Delicious in Dungeon voice actor Kentaro Kumagai (Laios) and Sayaka Sembongi (Marcille) sat down for a press conference during Anime Expo 2023. The cast answered questions and discussed their work on the upcoming series.
Anime Trends participated in a multimedia interview with the cast of Delicious in Dungeon.
What are your impressions of AX and meeting American fans and is this your first time meeting them? What was your biggest shock?
Kentaro Kumagai: This is not only my first time at AX but also in the US! It was a very fresh perspective and a new experience. What really surprised me was the scene when a car turned left. I panicked but remembered that in America people drive on the right. We drive on the left in Japan.
I never imagined that there would be so much passion for Japanese anime, video games, manga, and cosplay. This has been an incredible experience, especially being part of the industry. To see fans respond so positively is amazing. I can feel it on my skin and it makes me so happy.
Sayaka Sembongi: This is also my first time going to AX and America! The most striking thing is the lack of humidity. For those who have been to Japan, the humidity is terrible. When I got off the plane and left the airport, I noticed the air was dry! I was very happy and really enjoyed it.
Similar to what Kumagai-san said, I am honored and impressed by the love and support of the American audience and fan community. It’s incredible to be a part of an anime that fans have responded to so enthusiastically. I even wanted to sit down and talk privately with fans and ask them questions about the series. I will take all this experience, love and support and bring it back to Japan. I will do better and hope everyone likes it.
Photo source: KADOKAWA
How did you prepare for your respective role in the anime?
Kentaro Kumagai: After accepting the role, I wanted to see how I could relate to this character. What do we have in common? Laios has a younger sister and I have a younger brother. From an older brother’s perspective, that’s how I started preparing for the role. But Laios is a somewhat unique and strange character, so I entered into it with a more “flattering” perspective and will go with the flow of the character.
Sayaka Sembongi: Anime has a lot of eating and drinking. My character, Marcille, is not willing to eat monster meat. So I was thinking about what foods in the real world would resemble these foods. For example, slime is like “Kanten” in Japanese food. I tried to understand Marcille by thinking of similar dishes.
During recording, the sound director often provides feedback. Did they get any feedback during the first recording session?
Kentaro Kumagai: We had all four of the main cast together for the first recording session. When we record the voice, the director gives feedback. Remembering the manga and Laios, I feel it’s important to keep the distance that Laios has from everyone. That’s a huge part of my personality.
Sayaka Sembongi: What I remember most is that the director said to take it down a notch during the first recording session. If I had a higher voice, it would make Marcille sound younger, and a lower voice would make it more mature. That’s the direction I really remember and it’s still imprinted in my mind.
During the recording session, were there any particular scenes that were difficult to record?
Kentaro Kumagai: My character is challenging so there are many difficult things. In the first episode, when Laios eats a giant scorpion, he says “Eew…” I did it many times and it was probably the hardest part.
Sayaka Sembongi: There are many funny and humorous stories in the series. Marcille had to say “yada!” (ARE NOT!). It’s really hard to stay in character. I can’t raise my voice too high and need to balance that with the character. I enjoy a variety of voices, including using my natural voice to balance things out.
Image source: KADOKAWA
Kentaro Kumagai: As for Laios, he doesn’t know he’s being funny and is often very serious. The characters around him will be surprised and many will laugh. There is a lot more subtle humor than punchlines compared to other anime. You will giggle.
Sayaka Sembongi: The humor is a lot more subtle in Delicious in Dungeon.
Since food is the focus of this series, how have your views on food or cooking changed?
Kentaro Kumagai: From a young age I was taught to say “itadakimasu” before eating. It’s an important part of Japanese culture but it’s almost become a habit. That’s something you tend to forget the basic meaning of. When I played Laios in Delicious in Dungeon, that meaning was real. In the story, the characters kill people and take their lives to eat. That aspect really adds a whole new definition to the phrase. It gives me a new perspective.
[Hôm qua], I ate a lot of steak and there was nothing left on the plate! I won’t waste any food.
Sayaka Sembongi: The director brought cybister fimbriolatus (a diving beetle) from the Amazon and scorpions to the filming session. After eating, it was a great experience and more open to trying things.
If you could try any dish in the chain, which one would you be willing to try? >
Kentaro Kumagai: I will eat what Laios would eat. It is nabe (Japanese hot pot) and a type of convenience food. There is an element of Japanese culture in it. The dish is called “Giant Scorpion and Walking Mushroom Hotpot” in the series. I will eat that!
Sayaka Sembongi: I also want to try nabe! But there are many more I won’t try in this series. I definitely wouldn’t touch anything with parasites…
What do you hope audiences will feel and experience after watching Delicious in Dungeon?
Kentaro Kumagai: There are many humorous passages in Laios. But there are also more complicated parts to come. I’m so excited to be on this journey with Laios along with the audience. I’m excited to see how that character develops and hope you enjoy it too.
Sayaka Sembongi: First of all, Marcille loves to eat. The whole aspect of taking a life and receiving a life is very profound. That is also the journey of four characters. How they interact as a team and rely on each other will be extremely important. The anime will have humor but also the theme of needing others to live. It’s going to be really important and I’m looking forward to seeing it.
Anime Expo took place in Los Angeles from July 1 to 4. The world premiere of Delicious in Dungeon volume one was shown during the Studio TRIGGER panel at the event.
Source: correspondence via email