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)
Kobayashi (Deuce): “(Ace and Deuce) throw barbs at each other, but in the end, I think it really just comes down to: ‘Because it’s more fun to be together.’ Whatever they do, it’s more fun with Ace than alone. And even though Ace says stuff like, ‘You can’t even do that?’ in the end he often goes, ‘Good grief,’ and gives him advice (laughs). I think they’re together because they’re meant to be.”
Yamashita (Ace): “Exactly (laughs). When two people are total opposites, it actually makes them more curious about each other. Like, ‘I’ve never met someone this interesting.’ And of course, Ace probably enjoys watching someone inferior to him and feeling a sense of superiority (laughs).”
– Nikkei the Television (2025)
In August 2026, the official Twisted Wonderland Twitter account published the following comments from Kobayashi on the character song/dorm song soundtrack and karaoke box implementation (source):
>> Memories from Recording
When I first started working as a voice actor I enjoyed singing, but I didn’t have the confidence to say that I was good at it. It was during that time that I was hired for one of the earliest singing jobs of my career: for Twst.
I was very nervous during the recording, but I remember going into it thinking, “I’m going to give this everything I’ve got!!,” as if I were being carried along by the way Deuce struggles and gives his all in the story. Whenever I sing as Deuce, even now, those feelings from that time remain at the foundation of my performance, so he has really helped me a lot.
>> What should fans pay attention to in the songs you participated in?
All of the songs Deuce has sung thus far have been performed by multiple singers, so I went into each recording keeping in mind things such as who would be singing after him and what kind of role would be expected of him within each particular group.
For example, at the beginning of “Obedience” I imagined receiving the baton from Ace, who starts singing with a burst of energy, and then passing it on to Trey, the upperclassman…so, if you listen with those kinds of details in mind, you may be able to experience the song in a slightly different way.
>> Which song would you like to sing at karaoke?
Probably “Far-Out.” The tempo and the way the words flow are really pleasant, and the parts where you really get to sing out seem like they’d feel great to perform.
The “La-i Ya-i Laia-i-ya La-i Ya-i Laia-ha” part in particular gets stuck in your head after just one listen (laughs). Since it’s a duet, I think there are all kinds of ways to enjoy it depending on who you sing it with, which is why I chose it.
>> A message for the fans, please.
The fact that we’re able to release this CD is entirely thanks to all of the fans who have supported us. Thank you very, very much. As one of the elements that brings the world of Twst to life, the staff and cast will continue to work together as one to create these songs with great care. We sincerely hope for your continued support!
Twisted Wonderland Reference Note 