At Anime Expo, Anime Trending was given the fantastic alternative to interview Seiichirouu Yamashita for his position as the principle protagonist, Cid Kagenou, also generally known as Shadow, in The Eminence in Shadow Season 2. The Eminence in Shadow is an isekai sequence the place a highschool boy, intent on changing into an anti-hero that operates within the shadows, finds himself the proper alternative to satisfy his goals by dying and reincarnating in a brand new world. Telling a sequence of elaborate lies, he positions himself into his preferrred anti-hero position – not figuring out that each lie he tells is definitely true on this new, magical world.
In anticipation of the second season airing this fall, Anime Trending is joyful to convey you this interview and hope you’ll get pleasure from Seiichirouu Yamashita’s solutions as a lot as we did.
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Initially, thanks a lot for giving us this chance to interview you. We’re very, very excited. Our total group is definitely an enormous fan of the anime itself.
Seiichirou Yamashita: Thanks. Thanks a lot.
So the primary query we’ll have in the present day is what’s probably the most satisfying facet of taking part in such an extremely sturdy and fortunate character?
So any sturdy opponent that Shadow has, he simply goes into any struggle with confidence and swagger, and it’s simply so satisfying to behave as Shadow. And what’s attention-grabbing is I by no means report any breath sounds. Normally, there’s like HAAAA or HRRRR for struggle scenes and that kind of factor, however he doesn’t even do this. So I don’t do any of these voices as a result of he’s simply so assured.
And after I’m performing within the sales space, oftentimes the enemy characters are performed by all of those well-known voice actors in Japan who’re like my seniors. They’re all grunting and making sounds and every little thing, and I simply stand there silently, you already know, finally assured. And so it’s form of humorous that I do nothing in these conditions and in addition form of odd that I do this. So it’s an attention-grabbing expertise.
Effectively, on that notice of Cid being so sturdy, do you assume Cid has any notable flaws or weaknesses?
I believe it’s attention-grabbing that the issues that he says kind of flip the story in several instructions. And that’s additionally what’s so attention-grabbing about this present, I believe, and enjoyable as a result of it’s more durable to foretell.
I believe he has this lack of duty when he speaks, and he has completely no real interest in others. Actually no curiosity. And in order that’s each his power and his weak spot.
It’s not identical to a weak spot per se, however even now, I can’t actually apply my regular logic to the best way that he thinks. So he’s form of a personality on his personal, all on his personal.
Cid is thought for having many sides to himself. You’ll be able to even see it as him having a number of personalities, but he’s nonetheless the identical individual. How do you put together for a personality like Cid, who has many various methods to current himself?
This [anime] is known as a comedy, and so there’s — there are severe moments and there are actually humorous moments. However as a comedy, after I put together, I actually take into consideration easy methods to make Cid humorous. And infrequently, there’ll be moments the place I believe, “Okay, that was taking it approach too far,” and [other production members will] be like, “Okay, that was nice.”
It’s actually all concerning the feeling of who he’s and sustaining that momentum as a personality and placing that vitality on the market. We use numerous improv truly, which is a problem, but additionally, I actually simply take into consideration, “How can I make this as humorous as it may be?” After which these concepts additionally change into a part of Cid. So Cid is that this character that basically is form of limitless in that approach. So, yeah — that’s how these concepts get introduced in. It’s all the time spectacular to me.
In comparison with the opposite roles you’ve had, what makes performing as Cid completely different?
After I take into consideration any position — any character, fairly — I take into consideration how they’re much like me. Like, “Oh, I felt this emotion earlier than,” or that kind of factor.
In order that’s all the time attention-grabbing. However what’s attention-grabbing with Cid is that it’s like he’s nearly inhuman. I discover myself pondering, “What’s your deal?” As a result of he’s simply so on the market. He’s engaging but very puzzling. Normally, it’s about discovering these commonalities, however on this case, it’s actually simply attending to know a really completely different, hard-to-relate-to individual. So he’s very distinctive in that approach, and I don’t assume there’ll ever be one other character like him.
