The seiyuu magazine Seiyuu Grand Prix is featuring seiyuus from this show in its December issue:
(left, l-r) Touyama Nao (Kanon), Taketatsu Ayana (Ayumi), Itou Kanae (Elcea), Yuuki Aoi (Mio).
Touyama-san is the newbie. This and Tiger in
Star Driver are her first roles. She's a new seiyuu, working for the big Arts Vision agency. Age unknown.
Aya-nyan (21) is Azusa in
K-On, Kirino in
OreImo, etc. (see my sig, below)
Kanae-chan (23) is Amu in
Shugo Chara, Fumino in
Mayoi Neko, etc., etc.
Ao-chan (18) is Murasaki in
Kurenai, Korone in
Dai Maou, etc., etc.
Talents aside, these are among the shortest seiyuu: according to their agencies, Yuuki Aoi is 145cm (4ft 9.1in); Itou Kanae is 147cm (4ft 9.8in); and Taketatsu Ayana is 149cm (4ft 10.6in).
applejuice makes the point that Ao-chan's voice varies as Mio, and says that's a downside of versatility. That's a valid, professional point of view, and I hear what he's referring to. But for my personal enjoyment I think Ao-chan's voice, here and elsewhere, is so thrilling that I can forgive a little variation. To me, she conveys the character's feelings with intensity and verve at each instant, even if the surface characteristics of the voice may vary a bit. I'm with
risingstar3110 in finding that she makes Mio quite adorable. She gives her real presence.
I hope Ao-chan gains more control, and loses those moments (not in this show) when her voice drops out entirely. But I would regret her losing the intensity that I find unique about her voice. For the most incredible variation, and effectiveness in both registers, check out the low and masculine and high and puppyishly cute voices that are the two sides of her character in
Hyakka Ryouran (eps 1 and 6 are good examples, especially the latter).
She is hilarious on the
Hyakka Ryouran radio show, riffing away unrestrained with voices and sounds. Kotobuki Minako is good there, too.