On August 17th, AKB48�s Shinoda Mariko (25) attended the second part of the DVD release commemoration event for �Kami Usagi Rope�.

�Kami Usagi Rope� is a short anime that is played before the movie screenings at TOHO Cinemas nationwide and focuses on a rabbit named �Rope� and a squirrel named �Akira Senpai� who runs into various events on their way to a movie theater. Shinoda will be voice acting for �Akira Senpai�, who is known for being responsible and acts kind of like an older sibling to �Rope�.

Regarding the difficulties of this role, she stated, �It is quite difficult to sound like a responsible person. It is a work that I had to work on over and over again.� She continued, �We kept on trying again and again until late in the evening, so even though I am a novice [at voice acting], I think I gave a good performance in my opinion.�

Although Shinoda did not know of this anime until she was offered the job, AKB48�s Maeda Atsuko (20) is quite a movie lover and is said to be a fan of this work. According to Shinoda, Maeda told her that it was �unfair!� and was envious of Shinoda for receiving this role. Shinoda then added, �But I think Acchan (Maeda) will watch it in the movie theaters.� She added, �The more you watch it, the more you get into it. I would like to convey the interesting aspects of this surreal work,� and made her final appeal for this short anime.

�Kami Usagi Rope� will begin broadcasting in 2012.

Check out the event photos below!

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Source: News 24
Image: Model Press