Iwa ni Hana

CDs of Japanese seiyuu counting sheep

One has to marvel at the side products that come out of voice-acting in Japan. Apparently there has been, among other things, a series of audio CDs where famous voice actors count sheep in order to coax the listener to go to sleep (羊でおやすみシリーズ). There are usually two voice actors per recording and below are just some of the combinations:

• Midorikawa Hikaru and Okiayu Ryoutarou
• Fukuyama Jun and Kishio Taisuke
• Ishida Akira and Hoshi Souichirou
• Suwabe Junichi and Ookawa Tooru

The voice actors don't just count sheep in these CDs, of course - they count 'in character'. For example, Midorikawa's 'character' is that of an inexperienced butler, and Okiayu's 'character' is that of an experienced butler. For a complete list, see the Wikipedia entry here.

The official website: ttp://www.honeybee-cd.com/hituji_top.html

For the record, I can't say I buy into it all that much (I never needed any help to fall asleep, you see). And for 'quality-listening' I have my mp3 recordings of anime series that are a pleasure to listen to anyway - Gankutsuou being on the top of my list...

Voice-acting and the dearth of iconic characters

Here is one more reason to bow to the professionalism of voice actors - while famous actors may have movies tailored to their individual strengths and weaknesses, voice actors must adapt to the roles as they come.

To be honest, there are not that many roles in any given year which give voice actors the elbow room to shine to their heart's content. For one thing, voice-acting is teamwork and each voice must complement another. In addition, iconic roles which do allow elbow room for one individual voice actor to steal all the spotlight are few and far in between.

Take Tanaka Atsuko (田中敦子), for example, who played Mokoto in Ghost in the Shell, an iconic role par excellence. She has not really encountered any similarly challenging role that allows her to demonstrate her talent and wonderfully intelligent-sounding and femininely sexy voice since then. Just a series of minor bread-and-butter roles.

Tanaka 'Gankutsuou' Jouji (田中譲治) is an another example - I think his voice-acting as The Count of Monte Cristo is the best I have ever heard, but since then he has gone back to playing a series of minor middle-aged-man-type characters. Often I sigh at the fact that he is wasted in the roles he is cast.

Looking back in the past year or so, I cannot say it was a year that wowed me in terms of voice-acting, but here are a few passing comments:

• I think the only character role that demanded an individual voice actor to stand out in a conspicuous manner was Sakurai Takahiro (桜井孝広)'s Medicine Seller in Mononoke.
• The technically most challenging role was Seki Tomokazu's (関智一) in Mononoke's Umibouzu story arc, as he had to intone a story in the style of traditional storytellers.
• No female role leaped out at me per se, but if I must choose I would say it was Orikasa Fumiko's (折笠 富美子) voice-acting of the journalist in the Bakeneko story arc in Mononoke - in particular the 'yurusenai' bits.

Looking ahead, I would say that Yakushiji Ryoko (薬師寺涼子) has the potential to be the iconic role of 2008. She is not just an ordinarily successful career woman in present-day Japan (rare as these types are in anime/manga), she is The High-flying, High-powered Alpha Woman. You can write a whole book about her, and I will certainly return to discuss her at greater length at some other time.

The Best Voice Acting in 2006

... has to be Mizuno Risa 水野理紗, who played Lia de Beaumont in Le Chevalier D'eon. I think the wide emotional range of Lia's character is a showcase for Mizuno to display her voice-acting skills, not to mention her magnificent reciting of the Psalms at the end of the first episode - her voice just burns itself into your memory, especially the 'in the name of truth and faith, I shall take my revenge on you (その真実と忠誠の名において、私はお前に報復する)' bit. Here is an audio clip (try Internet Explorer if you have trouble playing it on Firefox):

Other honorable mentions include:

• Sakurai Takahiro in Bakeneko

The flair with which he said 'A-bu-na-i-de-su-yo (危ないですよ)' was quite something. I also like his lines towards the end of Episode 1. Here is an audio clip:

• Nakata Jouji in Getsumen To Heiki Mina

He plays several roles in the show. As we know, he has a very deep, sexy and magnetic voice. If I am not mistaken, I believe his voice went up several octaves at several places in one episode.

• Inoue Marina in Getsumen To Heiki Mina

You have to give her credit if only for the tongue-twisters she has to pronounce in the show.

