Yu-Gi-Oh! celebrated a huge milestone at Anime NYC, as it is the 25th anniversary of the anime series. Fans gathered at the panel with original Seto Kaiba voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda and producer Teruaki Jitsumatsu. The two panelists discussed many topics regarding the anime, including some behind-the-scenes of working on the series and in some of the films. For any Yu-Gi-Oh! fan, it was the place to be at Anime NYC to reminisce on the popular franchise, going back to the beginning, where it all started.
Being that it was his first time in New York, Kenjiro was enjoying the sights and getting to connect with fans from all over the US. The Japanese voice actor was part of the huge history of the anime, showcasing a sizzle reel highlighting the rivalry between Yugi Muto and Seto Kaiba. Both Kenjiro and Teruaki shared their special moments working on the series. Kenjiro recalled the first time seeing Yugi’s voice actor, Shunsuke Kazama, who auditioned for the role when he was in school. He chatted about getting to work with the crew and how some of them told him up front how they were into the series and playing the card game growing up. After joining the team for Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, Teruaki explained how the storylines were given to him ready to play out on the show.
Ever since the show ended, Kenjiro recalled how it had been over 10 years since he voiced the character. He last played Kaiba in a video game, where fans noticed that his voice had changed since the anime concluded. He wasn’t too thrilled about the comment on how much he’s changed, but he was ecstatic when he was allowed to play the character one more time in the film Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions. During his time voicing Kaiba, Kenjiro felt he resonated with the character and loved his characterization. He even mentioned how creator Kazuki Takahashi, was impressed by his portrayal of him.
The panel listed some of the best Kaiba moments, as chosen by fans. For third place, it was Kaiba summoning Obelisk the Tormentor from the ground during The Dark Side of Dimensions. Kenjiro said he was impressed by how the visuals were and thanked the fans for making the scene memorable for him. To make it extra special, he performed the scene in a live acting showcase on stage. In the anime, it was Kaiba’s duel with Isis Ishtar at Battle City that made it to second place. Kenjiro treated fans by performing the special summon, saying that Blue-Eyes White Dragon holds a special place in his heart. The top spot went to Kaiba’s long-awaited duel with Yugi at the Battle City semi-finals. Kenjiro said it was a strange and great friendship that both Yugi and Kaiba share that transcends their rivalry. An interesting tidbit that Kenjiro shared was that even though the scene was only a few pages in the manga, an entire episode was given to that special moment.
The final section of the panel was a Q&A where both panelists answered some of the most pressing questions about working on the series. Kenjiro touched on getting the voice right for Kaiba and trying different takes until he perfected it. He added that this was his first voice acting gig after coming from the theater. Teruaki talked about how each of the series he worked on had a different theme, like friendship for the first show. He also said that it was Kaiba’s development as a duelist that made Yugi a strong character, and how they both complemented each other throughout the original anime’s run. Teruaki found it a challenge to cast the right actor for the roles, but he said he wanted to give a fresh talent a chance.
In the final remarks, both Kenjiro and Teruaki thanked the fans for all their support over the years. The producer said that the franchise is the only one that has made everyone like not just the anime, but the manga, card game, and the video games as well. He said that is how all of it connects and brings the fans together. Kenjiro added that he liked the bonds of friendship on the show. He said that even though some of the characters had dark sides to them, they always find a bright future, and it’s one of the reasons why the show is so good.
Stay tuned for more content coming from Anime NYC.
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