Katou Yue --- Ueda Yuuji
Performances:
|
Anime |
Character |
| Fushigi Yuugi |
Suboshi / Amiboshi |
| Violinist of Hameln TV |
Harmel |
| Master Mosquition |
Honoo |
| Nadesico |
Tenkawa Akito |
| Rurouni Kenshin |
Sanosuke |
Re-Miel's Comments: This is a change from 'Assiah Chapter' CDs. Katou used to be played by Yao Kazuki-sensei (Dark Schneider in 'Bastard'). It is quite amusing - we went from seiyuu who played Harmel in Violinist of Hameln OAV to the seiyuu who played him in TV series.
Katou is principal to 'Hades' chapter. Arguably, he is much more of the protagonist in it than Setsuna is. By his performance, the 'Hades' Drama CDs will live or die. So, how does Ueda-sensei copes with the role?
In my opinion, the answer is - admirably. The change was actually for the better. There is something right about new Katou's voice. Harmel of VoH TV series is darker than his OVA version - and so is this Katou better suited for darker, more angsty side of his that we see in Hades story arc. One moment he is an annoying street punk, bickering with Setsuna in a perfect fast-talking, b*tchy voice. The other he is coming to terms with pointlesness of his own life and you can hear that bitterness in his voice, you can feel that unlikely poetry in his words...
All in all I like the change.
Sakuya Kira --- Koyasu Takehito
Performances:
|
Anime |
Character |
| Utena |
Touga |
| Tokyo Babylon |
Seishirou |
| Gundam Wing |
Zechs Merquise |
| Zetsuai/Bronze |
Izumi |
| Fushigi Yuugi |
Hotohori |
| 'Hanakimi' Drama CD |
Oskar M. Himejima |
Re-Miel's Comments: We do not hear much of Kira-sempai on the first Hades Drama CD. Just that one scene, when Katou has a flashback of Kira-sempai trying to goad him into doing something about his life. However, we've all had plenty of opportunities to listen to Takehito-sensei's performance in Assiah Drama CDs and in OAVs.
Opinions on it differ. Some people are not very enthusiastic about it - in their opinion he speaks too fast and not coldly enough for their tastes. But a lot of people love his performance to pieces. I, myself, think he is perfect for the role. His voice has arrogant, patronising coolness that fits my image of Kira-sempai.
Sevotharte --- Kosugi Juurouta
Performances:
|
Anime |
Character |
| Arslan Senki |
Giskarl |
| Jojo's Bizarre Adventure |
Joutarou |
| Legend of Galactic Heroes |
Lintz |
| Please Save My Earth |
Tamuro |
| Rayearth |
Sol Zagaato / Lantis |
| Utena |
Akio |
Re-Miel's Comment: Another new face. Kosugi-sensei comes as replacement for Shiozawa Kaneto-sensei, whose death was grieved over by many fans who enjoyed his performances - such as Oberstein in LOGH or Larva in Miyu. And, I feel, that this change is also for the better.
Shiozawa-sensei was famous for cold, emotionless voices. His Sevotharte was devoid of emotions of any kind. And while this was fine to listen to, in some ways it was lacking. The voice was just not... grand enough for a tyrant who held all of Heaven in his steel grip. This is where I feel that Kosugi-sensei's interpretation is better.
For we get a deep, deep masculine voice, grand and full of power, yet filled with pathos and expression. It is almost strange to hear someone so masculine display so much emotion in their voice. Those, who know who Sevoshtarte really is, might find (like I did) that this is very fitting to the character...
Just, for the sake of your sanity, don't try to imagine Jojo as Sevotharte. Or Sevotharte taking Rosiel out in a certain red sports car... ^_^
Zaphkiel --- Tanaka Hideyuki
Performances:
|
Anime |
Character |
| Record of Lodoss War |
Sleyn |
| Marmalade Boy |
Koshikawa Jin |
| Five Star Stories |
Dr. Blanche |
| 'X' Movie |
Aoki Seiichirou |
| Saint Seya |
Leo |
Re-Miel's Comment: No change here from Assiah Chapter Drama CDs. And Tanaka-sensei's excellent performance only serves to convince us even more that he was the right choice for Zaphkiel. His voice is very light. And it is that lightness, that gives one a distinct feeling that there is a hidden edge to the voice and to the man.
