What’s difficult about singing as (Deuce)? What do you value most?
“I wondered if it might be better for (Deuce) to be a little worse at keeping rhythm than Ace, or to sound a bit flustered at times. But as you can see in the 3DCG live, in the end he makes the effort to catch up with everyone. So in the finished version, he’s expressing himself just as strongly as the other characters, but behind the scenes he’s actually right on the edge while pretending to be composed. That was kind of an underlying theme for me.
Also, during recording, after hearing Hanae-san’s polished singing voice as Riddle, which had already been recorded, I thought that Deuce, who respects Riddle, might try to imitate his way of singing. So I consciously aimed for a slightly sultry tone. It’s a side of him that only comes out through singing.”
– Kobayashi Chiaki, B’s Log (2025)
“I’ve been involved in (Twst) from early on in my career, so I have a strong emotional attachment to it. The characters and world feel so real, like they truly exist. To me, it feels like another comfortable world where I belong. I’ve loved Disney works since I was a child, so I am excited to see one being created here in Japan.”
– Kobayashi Chiaki, Yomiuri Newspaper (2025)
“I’ve been voicing Deuce for five years since the game’s release, and I’ve always aimed to express him realistically as a relatable, high-school-aged boy.
For the anime, which goes back to the story’s first episode (based on the manga adaptation), I thought a lot about how to approach him.
Over the years my understanding of Deuce has deepened, and I realized that the instinctive, all-in style of acting I used back then really suits him.
So for the anime I decided not to overthink it, and I just act as the Deuce I feel now, straight from the heart.
– Kobayashi Chiaki, Nikkei Entertainment (2025)
“Deuce was a character I was lucky to be cast as. During the audition I gave everything I could as a rookie, something that only the me of that moment could express. As an actor I’ve gained more experience now and have a wider range of expressions, but I felt that if I used those new ‘tools,’ Deuce wouldn’t feel like Deuce anymore. So instead of trying to change anything I focused on cherishing that straightforward, earnest feeling I had back when I first portrayed him.
Part of what makes (Ace and Deuce) so charming is that they’re not adults yet. An adult might be able to manage those emotions, but because they’re young, that raw energy makes their feelings volatile and gives their relationship real drama. As Yamashita-san said, Ace probably does look down on Deuce (laughs), but that’s why Ace hates it when Deuce outshines him, even for a moment. Their relationship is something you can relate to, no matter the fantasy setting.
Whenever I meet Midorikawa Hikaru-san, who voices Lilia Vanrouge, we get excited talking about Twisted Wonderland on site. Midorikawa-san is one of the top players of Twst within the voice cast. The other day he showed me the layout of his guest room in the game. I’m really happy when he seeks me out to report on his latest progress.”
– Kobayashi Chiaki, Animedia magazine (2025)
Twisted Wonderland Reference Note 