Given my good bro Stripey’s penchant for lists promoting his goth-loli-siscon fetish, it’s time to strike back! However, instead of an attempt at a list, this is a rather more narrow attempt to gush about a particular seiyuu’s role of an Onee-type character.
Given my recent fapping post about Evangelion 1.01, I have rediscovered how much I enjoyed Kotono Mitsuishi’s good job as Misato Katsuragi. And another excuse to make Misato screencaps. :P
Given the complexity of Misato’s character, Koto-chan has plenty of opportunities to display her range. When she is in SERIOUS BUSINESS mode, her voice conveys great command presence, a great fit for her role as Strategic Operations head of NERV. As such, Koto-chan was a great choice for the captain of the Archangel, Murrue Ramius, in Gundam SEED Destiny. Her commanding voice also makes for much of her onee charm so much so that the chara voiced by Koto-chan in Zenryoku Usagi is simply known as Nee-san. :D
Koto-chan also conveyed Misato’s mischievous nature. The above is one of my favourite scenes; Misato tells Ritsuko that Shinji will be living with her and jokes that “even she” won’t do anything sexual to Shinji.
Given the benefit of hindsight, Ritsuko’s furious response has an added dimension. Given that she was sleeping with Gendo, Misato’s little joke would have certainly made her feel reeaaaally old. Particularly since you never really know what Misato might do. ;) [Every scene where Maya and Ritsuko also have an added dimension once we know that Maya has the hots for Ritsuko. Yay for yuri!]
‘No luck with love’ girlfriends moody conversation was also a nice opportunity for Koto-chan to shine in her ‘friends’ mode and she’s a good match with Yuriko Yamaguchi’s Ritsuko comebacks. Though, despite Koto-chan’s long and impressive CV, she doesn’t seem to have a history of working with any particular seiyuu like Mai Nakahara x Ai Shimizu or Shizuka Itou and Hitomi Nabatame.
Koto-chan does Misato’s drinking cheer with such aplomb too. I am always impressed by the ladies who enjoy their beer. Especially those who don’t seem to suffer any of its adverse effects. ;) [Aside: The name of the beer also reminded me how I was shocked that Koto-chan was the voice of the lead of that filthy little series, Ebichu the Housekeeping Hamster. Surprising roles done well always raise my estimation of a seiyuu, parallels are Nana Mizuki as Touma in Minami Ke and Rie Kugimiya as Miharu in Nabari no Ou.]
Of course where Koto-chan displays Misato’s oneechan (rather than oneesama) glory is in her relationship with Shinji. Given the importance of a pilot’s mental state, playing big sister to Shinji seems to be part and parcel of her NERV job description but also as the adult in his household.
Although Misato’s smokin’ hot and Shinji’s teenage hormones are definitely present, there isn’t much pseudo-siscon. Misato’s slob-like behaviour at home and her irresponsible attitude appears to have been quite the put off for Shinji but it was nice to see how they grew close and became a family that they didn’t have before.
The tragedies at the end of the series was how all that fragile promise was torn asunder; a prime example being Misato could not be there for Shinji when he needed her, falling to pieces after Kaji’s death. There was also one of those mindfuck images when Misato was mortified that Shinji saw her past without the screening of a Chiyo in a sun hat and Tadakichi-san running through the fields. Misato’s final farewell kiss to Shinji in the End of Evangelion was also such a bittersweet and poignant scene especially with Shinji tasting her blood on his lips as the lift descended and realizing that his guardian nee-chan figure was probably already dead. Sic transit gloria Oneechan.
Overall, Evangelion featured some of the top voice talent of that generation, like Megumi Hayashibara (who returned after a hiatus in Paprika) and Kotono Mitsuishi’s work as Misato remains as enchanting as it was (or perhaps even more, with a liberal sprinkling of nostaglia) when I first enjoyed it more than a decade ago.
i consider Kotono Mitsuishi, Megium Hayashibara and Aya Hisakawa the 3 best Seiyuu of thier Era. I am just amaze by the range of thier voices when portraying different characters.
Too bad all 3 aren’t as active as they used to be. Although Megumi-san will be revising her role as Lina in the up coming 4th slayers season.
It’ll be hilarous if the JSDF gets Koto-chan to voice automated messages on fighters, warships and other platforms; I’d pay attention. ;)
Megumi Hayashibara was soooo omnipresent that it was actually a bit annoying but I forgot all about that because her role as Rei was just superb. And such a contrast with her other huge role as Lina Inverse whose 4th season I’ll be looking forward to.
Don’t forget female Ranma too Zyl!
Kotono was also one of the only prominent female roles in Legend of the Galactic Heroes which is worth a mention, considering that show had any male seiyuu worth their salt starring in it over the years. Kotono has always been one of my favorites.
I have a partial mental block when it comes to Ranma… it was such a looooong anime and manga. But yeah, thanks for reminding me. My favourite moments were when female Ranma was kicking Kunou’s head in. LOL Trap before it was fashionable.
Karmaburn also made a note about GTO’s Kanzaki.