Based on the popular smartphone game "Disney Twisted Wonderland," affectionately known as "Twisted," "Disney Twisted Wonderland the Animation" Season 1, "Episode of Heartslabyul," is now available exclusively on Disney+. Set at the prestigious magic training school, Night Raven College, the dark fantasy is woven with characters inspired by the charm of the villains that appear in Disney works. Following the game, we spoke with Seiichiro Yamashita, the voice actor for Ace Trappola, a new first-year student at the Heartslabyul dorm, and Chiaki Kobayashi, the voice actor for Deuce Spade, about behind-the-scenes recording and the appeal of the series.
◇Ace and Deuce The charm of the two together
--This time, you will be playing the original Ace and Deuce again. Have your impressions of the characters or your acting changed?
I think I got closer to the characters than Yamashita-san . Rather than just retracing the steps from when I first played them five years ago, I was conscious of facing "Twisted Wonderland" and Ace and Deuce anew. I got to know a lot about them in the game and my ability to interpret "Twisted Wonderland" had improved, but this time I felt like I was able to rediscover the origins of that. So, it was fun to act, and I also saw it as an opportunity to get revenge on the positive regret and frustration I felt at the time of recording the game, thinking, "I could have done more like this."
Kobayashi: Me too. We've been able to delve deeper into the relationship between Deuce and Ace in the five years since the game began, but now that I think about it, it hasn't really changed that much. Even now, Ace and Deuce clash sometimes, but through those times they've formed a bond, and even though they argue, they always end up settling down and saying, "Let's do our best together," and when I think about how the relationship between Ace, Deuce, and Grimm has continued for so long, it makes me really happy.
-What do you think about Deuce's acting?
Kobayashi: I was involved in this work when I was a rookie, so I passed the audition and went into the first recording with something that I could only bring out at that time. I feel like the range of how I see and act Deuce has broadened because of what I've gained from going through so many other productions, but if I were to use my newfound skills to act, it would no longer be Deuce. In this recording, I didn't try to replicate the acting from the game, but I tried to keep in mind the feelings I had back then when I was acting honestly.
--Ace is bright and resourceful, while Deuce is serious and clumsy. They're both freshmen with completely opposite personalities. They sometimes clash, but they also cooperate. How do you view their relationship?
Yamashita-san, you two just don't get along (laughs). They're polar opposites, but that's portrayed with exquisite screenplay skill. You find them endearing. I think that's why the phrase "the more they fight, the more they get along" really suits them. Personally, I feel closer to Deuce, so when I'm playing Ace, I sometimes take into consideration what I wouldn't like to be told. In that sense, there's definitely a bond that only the two of them can form, and there's definitely a certain charm when they're together. I think Ace is able to work hard because of Deuce, and I think that part of his competitive spirit is fueled by not wanting to lose after showing off to Deuce.
Kobayashi : Deuce is aware of his inferiority complex, thinking he's not good at getting things done and isn't good at studying, but Ace is the opposite; he's good at getting things done and good at studying. That's why Deuce feels frustrated with Ace for not being the model honor student he wants to be. If he were in Ace's position, he could get closer to his ideal, so I think he might feel jealous and think, "Why does this guy have to...?"
Yamashita-san, it's true that Deuce looks frustrated.
That's right, Kobayashi- san. That's the charm of these guys, as they're not yet adults. That's where their rebellion comes in, creating drama, and I think it brings out the kind of relationship and charm that can only come out at this age of teenagers. I think Ace sometimes looks down on Deuce, and when Deuce overtakes him even for a moment, Ace is really upset. So it's a relationship that you can really empathize with.
Yamashita-san, you don't have to be a weirdly good kid.
Mr. Kobayashi: That's right. It's not going in the direction of joining hands.
Yamashita: Each of us sticks to our own policies and beliefs, so it's interesting even when we clash. I feel like that's something that's been said ever since the game was released.
◇The presence of a fresh, powerful sword. Even if you can't use magic, you can rely on it.
--In this work, Yohei Azakami is the voice actor for Enman Yuuken, a high school student who is the game's prefect (player). What is the appeal of Yuuken, who wanders into Twisted Wonderland from the real world and acts together with Ace and Deuce?
Yamashita-san's Yuuken is a character who sees, feels, and gives his thoughts on the common sense of the world of Twisted Wonderland from the viewer's perspective, so I thought that was interesting. Azagami-san's acting, including his emotions, makes everything seem fresh, and it's a very kind introduction for those who are coming into contact with "Twisted Wonderland" through the animation. Even when we were recording together, I enjoyed each and every one of Yuuken's reactions.
Kobayashi- san, I thought Yuuken was a character you could simply respect. In the game, I think his voice and personality will change depending on the player, but he is consistently trusted by the other characters. The protagonist is proactive, and I really thought he was a character who embodied the idea of being trusted. Yuuken can calm Ace and Deuce, who act as they please. Even if he couldn't use magic, he would be a reliable person to be around. I think that's a big deal.
Yamashita: It's true, Ace and Deuce are also fond of Yuuken.
I think it's a different way of building relationships than in Kobayashi's game, but I thought it was a great feeling to act out how Yuuken, Grimm, Ace, and Deuce trust each other and act together as a group of four.
◇ Moved by the magical sound, a new “margin” is drawn
--What are the highlights of "Disney Twisted Wonderland The Animation" Season 1, "Episeed of Heartslabyul"?
In terms of sound direction, such as Yamashita's background music, I was really moved when Riddle Rosehearts (Heartslabyul's dorm leader) used his unique magic "Off With Your Head" in the first episode, and heard a sound that sounded like sparkling jewels! Also, the sounds I'd always heard in the game were used in various places, which gave me a sense of security like being at home, and I was really excited.
I thought Kobayashi-san was amazing at reading between the lines. The game and comics have the general plot, but in the scene where everyone is heading to the cave, it's so dim, there's this much light, and the enemy is this big! In the scene where Ace and Deuce are talking, they're so close, and it makes you realize how close they are. If they're making that much noise at that distance, it's bound to hurt your ears, but it also shows how strong their emotions are. I was really impressed by how well he filled in the blanks that weren't depicted in the comics or game.
--Finally, please tell us what the appeal of "Twisted Wonderland" is, including the games, animation, and comic book adaptations.
I think there's love everywhere, including the gimmicks that will make Yamashita-san's fans go "Ahh!" When we first recorded the game, I remember trying out lots of different patterns to solidify the character's direction, and it's really overflowing with the creator's love. The worldview is wonderfully crafted, and each character is unique and charming, and I love that about them.
I think that creating games and animations inspired by Kobayashi-san's previous works is something that can't be done anywhere else. Anyone with even the slightest interest in entertainment will turn their head and say, "What is this?" And once they do, the story and characters are captivating. They're instantly drawn in. As we are in the entertainment industry and involved in a variety of works, I think there is a lot we can learn from this work.
