MagicKnight Rayearthhas been one ofClamp’s beloved series since its release in the 1990s, and it also has been well received in the West. Now, to celebrate the series’ 30th anniversary, a new anime adaptation is underway, bringing fan-favorite characters such as Hikaru, Umi, Fuu, and Mokona back on screen for fans to relive their journey, showing whyMagic Knight Rayearthstill resonates with people today.
At Anime Expo 2026, Anime Trending had the opportunity to chat withRie TakahashiandSaori Hayamiahead of its premiere to talk about their roles as Fuu Hououji and Princess Emeruade in this newest anime adaptation.
Welcome back, Takahashi-san, and welcome, Hayami-san, to Anime Expo. How does it feel to be back at Anime Expo and promotingMagic Knight Rayearth(2026)?
Rie Takahashi:The stage panel is tomorrow, so I can’t wait to see the reaction of the fans who are going to see the show.
Saori Hayami:This is my first time here. It’s incredible to see this many people loving Japanese anime here in Los Angeles.
Were both of you familiar with the series? If so, what were your reactions when you heard about the new anime project?
Rie Takahashi:I knew of the characters, especially Mokona, but I wasn’t very familiar with the story. When I heard about this anime and that there was an audition for the series, it was a great opportunity for me to really get into the story. Strangely and surprisingly, I never got any spoilers about the story up until that point, so I was able to be surprised on my own as I read it.
Saori Hayami:I think I saw it when I was a kid, but my memory of it is hazy since I was so small. But I do remember that there was a Rayearth pencil at my house, so I know I saw the series. I knew it was a very, very popular series, so when the audition offer came, I was really nervous from the moment I heard about it.
This new adaptation was announced to commemorate the series’ 30th anniversary. Could you share your audition experience and how you became involved?
Rie Takahashi:I actually auditioned for both Hikaru and Fuu in the studio, and I spent more time on Fuu, which gave me a bit of a clue. I thought, “Oh, maybe they were more interested in me as Fuu.” I remembered I received a lot of notes during the audition about how Fuu has a different air than the other two, so we worked a lot on that.
Saori Hayami:There’s a lot I can’t say about Princess Emeraude just yet, so it’s a bit difficult to talk about it at the moment, but what I can say is that she has a lot of range to her — not just in facial expression, but in scale. During the audition, I had a lot of opportunities to explore how to express different sides of her.
Aside from your own roles, is there a particular character you find yourself relating to the most?
Rie Takahashi:There’s a lot. Earlier in the story, everyone has their own precious moments and scenes, especially when they face parts of what’s important to them that they resonate a lot with. For example, Umi-chan’s family and how important her family is to her. I thought all of those moments were important, and they really resonated with me. Yeah, they really are all important, huh?Yes, they are all important. [laughs]
Saori Hayami:For me…ah…I don’t want to give any spoilers. [laughs] When I read the original manga, there’s a lot when it comes to Princess Emeraude. I don’t know if I look like it, but I think I can relate to her. I think humans aren’t just one emotion. There’s a lot in the original manga about how human beings are complex and full of contradictions. We can love one thing and, at the same time, love something else entirely — that’s really what makes it a human experience, and I can relate to that.
Takahashi-san, you voice Fuu Hououji, one of the three main characters of the series. Watching the series growing up, I saw Fuu as one of the most perceptive members of the group and the one who represents the “brains” among the three. Can you tell us more about your character and what kind of preparation shapes your vocal performance for her?
Rie Takahashi:Fuu is very calm and goes at her own pace, but her mind is actually really quick. So it’s not really about speaking slowly to express how calm she is; it’s more about portraying what she sees and how she understands the world. That’s what I tried to capture in my performance.
As the voice of Fuu, you share the spotlight with Ayane Sakura and Rumi Okubo, who voice Hikaru and Umi, the other two main characters. What is it like working together with them to bring Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu back in this newest adaptation?
Rie Takahashi:They’re really easy and fun to talk to, and they’re reliable. They’re my seniors. But as characters, the three of us together, I wanted to be able to lend my strength to them too and not just have them carrying me along. I wanted the three of us working together toward one thing, and that’s kind of how I felt playing alongside them.
Hayami-san, you voice Princess Emeraude, one of the key characters in the story. How do you approach capturing her voice, and what direction did you focus on during the recording?
Saori Hayami:As a character, Princess Emeraude’s inner psyche is so complex, and in each episode, I have to think about how much of that I can reveal and let show. That balance was very difficult to strike, so that was the most challenging part and the thing I paid the most attention to.
Lifelong fans will be watching this as well as newcomers hearing about this series for the first time. What are you most excited for viewers to experience when they watch the anime?
Rie Takahashi:I really hope fans will watch the series every week and have that whole week to talk about it — delve into the scenes they loved from the older version of the anime and look forward to the next week. That’s something we hope fans look forward to as well.
Saori Hayami:For new fans, all the amazing things about the original manga are in this new anime series, so don’t be scared — it’s okay to dive in and love the series. I think this series empowers your life and empowers who you are. I kind of consider it like nutrients. Every time you watch it, maybe a little bit of willpower gets stored in you.
Special thanks to TMS Entertainment for organizing this interview.
Magic Knight Rayearth (2026) will premiere on October 7, 2026.
