"Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 3" Eris Training Arc Pre-Broadcast Special Report! Ai Kakuma, Haruka Tomatsu, and Yoko Hikasa Talk Highlights

On ABEMA, at 7pm on July 4, the special program "TV Anime 'Mushoku Tensei III' — Season 3, Eris Gets Serious Too — Pre-Broadcast Special for the Training Arc" aired.

"Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation" is an epic fantasy that follows a former 34-year-old shut-in NEET who is reincarnated as a boy named Rudeus in a world of swords and magic, depicting his growth as he resolves to "seriously live this time" alongside grand adventures.

To coincide with Season 3 Episodes 1 and 2 (the Eris Training Arc), the program featured Ai Kakuma (voice of Eris Greyrat), along with new cast members Haruka Tomatsu (voice of Nina Farion) and Yoko Hikasa (voice of Isolte Cruel). With the broadcast of the Eris Training Arc just around the corner, the three looked back on Eris's journey so far and spoke at length about the appeal of the new characters, behind-the-scenes recording stories, and the highlights of Season 3.

Ai Kakuma: "Different from the Eris We Knew" — Looking Back on the "Mad Dog" Eris's Journey and Character Building

At the top of the program, the talk turned to how the cast felt with the broadcast of Season 3's "Eris Training Arc" just ahead. This chapter follows Eris as she leaves Rudeus's side after failing to protect him during the battle with Orsted in Season 1, and heads to the Sacred Land of Swords to train. Kakuma commented, "There's an intensity and sense of urgency to her that's different from the Eris we've known so far." She added, "There are fans who feel like 'welcome back, Eris,' but I think you'll also get to see a bit of a new side of her," speaking about the changes in Eris depicted in this new chapter.

Meanwhile, Tomatsu, who plays Nina Farion, a character newly introduced in Season 3, described the series as "a work that's been beloved for many years," and confessed, "I felt pressure in the sense of joining partway through." Hikasa, who plays Isolte Cruel, also shared her impression of the series, calling it "almost like the originator of the reincarnation genre," and touched on the passion behind the production, saying, "Even before recording, I could feel the anime team's determination of 'we're going to make this work.'"

The program also looked back on Eris's journey so far ahead of Season 3's Eris Training Arc. First up was the scene from Season 1, Episode 5, where Eris meets Rudeus for the first time — the shocking moment where she suddenly slaps him upon their very first encounter. Looking back on it, Kakuma said, "Watching it again, it felt full of 'cuteness' somehow. She seemed so young," to which Hikasa immediately teased, "The only cute part is her voice!" Kakuma also reflected on how she approached the role at the time, being conscious of Eris's "fierce" and "mad dog"-like character traits: "I tried to create a slight gap between her appearance and the impression her voice gives, while making sure the energy could hold its own against that gap."

The program also revisited the kidnapping incident that brought Rudeus and Eris closer together, as well as the days that followed after they were sent to the Demon Continent, where they met Ruijerd and traveled together as the party "Dead End." It also featured the scene where Eris tries to comfort Rudeus in her own way after he's hurt by a falling-out with his father, Paul — a moment Tomatsu praised, saying, "In a good way, there's absolutely no allure to it, and that awkwardness feels so like Eris — it's really wonderful!" Kakuma responded, "That's a first interpretation! No allure, huh — true enough (laughs)," filling the studio with laughter.

The battle with Orsted, which became the major turning point behind Eris's resolve to grow stronger, also had the studio buzzing with excitement over its intense action scene. Kakuma said, "It was a major event where she chose to part ways with Rudeus, whom she loves so much," reflecting on how this battle greatly changed the course of Eris's life. She also spoke fondly of Episode 23, in which Eris cries out her feelings for Rudeus in front of Ruijerd and Ghislaine, saying, "It's just so full of love!" as she looked back once more on Eris's feelings and resolve leading into Season 3.