“There are many Disney characters and movies that I enjoy, but I especially like ‘Aladdin’. Starting with ‘Arabian Nights’ at the beginning of the film, then ‘One Jump Ahead’, ‘Friend Like Me’, ‘A Whole New World’ etc., it has so many of my favorite songs and is a truly exciting work that can be enjoyed by both your eyes and by your ears. Ever since I was little I always thought ‘It would be so fun to have a friend like Genie’.
I also like ‘The Lion King’ not only for its animation but also as a musical. I love the live musical performance. When I was in high school, I was so moved when I went to see it for the first time that my friends and I sang ‘I just can’t wait to be king’ together (laughs).
Ruggie is slender, with a cute face for a member of Savanaclaw, and I was impressed by his unrelenting strength and cunning. I had such a great time portraying the character from the very beginning, in the audition with how his hyena-like qualities exude from every line.
I believe that Ruggie is good at hiding what he holds in his heart, so I am always conscious of not being too transparent about his inner world when I portray him.
The most difficult part of recordings was his laugh. I was floundering for a while as I tried to figure out the right kind of laughter, and then the director said, ‘The shi-sh-shi laughter is just pronounced shi-shi-shi.’ I thought to myself, ‘Shi-shi-shi is laughter?’ I remember being nervous about that. Afterwards, I went home and practiced ‘shi-shi-shi’ laughter for quite a while…(laughs).”
I love all of Ruggie’s outfits! If I had to pick one, it would be the lab wear outfit, which not only has a great pose but also gives us a rare look at his tail in the pre-Groovy illustration!
I really enjoyed recording the lines for the alchemy lessons, which were my favorite.
Besides Ruggie, I also like Idia and Sebek. Sometimes, in magical history lessons, Sebek will say, ‘Cat! Shut up!’, which made me laugh out loud the first time I heard it. I’ve liked him ever since.
If I were to join one of the dormitories…I don’t think I could survive in Savanaclaw, so I would prefer the modern-looking Ignihyde. It looks like they have the latest gaming PCs and such, and I would be happy to play alongside Idia.”
– Ichikawa Aoi, Twisted Wonderland Fanbook vol.1 (2020)
Are there any particular things you focus on when voice acting?
“When I perform as (Ruggie), I always feel like there’s a part of him where you can’t quite see the bottom of his thoughts. Because he grew up in an environment where death was always close by, he has a kind of detached, realistic outlook. While he does have boyishness appropriate for his age, I’m conscious of maintaining that sense of calm. But because he’s a character who adapts flexibly, maybe that’s why I can perform him without being too tense myself.”
What do you like about the dorm and its members?
“Leona is the kind of crafty character who knows exactly when to step up and get things done, isn’t he? (laughs). But he himself has had to give up things because of his position, and the ambition he keeps hidden inside is stronger than anyone else’s. That contrast is really great.
Jack’s strength is how straightforward he is and how unlike a villain he feels. If the upperclassmen are doing something wrong, his youthful honesty lets him speak up properly, and that’s really admirable.
Savanaclaw members are all facing different directions, but there’s clearly a boss, and they follow him. It’s not so much about cooperation, but rather recognizing him and choosing to follow. There’s a sense of order and discipline there that I find appealing.”
What do you like about the dorm song?
“’DIADEM’ has a refreshing, driving feel when you listen to the melody alone, but if you look closely at the lyrics, you see the gritty, raw side that’s very characteristic of Savanaclaw.
Personally, I really love the part that goes, ‘Destroying the predetermined future sends my blood boiling,’ which feels very Ruggie-like. I think the future in the slums where he grew up must have been extremely closed-off and dark, but after coming to Night Raven College, interacting with various people and learning from them, his image of the future may have changed. Thinking about that made the lyrics hit me really hard.”
– Ichikawa Aoi, B’s Log (2025)
Twisted Wonderland Reference Note 