#also i love how orikasa and him are basically role playing lmao

[dont-look-up]

Summary of the Bleach site interview with Abarai Renji’s voice actor Itou Kentarou by @Madarameh1

[posted with permission]

Itou first encountered Bleach when he read it in Jump, liked how its vibes were different from other Jump works. Wanted to play Renji as soon as he he appeared in the manga, but there were no Bleach auditions for him so he auditioned for Ichigo instead. Was happy to get Renji :)

Itou's favourite Renji line is when he begs Ichigo to save Rukia. Also when he promises Rukia to become a shinigami with her; Itou was looking forward to voicing this line and was worried when they cast a female VA to voice young!Renji LOL

Itou's fave character is Hinamori Momo! Loves every side to her, from her gentle side to her devotion to Captain Aizen. His fave moments are Renji and Ichigo training together in the Soul Society arc and at the Soul King Palace.

Itou always thought Renji's original bankai was awesome but was even more excited to see his true bankai. How would he describe Renji? "A man among men." Climbed to the top despite his harsh childhood and developed after encountering Ichigo.

Itou usually shouts the "Hihio Zabimaru!" line for Renji, but for Soo Zabimaru he was instructed by the director and Kubo to say it more calmly without shouting. He likes to shout for these kinds of characters so restraining his voice has been a challenge.

Itou notes how the amount of info on screen impacts how he performs when recording a foreign dub vs an anime. However TYBW visuals are so HQ + informative that he has to hold back. Likes to be extra in the test run before the real thing + gets worried when there's not any ahah

What Itou's found memorable about the TYBW rec is seeing all the captain VAs gather together + get hyped up (Kurotsuchi's VA Nakao even took photos LOL); shows how everyone loves Bleach + is happy to reunite Recalls how for the OG anime everyone was crammed in a small area

Re: the Renji vs Uryuu fight Itou recorded it with Sugiayama. Was happy he got to shout for this fight haha He and Sugiyama noted how nostalgic it was to have these 2 fight considering Uryuu was Renji's first opponent in the human world

Itou notes how knowing vs not knowing the ending can impact one's acting. Something he's conscious of when acting in the TYBW is Renji and Rukia’s relationship - he and Rukia’s VA Orikasa have made it their mission to keep the romance vibes b/w them lowkey LOL

Another aspect about Renji Itou finds it hard to convey is how he's one of the few shinigami considered special to Ichigo.

Itou's conflict is that he rides his road bike as a hobby and for his health but is always tempted to eat and drink somewhere afterwards so he doesn't lose weight. It's something he's dealt with for a decade so he's basically accepted it as his fate now LOL

Itou's message to Bleach fans is to keep him company and to stick around until the end (and see "that scene" with Renji and Rukia)

Original Interview: Interview with Kentaro Ito (role of Renji Abarai)

Full Translation: @Madarameh1