An official interview with Makoto Furukawa, who plays Spinel in the new series of the popular anime Pocket Monsters (airs on the TV Tokyo Network every Friday at 6:55pm, officially abbreviated "Anipoke"), has just been released. Here, he tells us about his Pokémon memories, his state of mind when it was decided he'd be in the show, and more.

Q: Spinel is a member of the mysterious organization "Explorers", which is after the protagonist Liko's pendant. Please tell us how you felt when you learned you were going to appear in the Pocket Monsters TV show.
Furukawa: It was a huge surprise to me to learn that I'd get to be in a franchise with as much history as Pocket Monsters.

Q: Do you have any memories or personal stories related to Pokémon you would like to share?
Furukawa: When I was in elementary school, a friend of mine had Pocket Monsters Green at home. He let me play it, but since this was my first time, I managed to end up choosing "New Game" and then saved over his file. It wasn't until I got my own copy of the game later that I learned what "save" meant... Man, I felt so bad for my friend at that point (laughs). And that was my introduction to Pokémon.
Where I live, the anime aired at around 4:30pm, so it was hard for me to get home from school in time to catch it. I remember rushing home as fast as I could after school ended, desperately trying to keep up with the story. At school, people were constantly asking each other if they had seen yesterday's episode of Pokémon, what had happened in it, and so on, and in my friend group, I was always the one pestering them with such questions.

Q: This is your first role in the Pocket Monsters TV show, what was the dubbing session like?
Furukawa: The atmosphere was very relaxed during our breaks, but the instant the dubbing session started, everyone got extremely serious about their jobs. I was really impressed with the work-downtime balance they were operating with. Even though I joined the Pocket Monsters anime with the current series, this made me understand the "weight" of a series with as much history as this.

Q: After his first appearance in episode 6, Spinel went on to appear in episodes 12-16. What were your initial impressions of him, and what was it like to play this role?
Furukawa: I thought of Spinel as sort of a musical conductor when I played him. He comes up with his own personal plans and directions, but he uses intercom to give instructions to his Pokémon. He's very aggressive about catching his opponents in traps, so me and the sound director agreed to give him a slightly sadistic touch to his voice. The strategist side of his character is really prominent, so it was also really fun to play him in the scenes where he's happily ordering his Pokémon arround according to his plans.

Q: Finally, do you have something you want to tell to those who are looking forward to the upcoming episodes of the anime?
Furukawa: Spinel made his apperance in the show as an enemy opposing Liko and the other Rising Volt Tacklers, but I'm very intrigued by the fact that his partner is something as unexpected as a Blacky, a unique evolution of Eievui. I feel like there are parts to him that are still shrouded in mystery. I myself am also looking forward to learning what kind of person Spinel really is and seeing how this will be depicted in the show. I... definitely don't want to ask you to show Spinel your support (laughs), but I would really appreciate you keeping an eye on how Spinel will get involved with Liko and the other Rising Volt Tacklers in the future.

古川慎『ポケモン』スピネル役でブラッキーに注目 思い出は友人のゲーム…はじめから→レポートで「申し訳ない事をした(笑)」

人気アニメ『ポケットモンスター』（略称：アニポケ　テレビ東京系 毎週金曜 後6：55～　※放送日時・内容は地域によって異なる）に出演する、スピネル役・古川慎の公式インタビューが公開された。『ポケモン』の思い出や出演が決まった時の心境などを語っている。

スピネルは、主人公・リコのペンダントを狙う謎の組織「エクスプローラーズ」のメンバーの1人です。テレビアニメ『ポケットモンスター』への出演が決まった時のご感想をお聞かせ下さい。
【古川】　「ポケットモンスター」という長い歴史のある作品に僕が出演させていただけると聞いたときは、驚きが大きかったです。

