling suits my tastes, so I had a lot of fun.
What did you keep in mind while designing 1Nm8?
There are still a lot of secrets about the characters' designs, but... I wanted to keep the overall colors to a minimum, so I refrained from using bold colors so that the stark white would be the main focus.
There are many mysteries surrounding 1Nm8, but if you had to describe the team in three short phrases, what would they be?
"Pure white", "family", and "pain".
Is there anything about any of the designs that you'd like to point out?
Itsuki's costume has black screen embroidery and decorations on the back so that it doesn't look too much like a doctor's coat. Also, the tattoo on his left hand extends down his arm. Rokuta also has two stud earrings in his right ear. And, though you can't see them, Itsuki and Rokuta both have a number tattooed on their necks.
Have you had anything about the drama tracks or songs for 1Nm8 revealed to you yet?
I haven't on either count, so I'm looking forward to it.
What other teams are you curious about?
I was really surprised that Kei used to be in the super-saturated pop space of VISTY, so I'm curious to see what his relationship with them is after he left the group.
Please share a message with the readers.
I think Paralive is a series that puts a lot of effort not just into the songs, but also into the characters' fashion and their relationships with each other. I think that 1Nm8's mystery will be revealed little by little going forward, so I hope you'll all keep an eye on them.