Did you expect that American fans would be able to fill such a large room for the Kill la Kill event?

Ami Koshimizu: Well, we were hoping for that and were glad that there was such a huge turnout. So wish fulfilled.

Ryoka Yuzuki: Likewise I was really glad about the turnout. When we do events in Japan, a lot of fans tend to be more reserved. During the English dubbed debut, there were a lot of cheers when someone's favorite character appeared on-screen. This really made our day.

At the concert, you two stated that this was the first time you two cosplayed. How did it feel putting them on for the first time? Did it help you feel closer to the characters?

Ami Koshimizu: It was somewhat embarrassing, but it does help you feel a little bit closer to the character. I do hope that I didn't disillusion anyone's expectations about how their favorite character should be. Since I don't have the height like Ryuuko, I may have disillusioned some people.

During the Kill la Kill event, you had a chance to the hear the voices of Ryuuko and Satsuki in English for the first time. What were your impressions of the voices?

Ami and Ryoka: It was very exciting!

Ami Koshimizu: It wasn't just our characters. When we heard the voices of the other characters, we were impressed with how closely the English cast matched the Japanese cast.

Ryoka Yuzuki: It was very nice revisiting episode one as well.

At the event, Ryoka stated that the character designs might have been inspired by the voice actresses. Did you inspire the design?

Ryoka Yuzuki: Well it may have been more of a fluke, since we were hired after the character designs were completed. I, myself, wouldn't choose actors based on how they look, but how they sound. It is entirely possible that they had the character design in mind when they were hiring us. Otherwise it's really just a fluke and it's also a fluke that I have fake eyebrows.

What further plans do you have here in California after the convention?

Ami and Ryoka: We need to get food, go shopping and buy gifts and souvenirs since we've only been to the hotel and the convention so far.

Is Disneyland a possibility?

Ami Koshimizu: I definitely want to go to Disneyland, but schedule wise it is not possible. However, there is the other task of enjoying American meat and I will have plenty of that. The red meat is especially nice, it's nice and tender.

What anime characters did you like growing up? Do you try to emulate them in your performance?

Ami Koshimizu: Lum-chan from Urusei Yatsura is one of my favorite anime characters. Her performance does not influence my voice acting, but I definitely love her character. My father was actually a big fan of Urusei Yatsura. I was almost named Lum instead of Ami. However, but my father ran a meat shop and that would not have been an appropriate name.

If you could voice any other character from Kill la Kill or any other anime series who would it be?

Ami Koshimizu: For Kill la Kill, perhaps Mako or Guts.

Ryoka Yuzuki: Guts is also voiced by the same voice actor who does Tsumugu Kinagase.

As a Californian, I definitely recommend going to In-N-Out. It's really big amongst the guests. Anyways, you guys seem really different from the characters you portray on-screen. Particularly that you're so light and cheerful when you're so badass in the anime. Is it hard for you to become an entirely different person when acting.

Ami and Ryoka: Our true selves are not bad ass or scary, but are very gentle. However, tension is usually very high when we record.

This question is for Satsuki. Your voice as the character is insanely low. What did you have to do to prep yourself to get to that level?

Ryoka Yuzuki: Perhaps I have to get myself into it by submersing myself into the character. By doing that, I would project an image of being strong. The real me though, is quite opposite of that. So I thought it would be hard to exert myself into the role.

For example in episode one, Gamagori's yell was insanely loud and the recording director told me to follow that up as much weight as possible. So I decided to put all my effort into producing a low voice. When you stand next to his voice actor, you can feel your script vibrate from the strength.

This question is for (Ami) Koshimizu. You were just cast as Sailor Jupiter for Sailor Moon Crystal. However, this is not your first time playing a school girl. You also played as Hibiki Hojo in Suite Precure. Now you're working with the director of Suite Precure and as another voice actress from the series. How do you feel about working with them again?

Ami Koshimizu: When I was a child, one of my favorite shows was Sailor Moon and never dreamed that I would be cast in the series. So this really fills me with a lot of happiness. I do believe that the magical girl genre is something that should be enjoyable for little children to watch and I love the idea of being part of it.

I hope that a child watching Sailor Moon Crystal might grow up and be inspired to work with me on a future show.

I'm sure that there will be many fans for the English version of Kill la Kill. Can you tell us what your favorite scene is?

Ami Koshimizu: Kill la Kill is such an intense show that you'll miss out if you blink. So I can't really say that there's really a favorite scene. Try not to breathe either, but try not to die too.

As cast members we do have moments of intenseness. We do have really intense recording sessions. For example, the battle with Ryuuko against Gamagori during the battle against the Elite Four and the final battle in the last episode. I'm sure that the English actors will experience this intensity as well.

Ryoka Yuzuki: For anyone who hasn't watched Kill la Kill, you must watch it until episode three. There's a nice transformation scene. We put a lot of effort into episode twenty-five so there's another one.

If you could describe the other voice actors outside of the recording studio, like Mako's and the Elite Four's, what would it be and why?

Ami and Ryoka: A lot the voice actors are as they are.

Ryoka Yuzuki: Especially Mako.

Ami Koshimizu: It's very uncanny the way Mako's voice actress looks and acts. Her personality is just like her.

When you voice in a large series such as Kill la Kill, fans often give gifts to show their appreciation. What are some of the strange gifts that you've received?