古川さんご自身は『ポケモン』との思い出やエピソードはありますか？
【古川】　小学生の頃、友達の家に『ポケットモンスター 緑』があり遊ばせてもらったのですが、初めて触るゲームなのでなんとなく「はじめから」を選択し、「レポート」までしてしまって。
その後、僕もゲームを買ってもらい、そこで初めて「レポート」とは何かを知りました…友達には本当に申し訳ない事をしたなと思います…（笑）。それが僕の『ポケモン』の始まりでした。
僕が住んでいた地域では夕方4時半くらいにアニメを放送していたのですが、その時間帯に自宅に辿り着くことは難しく、学校が終わったら急いで帰って必死でストーリーを追っていたのを覚えています。学校では「昨日のポケモン観た？」「ポケモンどこまで進んだ？」というような会話が飛び交っていて、友達との会話の中心になっていました。

テレビアニメ「ポケットモンスター」シリーズは今回が初参加となりますが、収録してみていかがでしたか？
【古川】　休憩中はとてもリラックスしたムードなのですが、収録が始まるときゅっと場が締まって、メリハリがあることが印象的でした。今回のシリーズからアニメ「ポケットモンスター」に参加させていただきましたが、長い歴史のある「ポケットモンスター」シリーズの“重み”を肌で感じています。

第6話で初登場し、その後第12話から第16話に渡ってスピネルが登場しました。第一印象はどんなものがありましたか？また、演じてみていかがでしたか？
【古川】　スピネルは、自分で思い描く作戦図や道筋があり、それに対してインカムを通してポケモンに指示出しをする、「指揮者」のようなイメージで演じさせていただきました。
相手を罠に嵌めることに対してとても積極的なので、音響監督さんとも相談しながら、ちょっとサディスティックな雰囲気を意識しました。自分の考えた通りに事を進める策士な一面が光るキャラクターなので、策に沿ってポケモンたちに対して楽しそうに指示を出すシーンなどは、演じていても楽しかったです。

アニメを楽しみにしている方へのメッセージをお願いします。
【古川】　リコたちライジングボルテッカーズの前に立ちはだかる敵としてスピネルは登場していますが、意外にも彼のパートナーがイーブイから特殊な進化をするブラッキーであることも気になりますし、まだまだ謎に包まれている部分があると感じています。スピネルがどんな人物なのか、そしてこれからどう描かれていくのか、僕自身も楽しみです。
スピネルを応援してほしい…とは決して言いませんが…（笑）。リコたちライジングボルテッカーズとどのような絡み方をしていくのか、是非注目して頂けたら嬉しいです。

Source: https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2289580/full/

On August 4th, 2023, the official Japanese AniPoke Twitter account reminded that this episode was available to watch on the official Japanese YouTube channel. The video was region locked to Japan only. It was available from August 4th, 2023 to August 11th, 2023. This episode was specifically labeled as a missed-program webcast (見逃し配信).

The episode was also available on the TV Tokyo YouTube channel and the Official Corocoro Channel and were labeled as limited-time delivery (期間限定配信). The TV Tokyo version included the series trailer at the end of the episode where as the Corocoro version had beginning and ending bumpers promoting Corocoro.

Anipoke Highlights
"Face us... in battle!"
Liko, Roy, and Dot go into battle against Pokémon that Spinel commands!
Kaiden also appears, and the three of them put up a good fight, but the result of the battle with the unseen Spinel is... in the stream!
The episode will be available for 1 week from today

アニポケ ハイライト
「私たちと…勝負です！」
リコ、ロイ、そしてドットが、スピネルが指示するポケモンたちとバトルに
カイデン も出てきて、善戦する3人ですが、姿の見えないスピネルとのバトルの結果は…見逃し配信で！
公開期間は本日より1週間

On August 4th, 2023, the official Japanese AniPoke Twitter account posted an interview with Makoto Furukawa who plays Spinel.

Episode 16 of the new series of the popular anime Pocket Monsters (airs on the TV Tokyo Network every Friday at 6:55pm, officially abbreviated "Anipoke") aired on August 4th, 2023, and announced the executive cast of the mysterious organization "Explorers" that are after the protagonist Liko's pendant. Makoto Furukawa will play the role of Spinel, Yuki Onodera will play the role of Onyx, Mimi Maihane will play the role of Agate and Ikue Ohtani will play the role of Sango.

