Last week, months after premiering in Japan, Western anime fans were finally able to watch the first 12 episodes of anime legend Shinichirō Watanabe’s latest series Carole & Tuesday. The series, which has Watanabe serving as chief director, hit Netflix on August 30. It’s the first anime the Cowboy Bebop director has been attached to since 2014, where he directed both the terrorist thriller Terror in Resonance and his potpourri of anime tropes, art, and directorial styles, Space Dandy.
Carole & Tuesday follows Carole Stanley, a pianist who works many part-time jobs so she can live and survive in Alba City, a metropolis on Mars that, “attracts all the nobodies that eventually want to become somebodies,” and Tuesday Simmons, a guitarist who, taking a page out of Cyndi Lauper’s book (literally), runs away from her privileged life with nothing but a suitcase and her guitar. The two singers meet by chance on a bridge, Tuesday hearing Carole playing her piano and knowing immediately that Carole, like herself, is lonely, but doesn’t want to show it. Tuesday moves in with Carole, and before long they have collaborated on their first song and decide to become a duo. What the pair of singer-songwriters, from two very different backgrounds, don’t realize is that their talent and passion for music is going to do more than just make them famous.
A new Watanabe offering is enough of a hook for most anime to check out a new series. With Carol & Tuesday, there are some extra layers of importance attached to it. The series marks the 20th anniversary of Studio Bones, which has produced some of the most popular anime series over the past two decades, including Fullmetal Alchemist and its reboot, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Ouran High School Host Club, Eureka Seven, My Hero Academia, and Mob Psycho 100.
The series is also the first anime to feature all English vocals, with a worldwide audition held to find the singing voices of the two main characters, who are otherwise voiced by Japanese voice actors Miyuri Shimabukuro and Kana Ichinose. Briana Maddix, an artist from Atlanta by way of New York City who goes by Nai Br.XX (both the character and artist are women of color, a rarity for anime), performs Carole’s vocals. And Celeina Ann, a Japanese artist from Tokyo, who hosts radio program “SUNDAY! FUN DAY!” and International Flash, a music program that airs on Space Shower TV, sings as Tuesday.
To commemorate the Carole & Tuesday‘s debut in the U.S., the Dot and Line reached out to both artists to talk about working on the series, their first time meeting, and what it has been like to be a part of one of the major anime series this year. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Do you remember your initial reaction to the news that you got the part?
Celeina Ann: My manager called me to let me know. It was months after submitting the video audition material, so the announcement was so unexpected and it got me really excited.
Nai Br.XX: I was super excited! When I got it I really didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t very big into anime, so I didn’t really realize how big it was going to be until I took my first trip to Japan.
Did you know anything about Shinichiro Watanabe before, and his reputation and status in the anime industry, especially here in America?
Nai: I told one of my brothers and his roommates. They couldn’t believe it! They were so confused and proud at the same time. [Laughs.]
CA: I knew that he was famous with his anime and music. But the love and response that Carole & Tuesday is getting is crazy! I’m very honored to be a part of this show.
Tell us about the first recording session? Were you nervous?
CA: Nai and I were both nervous for sure. But once we were in the recording booth facing each other, we knew that our voices were the best match.
Nai: I just really wanted to make sure I was singing “Loneliest Girl” the best way I could. But everyone in the studio, especially Celeina, really encouraged me to relax and have fun when singing.
What happened when you finally got to see the show, and got to hear your voice on screen, coming out of an animated character?
Nai: Celeina Ann and I were both sitting down watching the first episode. It really made everything come full circle, like wow! This is the finished product.
CA: AMAZING! Not only the voices but also the body movements—it looked exactly like me. Every time Tuesday starts to sing I get really excited.
Nai, when did you realize that Carole was a woman of color like yourself? And do you have any feelings of being part of two rare instances in animation, not only being a black woman taking part in an anime, but voicing a character of color as well?
Nai: Part of the story line was sent to me before recording, but I didn’t know what Carole looked like until the first day of recording. It’s a huge honor and I’m glad that I was chosen to do.
Is there a difference between the music you make as yourself and the music you make as Carole & Tuesday?
CA: Yes. When I sing as Tuesday, I am not Celeina Ann. I try to be as Tuesday as possible. I will build up the song by asking the director, the producers, and myself what Tuesday’s reactions, emotions, and feelings are at the moment she’s singing.
Nai: A pretty big difference. I remember the first time we recorded, it was so strange to hear the way I was using my voice.
Can you describe your personal sound, what are the inspirations behind it?
Nai: I would say my music has a very flowy aspect to it. I like to think of my voice gliding over a track with heavy instrumentation. It’s definitely rooted in R&B and neo-soul. With the new tracks that I’m making, I just want to continue evolving my sound and taking the things that I learn along the way during my musical journey and incorporating them.
CA: My father had a big influence on my passion for music. Along with rock music, my father showed me ambient music and some quiet, mellow sounds. I think these have influence on the music I create today. One thing that I always have in mind is creating a song that’s not somebody’s theme song, but a background song.
Can you remember the first song you sung that made you realize you had a voice?
CA: I don’t know if I can say that I knew I had a voice, but I surely discovered my passion for singing and performing by singing “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles. I think I was about five or six years old then.
Nai: I don’t remember the first song that made me realize I could sing, but if I had to guess, it would have been something by Alicia Keys. When I was a kid I loved her, and I still do.
Who are some artists from the past or present that inspired you?
CA: Fleet Foxes, Tom Misch, Ed Sheeran, Carole King, and Joni Mitchell.
Nai: Mariah Carey, Aailyah, and Janet Jackson.
Is there any word on a Carole & Tuesday tour? If not, would you be open to one?
Nai: I would be super down!
CA: YES, PLEASE! Would love to fly overseas to meet more fans of the show.
Let us know of any new projects you are working on at the moment and future plans for your career?
Nai: Currently I’m working on some new tracks, with a single set to release in October.
CA: I have a China tour coming up in September. That will be exciting! I will be releasing new music too, so stay tuned!
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