Role Development Begins with a Character Study
When I saw an illustration of Grim for the first time, I thought, ‘Hm!? This is more than just a cute character! He looks like he gets into trouble.’ From the look in his eyes to the design of his teeth, I felt a strong sense of will and assertiveness.
I had the thought that if the illustrator was just going for a generically cute design, they would not have given him that facial expression. I believe that being able to get a first impression free of preconceptions is very important.
In a sense, the impression that one gets from just looking at an illustration, before they have any other information, is not from a ‘work’ perspective, but from a ‘viewer’ perspective. I often find that I am able to create a role without any hesitation when I am able to get that kind of first impression of a new project.
It’s particularly interesting when you take that first impression and intentionally go in the opposite direction, so as to catch the viewer unaware. My impression of Grim was that of a somewhat devilish but beloved, mischievous character with an almost angry atmosphere.
But as I read through the script, I realized that, while that is an acceptable base-feeling for the character, he is also very ‘natural;’ he is very true to himself. He is not the type that thinks things through and gets into trouble through an unseen factor.
He goes wild, exclaiming, “Wow, this is so much fun!”, without a single bad intention, only to ultimately end up in trouble or startling those around him.
It is Difficult to Portray a Character who is True to Themselves
However, it is very difficult to become the role of a ‘natural’ character. If you are not careful, you can come across as fake.
Having read the script I know what is going to happen in every scene, but I have to put all of that out of my mind and act as if I am in the moment. If it’s a scene where Grim is playing a prank, I become lost in the prank. If I don’t consciously express the feeling of experiencing something for the first time, it can sound calculated.
When people are sincerely surprised, happy, or enjoying themselves, they don’t think about how they should put their emotions into words. They speak without thinking! That is why we will say lines quickly and with momentum, without any complicated pauses or breathing.
It’s like being conscious of the fact that you are letting words out of your mouth unconsciously.
A Voice Should Not be Overwrought, but Should be Easy to Change
After you fully understand a character’s personality and their position, you create a character’s voice. I say ‘create,’ but I don’t mean ‘add a plethora of verbal tics.’
If you create a voice that is so overworked that it is inflexible, you’re going to limit the range of emotions that the voice is going to be able to project. We voice actors do not perform with our bodies or facial expressions, but with different tones of voice, breathing, and pauses. It is important to have a range within which you can adjust the register and volume of your voice on your own.
As the other characters in the game are all male and ‘villains’ I anticipated that they would be using deeper voices, and, to contrast, I initially intended to use a high voice for Grim. But then I thought that it might be better not to put too much emphasis on the differences between Grim and the other characters, and risk making that into the default worldview of the universe.
So I started with something neutral that leaned closer to ‘human,’ but the director said ‘More! More! Really go for it!,’ and I thought, ‘Oh, I should go for something that really sticks in your mind (i.e. the character),’ so I raised the tone and overall energy level.
And then there’s Grim’s verbal tic! He ends every single thing he says with the sound ‘zo.’ That was rough. When he’s doubtful, when he’s asking a question, when he’s giving an affirmation―ending everything with ‘zo’… (laughs).
Rising and falling intonations is normal, but Japanese is complicated. Usually if you’re asking a question, the intonation at the end of the last word is supposed to rise, but do that with Grim and there is a feeling that something isn’t adding up. That leaves the person who hears it thinking, ‘Wait, was that a mistake?,’ so all there is to do is have the sound at the end of his last word fall.
Ugh, and that ‘nva’ sound (laughs). These come up often in the world of anime: sounds that don’t actually exist in any alphabet. You look at it written down and you more or less get the nuance of what it is supposed to sound like, but it’s still like ‘that’s a sound that doesn’t exist!’
The only way you can get it right is by figuring out what it is that sounds correct to the audience. You can try saying it out loud and seeing what sticks with you, repeating it in other voices…well, thinking about how to pronounce a sound and what sounds inspire what imagery is all a part of the fun of voice acting.
Really Curious to See what the Future Holds for Grim!
I have heard that fans often level up their cards based on what character of what dormitory they settle on as their favorite. My character, Grim, belongs to Ramshackle Dorm (laughs).
Of course, Grim also has many devoted fans, but he is in a slightly different genre from the other students! As the sidekick of the main character (the player of the game), who is starting a new life at Night Raven College, Grim is a constant presence throughout the entire story. He plays an important role by asking questions, speaking on behalf of the protagonist, and casually explaining various situations.
Yes, he is very much an essential character. When I was first asked to play this role I knew it was going to be a very heavy responsibility, and I was extremely nervous. I don’t think Grim himself is aware of that in the slightest (laughs).
I imagine and hope that Grim will undergo tremendous changes and play a major role in the storyline in the future, and will become a presence you can’t take your eyes off of! I wonder if we’ll see changes in his relationships and interactions with the other students…it’s so exciting!”
-Twisted Wonderland Fanbook vol.1 (2020)
Twisted Wonderland Reference Note 