The Power Of Will: Rie Takahashi And Saori Hayami Rediscover "Magic Knight Raas"

Since its debut in 1993, CLAMP’s magic knight reas A classic that has always been loved by people, Remembered for its unforgettable heroine, imaginative fantasy world, and themes of friendship and willpower. Now, more than thirty years later, the series returns with a new animated TV adaptation, introducing a new generation to the magical world of Sephiroth when it premieres this October.

Ahead of the anime’s preview at Anime Expo 2026, we spoke with Rie Takahashi and Saori Hayami, who voice Hooji Kaze and Princess Emerald respectively. Together they reflect on the legacy of these beloved characters, the enduring appeal of Magic Knight Reyes, and their passion for reimagining one of the most iconic adventures in shojo manga for the new era.

──magic knight reas It is an adventure girl comic that started in 1993. When did you first come across this work?

Takahashi: My first exposure to this title was through an audition for this new anime. I was already familiar with the characters, but not the story itself. Since I was curious about the story, I thought this was a great opportunity.

Hayashi: I definitely watched this anime when I was a kid, but I was too young to remember much. However, I’m fairly certain I did see it, as some of the Rayearth pencils are still at my parents’ house.

──The world of Cefiro is unique and creative in many ways. What’s the most interesting or surprising thing you’ve discovered about Sephiro?

Takahashi: First of all, the world itself surprised me – but explaining why would be too much of a spoiler. So if I had to choose something to say, it would be flying fish flying in the sky.

Hayashi: The scenes where various creatures suddenly appeared really surprised me.

──What do you find attractive about your respective characters? Please tell us what you remembered while recording.

Takahashi: I think the charm of my character Hooji Fuu-chan is that no matter what situation she encounters, she can make decisions with keen insight. While recording, I was careful to make sure her way of thinking about things didn’t waver and her logic remained consistent, even if it meant her presence felt different from Hikaru and Umi’s.

Hayashi: Part of Princess Emerald’s charm is the strong sense of responsibility she carries out her duty to pray for the world. At the same time, I’m really fascinated by the fact that she still has to deal with human emotions within herself. I focused on how much inner complexity I should incorporate into the story and made adjustments to each episode as I was recording.

──Although Hikaru, Umi, and Fu didn’t know each other in Tokyo, they quickly became close in Sephiro. Takahashi-san, what is your impression of Hikaru and Umi and the friendship of the three girls?

Takahashi: It made me realize that the strength of a friendship is not measured by how long you’ve known someone. Even though they still have a lot to learn about each other, they’ve developed such a strong bond of trust that I think is really special.

──How did it feel to work with the actresses Hikaru and Umi?

Takahashi: The two actresses who played Hikaru and Umi have always liked Rayearth, so I felt I could entrust my performance to them and perform it in a way that didn’t stray away from them. At first, the three of us were nervous about the roles we were playing, but as we continued to perform, I think we formed a bond and we felt, “No one can be our partner but you.”

——Miss Hayami, Princess Emerald, and Zagato all live in Sephiro’s world. We can’t talk too much about their relationship, but what was it like working with Zagato actor Yuki Ono?

Hayashi: Ono Yuki-san is an actor I’ve known for a long time, but this back-and-forth of antagonists felt a bit new. Mr. Ono is very motivated and works very hard in recording each episode. Seeing him like this makes me more determined and motivated.

──The power of will is the core theme of the story. What does this sentence mean to you?

Takahashi: I think this is very true. Since we get voiceover jobs through auditions, I think it’s kind of like the greater your sense of “I want it” or “I’m going to get it,” the better chance you have of success.

Hayashi: I think the power of will gives you confidence in yourself that drives you to take action. It is a force that not only inspires us as individuals, but also those around us. For example, I strongly feel that Takahashi Rie-chan has incredible willpower, and seeing Rie-chan handle things so determinedly motivates us so we can handle things with her.

──Girls have different reactions to traveling to another world. How do you think you would react if you were suddenly teleported out of Tokyo Tower?

Long: For a moment, I wondered if I could fly.

Hayashi: I might be thinking, “Maybe I fell asleep with the VR goggles on?”

——During the recording process, are there any memorable moments that you can share with the other cast and crew?

Takahashi: During the recording of the first episode, the feedback I got was “They get along so well, please make it feel more like meeting them for the first time.” Worrying about the other person is a little too much. So it is necessary to go back to a distance where the characters have not yet introduced themselves. In order for the story to unfold from there, an initial sense of distance is needed.

Hayashi: What I remember most clearly is that every time we did a taping, the three main actors would show up wearing clothes or accessories that matched the colors of their characters. This makes me feel warm and happy.

Takahashi: I ended up buying a lot of green clothes (laugh)

Hayashi: I can tell.

──Are there any scenes that had an impact on you, or scenes that fans are looking forward to?

Takahashi: I like the scene where Xiaofeng comes face to face with himself. When I read it during the audition, I really liked Fuu-chan’s word choice in that scene, so I was even more excited for the actual performance.

Hayashi: There’s a lot I can’t say about Princess Emerald, but when she talks to Zagato, the atmosphere around the two is a little unique from the others, so I hope you’ll pay close attention to those scenes.

The interview was conducted through an interpreter and has been edited for clarity.

Visit the official website: https://rayearth-anime.com/
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Magic Knight Raas PV1

The power of will: Rie Takahashi and Saori Hayami rediscover “Magic Knight Raas”

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