Hello everyone, we have a LuluttoLilly interview today! Here we have Animedia doing a bumper interview with May Tachibana and Nao Ojika, who voice Fuu and Rui Nonoyama respectively. Find out what they think about each other’s characters, what spells they’d like to cast on each other and whether they ate Hobnobs in the recording studio.
This interview is good to read if you’ve watched very little of LuluttoLilly as it only covers the events of the first episode. No spoilers for the anti-spoiler gremlins out there!
While I’m at it, do make sure you also read Z-Note’s excellent review of LuluttoLilly’s first cours! It goes super in-depth about their thoughts on the show up to this point and might be the most detailed review you’ll get for the show this side of the Internet!
If you have done that, do keep reading for the interview lurking below!
Translation by “nui”, Editing by me – Interview – May Tachibana and Nao Ojika was originally published in Animedia in May 2026.
Starring in a Legendary Series: Total Excitement and Major Nerves!
May Tachibana
Born 19th November / From Tokyo / Affiliated with Amuse Creative Studio / Recent roles include BanG Dream! Our Notes (as Raika Suga), Tetsuryo! meet with Tetsudou Musume (as Misaki Sata), and her first TV anime lead role in Mahou no Shimai Luluttolily.
Nao Ojika
Born 9th August / From Aichi Prefecture / Affiliated with I’m Enterprise / Recent roles include Gakuen iDOLM@STER (as Temari Tsukimura), Ghost Concert (as Kaede Saionji), Anne Shirley (as Lavendar Lewis (childhood)), and many more.
Interviewer: Please tell us your honest feelings when you found out you got the roles for this work.
May Tachibana: I was seriously so happy! When I read the audition materials, I was completely charmed by how cute the art was, and the story totally gave me that fluttering feeling, reminding me of how much I used to look up to magic when I was little. I absolutely wanted to pass, so when I got the acceptance call, it felt like a dream. However, since this is the very first TV anime audition I’ve ever passed, and my mom passionately lectured me about how massively popular the past “Pierrot Magical Girl Series” entries were, I was incredibly nervous at the same time!
Nao Ojika: For me too, I was instantly drawn to the character designs, the sparkling worldview, and the pastel color vibe. Reading the script, I thought it was wonderful how carefully they portray the relationship and growth of the two girls. Plus, since it’s the newest entry in a historic series, I got super excited thinking, “This is going to be an amazing anime!” So when I was chosen to play Rui-chan, I was so, so happy. It’s a show that gives people hope, so I felt a real sense of responsibility to do my best playing her.
Interviewer: What did you keep in mind during the auditions?
Tachibana: I wish I could have borrowed some of Fuu-chan’s power to become a magical girl myself… but I was just ridiculously nervous! Rather than trying to “just enjoy it,” I imagined that, “Fuu-chan is exactly this kind of girl.”
Ojika: I approached it by really treasuring Rui-chan’s sensitivity. I figured she wasn’t a role I could pull off just on raw momentum, so even though I was nervous during the audition, I tried my best to calm my heart and focused on delivering each and every line carefully.
Interviewer: Could you also tell us your impressions of the roles you play? First, what kind of character is Fuu Nonoyama, played by Tachibana-san?
Tachibana: Fuu-chan is a bright and energetic girl. I really admire her ability to just take action and try things before overthinking them, and more than anything, she’s just so cute! Just watching her, or even acting as her, puts me in a really bright and happy mood.
Ojika: Her innocent and naive side, like chasing after a spaceship she just happened to see, is definitely her charm! Even her appearance, like her hair color and her outfit, shares some vibes with Yuu Morisawa-chan from Magical Angel Creamy Mami, which is super cute.
Interviewer: Next, how about Rui Nonoyama, played by Ojika-san?
Ojika: When I first saw Rui-chan, I thought she was a girl whose emotions were hard to read. But it’s really striking how expressive she becomes when she transforms into MashuLulu! When I read in her character profile that she tends to give up on things due to a past illness and is super introverted, but actually really loves to sing, I found myself hoping she could face forward and walk a bright path.
Tachibana: At first glance, Rui-chan seemed quieter and cooler compared to Fuu-chan. But she’s a girl who hides a lot inside, and I thought she felt very much like a main protagonist! Watching Rui-chan just makes me so excited to see what happens to her next.
