Azul’s VA Tamaru Atsushi first became interested in voice acting while studying for university entrance exams, when he would listen to radio shows hosted by voice actors in order to relax.
He enrolled in a voice actor training academy during his second year in university while majoring in electronics and IT. His thesis was on learning support tools for satellites; he studied at both schools simultaneously. After graduating he was accepted to his first agency through an open audition for aspiring voice actors. (interview source)
In an interview Tamaru says that he was the only new actor they accepted who had yet to have a lead role in any project. He says his first job was not voice acting, but for study materials, such as the 2019 English conversation study guide, “Handsome English Conversation Phrases”, for people studying English as a second language.
His voice acting debut was 2009 anime “Kupu~!! Mamegoma!” at age 23. Tamaru voiced Kunimi Akira in Haikyuu!!, but actually auditioned for the role of Kageyama Tobio.
When asked, “What kind of role would you like to try in the future?” in the same 2015 interview Tamaru responded, “It is something I’ve never done before, but I would love to play a villain. I don’t think my voice is suited for a villainous role, but I think I might have a chance if it were a colder-looking villain.” (interview source)Interviews with Tamaru on voicing Azul published in the Twisted Wonderland Official Fanbook (vol.1) and Da Vinci magazine are available here ▶︎、 with a group interview with the voice actors for Floyd and Jade from Twisted Radio Station has been summarized here ▶︎
Tamaru’s projects include:
・100 Sleeping Princes & The Kingdom of Dreams (with VAs for Skully, Ortho, Leona, Floyd, Lilia, Malleus, Trein, Riddle, Grim, Fellow, Neige, Ace, Baul, Rollo)
・A3! (with Chenya’s VA)
・Aikatsu!
・All Our Love and Youth (with Jade’s VA)
・BASTARD!! (with Jade’s VA)
・Bikkuri-Men (with Leona’s VA)
・Build Divide
・Dead Mount Death Play (with VAs for Silver, Ruggie, Floyd, Ortho)
・Dream Meister and the Recollected Black Fairy (with VAs for Kalim, Leona, Jack, Leona, Floyd, Ortho, Malleus, Sebek, Neige)
・-Elements with Emotions- (with VAs for Floyd, Crewel)
・Fire Emblem Engage (with VAs for Ortho, Floyd, Lilia, Sebek, Maleanor)
・Gakuen Heaven 2
・Granblue Fantasy (with VAs for Idia, Lilia, Baul, Neige, Vargas, Jade, Ace, Floyd, Silver, Trey, Rollo, Deuce, Trein, Sebek, Crewel, Fellow, Grim, Leona, Riddle, Maleanor, Skully, Ortho, Yuuken)
・Gundam Build Divers
・Haikyu!! (with VAs for Riddle, Ruggie, Floyd, Epel, Idia, Silver, Vargas, Rollo, Mickey)
・Haigakura (with Trey’s Suzuki)
・HELIOS Rising Heroes (with VAs for Trey, Sebek, Floyd)
・Himitsu no AiPri (with VAs for Trey, Cater)
・I-Chu (with VA for Leona)
・Jewelpet
・Kinnikuman (with VAs for Jade, Rollo, Fellow, Silver)
・Mechanical Arms (with VAs for Fellow, Skully)
・Meganebu!
・Metaphor: ReFantazio (with VAs for Riddle, Crowley, Fellow)
・Mistonia no Kibou – The Lost Delight – (with VAs for Leona, Trey)
・Promise of Wizard (with VAs for Floyd, Crewel, Grim)
・Reign of the Seven Spellblades
・Seiren
・Skate-Leading Stars (with VAs for Trey, Ace, Leona, Ruggie, Riddle, Jack, Sebek, Rollo)
・Sugar Apple Fairy Tale (with VAs for Floyd, Ace, Jack, Idia, Ruggie)
・Tadaima, Okaeri
・The Asterisk War
・The Irregular at Magic High School
・The Rose of Versailles
・Tougen Anki (with VAs for Sebek, Rollo, Riddle)
・Touken Ranbu (with VAs for Ace, Leona, Riddle, Floyd, Lilia, Sebek, Grim, Crewel, Chenya, Neige, Yuuken)
・Variable Barricade NS (with Floyd’s VA)
・Wolfred Scalfarotto
Twisted Wonderland Reference Note 