by Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM, the latest work in the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED anime series, will be released on Friday, January 26, 2024.
The role of Griffin Alvarest will be played by Win Morisaki, an actor whose line “I’ll go with the Gundam” in the movie “Ready Player One” became a hot topic, and ORICON NEWS interviewed him. We asked him how he felt when cast in the role, how the dubbing went, and how Gundam was a turning point in his acting career. (Reporting and writing: Masaki Endo/Editing: Hideaki Sakurai)
Watch “SEED” before the offer and feel your destiny. The “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED series” was first produced in the 21st century, broadcasting 50 episodes starting in October 2002—Gundam TV series. The story depicts the suffering and growth of the main character, Kira Yamato, a coordinator, and her childhood friend Athrun Zala, through a war between genetically adjusted humans (coordinators) and naturally born humans (naturals).
The story of “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM,” an entirely new series, is a sequel to “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY.” Griffin Alvarest, played by Morisaki, is a member of the Black Knight Squad, the Queen’s guard of the emerging country Foundation.
Mr. Morisaki, who attracted attention with the line “I’ll go with Gundam” in the movie “Ready Player One,” will appear in the original Gundam series. Please tell us how you felt when you decided to appear.
It was a pleasure to talk to you. It also made me feel like, “Finally!” “Ready Player One” gave me more opportunities to learn about myself, and “Gundam” changed my life. It’s an honor to appear as one of the characters in a Gundam work.
Mr. Morisaki, have you ever seen any Gundam works?
Of course, I knew about it, but since I was born and raised in Myanmar, I didn’t have a chance to see it right after I came to Japan (lol). Maybe I’ll ride a Gundam in “Ready Player One”? When I was told that, I wondered what I should say as a character who likes Gundam, so I remember researching it.
Have you seen the “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED series”?
Before I got this interview, I watched it once about two years ago without knowing anything about it. It had nothing to do with my job, and I found it fascinating! When I received this opportunity, for some reason, I watched “Mobile Suit Gundam” and “Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam” instead of “SEED.” When I tried to dig deeper into historical things, I was utterly hooked (lol)
In that sense, there’s something fateful about it.
That’s right! I never thought I would be invited to SEED. When I first heard about the role, I said, “I’ve heard of ‘SEED’ somewhere…but this is the movie I was watching!” (laughs)
Recording with a pseudo-feeling that the dubbing booth looks like a cockpit
In “Ready Player One,” you fought as a “Gundam” avatar, but this time you will be fighting as a mobile suit (MS) pilot. How was the dubbing?
This is the fifth work in which I have been a voice actor, but this time, I recorded it after everyone around me had finished, so I listened to the voices of professional voice actors and added I felt like I was on board. Although some parts were complex, I also made discoveries because I don’t usually do them, so it was refreshing and fun.
She was acting while riding a robot, and fighting is also an experience that is not part of acting.
If I had a realistic fantasy, I don’t think I could speak so calmly if I were fighting seriously. It’s a lot of G, and it’s a zero-gravity space… It’s already dangerous when thinking about things like that (lol).
It’s rare to have the experience of interacting with the characters from the work you were watching, but what was it like when you interacted with them?
It would be nice to call out Kira’s name as a character; it was just plain funny. When I read the script, I got excited and thought, “Are you saying it’s Kira!” and was feeling a bit nerdy, but when I arrived on set, the dubbing was so tricky that it wasn’t all that good (bitter smile).
Please tell us what you considered when preparing for the role and dubbing.
The character I play is also a member of the Foundation Queen’s Guard, the Black Knight Squad, so I worked hard to express his high abilities without being overshadowed by the music, sound effects, etc.
Was there anything complicated or anything you noticed during dubbing?
