"ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION" is a documentary series on NHK World-JAPAN that explores popular Japanese manga and anime overseas, delving deep into the creative process through interviews with creators.
The episode airing on Sunday, November 30 will spotlight anime sound production! Voice actor Akio Otsuka will discuss his approach to performing as All For One in "My Hero Academia" and Shunsui Kyoraku in "BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War," while recreating the voice recording of memorable scenes. The episode will also feature appearances by Otsuka's close friends, renowned voice actors Koichi Yamadera and Rikiya Koyama.
Additionally, the program will provide an inside look at the music production for "Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 – The Duel: Payback."
<The following content is quoted from the official announcement.>
Spotlighting the Creators Behind Anime Sound Production!
Sound design is an essential element in anime. Voice actors use only their vocal performances to express a character's personality and emotions, while composers use music to convey the world and emotional depth that visuals alone cannot fully capture.
This episode explores the professional techniques of the creators who craft anime soundscapes.
Akio Otsuka Appears! Recreating Iconic Voice Acting Scenes
Voice actor Akio Otsuka, with 37 years of experience in the industry, shares his craft and approach. Leveraging his exceptional acting skills and distinctive deep voice, Otsuka has appeared in over 400 anime productions. He discusses how he approached roles such as All For One in "My Hero Academia" and Shunsui Kyoraku in "BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War."
For this special feature, Otsuka recreates the voice recording of famous scenes, demonstrating how different performance choices can dramatically change the impact. The episode also reveals how his mental image of each character shapes his acting approach.
Inside Look at the Music Production for Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 – The Duel: Payback!
The program goes behind the scenes of the music production for "Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 – The Duel: Payback." The term "gekiban" (underscore/incidental music) refers to the background music that plays during scenes. This work is part of a series where Japanese anime studios reimagine the Star Wars universe through their unique perspectives. "The Duel: Payback" pays homage to Japanese period dramas reminiscent of director Akira Kurosawa's films within the "Star Wars" setting.
Composer Keiji Iuchi, who has created music for over 30 productions, crafted the score for this work. Iuchi successfully merged two distinct worlds—"Star Wars" and Japanese period drama—through his musical composition. Cameras infiltrated the recording sessions for "The Duel: Payback," capturing the moment when the score comes to life through orchestral and traditional Japanese instruments. The episode showcases how the music transforms dramatically under Iuchi's direction.
Don't miss this rare glimpse into voice recording sessions and music production, along with exclusive interviews! For those who miss the broadcast, free VOD viewing will be available starting the day after airing.
ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION Anime Sound Special - Program Information
[Broadcast Schedule]
Sunday, November 30, 2025 on NHK World-Japan
12:10, 18:10, 23:10, and 05:10 the following Monday (all in JST)
*28-minute program, broadcast 4 times
*From the day after the broadcast, the program will be available for free VOD viewing on the NHK World-Japan website.
*For more details, please check the NHK World-Japan program viewing guide.
[Cast]
Akio Otsuka, Koichi Yamadera, Rikiya Koyama, Takanobu Mizuno, Keiji Iuchi
[Narrator]
Michael Turpin
© Animate Times
*Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