• Satou Rina in Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto

She has a beautiful voice to begin with. I have played and replayed many times her recitation of lines in the grandiose manner of speech of the kabuki, which is extremely difficult to master, mind you. Here is an audio clip:

• Suwabe Junichi in Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto

He plays opposite Satou Rina in the kabuki plays within the show. Likewise, he has done a wonderful job in speaking in that elaborate manner of speech. Here is an audio clip:

This above is just my personal opinion though. I would love to hear which seiyuu you think did the best voice-acting in 2006.

Wakamoto Norio reads 'Hyakunin isshu'

This is not strictly related to anime but it is an interesting piece of trivia about voice actors -

Apparently, Wakamoto Norio 若本規夫 is to release an album where he reads Hyakunin isshu 百人一首, a collection of Japanese archaic poetry. For those of you who may not be familiar with his name, here are a few of his memorable roles:

• Oskar von Reuenthal from The Legend of Galactic Heroes

• The Narrator from Hayate no Gotoku

• Torii Youzou from Oh! Edo Rocket and Tenpou Ibun Ayakashi Ayashi

To be honest, he is not exactly on my list of favorite male voice actors though I am sure he has his own following out there (he played Reuenthal after all). Now, if this was read by Nakata Jouji 中田譲治 or Miki Shinichirou 三木眞一郎, I would absolutely - to borrow a phrase from a certain anime fan I know - 'melt into a pool of shame'.

The voice actress Tanaka Rie has also released her version of Hyakunin isshu. So it seems that voice actors have come upon a way to diversify their business by recording audio CDs of Edifying Works of Literature instead of relying on BL Dramas and hentai shows.

Anime to watch out for in the April line-up: 'Seirei no Moribito,' 'Toward the Terra,' 'Darker than Black - Kuro no Keiyakusha,' 'Romeo x Juliet,' 'Heroic Age,' 'Devil May Cry' and 'Coil a Circle of Children'

Seirei no Moribito / 精霊の守り人
Official Website: ttp://www.moribito.com/

I have fairly high hopes for this anime series, which seems to be aimed at a more mature audience. It is the latest work of Kamiyama Kenji 神山健治, the director of Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Production I.G., which I began to notice after Le Chevalier D'Eon シュヴァリエ, is the responsible studio. The gist of the plot is that a 30-year-old female bodyguard is charged with the task of protecting the second prince of a kingdom, who happens to be the bearer of the water fay's egg which appears once every one thousand years. There is something about court intrigues and the story is based on an award-winning work of fiction. And being the fangirl that I am, special attention will be paid to that silver-haired bishounen who is said to be bloody clever. If I have to choose one series to blog about after Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto 幕末機関説 いろはにほへとfinishes, this is the most likely candidate. You can find more useful information about this show here (and thanks for translating all that info, W-dono).

 

Toward the Terra / 地球へ…
Official Website: ttp://terra-e.com/

I have not read the original manga by Takemiya Keiko 竹宮惠子 which is said to be a classic, but then I would probably enjoy the anime series more without spoilers and comparisons with the manga in the back of my mind. My translation of the plot summary from the official website:

The stage is set in the distant future. Humankind has moved to a colony planet in order to revive planet Earth, which is in the process of being destroyed because of environmental pollution. There humankind lives by the orderly management of computers. Meanwhile, there are outcasts called Myou who possess special powers. They escape from the tyrannic eye of the government and as they lay low, they ponder on the meaning of their existence and dream of returning to the Earth. The leader of Myou, Soldier Blue, chooses a young man named Jomy who lives in Atarakeshia to be his successor, and counts on Jomy to make his dream come true. To return to their homeland, the Earth - because of this burning wish, they begin their battle to return to their home planet. 

舞台は、今よりも遥か遠い未来。人類は環境破壊により滅び行く地球を再生させるため、植民惑星へ移住した。コンピュータ管理により整然と生きる人類。その一方で疎まれる、特殊な能力を持つ「ミュウ」という存在。彼らは過酷な弾圧の中で政府の目から逃がれ、息を潜めながらも自分たちの存在意義を考え、そして地球への帰還を夢みていた―。ミュウのリーダー、ソルジャー・ブルーは、アタラクシアに住む少年ジョミーを自分の後継者として選び、夢を託す。故郷・地球へ還る―――その強い想いから、彼らの地球を目指す戦いが始まる。 

Darker than Black - Kuro no Keiyakusha / Darker than BLACK -黒の契約者
Official Website: ttp://www.d-black.net/

