Currently, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba is one of the most-watched anime series. Demon Slayer raised the bar for what could be done in the world of animation, demonstrating once again that Ufotable’s work is of the highest caliber. During the pandemic, it caught people’s attention all over the world.
After three years, the franchise continues to be a worldwide success. Numerous accolades have been bestowed upon the Demon Slayer series, including the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year (2021) and the 4th Crunchyroll Anime Awards (2020) for Anime of the Year.
One of the biggest reasons the series became a global hit is because of its movie: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train which became the highest-grossing movie of 2020 with box office receipts of over $507 million worldwide. Tanjiro, the protagonist’s voice artist shared some details about his experience working on the movie and how he almost destroyed his vocal chords.
Tanjiro’s Voice Artist Almost Destroyed His Vocal Chords
In an interview with Anime News Network, Tanjiro’s voice artist Natsuki Hanae talked about his experience working as Tanjiro and how he had a different feel while working for the Mugen Train movie. He said:
“The recording process definitely had a different feel compared to the television series―I was concerned that everyone might lose their voices since we all recorded with so much seriousness and intensity. There were numerous battle scenes with lots of background noise, and Tanjiro had his voice raised the whole time. There were also many scenes where he was going through a roller coaster of emotions, so this time I prioritized showcasing those emotions in my acting.”
Hanae explained how the intensity and seriousness of the character almost resulted in the actors losing their voices. He also stated that as the movie had a lot of emotions, Hanae prioritized portraying those emotions in Tanjiro’s voice.
Natsuki Hanae’s Preparation for Tanjiro
When Hanae was asked how he could adapt Tanjiro’s character in his voice so easily and compassionately, Hanae stated that he always tries to keep Tanjiro’s emotions for Nezuko in mind while doing any scene. He said:
“Tanjiro’s wish is to turn Nezuko human again, and so I always try not to lose focus on that sentiment whenever I voice Tanjiro. He is an earnest and kind person, so I always keep in mind to be pure at heart and be someone who thinks of others…kind enough to embrace even the demons he defeated.”
Hanae also explained how he tries to keep in mind his pure heartedness and kindness which is enough to even embrace the demons he defeated. This quality separates Tanjiro from other characters and certainly makes him worthy of the title of protagonist of the series.
