Shingo Katori says he and SMAP’s members are more than friends

SMAP’s Shingo Katori (34) revealed who he considered his best friends at a press conference in Tokyo on April 25, reports Mainichi Shimbun Digital and Sankei Sports.

The pop star voices a red ogre (or demon) called Naki in an upcoming 3D computer animation movie based on the Japanese fairytale “泣いた赤おに (Naita Aka-oni, The Red Ogre who Cried)”. Along with his best and only friend, blue ogre Gunjo, the two discover a human boy who gets washed up on the shores of their home on Mononoke Island, and then begins their adventures.

The story shows the significance of friends, and it has been reported Katori said he knew exactly who his best friends were.

“Everyone in SMAP. They’re my best friends, in fact we’ve gone beyond friends now,” he said.

The movie is being directed by Ryuichi Yagi and Takashi Yamazaki, who has previously directed “SPACE BATTLESHIP Yamato”. The directors themselves have been friends for about 20 years.

“泣いた赤おに (Naita Aka-oni, The Red Ogre who Cried)” will be the first fully 3D computer-animated movie in Japan, and at the press conference, the cast and press got to have a sneak peek at some of the footage.

“The graphics were amazing. I didn’t record my lines while looking at the animation (like traditional anime movies). I got to deliver my lines just like I wanted to, and it’s so interesting to see what kind of facial expressions they’ve put on top of my lines. I’m so happy to be a part of this all,” Katori said.

“泣いた赤おに (Naita Aka-oni, The Red Ogre who Cried)” is scheduled to open in Japan cinemas on December 17 2011.

source: MOMOEDEGWOOD@WODRPRESS