What’s your favourite line of dialogue you’ve mentioned as Cid? If in case you have one.
So after it aired, you already know the “I’m atomic” line grew to become such a buzz. And so even after I would journey abroad, generally individuals can be like, “Aren’t you the atomic man?” and stuff like that. It grew to become form of what we’d name, I suppose, an influence phrase.
So, “I’m atomic.” It’s actually brief. Nonetheless, it leaves a long-lasting impression. I used to be doing all kinds of various variations of it, and there was a whisper model as nicely. In order that line has positively helped me in lots of conditions.
Cid, as an entire, doesn’t change loads in persona all through season one. Are you anticipating him to alter in season two, and if that’s the case, in what approach?
I believe in season one, there’s nothing that basically modified by way of his allure and all of that. However there are small adjustments, I believe, in his habits, like he simply does his factor, and he does what he needs, however he, consequently, begins to work together extra with [other] individuals. You’ll be able to form of sense that he may need slightly little bit of gratitude or slightly little bit of guilt about one thing simply from very refined actions, and I believe in season two, you’re going to see extra of that, and also you’re going to see that he’s an actual individual as nicely.
We sit up for that. The Eminence in Shadow has a big forged and is hinted to be rising bigger in season two. Do you will have any reminiscences or tales you possibly can share about working with them for the sequence?
As members of the Shadow Backyard in season one, I believe all of us actually realized what our roles have been, and we actually bought it. And in season two, the performing actually has powered up. In different phrases, there have been many instances when different actors would do issues that made me chortle whereas I used to be performing, and that has elevated in season two. In order Shadow, I’ve to be this actually severe individual. So in these conditions, the performing of others nearly made me chortle, or I needed to actually work onerous to love, maintain down the laughter, and that was taking place much more than in season one. Like this –
[Yamashita covers his mouth, imitating how he would be holding back his laughter, then drops his hand, gets a serious look on his face, and instantly acts as Cid]
It’s like a swap, going from attempting to carry again the laughter to Shadow. So you will have that to sit up for.
You’re at the moment nominated for greatest voice performing efficiency by a voice actor for the Anime Trending awards in your efficiency, as Cid/Shadow, how does it really feel to be nominated in your efficiency because the character?
What! I want I knew earlier. Nobody informed me.
Has this been occurring yearly, the Anime Trending Awards?
It has.
Oh my god. How many individuals have been nominated?
There can be 10 for voice actresses and 10 for voice actors.
That is my first time listening to of this, and I’m very stunned. I’m so joyful, I’m overjoyed.
Will probably be determined on the finish of the yr via a big awards voting marketing campaign. So you might win.
I’d love for that to be a actuality.
You have got an opportunity.
It’s so touching to see how everybody was reacting on the earth premiere earlier. All people actually bought the humorous moments and every little thing. So it’s nice to see that past borders, it’s been so successful and understood. It’s nice that it’s the audiences that choose [the winner].
You can be the primary to know should you win.
Please interview me if I do.
We completely will.
Our final query is — any closing phrases for the followers who’re excited to see the return of the Eminence in Shadow season 2?
That is such a uncommon alternative to talk right here within the US, and it’s actually all due to the followers. I’m honored and so grateful that there’s such an enormous response. And in season 2, which is developing, you possibly can get pleasure from it much more should you rewatch season one.
The online game, Grasp of Backyard, is also a extremely enjoyable recreation that provides you a glimpse into one other aspect of the world of Cid and of Eminence in Shadow. I can’t say loads about season two now, however I can say that it positively will shock you. I can’t wait for everybody to see it, and I’d love to listen to what everybody thinks of it. So thanks a lot for this time to interview. Thanks.
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The Eminence in Shadow Season 2 is at the moment airing on HIDIVE.