Sango's voice actress Ikue Ohtani played the role of Satoshi's Pikachu in the earlier Pokémon series, and is also playing the role of Pokémon Professor Friede's partner Captain Pikachu in the new series, having just started her 27th year of playing Pikachu roles. Now she will be playing the role of an executive in the villainous organization that's after the protagonist Liko's pendant.

Comments from Makoto Furukawa, who plays Spinel:
This is my first Pocket Monsters role, but the dubbing session made me understand the "weight" of a series with as much history as this.

Spinel is an enemy opposing Liko and the other Rising Volt Tacklers, but the way he orders his Pokémon around from a distance makes him a type of Trainer we've rarely seen before, so me and the sound director agreed on how to play him during the dubbing sessions.

Spinel has appeared in 6 episodes so far and is characterized by how he carries out his plans step by step, I thought this conspicuous villain-like behavior was very interesting.

I'm very intrigued by the fact that his partner is a Blacky, a unique evolution of Eievui. I feel like there are parts to him that are still shrouded in mystery, so I myself am also looking forward to learning what kind of person Spinel really is and seeing how this will be depicted in the show.

I... definitely don't want to ask you to show Spinel your support (laughs), but I would really appreciate you keeping an eye on how Spinel will get involved with Liko and the other Rising Volt Tacklers in the future.

スピネル役・古川慎さんコメント
初めて参加させていただく「ポケットモンスター」の収録では、長い歴史のあるアニメ「ポケットモンスター」シリーズの“重み”を肌で感じています。
リコたちライジングボルテッカーズの前に立ちはだかる敵であるスピネルは、遠隔でポケモンたちに指示を出すというこれまであまり見ないタイプのトレーナーだったので、彼のキャラクター性をどう出していくのか、音響監督さんとも相談しながら収録していきました。6話に渡って登場し、段階を踏んで任務を遂行していくところにスピネルのキャラクター性が出ていますし、悪役らしさが際立っていて面白いなと思いました。

一方で、イーブイから特殊な進化をするブラッキーが彼のパートナーであることも気になります。まだまだ謎に包まれている部分が多いので、スピネルがどんな人物なのか、そしてこれからどう描かれていくのか、僕自身も楽しみにしています。

スピネルを応援してほしい…とは決して言いませんが（笑）。リコたちライジングボルテッカーズとどのような絡み方をしていくのか、是非注目して頂けたら嬉しいです。

The official Japanese Anime PR Twitter account posted a wallpaper on August 1st, 2023 by #もじゃクッキー @mojacookie.

Anipoke Wallpaper Calendar
Every month we bring you a wallpaper calendar by mojacookie!
August's theme is a gorgeous collaborative delivery by Nanjamo & Gurumin!
The dream collaboration of popular video streamers was showcased in Anipoke episode 15.
Are there many people wishing for another collaboration...!?

アニポケ 壁紙カレンダー
毎月、もじゃクッキーさんによる壁紙カレンダーをお届け
8月のテーマは、ナンジャモ＆ぐるみんの豪華コラボ配信
アニポケ第15話で実現した、人気動画配信者の夢の共演
再コラボを願う人も多いのでは…⁉

CoroCoro Comic's Official website posted an article about this episode just before the original airing on August 4th, 2023.


Anipoke is just around the corner! The Rising Volt Tacklers begin their counterattack! Operation Recover Liko's Pendant!


Broadcasting every week from 6:55 pm! The anime "Pocket Monsters" will start airing soon! In this article, we'll introduce you to the Pokémon and characters that will appear in today's episode, as well as comments from the voice actors and director, and other information you won't find anywhere else!