Ami Koshimizu: Guts!

Ryoka Yuzuki: Aaaah, Guts!

Ami Koshimizu: Yah, we received a Guts wearing a Senketsu uniform. Guts!!! It was very cute.

This question is for Ami. As a fan of Kallen from Code Geass, if she were to have a Geass what do you think it would be and why?

Ami Koshimizu : Hmmmm...Kallen with a Geass? Let me think about that one. I personally would hope that she would have a Geass that could instill happiness onto others.

Sushio was quite funny on stage, but when he's in the studio is he making jokes or is he often off to the side like we saw him on the stage just drawing?

Ami and Ryoka: This was the first time that we saw Sushio in that kind of mood. However, the other day we did see him during an interview that we did together. So perhaps the fact that he's quiet is an act that he puts on or maybe it's the other way around. Perhaps he's a very shy boy or it is just an act.

Both of you have had an extensive career in voice acting, like Ami's who's worked a lot with Jun Fukuyama, can you tell us if there were any specific voice actors or actresses that you've really enjoyed working with over the years?

Ami Koshimizu: For someone with the same gender, that would be Yuzu! If someone from the opposite gender, that would be Nobuyuki Hiyama. I'm very happy that I got to be in the same cast as him in Kill la Kill.

You two look amazing in your cosplay. How does it feel to see so many guys and girls dress up as a character you played because they admire you so much? Also, were you shocked with any of the nudist beach cosplays here at Anime Expo?

Ryoka Yuzuki: Thank you!

Ami Koshimizu: Wonderful! Everyone in cosplay is so great. Especially with all of the boobs that you can see, just like the anime! That's not something you would see much of in Japan. Also there's so many pikachu cosplay that are great. Again that's not something you would see in Japan. There's a lot of variations on it. There's this one cosplayer in a suit and wearing pikachu ears.

Earlier today, you had an autograph session where there were a lot of fans who lined up inside and outside to try and meet you two. How did it feel seeing them there?

Ami Koshimizu: I was very glad to see that there was such a nice turnout. However, time was so limited that it's regrettable that we couldn't sign for everyone. So if we get another chance to be invited back to AX, we hope to sign more so everyone gets a chance.

What item(s) were you surprised to see your fans asking you two to sign?

Ami Koshimizu: There were so many scissor props that were big and heavy. I was a bit hesitant to ruin the props, but I guess those were things that the fans wanted signed.

Can you two talk about a particular favorite moment that you two shared while recording the series?

Ami Koshimizu: For me that would be episode three, where we shared a transformation scene. However after the original recording, Yuzu said to do it over again. That's where I really felt a connection between our characters. That's definitely something that I recall.

Ryoka Yuzuki: In the studio, I can tell that Ami's character, Ryuuko, really falls in love with her uniform Senketsu. I have a crush on her character so I had a very deep jealousy against that process.

How did it feel watching the first episode after you two finished recording it?

Ryoka Yuzuki: It was quite moving to see the final product, episode one. Especially since I didn't see it originally since I was in the recording studio. However when you see it with sound effects, music, closing and opening, you see a really intense show and it made me really happy that we were involved in the production.

There was a bit of reflection for me though since there were parts where I felt that I could have done better. However, that was because we had to compete against the intensity of the animation. So in the end, we considered Sushio our main rival.

What would you two tell people who criticize or dismiss Kill la Kill for being overly misogynistic or "fan servicey"?

Ami and Ryoka: For anyone who is familiar with old school Japanese animation, we could say that there were a lot of hot-blooded anime characters who would fight for their principles. That's the reference that Kill la Kill is all about. If you look at anime today, there's so much self-censorship that you can't tell if there's an up or down, action and violence.

If you look at Kill la Kill, you have to wonder who's going to be in charge of all this graphical depictions. You may see a lot of exposed skin; male and female alike. However, you see a lot of this exposed skin without feeling any eroticism. Moving on, Kill la Kill is a show where the characters fight without compromise to achieve their principles. That is the main gist of the show. So despite the negative connotations that you might see, that's not what the show is about. You can see that by watching that.

As you previously referenced, Kill la Kill has a very old school atmosphere. How did it feel to recreate something like this and did you have to conduct any research in order to get yourself into character?

Ryoka Yuzuki: Just as Ryuuko says in the show, "get naked and get going." It is a show where you undress your heart and expose what you really are. Each recording session was like that, where everything was a match.

Ami Koshimizu: As for me, I watched Gunbusters and Kazuki Yao was one of my role models.

Have you ever thought about branching your career into other mediums aside from anime? Like music, TV shows, films, etc.

Ami Koshimizu: Well, I really like the musical Les Miserables. I inspired and actually did do a lot of opera, but I never got good at singing so I decided that wasn't for me.

Ryoka Yuzuki: Well, Frozen is really popular right now. So perhaps I can do something with Frozen like "Let it Go!" For me though, Wicked is my favorite musical so maybe something like that. Something that involves two principle female leads. How about we ask them to make something new though? Like chibi character Ryuuko and Satsuki outside of Kill la Kill. Just the two of them outside. Maybe it can involve some singing. Maybe we can ask Mr. Nakajima to do something like that.

Disclosure: we were not able to take pictures at the press conference, unfortunately, due to the request of Ami, Ryoka and their management