Koichi Yamadera: “I want to master 100 different ways to say “Hmf.”

Thoughts on playing Dessler

Posted at Animage Plus, December 24. See the original article here.

In REBEL 3199 Chapter 4, Yamato confronts the giant Dezarium fortress Digaberas, alongside Sasha, now 17 years old, and Abelt Dessler, who has become the leader of the newly established nation Galman-Garmillas.

Interviewer: Please tell us about your memories of Space Battleship Yamato, which was broadcast on TV 50 years ago.

Yamadera: The first TV broadcast started in 1974, when I was in my first year of junior high school. At that time, there were no recording devices, so I watched it in real time from the first episode. I was shocked when I watched it. The direction, with the “Only X days left until the destruction of Earth,” had an incredible impact, and I was completely captivated. Yamato was all anyone talked about at school, and I remember watching every single episode until the very end.

Interviewer: It was a work with a more mature atmosphere, even back then, wasn’t it?

Yamadera: That’s right. Children watched it, but I think it’s a work that adults can enjoy as well. I myself felt like I was becoming a little more mature while watching it. I felt realistically that “Earth is really in danger,” and it was a completely different kind of anime from anything I had seen before.

Interviewer: Which character did you like back then?

Yamadera: Definitely Kodai. I would imitate Kei Tomiyama’s voice, who played Kodai, and yell “Yuki!” with all my might. (Laughs) I couldn’t imitate Dessler’s voice, but I did imitate Analyzer.

Interviewer: What impression did you have of Dessler back then?

Yamadera: He was a villain, but he was incredibly cool. Masato Ibu, who played him, was also wonderful. I was truly surprised to learn that I would be playing Dessler.

Interviewer: In 3199, Dessler finally made his appearance in the fourth chapter.

Yamadera: The script took a long time to arrive, so I was wondering, “What’s going on with Yamato right now?” (Laughs) But I was relieved that Dessler finally got a chance to shine from the fourth chapter onward. Be Forever Yamato is a rare work in that Dessler doesn’t appear in it. However, I heard that 3199 would be based on Be Forever and Yamato III, so I was eagerly awaiting Dessler’s appearance. When I received the script for this chapter, I thought, “Dessler’s finally here!” (Laughs) I was thrilled.

Interviewer: What impression did you have of the entire REBEL 3199 series?

Yamadera: I was always curious about what the Dezarium were. As Dessler, I felt like, “How dare they show their faces after what they did to Garmillas!” In 3199, many characters from the Dezarium side appear, and that’s also a highlight. For example, there’s Skaldart, played by Naoya Uchida, who makes you wonder, “Can I trust him?”, while Kazan, with his distinctive way of speaking, played by Minoru Aoyama, is clearly untrustworthy. There are a lot of characters with strong personalities.

Interviewer: Do you feel any difference in Dessler’s character in 3199 compared to before?

Yamadera: Some people might think, “Has Dessler mellowed out a bit?” For example, when the Ra-jendora fleet from the planet Berth, which is under the control of the Bolar Federation, attacks Dessler’s headquarters on the planet Galman, he asks Yamato for cooperation. I don’t think the original Dessler would have ever said something like that.

However, my desire to save Garmillas remains unchanged. Through the battles I’ve experienced so far, and through my connections with Yamato, Earth, and Starsha, I’ve learned the values of cooperation and respect for harmony. I think that’s what has gradually brought about a change in Dessler. I felt that the Dessler depicted in 3199 was created based on these changes.

Dessler’s special feelings revealed in his conversation with Sasha, the memento of his beloved

Interviewer: How did you approach playing Dessler in the voice recording for 3199?

Yamadera: I didn’t deliberately change my acting style from the previous series. After all, the most important thing is how Director Fukui and Director Yamato want to portray this work and Dessler. After receiving the script, I carefully considered the meaning of each line, the current situation of Garmillas, Dessler’s position, and his relationships with other characters, and acted accordingly.

Interviewer: What points do you particularly focus on when playing Dessler?

Yamadera: Dessler often gives a “Hmf” laugh. I think Mr. Ibu also acted that way, and in 3199, the script says “gives a ‘Hmf’ laugh” many times. I believe that what’s contained in this “Hmf” is very important in playing the character of Dessler. For example, is it a “Hmf” of contempt, or a “Hmf” of empathy, like “Kodai would understand”?

Even without words, Dessler’s emotions are packed into that sound. That’s why it’s so difficult for the actor. But that’s also why it’s so interesting. I hope that everyone who watches will be able to feel the feelings behind that “Hmf.” Personally, I’d like to be called “a voice actor who can do 100 different kinds of ‘Hmf”. (Laughs)

Interviewer: The scene where you and Kodai talk alone was very memorable.

Yamadera: I think Dessler feels that Kodai is a comrade who, like himself, carries a great mission. I think he has been saved in part because of Kodai’s presence. That’s why he couldn’t help but talk to Kodai when he learned Kodai was in despair.
Dessler isn’t the type to talk much. However, in sharing his sorrow with Kodai, he wanted to make sure Kodai didn’t lose sight of what he needed to do. It’s a scene where you can feel the bond between the two of them, as if they’re communicating not with words, but with their hearts.

Interviewer: The dialogue between Dessler and Sasha is also one of the major highlights.

Yamadera: The encounter between these two wasn’t depicted in the original Be Forever. That’s why I think the very act of talking to Sasha had a special meaning for Dessler. I think he has special feelings about being able to talk to her, the child of Starsha, and I was very happy to be able to play that role.

In particular, there’s a scene where Sasha asks, “What kind of person was my mother?” and Dessler’s answer is truly wonderful. It’s full of heartfelt feelings that he wanted to convey to Starsha’s daughter. For me, it was the most important line I delivered in Chapter 4.

Interviewer: It’s also a topic of discussion that Dessler is the narrator for the “previously on” segment at the beginning of Chapter 4.

Yamadera: For the “previously on” segments of 3199, Chapter 1 was narrated by Yuki Mori, Chapter 2 by Ryusuke Domon, Chapter 3 by Captain Yamanami, and this time, in Chapter 4, Dessler is the narrator.

The structure is that the flow of the remake series from 2199 to 3199 is reviewed from Dessler’s perspective, but the narration script written by Mr. Fukui was really dense. (Laughs) It was a little difficult to record because Dessler had never spoken so long and eloquently before. But I poured everything I had into portraying Dessler, encompassing all the thoughts and beliefs that have guided him throughout his life. I would be very happy if you pay attention to this part as well.

Koichi Yamadera profile

Born in Miyagi Prefecture in 1961. Affiliated with Across Entertainment. His major works include the role of Genie in Aladdin, various characters in Anpanman, Ryoji Kaji in Neon Genesis Evangelion, and Inspector Zenigata in Lupin III, The Immortal Bloodline, among others.

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