The third cour of the fourth season of the TV anime "Dr.STONE," titled "Dr.STONE SCIENCE FUTURE," based on the manga serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" (Shueisha), will begin airing on April 2nd at 10 PM on TOKYO MX and other channels. Approximately seven years have passed since the first season of the TV anime started in 2019, and the fourth season will finally conclude with its third cour. We spoke with Yusuke Kobayashi, who plays the main character Senku Ishigami, and Kengo Kawanishi, who plays Gen Asagiri, who has supported the Kingdom of Science alongside Senku since the first season, about their thoughts on the series and the final chapter.
◇The recording of the final episode ended normally.
--This is finally the final chapter.
Kobayashi-san will finally be depicting the entirety of the original story. The recording itself is already finished, and I feel that I have completed the work within myself. So now I am just looking forward to seeing what kind of reactions everyone will have.
Kawanishi-san, I feel the same way. The recording itself is already finished, and at Jump Festa at the end of the year, we talked about "the final chapter is coming up," so since the end of last year, I've really felt like it's going to end soon. Right now, I might be in the viewer's position, wanting to see the finished version as soon as possible.
--Since it's been going on for so long, do you ever feel lonely?
Ms. Kobayashi, that's right. I always had a feeling there would be a next time, but since it's labeled as the last one, I'm really feeling like it's ending.
It's sad that this is the end for Kawanishi-san . Now that I've finished the last voice recording, I have a strong sense of accomplishment, so I think the sense of achievement outweighs the sadness right now. That being said, I'll probably feel sad when the final episode actually airs. Anime has its own unique elements and ways of being enjoyed, so I'm really looking forward to the finished product. As for "Dr. STONE," there's often a gap between recording and broadcasting, so rather than reminiscing about what happened back then, I might find myself mostly confirming how things turned out.
Mr. Kobayashi , I basically watch it in real time with a fresh perspective. I end up constantly reflecting on my own acting. However, that's just my own subjective opinion. Overall, I watch the broadcast with the feeling that I'll use it as fuel for my future acting, while wondering if this is the right answer.
--What scene were you most looking forward to performing?
Ms. Kobayashi, more recently, it's the scene at the end of episode 23 of the second season where you talk to Suika. When I actually did the voice recording, I was aware that it turned out completely different from the image I had in mind. When I was reading the original manga, I thought it was a scene that calmly showed the passage of time from petrification to revival, but in the anime, Senku's expression was so gentle, and when I heard Karin Takahashi's performance as Suika, I thought, "How heartless of him to speak so matter-of-factly despite how hard Suika had tried!" Feelings of appreciation and gratitude for her efforts suddenly sprouted in me at that moment. There was something like a chemical reaction going on, so I have a lot of attachment to that scene.
Kawanishi-san, I try not to read the original manga too thoroughly, just enough to absorb the information, but when I listened to the other actors' performances during the voice recording, the scene I thought was good was the confrontation with Stanley and the others at the end of the second cour of the final season. It was the first scene where I was made to instinctively feel the presence of death, and there was also a sense of the harshness of the battle. There were times when I felt a bit on edge while acting, and I was hoping that I could show a slightly different "Dr. STONE" than before.
--This series has been running for about seven years. What was the atmosphere like on set after the final episode was filmed?
Kobayashi-san finished it pretty normally, didn't he? (laughs)
Kawanishi-san finished without any problems (lol).
The night before, Ms. Kobayashi suddenly decided she wanted to give presents to the staff, so she hastily prepared them. As a result, she was more nervous about whether she would be able to hand them over properly. She consulted with Mr. Kawanishi and Ms. Numakura (Manami), who plays Kohaku.
While I felt sad about Kawanishi- san's departure, seeing Kobayashi-san taking on the role of leader made me realize that someone with seven years of experience is truly different, a true leader. I was very grateful.
◇What each other lacks
--Please tell us about the changes in the character you play, or what you think are the unchanging charms of that character.
I think Senku Kobayashi has remained unchanged throughout. He's a complete character even in the first episode. While science and technology are upgraded, his own knowledge remains the same, and he's able to use people effectively. He also doesn't compromise his beliefs. I think his consistency is what makes him so cool.
Gen Kawanishi initially describes himself as a talkative person, but in a situation where it was uncertain which way things would turn out, I think he had a strong conviction that Senku and his friends' inventions could break the Stone World. He basically acted as a member of the Science Kingdom team, and although he would infiltrate as a spy when necessary, I think his stance of consistently following Senku never changed. I think that changed after their first meeting in the first season.
Kobayashi-san's Gen has a complete grasp of human psychology, so he's terrifying when he's your enemy, but incredibly reliable when he's on your side. That really sums it up. I'm sure there would be a story if Gen were the main character, and in that sense, I think he's a wonderful character.
When Gen saw Senku, I think he felt safe following him. He really can do anything. He treats him like Doraemon, though (laughs).
-- Are your careers roughly the same?
Kobayashi- san and I are the same age. I think Kawanishi-kun probably has more experience.
--What are your impressions of each other as actors after working together?
Mr. Kobayashi, that's a difficult question (laughs). I feel like he has everything I lack. He gives the impression of effortlessly handling even difficult characters. Lately, we've had many opportunities to work together on characters with particularly unique vocal styles, and I feel that he has the fundamental ability to make them work, and then applies that to other roles. To put it simply, I think he's a very versatile actor.
On the contrary, Ms. Kawanishi possesses many qualities that I lack, and she has a consistent and strong-willed personality. There are times when I wish I could be like that too, but I guess I'm just wishing for what I don't have.
◇Seven years went by in a flash
--Approximately seven years have passed since the start of the first phase.
It went by so quickly, Ms. Kobayashi . I feel like it was a constant cycle of taking a six-month break and then starting recording again. When there wasn't any anime recording, there were also commentary recordings and events.
Because it's Ms. Kawanishi, it doesn't really feel real. If possible, I'd like to do an event to conclude it.
If there's a final event for Kobayashi-san , I might cry. There's a newcomer (Gen Sato, who plays Chrome) who looks like he's going to cry even more than me (laughs). It's been 7 years, so he's not a newcomer anymore.
--Were there any changes in your acting style?
I think Mr. Kobayashi 's voice for Senku has changed compared to the first season. In my opinion, it's a voice that has emerged because he's come up with a way to do it, or a way to perform it, so I think it shows growth.
I don't really have a particularly unusual image of myself, but when Gen speaks like a storyteller, I felt like I could do whatever I wanted, so I think I was able to show my own version of Gen. I think it's a role that allows for a lot of playfulness outside of the main plot. I did have some fun with the lines. I think that the playfulness and acting came about because I gradually came to understand things I didn't understand before over the course of seven years.
◇All the mysteries will be revealed
--What are some of the highlights and most memorable scenes in the final chapter?
All the mysteries surrounding Mr. Kobayashi will finally be revealed in a way that makes perfect sense. It would be fun to make various predictions and theories and come up with your own answers. However, I don't think anyone will get it right (lol).
Kawanishi-san, everyone works together to build a rocket and go to space... I hope we can all enjoy it together with the viewers. It is a fantasy, but it also shows a sense of reality, and in the end it brings you back to the fantasy, giving the impression that we have returned to our roots.
When I first read Kobayashi's original work, there were parts I didn't understand, but I kind of got it the second time, and I was moved the third time. The more I read, the more I understood that there had been foreshadowing throughout, and that it had all been planned from the beginning to lead to this final point. It was the best possible ending. I hope you'll also look forward to seeing who will play Whyman. (Manami Anima/MANTANWEB)
