“Five years ago I approached performances from a very linguistic perspective, analyzing grammar, modifiers, pronouns, and sentence structure. Now I can focus more on emotional expression, which allows me to bring the character to life in a more natural, nuanced way. I aimed to blend these improvements into my anime performance.
Thanks to Trey, I was able to get roles of older characters or supportive main characters quite early on.”
– Suzuki Ryota, Nikkei Entertainment (2025)
“In truth, (Trey) has a strong personality, just like the other characters.
He comes from a family that runs a cake shop, he’s caring, and seems like the most ‘normal,’ but that’s not actually true.
I have slowly come to understand his charm over the past five years, so I was nervous when I had to deliver his first line in the anime while hiding that depth.
These days I’m happily focusing on my work, but there have been times when I have been elated and depressed over audition results, when I cried about not being good enough. I was only able to push through it all by shouting alone at a riverside. But it’s exactly because we sometimes have emotions that we bite back and suppress that we’re able to grow.
Becoming an adult doesn’t mean we stop feeling frustrated, but maybe it means figuring out how to live without letting those frustrations control us. This series shows us that process. Maybe that’s why so many people are able to overlap their own emotions with those of the characters, and come to love the work so deeply.”
– Suzuki Ryota, DaVinci magazine (2025)
“There are scenes where he says mean things aloud, but even at the time it doesn’t feel like he truly means them deep down.
Trey gives off this atmosphere like he is an actor portraying ‘Trey the person,’ and I had a hard time fully grasping that.
Something that surprised me when I portrayed him in the game was that Trey is in a bad mood when he first wakes up. If that’s the real Trey, then I was happy to finally see a genuine, unmasked part of him.
When I think about Trey’s feelings when the dorm begins to rebel against Riddle, it’s really painful. He has to support his dorm’s students, but as vice Housewarden he also has to help Riddle. Caught between both sides, I think Season 1 is also a story about Trey wondering what ‘true kindness’ really is.”
– Suzuki Ryota, Nikkei the Television magazine (2025)
“When the game recording started, I was about 19 or 20 years old. Every other voice actor was an older senpai, while I needed to portray an older character. I thought I had to make my voice convincing, and there was a point where I stretched myself.
Five years later I felt that Trey Clover had finally become easier to portray, and then the topic of the anime came up.
I was able to approach the animation recording thinking that it would be good if I could do natural expressions that I hadn’t been able to do back then.
Cater is a flexible, broad-minded character, but does not show his true feelings very much. I cannot tell if he understands everything and deliberately refuses to act, or if he is watches for opportunities for others to grow. In that way, he is similar to Trey.
One part of Cater is how he provides support in areas that Trey cannot cover himself, so I think they are a good combination. If Cater plays the role of brightening the mood and raising the dorm students’ morale, Trey supports the students by being sincerely close to everyone. I think it is a wonderful balance.”
– Suzuki Ryota, Newtype magazine (2025)
In August 2026, the official Twisted Wonderland Twitter account published the following comments from Suzuki on the character song/dorm song soundtrack and karaoke box implementation (source):
>> Memories from Recording
As Trey Clover is someone who can handle anything and everything with ease, I was mindful of making sure that he left a strong impression. “Obedience” is a song that feels very Twst, and I sang while enjoying its slightly dark atmosphere.
>> What should fans pay attention to in the songs you participated in?
It’s not an exaggeration to say that ‘This Is Halloween’ is such a famous song that everyone has heard it at least once, so I was truly honored to be able to cover it. I received detailed guidance on the pronunciation and put a lot of care into how I sang, so I hope listeners will pay close attention.”
>> Which song would you like to sing at karaoke?
Since I put so much care into it, I’d love to sing “This Is Halloween” with a big group while paying close attention to the English pronunciation.
>> A message for the fans, please.
It was an enjoyable recording experience, thinking about how Trey Clover would sing. Music is an important element that helps bring the world of Twst to life, so I’d be very happy if you listened to it often. Thank you!!
Q: How do you feel about Twisted Wonderland reaching its 6th anniversary?
“It is by no means easy for a work to continue for such a long time, and I believe that the fact that it continues to be loved without losing that affection is entirely thanks to the fans, who have continued to pour so much energy into it. I also feel that it is one of the works that helped shape me when I had only just made my debut and was still a nobody, so I feel a great deal of gratitude toward it.”
Q: Has your perception of Trey Clover changed over time?
