This anime is by far my favorite. I love the coming-of-age story, the characters, and the stunning visuals. So, it was touching when a fan of the film, Casey N., reached out with heartfelt questions about the movie and my experience working on it. With their permission, I wanted to share my responses with you.
Also, I found out recently, that The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes is now streaming on HULU. I hope you catch it if you haven't seen it yet.
Here's my conversation with Casey N. Casey, thank you again!
Casey. How did you connect with the character of Anzu? Were there any specific aspects of her personality or story that resonated with you on a personal level?
Patricia. In many ways, Anzu reminded me of myself as a teen. I had a lot of walls up, too, because I was dealing with personal pain and grief.
Casey. Was there a particular scene or moment in the film that was especially meaningful or challenging for you to voice?
Patricia. There were so many moments I loved getting to voice, but my favorite one was when Anzu and Tono are at the restaurant, and she is struggling with telling him some big news.
Casey. In theater, you often have the benefit of live audience feedback and continuous performance. How do you maintain that same level of character development and emotional depth when voice acting, where the process is more fragmented?
Patricia. This is such a brilliant question. There are also weeks of rehearsal in theatre, which is something we don't get to do in voice acting. Thankfully, this film had many rewrites to get the English adaptation to flow and sound natural. That meant I had more opportunities to return to the studio and re-record scenes, which also meant digging more into the character. In terms of emotional depth, you've got to be ready to jump into the deep end. The most important thing I try to do is stay open before I record so I can have the freedom to explore and be adaptable to direction.
Casey. In theater, physicality plays a big role in how a character is portrayed. Do you incorporate physical movements or gestures while voice acting to help convey emotion, even though the audience can’t see you?
Patricia. Absolutely! I have to stand up while I record so I have the freedom to move. I will often mimic the animation to get it in my body.
Casey. How did you get into voice acting?
Patricia. I was doing a play, when a fellow actor who does a ton of voice over work, told me about upcoming auditions at Sentai Filmworks. He passed on my information, and I was able to secure an audition. I didn't really know what the heck I was doing. The whole setup was intimidating with the two screens, and it felt like sensory overload, but I must have done something right because I booked a couple of shows shortly after with Kyle Jones and Chris Ayres, may he rest in peace. They were both so patient and sweet to work with. They both guided me along the way of how things worked. I'm super grateful every time I step into the booth, knowing I get to be a part of a special medium.
CREDITS
Directed by
Tomohisa Taguchi
Written by
Tomohisa Taguchi
ADR Director John Swasey
Licensed by Sentai Filmworks Starring Gabriel Regojo and Patricia Duran
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