The anime adaptation of "Sengoku Youko" is about to begin airing, but how much research have you done on the staff involved in its production? The series is set in Japan's Warring States period, in a world where humans and darkness coexist, and focuses on the relationship between humans and darkness. Of course, the battle scenes are intense, but it also goes beyond that and carefully depicts the interactions and emotional movements of the many characters, giving it an aspect of human drama as well. As such, the story unfolds in great depth just from the original work, and combined with the popularity of the characters, it can be said to be a very high-quality work. How much of the appeal of this work can be preserved in the anime will depend on the ability of the staff involved, so be sure to check it out.
Original Author: Mizukami Satoshi
The original author of this work, "Sengoku Youko," is Mizukami Satoshi. Other than this work, his other works include "Planet of Solitude." He's been active as a manga artist since the early 2000s, but it seems he hasn't had any major hits. However, with "Sengoku Youko" now a hit and an anime adaptation, perhaps we can say he's finally achieved his long-cherished dream?
Self-deprecating!?
Mizukami's thoughts can be seen through her social media accounts. Some of her posts criticize her own artistic skills, revealing a somewhat self-deprecating stance. While she's a bit humble, her work is incredibly entertaining, so be sure to check it out!
Check out her social media accounts!
The original author, Mizukami, currently communicates through X (formerly Twitter), so if you're looking for information about this work, be sure to check it out. He also posts about other Mizukami works, so it's a must-see for fans of Mizukami's work overall.
Director: Kazuki Aizawa
The director of this work is Kazuki Aizawa. The director's role is crucial in determining the quality of the work, so we're definitely keeping our eyes on Aizawa. This is Aizawa's second attempt at television animation, so we're looking forward to seeing her next project.
Active as a Character Designer
Originally active as a character designer, he designed characters for series such as "Arata Kangatari: The Tale of the Leather God" and "Terra Formars: Revenge of the Fallen." Since the characters in this series are also highly popular, perhaps Aizawa, with his extensive character design experience, is a good fit?
Produced by WHITE FOX
WHITE FOX is responsible for the animation production of this work. Founded in 2007, it is a relatively young production company, but it has a proven track record of producing numerous classic animations in a short period of time.
Produced "Re:ZERO − Starting Life in Another World" and other works
Some of their most well-known works include "Is the Order a Rabbit??" and "Re:ZERO − Starting Life in Another World." Both are animated works known for their high level of animation and smooth character movements, which perfectly match the image of this work.
Check out their works!
Although this series has not yet aired, you can still watch it if it's from the same production company. Because it's a highly popular series, it's easy to order it through VOD services. It's a crucial piece for understanding the atmosphere of this series, so be sure to check it out.
Voice Actors
Next, I'd like to introduce the voice actors who will be playing the characters in this series. The characters are particularly popular, so it's important to know who will be playing these characters, so be sure to check it out.
Souma Saito (Jinka)
The protagonist of the first part of this series, Jinka, will be voiced by voice actor Souma Saito. He's known for his roles as Kenshin II Himura in "Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story" and Utsumi Masaru in "Gridman Universe." He's a cool-voiced voice actor with a long history of voicing leading male characters, so we can expect great things from him!
【Key Points to Watch Out For in the Acting!】Pay Attention to Jinka's Feelings toward Humans!
What particularly caught my attention in Saito Soma's performance was Jinka's feelings toward humans. Jinka is a particularly misanthropic character in the series, and especially at the beginning of the story, he sometimes directs his uncontrollable hostility toward other characters. However, despite his misanthropy, he also harbors sadness for being human himself. I'm looking forward to seeing how he portrays his hatred for humans and his complicated feelings toward himself.
Yuuki Takada (Tama)
Tama, the heroine of the second part of this series, is voice actress Yuuki Takada. She's famous for voicing characters such as Miyuki Shirogane in "Bull Buster" and Rin Kurosawa in "Aikatsu!". As a voice actress known for her cute voices, she's the perfect fit for Tama.
【Highlights of the Performance】Pay attention to Tama's past and outlook on life!!
One aspect of Yuki Takada's performance of Tama that is particularly noteworthy is her portrayal of "Tama's past and outlook on life." Tama is a fox spirit who has lived for hundreds of years and has experienced many things. Tama's personality is shaped by these past experiences, so despite her appearance, Tama is a character whose outlook on life is deeply explored. This character requires highly skilled acting, so be sure to keep an eye on him.
Kimura Ryohei (Shinsuke)
The voice of Shinsuke, who plays a key role throughout the story, is provided by Kimura Ryohei. Kimura is known for his roles as Imamura Kohei in "Grand Blue." He is also active as an actor and is a very good-looking voice actor, so be sure to keep an eye on him.
【Points to Look Out for in the Acting】Watch Shinsuke's Growth!
