The dark hero action series 「Chainsaw Man」, based on the popular comic serialised in Shonen Jump +, has been on air on TV since 11 (Tue) October. This time, we interviewed voice actor Kusunoki Tomori, who plays the role of Makima, a woman whom the main character Denji, who has become a 「Chainsaw Man」 and possesses the heart of a demon, admires. We asked her about her feelings about playing the role of Makima, whom Kusunoki herself says she loves.
【Interview】Makima Chainsaw Man
Quote HOMINIS
Makima role of Kusunoki Tomori Meeting with chainsaw man
Please tell us about your first encounter with ‘Chainsaw Man
I started reading the manga after a friend recommended it to me and said, ‘This manga is interesting’. But I’m not the type of person who reads a lot of manga, and I’m About only used to reading the original stories of anime that I’m in, so I started reading it thinking, ‘I wonder if I’ll get into it’, but I just fell right into it (laugh). At first, I read it in book form quite leisurely, but I got into it at a great pace and bought all the back issues of Shonen Jump+ and read it again from the beginning in one go.
Please tell us what you find attractive about Makima.
I read the original comic until the end of the first part and I really liked the character from the beginning. I like mysterious characters from the start, and at first I read the story from the main character Denji’s point of view, but Makima is very kind to Denji, giving him the words he wants when he wants them, and she has a kindness that seems like it could reach him, but when he actually reaches for it, it doesn’t reach him at all… It’s like that… She gives off a very different vibe in the manga, and I think that’s what attracted me to her.
Tomori feelings when she was chosen to play the role of Makima
How did you feel when you passed the audition?
I originally said (I want to be a voice actor for Makima!) (I want to audition for chainsaw man!) ) and told my manager about it. I was happy just to be able to audition for Chainsaw Man. So I had no idea that I would be chosen for the role of Makima. Then one night, late at night, my manager called me to a park near my house and said, “I have something important to tell you. Well, I imagined all kinds of things (laugh). I went to the park thinking, “Did I do something wrong at work? When I went to the park, the manager was carrying a bouquet of flowers in a subdued red color that reminded me of Makima’s image, and he said, “Congratulations! I was surprised, In the most dramatic way ever, the manager told me that I had passed the audition. He knew that I had strong feelings for Makima, so he congratulated me in a big way.
Makima wants fans to see the chainsaw man scene.
What are the highlights of the TV animation Chainsaw Man from the fans point of view’?
Everything is very faithful to the original work, but it’s not just a visualisation of the original work, it incorporates expressions unique to anime, such as the dialogue between characters and action scenes. That’s what makes it so appealing. People have the impression that Makima-san doesn’t change his facial expressions, but on the other hand, he does unexpectedly move, such as tilting his head or bending over a little. I feel that in the animation, the detailed movements make Makima even more appealing. By moving, I get the feeling that the characters are more alive. There are so many different points of interest, but I was really attracted to that.
In December, you will be holding your first hall tour, ‘Kusunoki Tomori Birthday Live 2022’ – please tell us about your enthusiasm for the event.
I felt more pressure from the Zepp tour we did this summer. It was the first time for me to go on a tour, but I learnt a lot from the Zepp tour, and I feel like I’m one step closer to the audience. We’re going from a live house to a concert hall, but right now I’m more If anything the excited than anxious.
Makima ‘s final message to readers
Do you have a message for HOMINIS readers?
I’ve been working with HOMINIS since around the time of my debut in Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online. At the time, I was like, ‘Who is this girl? I think there were a lot of people who read the article like In addition to the interview, HOMINIS also ‘published’ a lot of photos. I think you can learn about the process of my development since my debut as a voice actor just by looking at the interview article, so I hope you will continue to enjoy my articles on HOMINIS whenever you wonder what kind of person is Tomori Kusunoki
I’m trying to express the sense of discomfort that is her charm by being aware of the makima in Denzi’s eyes .
My favorite scene is when Makima bites Denji’s finger. It is a symbolic scene that represents Makima, and I think it is a scene that fans definitely wanted to see! During the recording, I asked Toya to stand in front of the microphone so that I could feel the distance between him and Denji, and let me act like Makima.
The original manga 「Chainsaw Man」 seems to be depicted from a bird’s eye view, but in fact the story unfolds from Denji’s point of view. When I play Ms Makima, I always keep in mind the image of this is how Makima looked like in Denji’s eyes at this moment. I think what makes Ms Makima unique is the sense of discomfort she has. She is cute, reliable as a boss, and someone who is close to you, but as the story progresses, you begin to feel that she is absolutely unreachable. This sense of strangeness is what makes her so appealing, and I think it is the reason why the audience, including Denji and the others, cannot take their eyes off of her.
This time, Miss Mariya Ise , who plays the role of HIMENO, brought her 「Public Safety vs. Demon Specific Section 4 Notebook」 to the scene. In that notebook, all the (voice actors) of Chainsaw Man wrote their impressions of the recording session and interacted with the cast members whom they could not meet on the spot. Seeing this scene made me happy because I felt that we were working together as one team to create a work. This is also a source of strength for my performance.
And what I want everyone to pay attention to in Chainsaw Man is the visuals! Every episode is so beautiful that you would think it was a theater version. I am impressed by the high quality of the images, which are in line with Mr. Fujimoto’s art style! The battle scenes are really powerful, and what looked like it was moving in the original manga is now moving even more realistically. I am happy to be able to participate as a voice in a work that so many staff members have poured their passion into.
chainsaw man. (World’s largest number of translations)
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