The members of the Rising Volt Tacklers search for Liko's pendant, which was stolen by someone. According to Friede's theory, the culprit is still nearby! Liko, Roy, and Dot search the city, while Friede searches from the sky with Lizardon! The Rising Volt Tacklers' mission to retrieve the pendant is about to begin!


▲ A mysterious person manipulated Liko's memory and took the pendant. Where did he go!?


▲ Friede deduces that the thief had been stalling them for some time and was "waiting for something".

Liko and his friends continue their search for the pendant. Suddenly, the Ancient Monster Ball containing Oliva begins to glow! This same thing...... that happened with Rayquaza. This means that Liko's pendant is nearby......!?


▲ The Ancient Monster Ball and Liko's pendant are reacting to each other!

Liko and her friends are guided by the light from the Ancient Monster Ball and head to....... Check out the rest of the story on today's broadcast!!


▲ Kuwassu! Back, back!! Is this the Ohbem that manipulated Liko's memory!?


▲ A Rarecoil was also causing interference near the blimp! The thief is close!!


▲ Finally, have they tracked down the thief......!? The Pokémon battle is very intense!!


▲ We're curious about the whereabouts of the pendant, and if Dot will finally confesses the truth to Liko...!? Be sure to watch!!
【アニポケまであとちょっと！】ライジングボルテッカーズ反撃開始！ リコのペンダント奪還作戦!!
ライジングボルテッカーズ反撃開始！リコのペンダント奪還作戦!!
毎週金曜よる6時55分から放送中！

アニメ「ポケットモンスター」まもなく放送スタート!! この記事はアニメ放送前に、今日の放送回に登場するポケモンやキャラクターの紹介、声優さんや監督からのコメントなどなど、ほかでは聞けないアニポケ情報をお届けするコーナーだ!!
何者かに奪われたリコのペンダントを探すライジングボルテッカーズのメンバーたち。フリードの推理によると犯人はまだ近くにいる！　リコ、ロイ、ドットは街を捜索、フリードはリザードンで空から捜索することに！　ライジングボルテッカーズによるペンダント奪還作戦が動き出す!!
▲リコの記憶を操作してペンダントを奪った謎の人物。一体どこへ消えた!?
▲早く逃げればいいのにそうしない……。犯人は時間稼ぎをして「何かを待っている」と推理するフリード。
ペンダントの捜索を続けるリコたち。すると突然、オリーヴァが入った「いにしえのモンスターボール」が輝きだす!!　これはレックウザのときと同じ……。ということはリコのペンダントがこの近くにある……!?
▲やはり「いにしえのモンスターボール」とリコのペンダントが反応している!?
リコたちが「いにしえのモンスターボール」の光に導かれて向かった先には……。ここから先は今日の放送でチェックしよう!!
▲クワッス！後ろ後ろ!!　これはリコの記憶を操作したオーベム!?
▲飛行船の近くで電波障害を起こしていたレアコイルも！　犯人は近いぞ!!
▲ついに犯人を追い詰めた……!?　これまで以上に激しいポケモンバトルが巻き起こる!!
▲ペンダントの行方も気になるけど、ついにドットがあの真実をリコに告白……!?　こちらも注目だ!!

Yusuke Oshida left a comment on the official Anipoke PR post on August 4th, 2023 indicating that they were the Animation Director in charge of the battle and action scenes for this episode.

I was an Animation Director for episode 16 of the Pokémon anime, focusing on the battle and action scenes!
Please be sure to watch!

アニポケ16話、今回もバトル、アクションパートを中心に作画監督をさせていただきました!
ぜひご視聴ください

The official Japanese Anime PR Twitter account posted a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this Anipoke episode with a production artwork piece on August 3rd, 2023. The picture featured Dot and Kuwassu.

This time, it's an original drawing of Dot and Kuwassu from episode 16.
In the last episode, Dot resolved to go outside!
She's progressing forward alongside Kuwassu!!

第16話より、ドットとクワッス の原画をご紹介
前回、外に出る決意をしたドット
クワッスと共に前に進みます‼