Allegra Clark and Ryan Reynolds discuss bringing heart and action to the big screen in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Tears of the Azure Sea.
The world of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is expanding in a major way with the theatrical arrival of the franchise’s second film, Tears of the Azure Sea. Following the conclusion of the grand opening ceremony of the Demon Kingdom Federation Tempest, Rimuru and his companions are invited by the Celestial Emperor Elmesia of the Magi Dynasty Thalion to visit her private resort island. What begins as a brief, well-deserved vacation takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of a mysterious woman named Yura, leading to an unfolding incident set against the breathtaking backdrop of the boundless azure sea.
Mama’s Geeky recently sat down with two of the stars bringing these characters to life: Allegra Clark, the voice of the enigmatic Yura, and Ryan Reynolds, the voice of the beloved and spirited Gobta. We discussed the thrill of bringing this second cinematic chapter to the big screen, the increasing global presence of anime, and the fun of voicing characters who operate outside the usual tropes of traditional niceness.
Allegra Clark & Ryan Reynolds Talk ‘That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Tears of the Azure Sea’
Mama’s Geeky: How does it feel to take this series to the big screen for the second time?
Ryan Reynolds: “This is the first time that I’ve gotten to be a part of something like this. So for me, it’s a huge, huge deal. It’s not my first, but it hasn’t stopped being cool. When we were younger, the only anime movies that were on the big screen were the Studio Ghibli movies and obviously the Pokémon movies as well. But otherwise, this was not something that ever made it to the big screen”.
Allegra Clark: “I purposely have not watched it because I want the first time to see the whole thing through to be special, to be in the theater. I want my popcorn. It was really cool, too, when I was telling people at my day job, like, ‘Hey, I’m going to be doing this this afternoon,’ like, ‘I’m in a movie.’ It’s pretty cool”.
Mama’s Geeky: Is this movie an accessible starting point for new viewers?
Allegra Clark: “It was my introduction to slime, for sure. I hadn’t watched the show when I got the audition and hopping in and recording this, it was very clear to me that this would be an incredibly accessible film for people who have very limited exposure to the series as a whole prior to watching the movie. I hope some people give it a shot because they see the movie and are happy and excited to jump in and watch the show afterwards because I know I’m going to”.
Mama’s Geeky: What is it about anime that makes it so immersive for audiences?
Ryan Reynolds: “With animation in general, you can do things, characters can do things that physically in live action you just can’t do, or if you try to do, it’s never going to be as exciting and big. And then with anime, it’s like you take it a step further. And the storylines are so fantastic. The characters are so versatile and deep. And there’s something for everyone”.
Mama’s Geeky: Allegra, you play a character who is quite unfiltered. Is that fun to voice?
Allegra Clark: “It’s really fun to play a character who is so masked off because it’s a little cathartic to be a little mean sometimes. You’re like, ‘Yeah, I’m just going to—my character is going to be really mean.’ It feels kind of good. It’s like that little liberating moment where you can just kind of say what’s actually on your mind for a second instead of couching it and being nice”.
Mama’s Geeky: Ryan, what is your favorite thing about playing Gobta?
Ryan Reynolds: “Gobta is also pure. I mean, I know sometimes he’s a little bit crude, but he wears his heart on his sleeve. Gobta is like: what you see is what you get. He has a heart of gold. You know, he might do some dumb stuff, but his heart is in the right place. I love that. I love to get to be obnoxious, but also be a genuine character. He’s a big sweetie”.
Mama’s Geeky: And for you, Allegra, what do you love most about Yura?
Allegra Clark: “I love how pure she is when she explores the surface world for the first time. I specifically love the moment where she sees the cat for the first time. There’s something very refreshing about a character who’s seeing things that we all see and take for granted for the first time. It’s so sweet and it’s so pure. I love it”.
For more insights into the making of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Tears of the Azure Sea and to watch our entire conversation with Allegra Clark and Ryan Reynolds, be sure to watch the full video interview.
