In a future where the boundary between human memory and artificial intelligence is gradually disappearing, YOUR FORMA stands out as a work of science fiction as disturbing as it is captivating. Carried by the haunting voice of Kana Hanazawa in the role of Echika Hieda, the series explores a society where every memory is archived, every gesture observed, thanks to technology implanted directly into the brain.
On the occasion of the anime’s release, we had the pleasure of chatting with Hanazawa-san, who gives us his impressions of the series’ universe, the complexity of his character, and the behind-the-scenes recording process. Interviews with the staff and cast will be published on AnimeTV following episodes 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 13.
Kana Hanazawa artist photo:
Official Trailer:
To start off, Hanazawa-san, could you tell us what makes Your Forma such an intriguing series?
Hanazawa: The story of Your Forma takes place in a world where people have had the information terminals called “Your Forma” implanted in their brains, which police rely on the data from to help investigate crimes. However, while reading the original novel, I thought that soon enough this kind of future will become our reality. A high-spec robot like Harold could really be created someday, and it was exciting to read about a world that seems so close to our own. That being said though, while a society like that seems convenient, it’s also a scary thing to imagine all of your actions being recorded by machines and watched by other people. After all, that would mean even something you thought nobody would ever see, like standing in your kitchen and eating a whole loaf of bread at night, could be recorded and watched by someone else! Isn’t that horrifying? (Laughs) I think a work with the kind of setting that makes you start imagining all kinds of things is really interesting. Also, another major appeal would have to be Echika and Harold’s relationship. Echika is a person who thinks that AI and humans can co-exist but also feels hurt when she sees Harold’s mechanical nature. She struggles through the series over how much she can trust him… Despite being a human and a robot, their delicate interactions and strengthening bond are a huge highlight of the story to me.
What kind of person do you see your character, Echika, as?
Hanazawa: Echika-chan is a really clumsy girl isn’t she? Harold is incredibly articulate and has no problem navigating conversations, but Echika is the more introverted type, who tends to take things more literally in social situations, struggling with being straightforward. She is a hard-working girl who takes pride in her job, but simultaneously she’s still a young woman, which I think is humanizing. Sometimes while recording her lines, there were moments I found herself thinking “think about what you’re saying more!” or “that could’ve gone better!” (laughs). I’m not exactly good at socializing either though, so I could relate to how she feels while playing her.
Then what’s your impression of Echika’s partner, Harold?
Hanazawa: Harold is…kind of a jerk! (laughs) He’s a cool guy, and has a way with words, so women like Bigga would easily fall for a guy like that. But also, I think there’s something unnerving about him, like before you realize what’s happening he could manipulate you. A guy like that would make me nervous in real life. But at his core, Harold is a good person. He develops over the course of the story, so I hope the viewers will take note of that. Harold went through some serious trauma in the past, which makes his face dramatically change when he recalls those memories. There are many aspects to his personality that you don’t see in episode one, so I hope everyone looks forward to uncovering them later!
Were there any particular lines or scenes from Episode 1 that left an impression on you?
Hanazawa: When I first read the novel, I was really intrigued about how the anime would portray the Brain Dives. When I saw the animation, it was that of a beautiful, mystical world. I truly felt like this scene captured the overall essence of the Your Forma adaptation. It truly felt like a scene that encapsulated the meaning of creating an animated adaptation for this work. I imagine that Director Ozaki worked closely with the author, Mareho Kikuishi, to build this world. I was also happy to have Kikuishi-sensei visit the recording sessions several times.
Could you share any memories from the recording sessions?
Hanazawa: The recording session for Episode 1 left me with memories of how challenging it was. The animation adaptation actually starts from Volume 2 of the novel, so it was tricky to figure out what the emotional distance between Echika and Harold should be like. They banter in a lighthearted way, but they’re not completely open with each other either. I wanted to take care to balance those more subtle nuances while making sure Echika came across a professional on the job.
Did the staff provide any specific direction during the recording?
