Demon Slayer is one of the most visually appealing masterpieces by Ufotable studio. But other than being carried by animation, the series is all about compelling storyline and themes. The sibling bond is something that had us viewers rooting for the MC, but there’s one thing that the series did best.
Apart from animation and pacing, the anime peaks in voice acting. This holds for the English voice actress Abby Trott, who plays Tanjiro’s sister. To everyone’s surprise, her role as Nezuko is widely recognized compared to Momo for this interesting reason.
Demon Slayer VA’s recognizable yet ironic role as Nezuko
Demon Slayer stands as one of the landmark anime in the shonen genre for various reasons. Some attribute its success to Ufotable’s par excellence animation, yet it is gripping in most aspects. This is especially true for the ideas of humanity, loss, and love.
Love, in Koyoharu Gotouge comes in various forms. It is well-detailed in character dynamics, be it Obanai’s feelings toward Mitsuri or Tamayo’s affection toward Yushiro. But what truly stands out is Tanjiro’s bond with his sister Nezuko which takes the stage in Koyoharu Gotouge’s series.
Now, she is one of the most adorable characters in the series and that is certain. But there is more to her than her cutesy face and demeanor. The fact that Nezuko clings to her human side despite being a demon is what makes it so emotional. It makes us more faithful and invested in the story.
Above all, though, the voice actors did a commendable job in bringing out these elements brilliantly. In every sense, voice acting is no cakewalk, especially when it comes to profound characters. Abby Trott deserves applause; however, her role, as acclaimed as it may be, is rather ironic.
In an interview with CBR, Trott opened up about the paradox behind her role. She said:
I’ve done a fair share of anime, but no character has been as recognizable or as beloved as Nezuko. She’s everyone’s precious little bean. So, for me, having so few lines, it was a little bit odd at first, the reception of this character. I felt a little bit of impostor syndrome, you know? […] I felt weird because the character I said the least amount of dialogue for is the character I was most recognized for. Now, I’ve come around to recognize that it’s such an honor to be part of Demon Slayer, and I’ve always felt that.
There’s that one scene where her character comes out in the sun, eventually conquering it. Her character greets Tanjiro “Good Morning”, we know that Trott outdid herself as a VA. It is at this moment where we witness those nuances coming into play, which makes her a seasoned artist.
The creative nuances in voice artistry
Being a voice actor is a tough job, and there are only a few who make the mark. The seiyuu do not get enough praise for bringing out the subtleties within the characters. This also goes for Abby Trott, who also carried out these nuances with her role as Momo Ayase in Dandadan.
There’s a stark difference between both characters that Trott successfully distinguished through her voice. With Nezuko, it has to do with the character’s humanity despite being a demon. Momo Ayase, on the other hand, is a character who is a blend of strength and vulnerability.
There were some challenging moments in the series, especially the scene where both she and A.J. Beckles almost ripped out their vocal cords. The Director postponed it, however it turned out for the best. We wouldn’t have guessed Trott to play both roles so brilliantly, which makes one thing certain.
While animation, sound and designs are important, voice acting is something that amps it up. By no means should a voice actor’s contribution be overlooked, and that goes especially for dub artists.
Demon Slayer is available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Shueisha’s Manga Plus app.
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