© Level-5 / Layton Mystery Detective Agency

Layton Anime News Conference With Kana Hanazawa as Kat and OP Singer Kana Adachi

Fans of the successful and long-running Professor Layton adventure mystery game series by Level-5, anime enthusiasts, and fans of voice actress Hana Kanazawa, among others, who had been waiting with baited breath to see the first episode of the highly anticipated first TV anime based on the series, Layton Detective Agency: Katrielle's Case File (TBD), were surely pleased when it first aired in Japan on Sunday, April 8th, on Fuji TV and other networks.

Source: © Level-5 / Layton Mystery Detective Agency

The anime, based on LEVEL-5's Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy game that focuses on Katrielle "Kat" Layton, is being directed by Susumu Mitsunaka at Liden Films, with screenplay by Akihiro Hino and character design by Yoko Takada. Like the game, the story is set in London and focuses on Katrielle as she solves mysteries with Sherl, the talking dog. In the first episode, Kat must solve the mystery of Simon Wright whose wife and daughters disappear after they move into their new home.

A recent news conference held at the offices of Fuji Television featured voice actress Kana Hanazawa, who voices the protagonist Katrielle Layton, Kana Adachi, the singer of the anime's opening theme song, Change!「チェンジっ！」, and LEVEL-5 CEO, Akihiro Hino. The conference was hosted by Fuji TV announcer Manami Miyaji, who in a most mysterious turn of events, makes her voice debut in the anime as Ula Brames, Katrielle's client in Episode 6.

Source: © Level-5 / Layton Mystery Detective Agency

Comments

Here are Hanazawa and Adachi's comments for the press:

Source: © Level-5 / Layton Mystery Detective Agency

(After seeing the first episode) Now, I want the viewers to see it even more. Katrielle is just so cool. Although I'm personally not good at solving mysteries, I feel I have a lot of other things in common with her. For example, the way she makes discoveries by building her social ties which then leads to personal growth. This is an anime which I hope people of all generations will enjoy. I also sang the ending song, so I hope you'll look forward to that too!

Hana Kanazawa

First of all, after seeing Episode 1, I was so moved that I cried. This was my first time singing a song for an anime, but with Yoshiki Mizuno of Ikimono-gakari having written and composed, it's truly a wonderful song. I'd like everyone to listen to it. Thanks to this opportunity, I'll keep on challenging myself in the future.

Kana Adachi

The news conference attendees posed in front of a special promotional, double-decker bus, that ran through the streets of Tokyo until Sunday, April 8th.

From left to right: Fuji TV announcer Manami Miyaji, singer Kana Adachi, voice actress Kana Hanazawa, screenplay writer Akihiro Hino and detective Kat Layton (costumed mascot)