We had the incredible opportunity to speak with Kylie McNeill, the English voice of Kimi Sakunaga in The Colors Within. Directed by Naoko Yamada (K-On!, A Silent Voice, The Heike Story) and animated by Science Saru (Dandadan, Inu-Oh, Devilman Crybaby), The Colors Within or Kimi no Iro was released in Japan in August last year. However, North American audiences only recently got the chance to enjoy the film thanks to GKIDS.
GKIDS also took care of its English dubbed version with an amazing cast. One name stands out in particular—Kylie McNeill, the voice of Kimi Sakunaga in the movie. Anime fans might also know her as Suzu Naito and Belle in Mamoru Hosoda’s and Studio Chizu’s Belle. Other than that, she’s a talented singer-songwriter as well, having performed in various venues and events, including 54 Below, The Bourbon Room, and Ohayocon. She’s also a great actress, recently appearing in one of the episodes of the long-running Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Anime Corner had an opportunity to talk with Kylie about The Colors Within, her career outside of voice acting, and her obsession with Twenty One Pilots. Read on for the conversation.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
Intro: First of all, congratulations on The Colors Within! It’s a truly amazing film and it’s crazy to think that your first two anime roles are lead characters in Mamoru Hosoda’s and Naoko Yamada’s films.
A: Thank you! You’re so nice!
Q: To kick things off, I wanna ask you how your life has been since Belle? I’m sure your life has changed quite significantly in some ways ever since. Can you talk to me through it?
A: Sure! I think Belle was two or three years ago, and I’ve been auditioning a lot. I’ve been making a lot of music and preparing to release my own music, and that’s been its own journey in and of itself. I also did a role on Law and Order: SVU—that was fun. It’s been a whirlwind and it also feels like a long journey.
Q: I saw your posts on Instagram and YouTube where you go to conventions, festivals, and other events, interacting with so many people cosplaying as Belle, and seeing your name on people’s Spotify Wrapped—it must be wild! So how do you find yourself adapting in this new life of yours? Is it quite bizarre to navigate and experience all of these new things at such a fast pace?
A: Yeah, that’s crazy! It’s so strange because I think I live a pretty normal life so then when I go online and see interactions from people who like the movie or listen to the music, it can be surprising. I’ve even said this before that sometimes I feel—definitely not to the extent of this—a little bit like Hannah Montana. Like, I live normal in real life, but also kinda feels like a different entity online. People message me on Instagram and TikTok saying how much they enjoy the music. So, yeah, it is very bizarre, but I love it.
Q: That’s great to hear! Now going to The Colors Within, you voice Kimi Sakunaga, one of the three lead characters. How did you get the role in the first place?
A: I got an audition through the dubbing company and I just auditioned. I got a scene or two and I just recorded those in my room, and I sang a song. I forgot actually which song I sang, but I think I sang American Teenager by Ethel Cain—she’s one of my favorite artists! I chose that song because I thought it’s more of a pop-rock vibe that maybe Kimi’s songs could potentially be just based on the character description they gave me. I thought maybe that would be fitting. So I submitted those two and then I got a callback. So I got to go in person to the studio and record my voice to the video, to the actual scenes of Kimi talking.
Q: So you were Kimi all along? You didn’t try to audition for Totsuko or someone else?
A: Actually, I did audition for Totsuko! I auditioned for Totsuko, Kimi, and the nun (Sister Hiyoko). So I read and recorded for each of those and then Kimi was the one that I got a callback for.
Q: I’m pretty sure you said you resonate with Suzu so much because she is a shy, reserved, quiet type of girl in high school, and you were also the same in some ways. On another hand, Kimi is this popular girl who’s liked by everyone. So what is it about Kimi that really resonates with you so much personally?
A: I’d say Kimi also expresses herself through music in the way Suzu does too. Maybe Kimi is hiding her love for music a bit but it’s kinda such a personal thing for her. So I think when I write music, it’s like the most personal I could get. Yeah, I’d say I relate to her in that way.
Q: As you said, Kimi and Suzu are two completely different characters but still have some same traits. So what adjustments or changes did you have to make in voicing Kimi compared to Belle? Any difference in how you approach each of them?
A: Definitely. There were a lot of differences. For Kimi, I definitely got to use more of my actual voice. I adjusted it a bit to fit her vibe, like she speaks in a kind of a lower tone. It’s not exaggerated and sometimes higher pitched like Suzu. Suzu was kind of frantic and she had a lot of voice cracks, and she’s very nervous. Then Belle, is like, spoke with this air of confidence that Suzu didn’t have. I think Kimi was just more down to earth and real than either of those characters. And that also goes for the singing. Singing as Kimi was more like pop rock vibes instead of elevated, more musical theatrical like Belle.
Q: The one thing that I always find fascinating about the dubbing process of an anime film is how they localize its theme songs. Because it’s not just translating, but a whole different process. So, I’m curious, were you also involved in the localization process of the theme songs?