Interviewer: Were there any scenes in Episode 1 that left a strong impression on you?
Tachibana: For me, it’s Fuu-chan’s line at the very end of Episode 1 after getting magic: “Things are about to get a lot more fun.” It really stuck with me. For me personally, it was the very last line I recorded during that nerve-wracking first dubbing session. The moment I said that line, I naturally felt the exact same way she did. It made me feel like I was looking forward to Fuu-chan’s future, our upcoming recording sessions, and my own future too!
Ojika: (Opening her script) There are so many memorable scenes, but the one that left the biggest impression was when CompatoLilly shot off fireworks with magic, and Rui-chan happened to see them and whispered, “It’s beautiful…” By the time we recorded, the animation for that scene was almost finished, and the sparkle in Rui-chan’s eyes was just too pretty. I could feel just from the art that this was an event that really shook her emotionally. So, even though Rui-chan doesn’t usually show much emotion, I made sure to act in a way that conveyed how deeply her heart was moved.
Interviewer: By the way, I just caught a glimpse inside your script, and are there pictures drawn next to your lines?
Ojika: Oh, I personally printed out a collection of my character’s expressions and pasted them in! Early on, I did it so I wouldn’t forget what kind of girl she is by looking at her face. Also, there were times when matching the on-screen expressions too closely made Rui-chan seem a bit too emotional. So, I pasted in expressions where you can’t really tell what she’s thinking, just to remind myself not to let too much emotion slip out.
Tachibana: Actually, I paste them in mine too! I saw Ojika-san’s script during the Episode 1 recording and thought it was such a great idea. So, I totally copied her and started doing it from Episode 2!
Interviewer: Did things change once you started pasting Fuu into your script?
Tachibana: My natural speaking voice is pretty low, but reaffirming that “this is the face Fuu-chan makes” makes it easier to brighten up my vocal tone; it feels like it helps me tune in properly! Plus, looking at the Fuu-chan pasted in my script makes it feel like she slips right into me. I’m really glad I copied her! (Laughs).
Ojika: Pasting in expressions really is the best, right? (Laughs).
Effective and Heartwarming Japanese Sweets? A Cozy Dubbing Studio.
Interviewer: In Episode 1, Fuu transformed into the magical girl CompatoLilly. Rui’s transformation won’t happen for a little while, but what are your impressions of their post-transformation forms?
Tachibana: It’s exactly the kind of princesses, magical girls, and idolized girls I used to draw in my notebooks back in the day! With the frilly outfits and glowing items, I really felt like my dreams were packed right into them. It’s just a total bullseye for me.
Ojika: Both CompatoLilly and MashuLulu have elements in their costumes that match their regular clothes, which is super cute! But even with those shared elements, MashuLulu wears heels instead of sneakers and wears earrings. It really struck me how she has a slightly more mature, older sister vibe compared to CompatoLilly.
Interviewer: By transforming, their appearances change from children to slightly older adults. How do you differentiate your performances?
Tachibana: For the Episode 1 recording, I actually prepared a performance that was quite different from the usual Fuu-chan, but the direction I got was “You don’t need to change it that much.” So, I try to keep it pretty close to Fuu-chan. However, I am conscious of the fact that she’s an adult now, so she doesn’t lisp as much, and her vocal cords are more stable, giving her a wider vocal range.
Ojika: I don’t really change my voice itself either, but Rui-chan gains more confidence after transforming and becomes able to speak her true feelings. Because of that, a bit of that confidence naturally bleeds into her voice. I act with the hope of giving off a different impression, even while using the exact same voice.
Interviewer: What is the atmosphere like at the recording studio?
Tachibana: It’s the absolute warmest studio ever!
Ojika Nao: It’s really such a wonderful set. Megumi Oohara-san, who plays the mother, buys snacks and hands them out to everyone during breaks! Even during recording, our senior cast members compliment our performances. Everyone is so kind, and the studio has a really friendly and harmonious vibe.
Tachibana: I’m totally clueless about so many things, so my seniors have been teaching me a lot, and I end up relying on them constantly!
Interviewer: For example, what kind of things have they taught you?
