Continued from interview (1) The TV anime "Baban Baban Ban Vampire Bang Vampire," based on the manga by Hiromasa Okushima currently being serialized in "Bessatsu Shonen Champion" (Akita Shoten), will be broadcast on TV Asahi's anime slot "IMAnimation" every Saturday at 11:30 pm starting from January 11th. This "BL (bloody romantic comedy)" follows Mori Ranmaru, a 450-year-old vampire who works as a live-in part-timer at a public bathhouse while hiding his true identity, as he struggles to protect the chastity of Tatsuno Rihito, the only son of the bathhouse, who is 15 years old, in search of the ultimate tasting "blood of an 18-year-old Rihito Tatsuno." We spoke to Namikawa Daisuke, who plays Mori Ranmaru, and Daisuke Namikawa Yusuke Kobayashi, who plays Tatsuno Rihito, about what went on behind the scenes of the recording, as they take on the unique roles of a 450-year-old vampire and a supreme virgin who is pure at the soul level.
◇A round voice that sounds like it could be cut with a paper knife
-What are your thoughts on acting as Mori Ranmaru and Ri In in this film?
I've worked with Kobayashi-san and Namikawa-san on other productions before, but this time they really had a lot of tolerance. Moreover, they changed the warmth of their characters quite a bit between the one they played as Li In and the other characters, so I was able to interact with them very comfortably.
I'm really happy that you can sense that, Namikawa-san . It's a part that's hard to see, so I'm really happy.
--Namikawa-san, what was it like interacting with Kobayashi-san?
Namikawa-san, what does it mean to have a high voice, a clear voice, or a beautiful voice? When I think about it, there are different types, but the voice of the actor Yusuke Kobayashi is rounded. He has a voice without any sharp edges. People with high voices can be piercing, but it is the heart that is pierced, and he doesn't intend to pierce with his voice. I have the impression that it is more like being cut smoothly with a paper knife than being cut with a sword. I think that roundness is probably connected to kindness. So, when I interact with him, I feel very comfortable. Even in scenes with a lot of lines, when we are fighting each other, I don't get stuck and think, "What did that just mean?" It feels great to be able to go naturally, and I think the people watching will feel good too.
--You two felt comfortable with each other.
Namikawa: Works that have gags can tend to be self-indulgent. Like, "Let's do something funny." I think it would be more enjoyable for the viewers if they didn't have that.
◇The subtle change in Yusuke Kobayashi that Daisuke Namikawa noticed
--Were there any challenges or new discoveries through this work?
Namikawa-san has never met a 450-year-old person or a vampire, and I don't have any experience with that, so I focused on the base character of Mori Ranmaru. People often talk about creating a role or a character, but this time I think it was more about instantaneous power. According to the original author, the audition was decided based on the voice alone, without looking at the name or profile, so in that sense, it was a challenge to strip down as much as possible. It's like not wearing armor.
Kobayashi-san was all naked.
Namikawa-san: That’s right, it’s a public bath. It’s delicious.
--When you say "naked," does that mean the other cast members were also stripped down?
Kobayashi: I think it's up to each individual whether they've cut it down or not, but there was no self-centered feeling that Namikawa mentioned earlier. I felt that they had prepared well, thinking, "This is what's allowed in this space." There was no sense of haphazardness. I honestly thought it was a professional space.
--Mr. Kobayashi, did you encounter any challenges or discoveries?
I thought a bit about how to voice Kobayashi-san . I used a voice close to my natural voice for the tape audition, but when I got to the scene, I was asked to sing a little higher. There was a limit to how I could properly produce that high voice with my previous vocalizations, and if I forced it out, it would sound sharp. That didn't suit the character, so I reexamined myself to find a way to produce a rounder voice that could also reach higher notes. However, I don't know if I should say this, but there were times when it worked well and times when it didn't.
Namikawa-san , I see. That's interesting.
I guess it depends on Kobayashi-san's condition on the day. But when things aren't going well, Namikawa-san always says, "You seemed to have a hard time today." I'm scared that he knows it.
Namikawa said, "It'll be obvious" (laughs).
Kobayashi-san knew it. But I thought it would be a skill I would need in the future, so I took on the challenge and by the end I was able to do it stably. In that sense, it was a great opportunity for me to take on the challenge.
--Namikawa-san, did you ever notice a change in Kobayashi-san's voice when you heard it on set?
Of course, I know that Namikawa-san has been preparing hard for days, but the moment he said the word "pan" during the recording that day, people would ask, "Oh, what's wrong?", "Did something happen today?", or "Were you tired yesterday?". But that doesn't mean it's on a level that you can't tell if you just listen normally. If you can tell the difference, you should become a voice actor (laughs).
--There are things that you notice precisely because you are interacting with the characters of Mori Ranmaru and Ri In.
Namikawa: Yes, that's true. But it's really just a split second. The moment it takes to let out a voice is different. It's not like it's delayed or anything, it's more like the stance is different. Even in martial arts, I think the stance is probably different when your leg hurts and when it's fine. It's on that level. I think it was a really good set because all the cast members were doing it like that.
◇ One of the roles that Mori Ranmaru is perfect for: "Was it written just for me?"
--What are the highlights of the anime " Baban Baban Ban Vampire"?
Namikawa: The story develops one after another, and many characters appear, but it's not difficult or confusing if you miss it once. Rather, the purity of the characters really strikes a chord with me. I think it's probably in a very different genre, so I hope you enjoy it head-on. The original is still ongoing, so I hope you'll support it so that it can continue.
I would like you to see how Kobayashi-san's unique character is expressed in animation. Also, when I heard that Namikawa-san would be playing Mori-san, I thought, "Is this written just for him?" I could play it in my head right away.
Someone also told me to wait, Namikawa-san , wait.
Kobayashi- san was sometimes on set, and when Namikawa-san was playing a certain role a long time ago, he said to him, "You've never been given a role that suited you better, so you should just retire from voice acting."
That's what Namikawa-san said (laughs). I don't know if he was joking or serious though.
Even though it was Kobayashi-san , he said about the role of Mori Ranmaru this time, "I'm glad I've been doing it for so long. I did it, second-rate," and I think everyone feels the same way. In this work, Mori-san, who only Namikawa-san can play, is at the center, and all the trouble and chaos occurs, so I would like people to pay the most attention to Mori-san, who has a centripetal force.
Thank you Namikawa-san , I'm glad.
-Finally, what are your aspirations for 2025?
Namikawa-san, are you asking such a rude question? But isn't it obvious that "Baban Baban Ban Vampire" will sell? Three-quarters of the world's population will know about it!
Kobayashi: So that's the general consensus for the entire work.
Namikawa-san, health comes first for you personally, right?
Kobayashi : That feeling is getting stronger every year. But actually, I try to get a new license every year. Last year I got a boat license, and this year I'm almost qualified to get a large motorcycle license, so next year I'm thinking about getting a minibus license.
Namikawa-san is amazing! ...But, he also told us a little about the work! (laughs)