Many big names that appeared in Wolf's Rain also appear in Darker than Black. For one thing, Kanno Youko 菅野よう子 is in charge of the music, and the background music that appears in the trailer certainly reminds one of Cowboy Bebop. The plot summary seems to indicate an interesting story packed with symbolism. Below is my translation:

Because of the appearance of 'Hell's Gate', an unknown and supernatural territory, Tokyo has lost its real 'emptiness'*. Also appearing as though they are related are people who are endowed with special powers. The price for their special powers is that they gradually lose their human feelings. They are called 'Keiyakusha', who kill human beings with great calm and are therefore feared by all. Tokyo seems unchanged on the surface. However, because the the mystery of 'Hell's Gate', the spy agencies of many countries are using 'Keiyakusha' and the intelligence warfare is escalating to new heights. The protagonist, Hei, is disguised in Tokyo as Chinese student named Li Shun Sheng. Actually, he is someone endowed with special powers who is involved in the secret battles. He is a fearsome first-class agent who has come to be known as 'The Dark God of Death' on account of his appearance when he executes his inhuman missions. He delivers intelligence to spy agencies, and fights with other Keiyakusha whose powers are beyond his prediction. He meets many a woman with a tragic past, and leaves them behind.** He becomes involved with Section 4 of the police which is charged with investigating incidents caused by 'Keiyakusha'. In the mean time, battles surrounding 'Hell's Gate' intensify.

解析不可能な異常領域「地獄門（ヘルズ・ゲート）」の出現により、本当の“ 空” を失った東京。それと呼応するように現れたのは、特別な能力を身につけた者たちだった。
能力を得る代償として、人間らしい感情が希薄になり、人を殺めることさえ冷徹に行う彼らを、人々は畏怖を込め、「契約者」と呼んだ。

一見いつもと変わらない東京の風景。しかしその裏では、ゲートに秘められた謎をめぐり、各国の諜報機関は「契約者」を利用して熾烈な諜報戦を繰り広げている。

主人公・黒(ヘイ)は、中国人留学生李舜生(リ・シェンシュン)として東京の街にひっそりと溶け込んでいるが、 裏の顔は、暗部の闘いに身を投じる能力者の一人で、その苛烈な任務遂行の姿から、BK201「黒の死神」と呼ばれ畏怖されている、組織の一級エージェントである。

各国諜報機関が送る、予測不可能な能力を持った敵の契約者たちとの闘い。悲しき過去を持つ女達との出会い、そして別れ。 「契約者」による事件を追う公安部外事四課なども絡みあい、「ゲート」を巡る争いは激しさを増してゆく。 

* I am not sure what 空 may refer to. It could mean 'sky' or 'emptiness' or 'space'. It seems to be a special terminology that we will find out in due course in the show itself.

** There doesn't seem to be hints of romantic involvement in the Japanese original per se, but somehow the way we say the same things in English seem to misleadingly suggest so.

Romeo x Juliet / ロミオ×ジュリエット
Official Website: ttp://www.romejuli.jp/

A production of Gonzo based on Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, but it seems that they have modified the plot substantially to comply with certain conventions in anime. Special attention will be paid to a character by the name of Francisco, a skilled archer, learned scholar and general fanservice character. In the anime, Romeo's family has destroyed Juliet's family many years ago and has since then set up a tyranny, which a certain mysterious crusader of justice by the name of 'Red Whirlwind' (赤い旋風) seeks to subvert...

There are many ways this series could go wrong, and Gonzo is known for producing amazing first episodes and let everything slide downhill afterwards. Even if Romeo x Juliet is the spirital successor of Gonzo's masterpiece Gankutsuou 岩窟王, it would seem best not to set the bar too high lest the disappointment should be too great.

Heroic Age / ヒロイック・エイジ
Official Website: ttp://www.starchild.co.jp/special/heroicage/

This is usually not my cup of tea from what I made of the plot summary. But Ubukata Tou 冲方丁 (of Le Chevalier D'Eon シュヴァリエ fame) is the creator of the story. Below is my translation of the plot summary from the official website:

At the call of the 'Golden Race,' many races ventured into space. The human race, which was the last race to venture into space, is called the 'Iron Race'. After many ages the human race, threatened by the stronger 'Silver Race,' is facing extinction. The princess Dianeira, determined to save the human race, sets out to travel to distant space on account of a prophecy from the 'Golden Race' which has been passed down for many generations within the royal family. She meets a young man. The name of the young man is Eiji*. The encounter between the princess and the young man is about to bring about a tremendous change to the universe...