Tachibana: They teach me a lot of technical things about dubbing, like mic work and what tends to happen when recording with a large group. Even when I mess up during recording, they gently correct me while encouraging me. Thanks to them, I think I’m slowly becoming able to do it without causing too much trouble!
Interviewer: What do the two of you talk about during breaks?
Ojika: Early on, we were both incredibly nervous.
Tachibana: Totally stiff as a board! (Laughs).
Ojika: At first, we’d just exchange a quick “Let’s do our best,” and then we’d just glue our eyes to our own scripts! (Laughs). We’d spend our break times just muttering and checking our lines. But lately, we’ve started having casual chats, like me asking, “Do you have a test coming up?” and talking about Mei-chan’s school.
Interviewer: So you’ve finally found the mental breathing room to just chat!
Tachibana: Little by little, yes! Plus, the power of snacks has really saved us.
Ojika: Because our characters are the daughters of a traditional Japanese sweets shop, the staff members prepare wagashi for us during recording! We chat while eating dorayaki, saying things like, “This is so good!” (Laughs).
Tachibana: Thanks to that, we get to spend our time there feeling totally relaxed.
Interviewer: It sounds like a great set. The ending theme song, “Calling“, is sung by the two of you. What was your impression when you first received the song?
Tachibana: The sound totally matches the word “sparkling”, and it has such a fun rhythm. I thought it was the kind of song that makes you want to hum along without even realizing it.
Ojika: Yeah, yeah! Just listening to it brings that colorful world right to mind. My impression was that it’s an absolutely perfect fit for the show.
Interviewer: How was the recording process?
Ojika: MashuLulu loves singing and is actually really good at it, so while I tried to inject that idol-like cuteness into the performance, I also made sure to really project and extend my voice in the parts where she sings freely.
Tachibana: My voice is naturally lower than CompatoLilly’s, so trying to sing while keeping her character in mind was pretty tough!
Interviewer: Were there any phrases that were particularly difficult to sing?
Tachibana: The spoken line “I love it every way” right in the middle of the song took a lot of trial and error to record. After letting me do a few takes, we finally found the one that just clicked.
Ojika: For me, I struggled with the very beginning of the A-melody: “alone! Even if the stars in a moonless sky still twinkle.” I felt like the moon represented Rui-chan and the stars represented Fuu-chan, which made me feel a bit of bittersweet sadness. But I also felt like making it too dark would be wrong. So, I sang it with the image of talking to someone. I recorded my parts after Mei-chan did, so whenever I felt lost, I could just listen to Mei-chan’s singing voice and think, “Ah, I get it,” which really helped!
Tachibana: As for me, I sang while feeling super excited to hear how Ojika-san would perform it as Rui-chan and Lulu-chan! Listening to the final version, I truly thought it turned out to be an amazing song.
Interviewer: Finally, could you both give a message to the readers who are looking forward to Episode 2 and beyond?
Tachibana: Now that Fuu-chan has obtained magical powers, even she is super excited to see what fun things will happen next! Moving forward, the show is going to be packed with so many more sparkling and thrilling moments. I really hope people of all ages will continue to watch the story unfold and get excited right alongside Fuu-chan and Rui-chan!
Ojika: I believe that the things depicted amidst all the sparkles and excitement will become something that can give people a little bit of courage and give everyone a gentle push forward. We’re acting with all our hearts while receiving such careful and attentive direction during dubbing, so please look forward to what’s coming next!
Margin Editorial Note: If you could secretly cast a spell on each other?
Tachibana: I’d secretly upgrade Ojika-san’s vocal cords to be the strongest ever, take her to karaoke, and have her sing for all eternity!
Ojika: Eh, eternity…? (Laughs).
Tachibana: Ah, I don’t mean it in a weird way! I just love Ojika-san’s singing voice, so I’d want her to sing all my favorite songs. Just a little tweak to her vocal cords so she never gets tired…
Ojika: Oh, so that’s what you meant! (Laughs). I’d cast a spell on our heights. Since I play the older sister, I always feel like I need to act mature and pull it together, but when we stand next to each other, Mei-chan is taller, so I have to look up at her! So, I want to make Mei-chan shorter.
Tachibana: Wait, so instead of making Ojika-san taller, you just shrink me! (Laughs). But that sounds lovely. Being at eye level would be great, and I think looking up at you would be a nice dynamic too!
