At this year’s Anime NYC, we had the wonderful opportunity to interview two voice actors from the English dub of DAN DA DAN, including Abby Trott, who voices Momo Ayase, and AJ Beckles, who voices Okarun. We asked them about how they first came to join the project, how they approach their roles, what they think makes the series such a resounding early hit, and about their own experiences with the paranormal.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
Joining DAN DA DAN
When both actors’ roles were first announced, they both shared their thoughts and praised the series heartily, praising “Science SARU’s immaculate animation” (Trott) and noting the series is “one of those roles/stories that only comes around only once or twice in someone’s life” (Beckles). To start our conversation, I asked both about how they originally came to work on the project.
Beckles: I reached out to the casting director about four weeks before the audition. So I went out, not because I knew anything, but I was just like, I feel like if the show’s coming out this time, then, maybe around this time would be a good time [to reach out]. So I reached out and she was very nice and was like, “Sure, I’ll keep an eye out if anything comes by.” And she sent me the audition. I was very, very nervous. I sent around four or five takes because I wanted to make sure that if I didn’t get the role, I had no regrets. And luckily I got the role. So that’s how it kind of happened for me.
Trott: I think I got this one through my agent, who casting requested a read from. I hadn’t heard of the manga until I got the audition. And we got to see a couple of clips from the show for the scenes that we recorded for the audition. One of them being the scene [from episode 1] with Momo and Okarun in the hall, where they’re arguing about ghosts and aliens and challenging each other. And I was immediately in love with the show. I thought, “This is something so different. It’s so fun and so cool.” And the Japanese actors’ performances from Hanae-san and Wakayama-san are so raw and authentic and they feel so real. Again, these are very extreme characters, but they are grounded in a relatable reality that we can all, I don’t know, enjoy, I think. So I was hooked immediately and I really, really wanted to book it. And I was ecstatic when I did. And I still am. I’m smiling.
In celebration of the premiere of the series’ English dub at Anime NYC, Trott even went and picked up a pair of alien earrings specially for the occasion. For Trott, the series, including the manga, was new at the time of the audition. For Beckles though, he’s been a fan of the manga for years. Trott quickly became one too after getting exposure to the anime clips. Both explained how voraciously they read the manga.
Beckles: Big fan. I read every week, whenever there’s a new chapter available. I have all the volumes and everything like that. I actually, I think, first discovered it two years ago. And at the time, I didn’t fully catch up because I was like, “I need to let it build.” But I’ve known about it for a long time. And it’s so, so good.
Trott: [I read it] immediately. Because I saw the animation, I was like, “What is this? I need to know more.”
So I immediately went out and bought the manga and read it. Also just for character information and reference. And it’s fantastic. And the illustrations are peak. It’s so good.
The actors explained that reading the manga for a series they’re working on isn’t something that they always do, especially when the Japanese voice acted episodes are available as reference material. I asked whether having advanced knowledge of a series is typical for them.
Trott: You know, not always. And sometimes I like to go in without having read the manga because I like to see in the moment what the animation is and kind of feel it out in a different way. You know, it’s more raw and spontaneous sometimes for certain things. But for this one, I definitely wanted to do the research because I felt like this character of Momo was pretty complex. And I wanted to figure her out before I went in just so I knew where she was coming from 100%.
Beckles: I feel like I read a lot of manga in general. Usually the more popular ones, if they come through, I’m already kind of familiar with them. But if I’m not familiar — in this case, we got clips and stuff and we can kind of hear what they did in the Japanese and try to gauge what’s going on and go from there. Sometimes I do really, really rely on those, especially when you have two amazing actors, like Hanae-san and Wakayama-san, doing their performances. But sometimes I feel like that can be a trap for me and it can make me overthink things a little bit. So maybe I’ll watch it once just to get the general vibe and then I’ll try to break down the scene myself like I would any other thing and go for it. But if I book the thing, then I definitely will try to seek out whatever form of media I can. Maybe if there’s a couple episodes already out in Japanese, I’ll watch them. If the manga is out, then I’ll try to read as much as I can. So that’s kind of how I go about auditioning for anime.