A: I actually was for the planet song “Amen, I’m Going Somewhere.” I got to collaborate with Stephanie Sheh in adapting those lyrics for that song and she adapted the lyrics for the other two songs. So, yeah, I was involved in that song’s process and that was really fun.
Q: Can you share a bit more about the process? Because the song is kinda “childish” in a way Totsuko wrote it. So what was the process like to adapt it without it being cheesy?
A: I got an instrumental track and the Japanese version. I just listened and read the initial English translations. But the way they scanned, it would’ve sounded a little bit awkward—if you just directly translate it. So I kinda would listen to the tracks on repeat and look at the Google Sheets of the lyrics. I just would try to honor what the original translation was and make it more sense in English. So it was a lot of that. It was a lot of just playing it over and over, singing it out loud over and over until it scanned well.
Q: What was your favorite scene in the film and why was it the concert scene?
A: (laughs) I really love recording that and I love watching that. I would say it’s definitely one of my favorite scenes and during the screening, Naoko Yamada was there and we were kind of pulled backstage to meet each other and all that stuff. And when I heard the music coming from the other room, I was like, “I’m going.” so I went, and then she followed. Then we got to watch it together. So that was special.
I would say also so many of Totsuko’s scenes are my favorite. I think they’re so good, she’s so humorous and adorable. Libby Rue, who plays her, is so good and funny.
Q: You brought up earlier that you worked together with Stephanie Sheh again and also with Michael Sinterniklaas? Knowing the three of you collaborated in Belle, does that make the whole process easier?
A: Absolutely! They’ve always been so unabashedly supportive and sweet and kind and considerate. So knowing them better now than I did initially when I met them two or three years ago and getting to work with them again on such a special project was such a lovely experience and also to feel more involved with the adapting of that song’s lyrics and stuff like that.
Q: You said you had a screening and live Q&A with Naoko Yamada. What was it like to hang out with Naoko Yamada? Because she seems like the sweetest person ever.
A: She is the sweetest person ever! I was such a fangirl around her. I was so nervous to meet her but I was so happy. And it was so special to watch her own movie with her. Like, I mean, the tears were shed. It was so special. She’s such a genius and so humble and sweet and adorable and beautiful. Yeah, I have nothing but nice things to say about her. So sweet.
Q: So what’s next for Kylie McNeill? Because you’re a talented singer and songwriter, a great actress, and you’re also amazing as a voice actress. What do you have in store for the future? Maybe more voice-over roles? More acting? Or even an album?
A: Thank you! I’m open to whatever the universe has to offer. I definitely am finishing up some music stuff, so I’ll be releasing music as soon as I can, and I’m really excited about that. It’s been a very long journey until this point, so I’m excited to do that. I’m excited to play more shows and get out into the world and sing more. I’ve also been auditioning a lot so hopefully acting too. So, yeah, all of the things.
Q: Okay, for this last question is gonna be a stupid-fun one. So, I heard you’re a big fan of Twenty One Pilots, and so am I! So as a fellow Clikkie (a term for a Twenty One Pilots fan), I have to ask, what is your favorite song and favorite album of Twenty One Pilots?
A: Oh my God! This is my favorite moment of my life. Thank you so much for asking that! I just love them so much. A favorite song? I have so many favorite songs of theirs. I really love their new album, Clancy. I think they did a fantastic job. I think their discography is fantastic. They just don’t have a bad album. And If I had to say favorite album, I think it changes all the time because I’m constantly listening to them, so I go to different ones. I’ve got a special place in my heart for Vessel, though.
In terms of favorite song? Maybe “Taxi Cab”? Maybe “Addict with a Pen”? But right now, I’ve been listening to a lot of Clancy and I love “Midwest Indigo”! I think that’s such a good song. That’s so funny, I literally was listening to them on the way here this morning. Thank you so much for asking me this!
Did you watch their live performance at The Game Awards [2024] where they delivered “The Line”? It’s crazy!
A: It’s amazing! That high note, oh my God. Me and my brother were like, “OMG!” and playing it over and over again. It’s incredible.
Exactly! I think for me personally, Trench is my favorite album and “My Blood” is my favorite song. Because it has these really dirty bass sounds and rock vibes. Also, the lyrics are so good.
A: Oh, I love that one! It’s so good. I saw their Trench tour live a couple times. I was one of those crazy people who stood in line. So I waited for two days outside of Madison Square Garden. I was like 16 or 17 and it was two nights on the street. It was a lot. But, you know, I was in the pit, and we had a great time. So, yeah, I love Trench. I have it on vinyl too.
We’d like to thank Kylie for taking the time to chat with us, and to GKIDS and 42West for making this interview possible. We can’t wait to see what’s next for Kylie!
The interview was conducted by Rakha Alif, with assistance on questions and editing from Tamara and Marko (Anime Corner).
The Colors Within
Official Website: kiminoiro.jp
Official X: @kiminoiro_movie
Images: © “Kimi no Iro” Production Committee
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