Reaction based dialogue is what Konosuba's mainly all about, and thankfully having Va's such as Jun Fukushima & Rising Seiyuu Sora Aniyama play the part made Konosuba all the more worthwhile. Great casting selections across the board, because just as we are laughing and having a blast with Konosuba, it seems truly evident that Konosuba's cast were also having the time of their lives delivering their lines as well. Adding that much more character and energy to the rather simplistic roles they had to fulfill, with just a great amount of diversity, emotional range and something fresh to the table, which makes Konosuba as a result, unique it it's own way. I'd just like to talk about some of my favourites, so I won't go through the trouble of listing all of them, because thankfully enough for me, there's only a small handful of characters that get adequate screen time.
Jun Fukushima as Kazuma:Though not my first time hearing Jun's performances, it does seem like it since I've only seen a few of his supporting roles in various other anime such as Shirobako or Fate/Stay Night UBW. Though in Konosuba he does a marvellous job in being equally eccentric, self indulgent and down right sleazy. Also sounding young enough to be an adolescent 16 year old, though having a good balance between masculinity and his youthfulness a voice actor. He does a great job in delivering his shameless lines and conceited dialogue, or even when he's bickering with Aqua in one of their many of exchanges. Always one for escalation, as he has many opportunities when yelling and shouting matches. Also being comical when parodying many of Kazuma's serious moments or stuffy sounding when being pathetic or self indulgent. A awesome casting selection and a eccentric performance as he is conceited. Good stuff.
Sora Aniyama as Aqua:Known for starring various roles such as Aldnoah Zero, Akagame Ga Kill and Tokyo Ghoul. Despite only having made her debut in series such as Aikatsu! and Shinsekai Yori in 2012 she didn't go unnoticed, and as of today has a sizeable resume on her hands including Kononsuba's Aqua, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I can't really think of another seiyuu that could pull of the wails and hilarious antics Sora Aniyama does for Aqua. She does a fantastic job in sounding whimsical and sweet, pathetic when she needs to be, and dignified as the water goddess Aqua demands to be. My issues with her character lie not with her own performance, though with the screenplay and general role itself. Like many of Konosuba's characters, behind the humour and aesthetic are pretty simplistic characters, and it's a little bit of a shame with the amount of diversity there is for Sora Aniyama to actually display her emotional range, because she has a great sense of dynamics and cadence. Though this is a problem that more or less plagues every lead within Konosuba's cast, and for the large majority the character that she was given, gave Aqua just that much more personality and life, for the simplistic character she really is.
Rie Takahashi as Megumin:Megumin voiced by Rie Takahashi was probabaly my favourite in all of Konosuba. Like Sora Aniyama, Rie Takahashi is also somewhat of a rookie seiyuu, but she just does a fantastic job in portraying the fiery chuunibyou characteristics that Megumin has, as well as her more timid and plush side as character. I think Rie Takahashi brings the beauty of working in Megumin's more embarrassed in timid side, along with her fiery and punctual rants of her "legacy" as a crimson demon, or perhaps when chanting explosions. I found her sense of modulation, dynamics and cadence when speaking to be excellent. Her voiced I feel is bodied with nice overtones, though sounds youthful and silly at the same time, it's just great, being that altogether Studio Deen and Rie Takahashi as a collective unit were able to work in a lot of emotional range and diversity, enough so that she's become somewhat of a fan favourite and mine as well, as she's relatable in how she goes on in her boyish delusions of grandeur and how she's innocent and flawed. A definite highlight in watching Konosuba and I hope we'll see more of her in the future to come. Excellent casting choice and performance.
Ai Kiyano as Darkness:Wow, Ai Kiyano is in everything don't you think? reprising roles with just an absolutely ridiculous amount of versatility and casted many of my favourite anime, I was like "She in Hyouka? Tales of Zestiria X? Anohana? Chihayafuru? Aria? Your Lie In April? 3 Gatsu no Lion? Nagi Asukara? And Konosuba, And much much more? Yup - Ai Kiyano is absolutely everywhere, like holy S*%$!
Now what about her role as Darkness or rather Dustiness Ford Lalatina?
Meh.. Well let me first establish Darkness isn't exactly my favourite character in the first place, and despite having a veteran seiyuu, the best of the best so to speak, it wasn't enough to change the fundamental aspect that Darkness was simply just a Service character. To no fault of Ai Kiyano however, as she actually did a good job in being ridiculously shameful and sultry in many of her innuendo scenes, and Ai Kiyano will always have a pleasant voice, that without a doubt was in deed able to capture her role as darkness completely, I just don't feel having such an inherently bad character fundamentally can have even the most experienced and best of seiyuu's such as Ai Kiyano make Darkness a success as a character. It's not an uncommon occurrence, oddly because great VA's seemingly like the challenge of voicing terrible characters. Though more on to my actual experience with her rendition. Her voicing of darkness had a bit heftier overtones, that were sweet and resonant, complimenting Darkness's larger stature and personality. Often taking each opportunity to resonate and pace her self properly. A lot of talent here obviously, though such a shame for it to be wasted on such a dumbed down character.
Yui Horie as Wiz:Yui Horie is a seiyuu I'm quite familiar with, and she's been in the industry for almost 2 decades now. Being in some of my favourites such as the entirety of The Monogatari series as Hanekawa Tsubasa, Kanon & Toradora to name of few. As a veteran seiyuu, despite not really doing much different from how she'd voice say Hanekawa from the Monogatari Series she still none the less did a fantastic job in fitting in with her role as Wiz. Her voice is generally sweet as it is curious, and polite and timid as expected. Though she's doesn't have much screen time her role as Wiz was definitely one of my favourites amongst others within the Konosuba cast. In rare moments, particularly within S2 she offers contrast with more harsh dialogue when challenging the status quo, definitely a highlight when watching her in Konosuba. I'd love to see Yui Horie play a much more prominent role if there's any possibility in there being a potential S3. Pretty good stuff and an excellent casting choice.
Segment Conclusion -
While Konosuba isn't perfect story or character wise, the dub just bring so much to table, so much personality fulfilled within their roles and characters that weren't necessarily their to begin in the original text. I found my self at times in awe and laughter at just the great amount of passion and effort that wen't into breathing life into Konosuba's characters, and in the end, thanks to great casting choices and veteran and new talented seiyuu's alike, one of the most notable experience with Konosuba I had was actually with the dub, and how much personality each VA had to offer. Pretty great stuff.
Original Soundtrack & SFX - Thoughts & Impressions
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| Yoshikazu Iwanami |
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| Yasumasa Koyama |
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| Masato Kōda |
Masato Kōda's music also plays a part in parodying and emphasizing ridiculously exaggerated cliche's through the music, and although the corky music is nothing new for comedic genres, I do feel that Masato does take it a step further so to speak and exaggerates the most ridiculous moments to great effect. Having full access to entire an orchestra, ranging from brass instruments such as the Tenor, Alto and Baratone sax, to wood winds such as the flute, oboe and clarinet. Also Implementing stringed interments such as the Violin, the cello, contrabass and even guitar. As a bonus, Konosuba also has wonderful opening and ending themes for both seasons, I absolutely adore S1's opening theme and S2's ending themes incorporating catchy pop rock songs, along with more humble folk songs, finding it great that main cast seiyuu's such as Sora Aniyama, Ai Kiyano and Rie Takahashi also contributed vocals for their respective songs, a clever idea that I feel personalizes the experience more and just makes it more enjoyable for the audience.