Performing an Incredible Anime
Something that helps make DAN DA DAN special is its incredibly fast tempo and quick switches between comedic, action-oriented, and even romantic elements. I asked both voice actors what their approaches were for handling these sorts of dynamic transitions within their voice acting.
Trott: That’s part of the fun. That’s part of what makes this show so special and so fun to record is that you said it, there’s action, we’re screaming, we are maxing out our voices on an 11. But then there are those really tender, vulnerable moments where our characters are speaking their truth and pouring their hearts out. And as an actor, it’s the best when you have such dynamic characters like that you get to explore a range of emotions with. And also, it’s so funny. It’s so funny. And I love comedy. So we try to make it as funny as we can and we have fun with it. But yeah, we’re informed a lot by the animation and the Japanese performances that are already there. And we just try to take what’s there and make the best English adaptation of that that we can. And we’re giving it our all.
Beckles: Yeah, the sessions really beat me up because it’s all over the place. And it can be a little bit difficult. But every single session I walk out, I’m like, “Oh, now I have to wait until next time.” I just love being in the booth and working on this show. And it does make it difficult. And it’s why I love our director, Alex von David. He will sit down with us. We’ll just do a moment when we’re really intimate and it’s down here and it’s sad. And then it’ll be funny. And then he has to shock that back into my system where it’s like, oh, I have to be out of this moment now because that moment’s over. And that’s done. And we served it. And now we have to go on to the next thing. And there’s a lot of that. It keeps you on your toes. And as an audience member watching it, I don’t think — you’re kind of holding your breath the whole time because you don’t know what to expect. And I feel like that’s part of the thing that reels you in. And then you get to the end of the episode and you’re like, already? And you have to watch the next one.
Trott: Yeah, it is a roller coaster. And also for that reason, like you said, it’s so fast-paced that I think this is a show that is rewatchable. Like, I want to go and watch episode one again. We just saw it but I want to watch that again. There’s little — you notice things the second time where you’re like, “Oh, that’s cool. I didn’t see that.” And there’s a lot going on. So I think audiences will benefit from rewatching this one for sure.
I also asked each actor their favorite moment(s) from episode 1.
Actor answers with (minor) spoilers for episode 1
Beckles: My personal favorite moment is when Okarun comes through the telephone to save Momo. And he’s yelling at the aliens. He’s like, “You know, do whatever you want with me.” But he’s kind of airing out his frustrations and everything like that. And I remember doing that in the booth and I almost cried. I was like, wow. Because in the moment, I was thinking back to why Okarun was saying what he was saying — without spoiling. And it’s one of those things where even though it was the most ridiculous thing, he’s yelling at aliens about whatever. I feel like we can all relate to this to feeling maybe a little betrayed or something like that. And yeah, that was probably my favorite moment.
Trott: I have two. One of them is the hallway scene where Momo basically yells at poor Okarun and then immediately feels bad about it and says, “That was mean.” You know, acknowledges her actions. And that’s kind of a special moment for her because she doesn’t always do that. She could have just walked out and been done with it. But she felt sensitivity towards Okarun and that’s the first we see of it and I love it. I mean, I guess the first time they meet, she’s standing up for him too. But then the second moment that I love so much is at the very end of the episode when they’re shuffling off into the darkness after this horrible experience and Momo kicks Okarun in the leg. And I’m like, “Oh, I love that.” It just shows that little bit of physical contact. It just shows they have bonded.
Beckles: Already. They may not realize it. And add on to that, there’s a kind of, like the last few frames, you know. There’s this explosion and everything. There’s the way it’s handled artistically. I like the moment, of course, between Okarun and Momo. But just looking at it, I was like, “This is so incredible.” Animation-wise, it’s so interesting.
Both at Anime NYC and on Twitter following the debut of the series compendium film, DAN DA DAN: First Encounter, responses to DAN DA DAN have been incredibly positive and seemingly universal. Rarely do I see someone who watched the series and didn’t enjoy at least some aspect of it. I asked both voice actors what they think it is that makes the series so appealing to so many people.
