Singer Chitose Hajime will make her voice acting debut in the extravagant Fuji TV anime special, "Miyori no Mori," which airs on August 25.

The work, based on a manga by Hideji Oda, was recently revealed to have a production cost of more than 200 million yen. It is being directed by Nizo Yamamoto, who has worked as art director on many well-known anime works, including "Princess Mononoke" and "Castle in the Sky." The voice cast includes Yu Aoi as the lead character, Miyori.

Hajime will provide the voice for the leader of the forest spirits that Miyori meets. The singer was selected for the part by Yamamoto, who was so impressed by her that he couldn't believe she had never done voice acting before.

Hajime is also singing the anime's theme song, which has the same title. It will be released as a single on August 22.