Certainly when I listen to Tanaka-sensei's performance, I immediately see in front of me that smiling face with closed eyes that Zaphkiel always displays to public. And Tanaka-sensei's laughing voice has to it that very flavor of humbleness which arrogance so often clothes itself in.
What I, personally, am interested in is whether Tanaka-sensei will be able to do dark side of Zaphkiel as well as he does his light side. But it's a long way to go until 'Heaven-Yetzirah' chapter (which is where we get to see that) and we don't even know if they will continue drama CD release that far into the story...
Uriel --- Hayami Shou
Performances:
|
Anime |
Character |
| Zetsuai / Bronze |
Nanjou Kouji |
| Record of Lodoss Wars |
Ashram |
| Please Save My Earth |
Shion |
| Key the Metal Idol |
Ajou Jinsaku |
| Angelique |
Clavius |
Re-Miel's Comment: All right, this is the first real newcomer. We haven't heard his voice in any form up until now. So take a look at his previous roles - do we think this one is going to be good? Oh, yes we do. Ashram? Shion? Clavius?
Precisely.
I, myself, find Hayami-sensei very well cast. And that's not just me really liking him from long before, either. ^_^ He is both all cold and commanding acting out Uriel possessed by Persona and all angsty and emotional when Persona shatters. From previous roles, you can see that Hayami-sensei is no stranger to playing someone who is fair, honourable, proud and extremely bad at dealing with their own emotions. He was always good at making his voice portray an emotional struggle, a battle with your own self... So, as can only be expected, he does an excellent performance as Uriel.
Disturbing thought of a week: Uriel and Kira as Nanjou and Izumi... ^_^
Doll --- Kanai Mika
Performances:
|
Anime |
Character |
| Licca |
Licca |
| Kingyoui Chuuihou! |
Wapiko |
| Bakuen Campus Guardress! |
Aoba-hime |
|
Game |
Character |
| Black/Matrix |
Purika |
Re-Miel's Comment: On one hand, elaborating the casting reasons for this seiyuu is a spoiler. On the other hand, it is spelled out in open text in casting credits in the official booklet for Hades Drama CD #1, so if they don't consider it a proper spoiler, why should I?
What is this all about? Well, you might have noticed that Kanai-sensei played Kirie in Assiah Drama CDs. Well, in Hades she just continues that role. For Doll, in actuality, has the soul of Kirie (who died when Setsuna wrecked Tokyo) - Uriel created a new body for her out of pieces of Yggdrasil.
You know, I am really getting bored of lavishing praise on the casting choices, but this is yet another case of a voice fitting excellently to the character. As you can see from previous roles, Kanai-sensei specializes in playing cute girls. Cute girls in anime come in two flavors: cute-and-innocent and cute-and-deadly. Kanai-sensei's performance as Doll is very much of latter variety - a cute voice, yet full of precociousness and haughtiness. Taking the most cynical or cruel lines and make them sound as if she's a schoolgirl answering her lesson to a teacher and expecting to be patted on the head and called good girl. You know - the kind of voice which has 'look at me, am I not clever/pretty/likable' woven into every syllable of every sentence. Cruel innocence. Precisely what Doll should be all about...
Rosiel --- Chiba Susumu
Performances:
|
Anime |
Character |
| Cutey Honey F |
Hayama Seiji |
| AD Police |
Sasaki Kenji |
| Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne |
Nagoya Chiaki |
Re-Miel's Comment: What can I say here that I haven't said already when reviewing AS OAVs? Chiba Susumu-sensei did the part of Rosiel there first before coming in as a replacement for Sasaki Nozumu-sensei (Clef, Tetsuo, Mackie Stingray) in 'Hades' drama CDs. And back when he was first announced as Rosiel's voice actor for OAVs, I was worried. I mean - Rosiel is my fauvoritest AS character bar none. Heck, he is not just a fauvorite - he is a full-time obsession. And here we have some relative unknown seiyuu coming in to voice him. And I kinda liked Sasaki-sensei's performance too. Rosiel, in my opinion, must have a masculine voice. The contrast between the voice and the body adds even more to the atmosphere he evokes...
