One of the main aspects on which the anime industry heavily relies is the talents of the voice actors who portray the characters’s personalities through their voices. The skills of these voice actors sometimes force the manga creators to make changes to their characters, which enhances their presence in the series. The biggest example of this was Attack on Titan.
Although the series bid farewell to the anime world last year, it still comes up in conversations as one of the best anime and manga series of all time. A combination of dark narratives, brilliantly written characters, and effortless animation, the Attack on Titan anime series was a legend that still inspires many other creators.
The protagonist of the series, Eren Yeager, went through a lot of phases to finally achieve what he desired the most. However, what many fans don’t know is that Eren’s character went through a lot of changes because of his voice actor, Yuki Kaji. Kaji’s voice was so compelling that it helped Hajime Isyama understand the protagonist and make him even better.
Hajime Isayama Talks About Yuki Kaji’s Voice
In 2018, Digital Spy released a short interview with Attack on Titan’s manga creator, where he was seen talking specifically about Kaji and his incredible talent as a voice actor. Isayama’s praise for Kaji revealed that he found a thunder in Kaji’s voice that went incredibly well with how Isayama wanted to portray Eren’s character in the series.
Isayama stated:
With Mr Kaji’s voice acting, there seemed like there was more bluster to him. Like, he said big things, but there was also a weakness to him. There were nuances that didn’t come across in the manga, that could only come from a real voice.
Kaji’s role in Attack on Titan required him to add variables to Eren’s voice as the protagonist portrayed multiple emotions in a single scene. Changing emotions continuously is not something every voice actor is capable of, but Yuki Kaji was able to pull it off incredibly well.
Yuji Kaji’s Performance Compelled Hajime Isayama To Make Changes
While talking about Kaji’s performance, Hajime Isayama revealed that he understood Eren’s character more profoundly because of how Kaji portrayed him. He felt much more alive and conscious about his actions, which allowed Isayama to map his character in a better way than he was originally written.
Isayama stated:
So I think I was able to better understand the characters thanks to the anime… when other people draw (the characters) and make them move… it makes me feel like they are much more alive.
Kaji not only showed his skills as a voice actor, but he also helped the Attack on Titan anime by getting involved in the production and suggesting ways by which Eren’s character and, therefore, the anime as a whole could be changed for the better.
These changes were inflicted in the anime, and thus, the series went on to become one of the pillars of the anime industry.
You can watch Attack on Titan on Crunchyroll.