Hanazawa: I would say that overall, we didn’t receive major direction for our performances, and things went quite smoothly. However, we did spend a lot of time discussing how to pronounce “Echika Hieda.” For example, should it be Eeeh-chika Hieda, or EH-chika Hieda? Amongst the cast members, we joked “Isn’t it the same intonation as Junko Koshino?” (the fashion brand) and “Wait, what even is the intonation for Junko Koshino?” (laughs). Several Russian names and places appeared in this series, which was difficult for us as we aren’t used to pronouncing them. I even had trouble with the pronunciation of “Hieda” and “Harold.” There were many times where I got tongue-tied trying to say important lines and slapped my thigh in frustration like “Ugh, why can’t I get it?” (laughs)
Thank you so much. By the way Hanazawa-san, if you could dive into someone’s memories like Echika, whose memories would you want to see?
Hanazawa: I think the first person to ever spread butter on bread or the first person to make an egg salad sandwich was a genius. Therefore, I would love to get inside their head and experience those memories. I bet the moment they took a bite, they thought, “Wait… isn’t this crazy good? Am I a genius?” I want to feel the same kind of happiness as those who discovered such perfect food pairings!
And finally, do you have a message for the fans looking forward to the upcoming episodes?
Hanazawa: One time I asked Director Ozaki, “Why did you choose to start from Volume 2 instead of adapting from the first volume?” and he told me that it was because Volume 2 is when the story really gets interesting. He said, “If you think about how to turn Your Forma into a one-season anime, it really makes the most sense to start after Echika and Harold have already partnered up.” When I heard that, I thought, “Oh, that does make sense.” From Episode 2 on, “Your Forma” will feature increasingly complex and unpredictable cases, and many interesting characters will appear, so I hope everyone is excited! If you became interested in Your Forma through the anime, I highly encourage you to check out the original novel as well and enjoy the origin story of how Echika and Harold first meet.
RELATED: SERIES INTERVIEW: YOUR FORMA Anime – A Deep Dive with Director Ozaki
Streaming platforms:
- North America: Samsung TV Plus
- Central and South America: Bandplay, Anime Onegai
- Europe, Middle East, and Africa: ADN, aniverse, Anime Generation, Anime Key
- Asia: Bahamut, MyVideo, CHT, Hamivideo, Bilibili, TVING, Wavve, Watcha, U+tv, SK Btv, Genie TV, Home Choice, D’LIVE, SKY LIFE, B’flix
CAST:
Echika Hieda (CV.Kana Hanazawa)
Harold W. Lucraft (CV.Kensho Ono)
Bigga (CV.Nao Toyama)
Ui Totoki (CV.Aya Endo)
Ivan Lukich Fokine(CV.Nobuhiko Okamoto)
Darya Romanovna Chernova(CV.Ayaka Nanase)
Lexie Willow Carter (CV.Chiwa Saito)
Benno Kleemann (CV.Yuu Hayashi)
Sozon A. Chernov(CV.Jun Fukuyama)
Lexie W. Carter(CV.Chiwa Saito)
Raissa Germaine Robin(CV.Hisako Tojo)
Kazimir Martinovich Shubin(CV.Tomokazu Sugita)
Kupriyan Valentinovich Napolov(CV.Koichi Yamadera)
STAFF:
Original Work: Mareho Kikuishi
Original Illustrations: Tsubata Nozaki
Director: Takaharu Ozaki
Series Composition & Script: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
Character Design: Chikashi Kadekaru
Music: Tatsuya Kato
Animation Production: Geno Studio
Production: Project YOUR FORMA
Official synopsis:
In 1992, a pandemic of viral encephalitis shook the world. The medical technology that saved humanity evolved into “Your Forma”—an invasive information device implanted into the brain. In this world where every sight, sound, and even emotion is recorded, investigating major crimes means diving into the collective data, a job reserved for special detectives called “Electronic Investigator.”
Echika Hieda, a prodigious “Electronic Investigator” assigned at an astonishingly young age, stands isolated by her exceptional talent. Her newly assigned partner is Harold, a blonde, blue-eyed humanoid “Amicus.” Together, this unrivaled duo will expose every hidden secret.
©2025 Mareho Kikuishi/KADOKAWA/Project YOUR FORMA
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