The final chapter of the TV anime series "Attack on Titan, " based on the popular manga by Hajime Isayama, "The Final Season," will be shown again in theaters from January 16th. In response to the screening, Natsuki Hanae, who plays Falco Grice, spoke about his thoughts on the series and Falco.
--Falco is a character who appeared in the Marley Arc and had a major moment in the climax of the movie. Please tell us your impressions of his performance.
As the story becomes increasingly harsh, I think he is a symbol of hope and kindness. He appears in the Marley arc and ultimately plays an important role. He is by no means a flashy hero type, but his choices and actions greatly change the situation. I think the accumulation of these actions led to the big final highlight.
-- Falco is a flexible, loving, and good-natured young man who expresses his honest feelings towards Gabi and shows understanding towards the forces of Paradis Island. Please tell us if there is anything about him that you find particularly appealing.
I want to emulate his attitude of trying to understand others. His feelings for Gabi are very straightforward, and at the same time, he tries to face those who have been considered his enemies head-on without any emotion. Even though he is a Marleyan, I think he has a very broad perspective and is very loving. I felt that not losing that flexibility in such a harsh world is a truly strong thing.
-- Falco has been at the mercy of those around him, but he has also been active as a balancer, supporting Gabi with his personality. Is there anything about him that you can sympathize with?
Falco is always standing between people, lightening the mood and providing support. His attitude of making choices that will make those around him a little better is something I can relate to, even as a voice actor. Even on set, I often put together my acting while feeling the overall flow, so I could relate to him.
--It's been a while since the recording for the anime. Looking back on the recording, are there any memorable events that you remember?
This is a battlefield, and I was constantly aware of the tension of the situation, knowing that I could die at any moment. So just being on set was quite exhausting. In the scene where I face Gabi, I simultaneously felt the desire to say something strong and the desire not to hurt her, and the process of finding that balance was memorable. Even now, after all this time, I remember it vividly. I'm glad I was able to play such a memorable role.
"Attack on Titan" is a manga that depicts humanity's desperate battle against giants with overwhelming power. It is Isayama's debut work, and began serialization in September 2009 as the inaugural title of "Bessatsu Shonen Magazine" (Kodansha), with the final episode airing in April 2021. The comic has sold over 140 million copies worldwide.
Season 1 of the TV anime aired from April to September 2013, Season 2 from April to June 2017, and Part 1 of Season 3 from July to October 2018. Part 2 of Season 3 aired from April to June 2019, Part 1 of the final chapter, "The Final Season," aired from December 2020 to March 2021, Part 2 from January to April 2022, the final episode (Part 1) aired in March 2023, and the final episode (Part 2) aired in November 2023.
"Attack on Titan: The Final Chapter - The Last Attack" was released on November 8, 2024, and was a hit, attracting over 1 million viewers.