「黄金の種族」の呼びかけに各種族は応え、宇宙への進出を果たした。最後に進出を果たした人類は「鉄の種族」と呼ばれた。その後、遥かな時が流れた時代、人類はより強大な種族である「銀の種族」らの脅威にさらされ、存亡の危機を迎えた。王女ディアネイラは人類存続をかけ、王家に代々伝わる「黄金の種族」からの予言をもとに、遥かなる銀河へ旅立つ。そして、一人の少年と出会った。少年の名はエイジ。王女と少年の出会いが宇宙に大きな運命の変転をもたらしてゆく・・・

* It seems there is a pun in Eiji ('Age'). The title can be read as 'Heroic Age' or 'Heroic Eiji'.

Devil May Cry / デビル　メイ　クライ
Official Website: ttp://dmc-tv.com/

Nothing much is out on this anime series yet, but going by Wikipedia Japan, the original novels and Playstation 2 games seem to have the usual stuff about magic, revenge, demons and so forth. Apparently, 'Devil May Cry' is the name of a convenience store. Judging by the artwork, I am hoping that this isn't a 'me too' anime along the lines of Trinity Blood and Hellsing.  But let's give them the benefit of doubt.

Coil a Circle of Children / 電脳コイル
Official Website: ttp://www.tokuma.jp/coil/

Let's just say that I received a very, very long email about this series from someone whose taste and knowledge in anime production staff I highly respect (you know who you are). The email sets out all the reasons why this anime may be a pleasant surprise, mostly on account of the creative staff involved (Iso Mitsuo 磯光雄 for one). That's how Coil a Circle of Children has made it to my watch-out list.   

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Finally, a note on new anime series to listen for (not watch out for, mind you). By all means, production value is probably so-so for the following shows, but the cast of stellar voice actors should make these shows a pleasure to listen to while one multitasks in other things:

Koutetsu Sangokushi / 鋼鉄三国志
Official Website: ttp://www.koutetsu-sangokushi.jp/file/jsp/index.html

In spite of being based on the Chinese literary masterpiece of war, I have a feeling that this show probably caters to BL fangirls. But the voice actors involved! Koyasu Takehito 子安武人, Ishida Akira 石田彰, Miki Shinichirou 三木眞一郎 and Inoue Kazuhito 井上和彦 - to name but a few.

Saint Beast ~ Kouin Jojishi Tenshi Dan / セイント・ビースト～光陰叙事詩天使譚～
Official Website: ttp://www.saintbeast.com/

The show is most likely crap, but my dear Sakurai Takahiro 櫻井孝弘 is to play a bookish blue-haired bishounen. 

Wellber no Monogatari ~ Sisters of Wellber /ウェルベールの物語～Sisters of Wellber
Official website: ttp://www.avexmovie.jp/lineup/wellber/

This show may or may not turn out to be rubbish, but Namikawa Daisuke 浪川大輔 is to play a blond bishounen bodyguard. So there you go.

Overdrive

Okiayu Ryuutarou 置鮎龍太郎, my favorite seiyuu, is to appear there.

List of Favorite Male Seiyuu

Vaguely continuing from my previous post and discussion with W-dono:

I am afraid I do not recognize most names from you list of favorite male seiyuu except Nakata Jouji and Yamadera Kouichi. I presume you fell for the latter's voice in the role of you-know-who in Gankutsuou? Meanwhile, here is my list:

• Okiayu Ryuutarou 置鮎龍太郎 (mostly his Saga vocie from Saint Seiya Hades)

• Nakata Jouji 中田譲治

• Tobita Nobuo 飛田展男 (mostly his Shion voice from Saint Seiya Hades)

• Yamadera Kouichi 山寺宏一 (mostly his voice as the Man with the Key in Millennium Actress)

• Miki Shinichirou 三木真一郎 (mostly his Yorihisa voice from Harunakaru Toki no Naka de)

• Inoue Kazuhiko 井上和彦 (mostly his Tomomasa voice from Harunakaru Toki no Naka de)

• Sugita Tomokazu 杉田智和

• Sakurai Takahiro 櫻井孝宏

• Toriumi Kousuke 鳥海浩輔 (Kanna from you-know-where)

Of course I may have heard the voice of your favorite seiyuu in one anime or another - I just don't recognize their names. Just mention some of the memorable roles they have played and I might recall.