2023 Summer Anime] "BASTARD! -Dark God of Destruction-" 2nd season "Jigoku no Chinkensha Hen" Commemorating the start of distribution on 7/31! Interview with Noriaki Taniyama (Dirk Schneider), Hiroki Yasumoto (Gala), and Kensho Ono (Cal-Su)

The "Rebel Army of Darkness Arc" (1st season), which was broadcast and distributed in 2022 (January 2023 on BS11 and ABEMA), attracted a great deal of attention as modern animation technology and famous actors and actresses breathed life into the characters who have not faded away.

Finally, "Hell's Requiem Arc" (2nd season) will begin distribution on Netflix on July 31, 2023. Noriaki Taniyama (Dirk Schneider), Hiroki Yasumoto (Gala), and Kensho Ono (Kal-Su) look back on the first season and talk about the second season.

⇒The first season of the series will be released in the summer of 2023!
Summer Anime 2023] "BASTARD! The second season of "BASTARD!!! -God of Dark Destruction-" "Hell's Requiem Arc" starts! Interview with newcomer Takuatsu Terashima (Joshua Belaheer): "I was just roaring at the acting of the co-stars.

The part that is faithful to the original work and the part that boosts it

--Taniyama-san and Yasumoto-san, who participated in the first season as the main actors, what was your impression of the anime "BASTARD! What was your impression of the "BASTARD!

Taniyama: I think it was because of the time period, but the script definitely copied the unique manga expressions. Like, "KONRUAKU! and so on.

Yasumoto (laughs).

Taniyama: Of course, that was the intention, but since it was written as it was, we worked with the mindset of "faithfully reproducing the original work" through the audio. That was impressive. I think the script also showed a sense of "we are making it now, in this era," including the atmosphere of the times. Right?　It was there, wasn't it?

Yasumoto: It was "pure" and in accordance with the original work.

Taniyama Yes, yes.

Yasumoto Even in places where the same words were repeated, you dared to do it as it was.

Taniyama: Except for the speech bubbles, there were other little things like .......

Yasumoto: Like the tographs.

Taniyama: The script was written in the form of a gaya (gruff) style, so in a sense, the "fidelity" was refreshing. I think this is an area that is difficult to achieve even in other works that claim to be based on manga. I have seen many animations based on manga. Conversely, I thought it was a work that had that kind of appeal.

Yasumoto: There were times when I felt uncomfortable listening to the words, but when I read the original work after being given the script, I found that the words were indeed being said. So I was able to guess, "Oh, I see. It was intentional. Of course, it was a strange experience for me to work with the entire production team to establish that direction, although it was impossible to make it too uncomfortable. But it was fun, yes.

From left: Kensho Ono, Noriaki Taniyama, Hiroki Yasumoto

--How did you see the story?

Ono: Since I rarely talked with anyone, I had the impression that I was traveling alone all the time. I read the original story for the first time before participating in the film, and I felt the "exhilaration of being the strongest dark hero" that I felt in the story, and I really felt that in Noriaki's performance as well.

--I think everyone was impressed by the way Dirk Schneider, played by Mr. Taniyama, went through the motions.

Taniyama: That terracy (laughs).

Yasumoto I also praised it elsewhere.

Taniyama Thank you (laughs).

Yasumoto: No, in fact, when we needed to show overwhelming tension, they showed it. When the person in the middle of the ensemble has that much firepower, it naturally pulls those of us around him up as well. I feel that we were allowed to do as much as we wanted. I don't mean to sound clichéd, but the shouts are really cool.

--It's like you are also the vocalist of GRANRODEO.

Yasumoto: That may be at the core of it, but it was also cool as a word of dialogue. There was a "shout" there that only Mr. Taniyama could have done.

Taniyama That Yasumoto-san (laughs).

Yasumoto (laughs). It was fun to listen to.

Ono: What Yasumoto-san just said is really the exact opposite of what I play in Kalu=s. Even in terms of tension. So, when I see my senpai in that way, it makes me feel like I'm ......

