Aya Hirano has many fans and it’s well deserved. She’s young, pretty and the way she transitions from her normal squeaky voice to ‘Damesho, Hamada-san’ is just ooooh-la-la.
However, this post is to sing the praises of Yuko Goto who voiced Mikuru Asahina alongside Aya Hirano in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. While Mikuru isn’t my favourite character of the series (coming after Yuki in first place, followed by Haruhi and then Kyon), Goto does a magnificient job in conveying Mikuru’s oh-so-bullyable bimbo haplessness and her gentle kindness. I’ve mentioned before how I was in total awe at how she could sing so badly with such deliberateness despite being able to sing well. [Oh, and somehow she makes Mikuru's voice so voluptuous too. Ya know, the way Mai Nakahara makes Mai Tokiha sound DD in a way that she doesn't do when she voiced Nagisa Aoi.] Mikuru’s character is absolutely inseparable from Goto’s performance. I still smirk with evil amusement whenever I hear her “Nooo~~~!!” when Haruhi forced her to change into the nurse costume in Someday in the Rain. [I also constantly replayed the horror movie "uguu"s in Kanon 6 and Makoto's Akiko Jam "auuu"s in Kanon 7 so that I could laugh at the respective girls' misery.] The perfect victim!
Speaking of victims, I demand a version of this NSFW Wawawa comic where Churuya-san walks in on Haruhi rogering Mikuru with a strap-on and goes “nyoro~n” :3
I first sat up and paid serious attention to Goto’s work when she played Kaede Fuyou in SHUFFLE! More specifically, especially from Ep 18 when Kaede is no longer able to paper over the cracks. Goto conveys Kaede’s fraying with such subtly - the languid semi-hypnotised tone in the empty pot scene, breaking down into tears in her empty home, her rage at Asa, her desperately utterly clumsy yet completely sincere attempt to seduce Rin, the rapproachment with Asa, her shy admission to Itsuki that Asa has given her permission to continue loving Rin and so on. Simply marvellous voice acting that runs the gamut of emotions - particularly her psycho episode has won her firm fans such as Akira Hasegawa as seen in how his delightful Tsunami Channel characters do happy fun cosplay.
I have no idea how SHUFFLE! Memories will turn out. Given that there’s alternative material to draw on from Really? Really! there’s a high chance that this might be a Kaede ending. I’m not entirely sure how it will work but given the great job that asread did the last time round, I’m looking forward to it.
Though Goto’s other vehicle this season Lovely Idol has set itself low standards which it has failed to achieve, I am thoroughly enjoying her portrayal as Ichiko Takashima in OtoBoku. Another sweet, victim-type character but also differentiated by her ability to rapidly accelerate her speech without missing a kana. Lots of squeals of “oneesama!” didn’t do her any harm at all. LOL
Not long to wait wait before Goto plays a big yuri role I hope. :3
Kaede is hot smex. Box cutter girl ftw!
Well I hope your wish comes true. Though Mikuru will never whip out the boxcutters Ichiko might though grabbing a set would be quite a challenge.
She’s also Kaoruko in both versions of Kujibiki Unbalance.
I prefer the Ichiko portrayal this season myself - especially after she goes motormouth. :D
I love Goto Yuko ~ She’s on my top list of voice actresses, and I’m most likely to watch an anime once I find out she’s voicing someone. That’s what happened with Lamune… and I love Nanami. And yes to a yuriyuriyuri role~
And omg. You reminded me of Tsunami Channel! I haven’t read that in like, 2 years~! I need to catch up XP! I loved it~ ~ ~
Lol, Akira’s still hasn’t lost his touch :D
And yeah, I also have to totally hand it to Yuko Goto, once I learned she voices Ichiko, I thought: “Damn, now that’s one fine seiyuu”. Only those three roles and she is already top-tier.
ps. After reading this entry, I went to ANN to check which other roles she’s had… WTF?! She also voiced that fag from Iketeru Futari?!?!
Mmm… Yuka Goto… yesh, she’s an awesome VA, her voice seems to be made to portray the gentle, bimbo-ish roles, yet she can still give an awesome performance when it requires her to be.
It’s interesting to note that she’s just played a few roles up to now. I would say that SHUFFLE! made her noticeble and she has cemented her fame as Mikuru-chan. Seriously, I cannot think of anyone else voicing Mikuru, Yuka Goto pulls it off so perfectly.
And man, I so need to see Haruhi Novel Vol. 4 animated….
I would have never known that Mikuru shared the same voice actress as Kaede if no one said anything about it, lol.
Ah.
And don’t forget Nanami in Lamune and Hiyori in Mizuiro 2003. The best drippy-moe voices ever. Not only that, but she’s a smart cookie who went to university (for a while), has written a column for a local Tokyo weekly, has a great blog, and can draw. More info, links to info (including her home page and blog), and a pic, here: http://hashihime.atspace.com/Hashi_seiyuus.html#gotouyuuko. I love the fact that on her web page she says her interests are drinking, motorcycles, and travel.
The ‘Tokyo director’ bit in Lamune made me a fan… Nanami sensei indeed LOL!
omgomg, never knew yuko goto had a cast in kyou kara maou!
too many cast in that series…not sure who “Izula” is…
Tsubaki, somehow smex and boxcutter doesn’t seem to be a classic combination. Unless you are a Bobbit. :P
Crusader, do you think Kaede will be going boxcutter again in SHUFFLE! Memories or in Really? Really!
*shrug*, I haven’t seen Kujibiki Unbalance though. Only been acquainted with it via the Genshiken manga.
Haesslich, yeah - she should have a motormouth singing match with KOTOKO!
Tess, great to see Tsunami Channel going strong and that I’ve reacquainted at least one fan with Akira-sensei’s work.
sagematt, OMG so that’s who Kaneto was. I couldn’t for the life of me remember - then again, maybe that’s why I blotted it out of my memory. LOL
krystalyamaki, here’s to more Goto roles!!
Stripey, yeah - thanks for pointing out that oh so cute sequence in Lamune to me!
crimson, I haven’t seen Kyou Kara Maou either. Is she voicing a guy?
I cant recall who Izula is. Not sure if its one of those female bandits. Gotta skim thru the episodes one of these days.
Zyl:
Haruhi Neko Girls
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/6024/1165892419948kl3.jpg
Enjoy. :D
Haesslich, many thanks!!! :D