by A voice actor’s job is to bring a character to life through their voice acting. However, sometimes, they go beyond the scope of acting and get involved in anime production from the pre-dubbing stage.
In the summer of 2024, two anime works were broadcast, with voice actors involved in planning and drafting. The reviews from viewers are polarized, with one side being filled with “crazy” comments and the other being “thankful.” Let’s examine two works that are filled with the voice actors’ commitment and individuality.
The pictures, voices, and story are “crazy”! Character draft by Eguchi Takuya’s “Egumi Legacy” First, I’d like to introduce “Egumi Legacy,” which has a reputation for being “crazy.”
This is an anime in which the character draft is handled by Eguchi Takuya, who is famous as a master artist in the voice-acting world. Speaking of Eguchi, he is a voice actor often talked about for his surreal illustrations and unforgettable drawings once you see them. The anime version of “EGUMI LEGACY” was born from the card game “EGUMI LEGACY” that Eguchi developed with MASAKA Co., Ltd.
The diva “End of the World” suddenly disappears at the story’s beginning. As the characters search for her whereabouts, their various intentions collide. The story unfolds in a mystery and sometimes suspense-like way, but viewers have said, “The images are too crazy to follow.” The video of Eguchi’s moving and talking illustrations creates a considerable impact. What’s even more crazy is the luxurious cast. In addition, Eguchi Takuya, Saito Soma, Nishiyama Kotaro, Kamio Shinichiro, Aoyama Yoshino, and others appear.
The voice actors from 81 Produce, the agency to which Eguchi belongs, are gathered together. At first, you may be surprised and wonder, “Why does this character have such a good voice!?” but don’t worry, as the compatibility between the voice and appearance will gradually increase. Before you know it, the gap between the voice and the character will disappear, and you will naturally concentrate on the story. The addictive tale has also been well-received, with many viewers saying it’s “crazy.” At first, the absurd gags and chaotic developments stood out, but as the episodes continued, more and more viewers realized that it was “interesting” and had a proper story.
Even in the depictions where the boundary between reality and hallucination becomes ambiguous, foreshadowing seems to be planted. Why did End of the World disappear, and what is the true identity of the “Egumi Legacy,” which is also the title? Episodes 1 to 16 are available on YouTube with the distribution site for a limited time. Be sure to check out the truth of the story! The live-action part is also “thankful.” Kenjiro Tsuda and Daisuke Namikawa’s “Modern Mistranslation” Many people have commented that they are “thankful” for “Modern Mistranslation/Superconductivity Conference ~Documentary of Modern Mistranslation~.”
This anime was produced entirely by Kenjiro Tsuda and Daisuke Namikawa from the planning stage. The feature of this show is that you can enjoy both the voice actors’ acting and their real faces in one work. In the first half, “Modern Mistranslations,” characters in costumes perform a skit that adds a new interpretation to famous quotes left by great people.
The second half, “Superconducting Conference ~Documentary of Modern Mistranslations~,” is the live-action part. It features a talk between Tsuda and Namikawa and documentary footage of the behind-the-scenes of the anime production. One of the elements that is said to be “thankful” is the interaction between the cast members. In the live-action part, Tsuda and Namikawa appear in costumes that match the characters they play and look back on the anime production.
There are plenty of irresistible images for fans, such as scenes of planning meetings and direction during dubbing. Many scenes can only be seen here, such as Namikawa’s temporary voice, which was not used in the main story. For this reason, viewers have posted joy on social media, saying, “I’m grateful to be able to see the recording scenes and behind-the-scenes stories.”
The following “thankful” point is the acting of the voice actors. Since the skits in this work are performed as a play within a play, the same characters play different roles each time. In some skits, female roles also appear. However, since all the characters are male, it is not uncommon for male voice actors to play female roles.
