Voice Actor Appreciation & Discussion

[Ronin Aquila]

I have heard rumors that Yui Horei and Kawasumi Ayako hate each other, or at least have a strong rivalry.

It seems to be supported by the fact that aside from To Heart: Remember My Memories which they were both contractually bound to appear in, they have not appeared in a single anime together since 1999's To Heart.

Is this rivalry true?

[Kaoru Chujo]

I looked around a bit in Japanese Wikipedia and elsewhere and couldn't find anything about a rivalry between Hocchan and Ayachii. I did find that they both won awards in 1996 in the same competition, so they were certainly competitors then. I'm not sure that mutual loathing would stop an agency from booking people to work together if it made commercial sense.

They do work for different agencies (Starchild and Osawa). I see that Noto Mamiko and Ayachii both are with Osawa, and Mamimami has only worked with Hocchan in Negima, as far as I can see (I may be missing something), so perhaps it's an agencies thing.

Stop the presses: I just found that they will both be in the new anime Shining Tears, which will air in April, as part of an incredible all-star cast:
Houshi Souichirou
Mizuki Nana
Kuwashima Houko
Horie Yui
Kawasumi Ayako
Okiayu Ryoutarou

And they have apparently worked in games together, including the upcoming sequel to the original Shining Tears game, called Shining Wind.

[Disembodied Voice]

To add to that, Yui Horie and Ayako Kawasumi was also in the Sister Princess series which was around 2000-2002.

[Kaoru Chujo]

One of my favorite seiyuu is Asano Masumi, who tends to play strong supporting roles such as Mariya in Otoboku, Ayuki in Kashimashi, etc. She is a good comic, and has a regular broadcast radio show that has made her one of the most popular seiyuu personalities in Japan. She is also a member of Horie Yui's singing group Aice5.

I've written a blog post about her, translating a couple of the highly literate pieces she writes in her own blog (she is a university graduate in Japanese literature). She herself is a fairly dangerous personality. I love her cat-that-swallowed-the-canary smile:



She will co-star with Nabatame Hitomi in Ikkitousen: Dragon Destiny, which starts the Monday after next, Feb 26.

[Siegel Clyne]

The Sunday, February 18, 2007 edition of the Chunichi Sports newspaper features an article on the Animeru!? seiyuu variety television show starring three popular anime voice actresses: Tanaka Rie, Matsuki Miyu, and Koshimizu Ami.

Pictured from left to right: Tanaka Rie, Matsuki Miyu, Koshimizu Ami

Television Program: Animeru!?
Broadcasting Station: Nagoya TV "Metele" (Aichi, Gifu, Mie prefectures)
Broadcasting Date and Time: Friday, March 2, 2007, 25:20 - 25:50 (Saturday, March 3, 2007, 1:20 AM - 1:50 AM)

[Dernhelm]

lol, Sanpei Yuko just turned up in my current fave series Reborn!, as a cute little shounen.

[Kaoru Chujo]

I've posted a piece on my blog about Hirano Aya's trip to Korea last weekend, and other things, with photos from her blog. According to some figures, last weekend hers was the most popular seiyuu website of all, far outdistancing Mizuki Nana's.

There's a link in the piece to a YouTube video of a New Year's message from the cast of Manabi Straight. Aya said her new year's resolution was to go more slowly, at her own pace, and to look after her health.

And Dernhelm, thanks for the info about Sanpei Yuuko. You encourage me to take another look at Hitman, which seems to be fairly popular in Japan. Which episode does she appear in? She's a real shouta specialist (Renton, Souta, etc.) I'm pleased that she gets a chance to be a girl in the new Precure.

And today Aya posted that she had bought her first CD in a long while, and it was Shiina Ringo. That's a good sign. I'm not a huge fan of Aya's singing, but I think she has ability and is getting better and better, and listening to high-class stuff can only help.

[Dernhelm]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

And Dernhelm, thanks for the info about Sanpei Yuuko. You encourage me to take another look at Hitman, which seems to be fairly popular in Japan. Which episode does she appear in? She's a real shouta specialist (Renton, Souta, etc.)

her character is younger than Renton. the character started appearing in episode 19 (last saturday's episode).

Spoiler for some screencaps:

lots of newbie seiyuu in this series, including the main (side) chara Reborn, who has an eccentric female seiyuu. ^^
(reminds me a lot of FLCL's Haruko)

[Siegel Clyne]

Japanese voice actresses Sanada Asami (Sakurada Jun in Rozen Maiden) and Tanaka Rie (Suigintou in Rozen Maiden) will appear together at the Fancy Frontier 9 manga/doujin convention in Taipei, Taiwan on Sunday, February 25, 2007.

Tanaka Rie appeared at Fancy Frontier 6 during 2005. (She appeared at a similar or related event in Taipei, Taiwan during 2004.)

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Tanaka Rie Appearance at Fancy Frontier 6


Scene Approximately 10 Minutes Before the Start of the Tanaka Rie Mini Live Concert at Fancy Frontier 6, National Taiwan University Sports Center (New Gymnasium), Taipei City, Taiwan, July 31, 2005




Sporting the Green Dress Lacus Clyne Wears in White Symphony on Episode 36 of Gundam SEED, Lacus Clyne and Meer Campbell Voice Actress Tanaka Rie Performs Mini Live Concert at Fancy Frontier 6, National Taiwan University Sports Center, Taipei City, Taiwan, July 31, 2005






Tanaka Rie Surrounded by a Number of Lacus Clyne and Meer Campbell Cosplayers (Plus One Suigintou Cosplayer) at Fancy Frontier 6, National Taiwan University Sports Center, Taipei City, Taiwan, July 31, 2005




A Tanaka Rie Autograph from Fancy Frontier 6 in Taipei, Taiwan, Signed "Rie Tanaka" and Dated July 31, 2005




According to the August 6, 2005 entry in her blog on her old official website (no longer up), Tanaka Rie sang before 10,000 or so people at Fancy Frontier 6, National Taiwan University Sports Center, Taipei City, Taiwan on July 31, 2005.