Taniyama: "He's trying so hard even at a good age"? (laughs).

Ono: No, no (laughs). (laughs). I always felt like I wanted to give it my all, too.

Yasumoto: Indeed. That is true.

Ono: As for Kalu-Su, I was envious of him because he didn't have a performance that emanated energy. In fact, I think that was the part that overlapped with Kalu-Su's performance. I admired him.

Yasumoto: No, everyone does. Everyone admires Dirk Schneider.

Ono Yes, I really felt that.

Taniyama: No, but I got the impression that everyone really got into the role. I don't mean that as lip service. The men in the cast are also very well cast. I really think that the casting was excellent.

Overwhelming performances on the spot as well.

--In the second season, the appearance of Anthrax, and the fact that it is the first time she will be voiced, and that she will be played by Mami Koyama, has heightened expectations. How did you feel when you were on set?

Taniyama: It was amazing to hear the complete film again. It was scary.

Yasumoto: Noble.

Taniyama: Anthrasax has reached a point where he stands out from the crowd, so I think the question was, "Who should do the voice? I think there was a point where I wondered, "Who should voice him? That's where Koyama-san came in, wasn't it?

Yasumoto: No, he was strangely convincing. It was like, "Oh, so this is what Anthrax is like.

Taniyama: This may sound strange, but Anthrasax was scary. I could really feel the evilness of Anthrax. That's another great thing about the casting this time. Because in the OVAs and drama CDs produced in the past, Mr. Koyama played a different role.

Yasumoto: Arshes Ney.

Taniyama: And this time it's Anthrasax. You yourself said in the lobby of the recording studio, "I've become Anthrasax" (laughs).

Yasumoto (laughs). But you, Takehito Koyasu, were also a Samurai Master (Joshua Berahir) in the past Drama CDs, but now you are Dai-Amon.

Taniyama: He took over from Chiba (Shigeru) in past OVAs. No, that line was amazing.

Yasumoto: It was very interesting.

Taniyama: Dai-Amon was a lot of fun.

--What are some of the memorable lines and characters from the first season that you three remember from ......?

Yasumoto: Okay, I'll go with Dai-Amon.

Taniyama That's what it would be.

Yasumoto: I think boys would love both Seane Hari and Dai-Amon.

Taniyama: Because the roles fit together, Koyasu-san has really developed the character of Dai-Amon.

Yasumoto: He was really charming.

Taniyama: No, Koyasu-san is amazing.

Yasumoto: He really is a monster of a voice actor.

Taniyama: Isn't he?　And his voice is also very strong.

Ono I think it was Sugita (Tomokazu Sugita, who played Abigail) who left a strong impression on me because he was the climax character of the first season. I was impressed by her stubbornness, and I wondered why she was upside down.

Yasumoto: His face.

Ono: Yes (laughs). (laughs) But I also felt that one of the charms of "BASTARD" is that it incorporates the essence of fun in a life-and-death struggle.

Taniyama: In terms of works, I would have to mention the legendary slime episode in the first season. Episode 4. Director Ozaki (Takaharu) put his entire career into it, and he said that he had no regrets now that he had done it. No, it was too early! (laughs) But that scene was really powerful, and although it did not involve Dirk Schneider, it is one of the highlights of the first season.

--Lastly, please tell us about the highlights of the second season.

Yasumoto: First of all, the number of characters has increased, and there is a lot going on on the side of the Demon Warlord, as well as the Samurai.

Taniyama: If you put it that way, that's all there is to it, right?　All I can say is, "It's all the same to the right.

Yasumoto Yes, they are all "various.

Taniyama But the fact that the number of characters increases all at once is significant. I think that will certainly be a major focus.

Yasumoto: And then there is Yoko's growth.

Taniyama That's a good point.

Ono: It's the length of her hair, isn't it?

Taniyama & Yasumoto: That?

Taniyama: That's physical growth (laughs).

(Interview and text by Koji Shimizu (Seven Days War))