Reporting from Anime Frontier 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas
I first sat down with the legendary voice actress Yukana in 2007 at the Pacific Media Expo in Los Angeles. At that time, she was already an industry veteran, celebrated for iconic roles like C.C. in Code Geass and Tessa in Full Metal Panic!. While our paths have crossed a number of times over the years, it was a pleasure to reconnect with her once again at Anime Frontier 2025.
Fast forward to today. The industry landscape has shifted dramatically, but true talent remains constant. I reconnected with Yukana at Anime Frontier, where she was accompanied by producer Yuki Watanabe. We discussed her commanding role as Fubuki Azuma in Chained Soldier (Mato Seihei no Slave), which recently wrapped up its second season broadcast this March.
Below is the transcript of our conversation.
Jeremy: We first met back in 2007 at PMX in Los Angeles, and it has been a pleasure to see you again a number of times over the years. At that time, you were already a veteran, having debuted as Mirai Ozora in Moldiver in 1993. Flash forward 18 years. How have you seen yourself evolve both as a person and as an actor?
Yukana: It is hard for me to judge if I have truly “evolved.” However, I approach every role and every moment with my full effort. If I continue to do what I can seriously at each moment, perhaps I have grown a little bit naturally over time.
One thing I am very conscious of is remembering who I was before I grew. For me, many years may pass, but for a character I return to play, only one year might have passed in their timeline. If I play the role using only who I am today, it might not fit. I need to remember the “me” who played that character with all my might back then. So, I keep a record—a “stock”—of those memories to maintain continuity.
Jeremy: How about as a person, outside of acting? What changes have you seen in your own personal life?
Yukana: Personally, I try to ensure I am evolving every day. My personal theme is to do one new thing daily. If I do that, after 365 days, I have evolved 365 times.
It doesn’t always have to be something huge. It can be something I’ve never seen before, or if I am busy, it can be simple—like starting walking with my left foot instead of my right. But when I have the time, I try to do significant new things, like horseback riding or caving (spelunking).
Jeremy: Watanabe-san, I understand that beyond your role as a producer, you are actually quite the otaku at heart. I was impressed to learn that you personally pitched the Chained Soldier anime project because you were a fan of the manga. What was the most compelling element or creative challenge in the manga that made you certain you wanted to produce this?
Yuki Watanabe: It has been a few years since I pitched it—back around 2021. At that time, Shonen Jump+ was still relatively young; massive hits like Kaiju No. 8 or Dandadan hadn’t started yet. Among the lineup at the time, Chained Soldier stood out immensely and was very popular.
Regarding the content, it obviously features very cute female characters, but the battle scenes are also incredibly serious—some of the most authentic action in a Jump title. It is rare to find a work that balances those two elements so well. That duality is what I found most attractive.
Jeremy: Yukana-san, let’s talk about your role in Chained Soldier. Your character, Fubuki Azuma, balances strict leadership as the chief of the Demon Defense Force with a complex maternal dynamic toward her daughters, particularly Himari. What was the most challenging aspect of voicing a character who possesses both formidable strength and such a nuanced family relationship?
Yukana: I didn’t actually find it that difficult. This isn’t limited to family, but everyone expresses love differently depending on who they are interacting with.
I don’t simply think, “Because she is her daughter, I must act this way.” Instead, I customize my approach to the one-on-one relationship for every character I interact with, just as I do in my private life. Regarding Fubuki’s love for Himari… because Fubuki acknowledges Himari’s potential, she doesn’t just spoil her. Being kind isn’t the only form of love. Strictness can be love, too.
Jeremy: Watanabe-san, as the producer responsible for the show’s identity, what specific qualities did you feel Yukana-san could bring to the role of the 9th Unit Commander that convinced you she was the only choice?
Yuki Watanabe: The original author, Takahiro-sensei, told me that in this series, there are no characters who are just cute or just strong. Everyone must possess both elements.
Among all the female characters, Fubuki is unique because she is the only mother figure. She needs to show leadership as a Commander and is slightly older than the others, yet she still retains a feminine cuteness. We needed a voice that could balance maturity with that cuteness, while also carrying a mysterious, elusive quality. I felt that this specific atmosphere matched Yukana-san perfectly.
Jeremy: That leads to a question regarding the connection between Fubuki and one of your most famous roles, C.C. from Code Geass. Both are highly intelligent women with immense influence. However, C.C. often conveys detachment, while Fubuki carries a sense of duty and warmth. How did you differentiate them technically?
Yukana: Humans are never one-sided. In animation, characters usually have two or three main “branches” or traits. I focus on those main traits but try to build the performance so you can feel other layers underneath.
Technically speaking, when I play highly intelligent characters, I believe it is better to pack more meaning and information into the lines. For C.C. versus Fubuki, their driving emotions are different. It becomes a question of how to mix those qualities—how much warmth to show versus how much detachment. I customize the “mix” for every character I play, from young teens to adult women.
Jeremy: On your YouTube channel, you once discussed your role as C.C. and mentioned an unscripted “half-laugh” that came out spontaneously. Is allowing for that sort of unscripted spontaneity critical even when playing strict characters like Fubuki?
Yukana: I do feel it is important. However, simply being spontaneous isn’t enough; it must not exceed what the work requires. I always check to ensure that any improvisation stays within the boundaries of the series’ world.
Jeremy: Watanabe-san, for the upcoming second season (debuting January 8, 2026), the production moved to Studio Passione. What was the intent behind this change?
Yuki Watanabe: First, I am very grateful to Seven Arcs, who produced the first season. I was very satisfied with their quality—they did a great job balancing the cute characters with the battles.
However, due to various circumstances, Seven Arcs was unable to take on the second season. When we looked for a new studio, Passione came to mind for two reasons. First, they have a reputation for drawing very cute female characters. Second, in recent years, they have put a tremendous amount of effort into high-quality action animation. Since Chained Soldier requires both cuteness and intense action, I felt Passione was the perfect fit to take over.
Jeremy: Final question. Do either of you have a connection to music? Is there any artist that inspires you?
Yukana: I personally love the “gut guitar” (Spanish/Classical guitar). I love that sound, so I often ask musicians who excel at it to help with my own songs. I also like instruments that aren’t too academic or mainstream—folk instruments, or things like the sitar. I enjoy creating sounds that incorporate ethnic elements.
I write my own songs and do arrangements, so I always look for sounds that fit the melody I like. But ultimately, the instrument I like the most is the human voice. That is the best instrument.
Yuki Watanabe: Conversely, I don’t listen to music much on its own. I listen to music as part of a larger experience—combined with visuals, stages, or shows. That is when I find myself thinking, “This song is great.”
For Chained Soldier, we commissioned Kohta Yamamoto, who also worked on Attack on Titan. I felt his music, which has a massive sense of scale and fits intense battles, was perfect for this series. He is very popular and busy, but I essentially begged him to join us for the first season, and I am thrilled he is continuing with us for Season 2.
Jeremy: Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.
Yukana & Watanabe: Thank you very much.
You can watch Chained Soldier 2 on Hi-Dive!