Taiwanese fans report that Tanaka Rie sang six songs at Fancy Frontier 6: 1) "Quiet Night C.E. 73"; 2) "Mizu no Akashi"; 3)Shizukana Yoru ni"; 4)"Fields of hope"; 5)"EMOTION"; and, an encore, 6)"Let Me Be With You."

(Numbers one and five are Meer Campbell insert songs in Gundam SEED DESTINY. Numbers two through four are Lacus Clyne insert songs in Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED DESTINY. Number six is an insert song in episode 20 of Chobits, the Chii version of the Chobits opening theme song.)

After she sang the second song, "Mizu no Akashi," Tanaka Rie reportedly performed a number of her characters, including Lacus Clyne, Meer Campbell, Suigintou, Chii, Mariel from Hanaukyo Maid Team ~ La Verite, and Mizuhara Koyomi (Yomi) from Azumanga Daioh.

[Dernhelm]

another marriage right after Yusa Kouji-san's!

Morikubo Shoutarou and Asakawa Yuu wed!!!

[Siegel Clyne]

Seiyuu Sanada Asami and Tanaka Rie Visit Taiwan this Weekend







Pictured: Tanaka Rie (left), Sanada Asami (right)

[aliensporebomb]

You hear all the time about actors and actresses becoming involved or married.

I wonder if the world of anime production has resulted in the voice talent
becoming involved or married?

I would suspect this would be discouraged given the ethics in Japan, but
where there's a will there's a way and it would be interesting to know -
especially if they portrayed a couple in the anime themselves.

Anyone hear anything?

[Theowne]

I don't know much about that apart from hearing some apparent rumours about the Honey and Clover cast.

Though I do know that Ueda Yuji is married to a fellow seiyuu, not sure of the circumstances behind that.

[j1m0ne]

So, the winners have been announced.....



Copy and paste from my blog post:

Best new male: Morita Masakazu - Ichigo (Bleach) , Kakihara Tetsuya - Mikoto (Princess Princess)
Best new female: Hirano Aya - Haruhi (Haruhi) , Kano Yui - Momoko (Sumomo)
Best personality: Asano Masumi (Anispa)
Best singer: Mizuki Nana (Justice to Believe)
Best male support: Ishida Akira - Athrun (Gundam Seed Destiny), Miyata Kouki - Kazumi (Yoshinaga)
Best male: Fukuyama Jun - Lelouch (Code Geass)
Best female support: Koshimizu Ami - Kallen (Code Geass), Goto Yuko - Mikuru (Haruhi)
Best female: Paku Romi - Nana (NANA)

The Haruhi guys fail completely

I ended up getting only 1.5 of my picks correct (Mizuki Nana and Goto Yuko). Disappointed Miyano Mamoru ended up with nothing, and Kakihara

[Dernhelm]

lol! i'm kind of new to this look of them all suited up and looking sharp XDDD;

[sei]

Yeah! Koshimizu Ami, Fukuyama Jun and Asano Masumi won! Was rooting for them. *throws confetti*

I will be terribly shocked if Nana didn't win for Best Singer.

[Nightengale]

My picks were....

Morita/Ichigo, Aya/Haruhi, Utawarerumono Radio (( the only one I've heard lol )), Mizuki/JtB, Akira/Athrun, Rie/Kagura, Shuurei/Houko and Jun/Lelouch.

5 out of 8 isn't bad. I was fond of Fukuyama Jun's work as Lelouch, argubly one of the best unorthodox casting choices Sunrise made. Personally, I thought Sugita's Kyon wasn't that good, considering Sugita's previous works. I was expecting Houko to bag it due to her subdued, yet mildly confident and beautiful potrayal of Shuurei, but Paku Romi is good too. Karen and Mikuru? Good, I guess... Haha, Ishida won Best Supporting for Athrun/GSD despite the fact that he was the main character in the Specials where his extremely emoish narrations were some of the finest emo voice I've heard of him in a while. Aya and Morita as best newcomers were obvious in my opinion.

[Dernhelm]

another picture, a clearer one

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/do...03/seiyu01.jpg


lol @ Morita winning and beating out Miyano. lots of people i know think he deserves the award more ^^;

[fignae]

Congrats to the winners! So glad Mizuki Nana won. And I guess Paku Romi is pretty good as Nana -- I didn't know it is that popular a role, though, I thought it wasn't. Have much admiration for Lelouch and Momoko too.

Thanks for the report and photos!

[Kaioshin Sama]

Oh look at that Romi Paku won. There is justice in the world. Also the manliest voice actor who did a male role last year won as well.

@Kaoru: Let's hope the sequel to Shining Tears doesn't suck like the first game did. What worries me is Sega has a habit of making the same mistakes over and over again and not addressing glaring issues with their games gameplay engines. That and their games still have terrible TERRIBLE English voice acting and scripting when even Capcom, Konami and SNK have improved over the past decade or so. We're not worried about that though for the anime are we. Which I won't be watching, but imagine Sega's english voices doing a dub of the anime on 4KIDS TV! (More likely than you'd ever think as Nintendo and Sega have some sort of deal with 4Kids).