“From the moment I first read the main story I felt that Trey had an aura suggesting he was no ordinary person. Even now, I still feel that he is not someone who can be easily figured out. As I’ve spent more time with the work, I’ve seen Trey’s weaknesses and the way he tries to overcome them. I think a major change has been my coming to appreciate the humanity of someone who appears so perfect.”
Q: What do you pay particular attention to when performing as Trey?
“At first I tried too hard to catch up with Trey Clover, who seemed more mature than I was, forcing my voice and expressions to sound older. As the years go by, though, I am gradually developing a sense that the character had begun to come naturally to me.
I try to imagine him speaking without putting on airs. I am also particular about capturing those moments when the usually gentle Trey reveals a fearless, villainous expression at key points.”
Q: What do you find appealing about Trey Clover?
“I find it appealing that he serves as the backbone of his dorm, maintaining harmony and acting as a parental figure.
In Chapter 1 of the main story, he played the role of mediator between Riddle and the dorm members, who were torn between the dorm’s strict rules. Having come to understand kindness in its truest sense, I think Trey will work even harder to make the dorm a better place from here on.
I also like how conscious he is of dental care. I’ve always placed importance on brushing my teeth myself, so I could relate to that. Recently, I’ve found myself paying particular attention to people’s mouths, and I think Trey has had a great deal of influence on that.”
Q: What do you like about your dorm and its members?
“Heartslabyul Dorm places an enormous emphasis on discipline. I particularly like that not everyone simply tries to keep the Housewarden happy, with some scheming to find ways around the rules without getting caught. I think Ace is the prime example of this, and thanks to him the atmosphere in the dorm has started moving in a positive direction.
There’s Deuce, who cooperates with him, Cater, who is skilled at seeing through to the heart of things, and Riddle, who has become both strict and flexible. I think it’s a wonderful dorm made up of people with all kinds of different personalities.”
Q: What do you particularly like about the story?
“I remember being shocked when a character who had been a powerful ally underwent Overblot and became an enemy instead. By depicting the inner struggles of all the characters and leaving the fundamental problems within their hearts unresolved, the story gains greater depth the more it unfolds. I think the world of Twisted Wonderland has a unique depth precisely because each of its seven dorms is given its own dedicated focus and carefully developed.”
Q: What was your impression of this SSR card illustration?
“This Halloween event centers on the world of sweets, which could be considered one of Trey’s trademarks, so I felt it was an especially good fit for him. The heart-shaped accessory in his hair also creates a nice contrast with his usual image.”
Q: Could you share an anecdote from the voice recording sessions?
“The realism of the game really impressed me, and you also get to see his competitive side. I hope you’ll enjoy seeing the expressive Trey Clover caught between the sweets he’s good at making and the games he’s not so good at. Please also keep an eye out for a certain Halloween-style gimmick.”
Q: Do you have any memories of Disney works other than Twisted Wonderland?
“I like The Lion King because its cute character designs make it approachable and endearing. I’m deeply moved by the story of Simba, who loses his father at a young age amid the animals’ territorial struggles and grows into a strong and courageous King of Beasts.
The visual beauty of the live-action version is also wonderful, and I love it alongside the animated film.”
Q: Could you tell us about recording the dorm song “Obedience”?
“Since it was a dorm song, I enjoyed singing it while embracing the dark atmosphere that symbolizes the world of Twisted Wonderland.
It was a unit song performed by the five members of Heartslabyul, a dorm full of distinctive personalities, so I made a conscious effort to ensure that Trey Clover’s presence came through, even if only a little.”
Q: Could you tell us about recording “This Is Halloween”?
“I recorded it while receiving detailed guidance on pronunciation. I was surprised by just how much pronunciation could change with something as small as the way you open your mouth or position your tongue. Covering such an iconic Halloween song known around the world was a true honor.”
Q: What do you keep in mind when singing as a character?
“I often change a character’s speaking habits and even the quality of my voice when performing, so I feel it’s difficult to sing as a character without first understanding their background.
Of course I think about the meaning of the lyrics, but I also try to express the emotional temperature and atmosphere I sense from them, along with feelings that cannot be put into words.”
Q: Do you have a message for the fans?
“Thank you for supporting and loving Twisted Wonderland over these past six years. I have a feeling that this franchise will continue to grow into something even bigger, and I’m increasingly excited to see what comes next.
I’ll continue doing my best to ensure that Trey Clover becomes an irreplaceable presence both for those who have followed the work from the beginning and for those who are just discovering it, and to help the series continue for many more years. Thank you for your continued support.”
