#Asanuma Shintao

[possideotranslations]

spoon.2Di vol.117 (Dec. 27, 2024) - Interview with Owen's Voice Actor Asanuma Shintao

Shintao Asanuma as Owen オーエン役 浅沼晋太郎 INTERVIEW

I asked Shintarō Asanuma, who plays Owen, the Northern Wizard known for his fondness for human malice, his ever-present faint smile, and his enigmatic behavior, about Owen's appeal and the highlights of the anime.

"Owen has a (somewhat twisted) affection and overwhelming obsession for things he finds interesting, while being shockingly indifferent to anything that doesn't catch his interest. I think that all-or-nothing personality is what makes him so compelling."

Owen (VA: Shintarō Asanuma)

A sharp-tongued, sarcastic individual who enjoys human fear and malice. He is considered a dangerous person, even among other wizards. He has a past grudge with Cain, a wizard from Central Country, and their relationship is particularly hostile.

Q: Having portrayed Owen for some time now, you've seen many facets of his character. How do you perceive him? Could you share what aspects you find most appealing?

A: "To put it simply, he’s a 'contrarian,' but that doesn't fully capture him. He has a (twisted) affection and overwhelming obsession for the things that interest him, yet he’s astonishingly indifferent to anything that doesn’t. That all-or-nothing nature is what makes him so intriguing. At the same time, I respect how he has absolute confidence in his own strength and convictions."

Q: Owen enjoys human malice and often behaves in ways that mislead others. What do you focus on when portraying him?

A: "I try to create a sense of instability by occasionally disrupting the expected rhythm—changing pitch, speed, or volume in my speech to throw off the listener."

Q: As you approached playing Owen in the anime, what kind of plan did you have in mind? Also, did you discover anything new about the character through the experience?

A: "One key difference between a game and an anime is that, in anime, physical distance between characters is visually established. I made a conscious effort not to let Owen be constrained by that. I just can't imagine Owen being the type to think, ‘Oh, the other person is far away, so I should speak a little louder’ (laughs)."

Q: If you recorded alongside other cast members, what were your thoughts on the interactions? Were there any particularly memorable or impactful scenes for you?

A: "Of course, Owen’s interactions with Cain and Mithra were significant, but what stood out the most was his exchanges with the Sage. Since Owen never directly conversed with them in the game or the drama readings, it felt fresh, and I think it gave me a deeper understanding of his character."

Q: What are your impressions of the Northern Wizards (Snow, White, Mithra, and Bradley)? Also, if you have a favorite exchange involving Owen, please share it.

A: "If we imagine Owen as a cat, then Snow and White would be the nagging, overbearing owners. Mithra would be the dog living in the same house—pretending to be indifferent while always scheming to mess with him somehow. As for Bradley, I think Owen treats him like the youngest in the family, a mischievous child (laughs)."

Q: This issue features Cain and Owen on the cover. Could you share your impressions of Cain and how you perceive the relationship between Cain and Owen?

A: "‘Twisted love’—that phrase sums it up completely. I can't help but wonder: if that episode had never happened, if Cain had acted differently back then, would Owen have turned out to be a different kind of wizard? But at the same time, I feel like no matter what happened, Cain would still be Cain."

Q: In the anime, the Sage (Masaki Akira) has been given a voice for the first time. What are your impressions of the Sage? Also, was there anything you consciously focused on when portraying Owen’s interactions with them?

A: "They feel very pure, transparent, and incredibly straightforward. Precisely because of that, I think Owen—who has spent so long seeing only filth and horror—finds them amusing and interesting. Perhaps he even has a desire to stain or corrupt them in some way. At the same time, he probably gets irritated when the Sage unknowingly pokes at the sore spots he’d rather keep hidden (laughs). When voicing Owen’s conversations with the Sage, I focus on making Owen’s presence feel more fluid and ambiguous, to contrast with the Sage’s unwavering straightforwardness."

Q: "Promise of Wizard" is celebrating its 5th anniversary this year. Looking back on your involvement with the series, what have you gained as an actor, or what has the story given you?

A: "One memorable experience was when I met Kaminaga-kun, who plays Owen in the stage adaptation, at a different worksite. I shared with him some of the things I focus on when playing Owen, thinking it might be useful to him. In the process of verbalizing what I had been doing instinctively, I realized, 'I thought I was acting on instinct, but I was actually making these conscious choices.' I hadn’t often analyzed my own performance in a theoretical way after the fact, so that was a valuable learning experience for me."

Q: Lastly, could you share a message for the readers who are looking forward to the anime?

A: "To the Sages who have enjoyed the game—thank you for waiting. Look forward to not only the character interactions but also how those spells you’ve seen time and again are brought to life, and how the creatures from the game’s world are depicted. And to the Sages stepping into this world for the first time through the anime—please, immerse yourselves fully in this beautiful yet cruel fairy tale."

Shintarō Asanuma

Born January 5, from Iwate Prefecture. Affiliated with Dandelion. Notable roles include Samatoki Aohitsugi in Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-, Itaru Chigasaki in A3!, The Villain in The Villain’s Day Off, and Kenzo Sanga in Kamen Rider Gav, among others.