I needn't have worried. It took five-second clip on OAV preview tape to convince me he was perfect for the role. Once I heard him saying 'Alexiel-neesan...', I knew we had perfect voice for Rosiel at last.
Chiba-sensei's Rosiel is still very masculine. But it more androgynous now. Not feminine, but androgynous... And there is also just the perfectest psychotic edge running through it. There is something slightly creepy about the way he says 'Alexiel-neesan...'. And Chiba-sensei also alternates perfectly between sounding twisted and broken and sounding kind and gentle. And his performance in Hades Drama CDs is a further proof that he is exactly the Rosiel we've always needed...
Raziel --- Asakawa Yuu
Performances:
|
Anime |
Character |
| BGC 2040 |
Priss |
Re-Miel's comment: This is another change of seiyuu from Assiah Drama CDs. And while some might argue that they like this Raziel more - he is more boyish, more boisterous, more innocent... Yet, I can not bring myself to welcome this change.
You see, in Assiah Drama CDs, Raziel was played by Yuuki Hiro-sensei. Who is one of my fauvoritest seiyu ever. Simply because he is so over the top. He does just the wonderfullest hyper-bishounen voices, so weak and vulnerable it is not true. So, while Asakawa-sensei's performance might be closer to the character - more of a 'normal' lively boy, I can't help but to be upset at the loss of Yuuki-sensei who brought his trademark over-the-topness to his voice.
Metatron --- Koorogi Satomi
Performances:
|
Anime |
Character |
| Utena |
Chu Chu |
| Rurouni Kenshin |
Sakura |
| Excel Saga |
Menchi |
| RG Veda |
Aizen |
| Gasaraki |
Misuzu |
Re-Miel's comment: Chu-Chu??? Oh, help...
Another change here. Metatron was previously played by Kawada Taeko-san (Arale in Dr. Slump) - not that we heard much of Meta-chan on Assiah CDs. He doesn't really get much time on the first CD of Hades... However we do get him being sulky in general direction of Sevi - certainly we get enough to base an opinion off...
Which version you will like will depend mostly on what is your idea of a child's voice. For myself, personally, Koorogi-san does a better job of portraying a sulking, petulant child that Meta-chan is. I can just hear how he will be talking to Mr. Rabbit in Gehenna Arc, if that ever gets made into Drama CDs.
Your mileage, of course, may differ.
Dubiel --- Takahashi Hiroki
Performances:
|
Anime |
Character |
| Shadow Skill |
Ashubal |
| Beast Wars II |
Hellscream / Starscream |
Re-Miel's comment: Well, what can we say? This character is meant to be the very personification of greyness, bureaucracy and mediocrity. And Takahashi-sensei makes his voice sound completely non-descript. A typical flunky voice. And while there is nothing inherently wrong with playing Dubiel like that, I can't help but think that it could have been done better. Some individual touch could have been put into this performance.
At least, in the scene where Dubiel takes of his glasses and with twisted expression on his face swears loyalty to Sevotharte, I would have expected a trace of at least some emotion in his voice...
These problems, in the first CD, however can probably be attributed to seiyuu just getting used to the role. By the time we roll around to assasination attempt on Rosiel, there is all the emotion in the voice we ever needed. And in the scene where Dubiel, after being broken in by Rosiel, gives Sevotharte the cold shoulder, he puts out absolutely show-stopping pefortmance. Such a cold voice, such a perfectly cold voice, and yet it anything but emotionless...
Voice --- Kishio Daisuke
Performances:
|
Anime |
Character |
| Kindaichi Shounen Jikenbo |
Matsuda Makoto |
| Zoids |
Ban |
Noise --- Noda Junko
Performances:
|
Anime |
Character |
| Karekano |
Izawa Maho |
| Love Hina |
Konno Mitsune |
Mad Hatter --- Soumi Youko
Performances:
|
Anime |
Character |
| Meitantei Conan |
Chizuru |
| El-Hazard |
Queen Diiva |
| Vandread |
Buzam A Caressa |
Nydd-Hog --- Kirimoto Takuya
Performances:
Comments complimentary of Re-Miel.