Beckles: Well, because there is really something for everybody. You know, there is the romance. There is the action. There are all the things that you would love. I feel like as a Shonen lover, you’re gonna love the action. But there’s something here for maybe some Shojo lovers. There’s all sorts of different things. And on top of that, it’s so ridiculous. If you hear about what’s going on, you’re gonna be a little interested. And then on top of that, it’s so real at the same time. So you can relate outside of all the extra and the aliens and the ghosts and the stuff. You can relate to two teenagers trying to build a relationship. Whether it be friendship or, you know, whatever else. It’s just seeing adolescence. We can all relate to it.
Trott: Yeah, this is not your typical Shonen at all. It’s just so dynamic. And again, it has the action, the comedy, the romance. And I think that it’s so fast-paced. There’s so much happening that it kind of just strings you along. You’re just in it when you’re watching it. Or when you’re reading it, too. It’s the same vibe when you’re reading the manga. There’s just so much happening. You’re like, what? It hooks you with all of that, the bells and whistles. But it also hooks you with those moments of that raw emotional vulnerability of these characters when they are — when it comes down to it and they’re speaking their truths and they’re in those moments where they’re honest and open, I think everybody can relate to that kind of vulnerability and balanced in contrast with everything else. It makes it just such a special dynamic show.
Paranormal Activity
To close, I wanted to ask both of them whether they’ve had any experiences themselves related to aliens or ghosts. For Beckles’ part, he doesn’t believe in paranormal things (maybe he’s due for a visit to a spooky tunnel somewhere) while Trott shared a unique paranormal experience her and her mother had in the past.
Beckles: No, I don’t think I’ve — I don’t believe in paranormal stuff. But creepy things, for sure. Like sleep paralysis. I remember when I was a kid, I would wake up and I’d be like, whoa, what’s that shadow in the room? But I would know that it was a shadow, but it still looked very scary. But I don’t know that I’ve experienced anything paranormal. Or sometimes, I don’t know if this happens to you guys, but you’ll walk around and then you’ll think someone called your name and you’ll be like, “Oh, what do you want, Mom?” And she’s like, “I didn’t say anything.”
Trott: Yeah, I don’t know if I believe in ghosts per se, but I believe that there are things in this world we cannot explain. I don’t know if it’s ghosts, I don’t know what it is, but I had one weird experience one time that it drives me crazy to this day because I don’t know what happened. It’s nothing extreme, but one day — I’m going to tell this story. I was walking near my house. There’s a loop road, so just in the woods, it goes around in a loop, loops back to the street and then connects back to my street. And I was taking a walk with my mom as we have done so many times and we’re walking and we’re just chatting. And then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, I was just stricken with this fear. No sound, no smell. Just all of a sudden, I’m just experiencing fear. And it was confusing more than anything. And I didn’t know what to do with that because I was like, why? Like what? There’s such a calm, beautiful evening; what’s happening? And I went to turn to my mom and I don’t even know what I was going to say to her. Like “I’m feeling weird” or something. So all I said was, “Mom?” And she goes, “Grab my arm and walk as fast as you can.” And I was like, “What?” Like she was feeling the same thing of just like all of a sudden fear, the sense of “Get out of there immediately.” So we grabbed arms and we just walked out of that area. And then once we got to the other street, it was fine. Nothing was wrong. We didn’t hear anything. We didn’t smell anything. We didn’t see anyone. It was just out of nowhere, no explanation. And then I asked her, because I’m a very scientific, like I need answers [type of person]. So I was like, “What just happened?” And she’s like, “I don’t know. Maybe there was some bad energy.” And I was like, “Bad energy? That doesn’t make any sense. What? Like what?” And to this day, I don’t know what that was. And it drives me crazy.
We’d like to thank Abby Trott and AJ Beckles for taking the time to speak to us during Anime NYC 2024. It was a lovely conversation and even got a bit spooky toward the end. A few weeks ago, additional English cast members for DAN DA DAN were revealed. Additionally, the series compendium film, DAN DA DAN: First Encounter, is currently airing in theaters. The anime premieres on October 3 globally on both Netflix and Crunchyroll.
©Yukinobu Tatsu/SHUEISHA, DANDADAN Production Committee
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