One aspect of Ryohei Kimura's performance as Shinsuke that is particularly noteworthy is his portrayal of his growth. Shinsuke is a character who plays a central role throughout the series. Because the story depicts a long period of time, the anime requires voice actors to deliver performances that convey the passage of time. Shinsuke is a character who undergoes particularly drastic changes, so it will be interesting to see how Kimura portrays his transformations.
Tomoyo Kurosawa (Shakugan)
Voice actress Tomoyo Kurosawa will voice Shakugan, a key character in the first part of this series. Kurosawa has been cast as Naomi Altman, a leading character in the 2024 drama "Metallic Rouge," making her a rising voice actress. She's one of the most anticipated voice actors of 2024, so be sure to keep an eye out!
【Key Points in the Performance】 Relationship with Shinsuke
One of the most noteworthy aspects of Tomoyo Kurosawa's performance of Shakugan is her portrayal of his relationship with Shinsuke. Shakugan plays a key role in the story, particularly early on, and has a particularly strong influence on Shinsuke. Shinsuke is a particularly important character in the story, and Shakugan is a character who interacts with Shinsuke frequently, making Shakugan's scenes particularly important. For that reason, Kuroiwa's performance as Shakugan is especially noteworthy.
Hiroki Nanami (Chihaya)
The voice of Chihaya, the protagonist of the second part of this series, is provided by artist Hiroki Nanami. Originally a male role actor in Takarazuka Revue, Nanami enjoys great popularity within the Takarazuka community. Currently active not only on stage but also as a voice actor for anime, he has been chosen to play the important protagonist of the second part of this series.
Aki Toyoshima (Nau)
The voice of Nau, the mascot character appearing in this work, is voice actress Aki Toyoshima. Toyoshima has voiced many popular characters, including Hatsuse Izuna in "No Game No Life" and Sinon in the "Sword Art Online" series. She's known for her slightly more mature voice, so playing a mascot is a new experience for her.
Kenji Nomura (Kamikumo)
Kamikumo, the final boss character who appears at the beginning of the series, is voiced by voice actor Kenji Nomura. Nomura is famous for voicing the original Yujiro Hanma in "Grappler Baki" and Tatsuma Ushiyama in "Golden Kamuy." He specializes in dignified voices, making him the perfect fit for the character of Kamikumo.
Tetsu Inada (Douren)
Douren, one of the Four Beast Generals of the Dankaishu, is voiced by voice actor Toru Inada. He's known for his roles as Harry Ord in "Turn A Gundam" and Komamura Sajin in "Bleach." With a deep interest in professional wrestling and a wrestler himself, it's clear that this voice actor has a personality very similar to that of Douren.
Kazuki Miyagi (Resshin)
Voice actor Kazutaka Miyagi voices Resshin, one of the Four Beast Generals of the Dankaishu. Miyagi is a relatively new voice actor, so he hasn't yet had a role that could be considered his signature work. However, Resshin plays a very important role in this series, so I believe he will become Miyagi's signature character after the series airs. This will be his first time playing a major character, so he's definitely one to watch.
Ayahi Takagaki (Mountain God)
The voice of the mountain god, who possesses powers beyond those of humans, is voice actress Ayahi Takagaki. Takagaki is known for voicing the second generation of Ryunosuke Fujinami in "Urusei Yatsura" and Feldt Grace in "Mobile Suit Gundam 00." While she's known for voicing cool male characters, she's also the perfect voice actor for the mountain god, who exudes a gender-transcending aura.
Aina Suzuki (Rinzu)
Rinzu, a shrine maiden who cares for the mountain god, is voiced by voice actress Aina Suzuki. While Suzuki is well-known as a voice actress, she is also active as a singer, garnering support from a wide range of audiences. She's also adorable and has a huge fanbase, so be sure to check her out.
Kenjiro Tsuda (Nozen)
Kenjiro Tsuda voices Nozen, the head priest of the Dankaishu who stands in the way of our protagonists. Tsuda is a veteran voice actor who has voiced numerous famous characters, including Kaiba Seto in "Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters," Ogata Hyakunosuke in "Golden Kamuy," and Sikorsky in "Baki." With such a proven track record, we can expect great things from him as Nozen in this film.
Hiroki Tochi (Raidou Zanzo)
Raidou, who appears as a mentor to Shinsuke throughout the series, is voiced by voice actor Hiroki Tochi. Tochi is best known for his roles as Heiter in "Furiren: The Funeral Parlor" and Tetsushin Kataoka in "Ace of Diamond." He's a voice actor known for often playing calm characters, making him a perfect fit for Raidou.
Summary
What did you think? This time, we've introduced the staff and voice actors involved in the production of this series. As this is an extremely popular series, the bar for an anime adaptation is set quite high, but as it brings together a cast of highly accomplished people, I believe it will be broadcast with the quality we expect. Fans who enjoy it can be sure it will be an impeccable production, so be sure to check out the anime!
