Interview: Miho Okasaki, Voice of Rimuru Tempest in 'Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken'

Despite debuting as a voice actress only two years ago in 2017, newcomer Miho Okasaki has already voiced two lead characters in TV anime, including her breakout role as Rimuru Tempest. She is expected to reprise this role in the second season of Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken (That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime), which is currently slated for a 2020 release.

Miho Okasaki was a guest at this year's Anime Central (ACEN), and there, she spoke with MyAnimeList about her experience voicing Rimuru Tempest.


How are you enjoying ACEN?

This is my first time so far away from Japan, but seeing so many people in cosplay and dancing—it makes me want to join them.

Earlier during the convention, there was a screening of Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken (TenSura)'s first episode. What would you say is the best part of that episode?

My answer is from my own perspective, but in episode one, Rimuru keeps talking on and on and on. And so I had a lot of lines, and that's what I needed to inform my acting, to get into character. And especially the scene where the reincarnation happens and Satoru and Rimuru kind of phase into each other—that's one of the scenes that required synchronization, and the other voice actor and I put a lot of effort into it.

How did you feel when you were first offered a role in the creation of TenSura?

I found it to be a very unique story, since it features reincarnation into... a slime. And after learning of it and auditioning for it, I got selected as the main character. I was nervous at first, but I decided that this was going to be a role that I would really cherish and value.

Who is your favorite character, Rimuru aside?

Gobita all the way! (Laughs)

Do you find that there are any similarities between you and the character Rimuru? Do you sympathize with Rimuru's character?

When you think of regular monsters, they tend to live in a way where the strong violently rule over the weak. But Rimuru is different. Rimuru tends to be the strange pacifist that would rather befriend both the strong and the weak. In that sense, he's a role model I would love to be like. And also, I've been told that... when I smile! My eyes tend to disappear, and you see a smile that very much resembles Rimuru's smile when he's in his slime form.

In the anime, Rimuru has a very distinctive sound. Where did you get the inspiration for that voice?

When I was auditioning for the role, I saw the character design... and sometimes, I just rely on straight instinct when deciding what the proper character vocalization should be, and that was the case with Rimuru.

This was your second major role, and your first leading role. What has your experience been like with the increased fan attention?

I'm very happy that a lot of people who didn't know me got to know me as a voice actor through TenSura. And for that, I am very happy. I am grateful that I have this as my biggest role.

What was preparation like before voicing Rimuru Tempest?

I looked at the character designs and the settings, and it's very complicated, but... when Rimuru is in slime form, I try to characterize Rimuru as not so human-sounding. In contrast, for human form, I tried to make the voice more rounded, even though it might have ended up sounding very similar.

Were there any scenes you particularly enjoyed voicing?

That's very difficult to answer! (Laughs) Let's see... I think it would have to be the scene in the night establishment with the elves, where Rimuru is sitting there with the ladies. It's not the kind of role that I get to do often, so I found it both fun to do and, again, rare at the same time.


Could you tell us a bit about how you obtained your breakthrough role as Rimuru Tempest? What was the audition process like?

When I was auditioning in the casting call, there were separate auditions for Rimuru's slime form and human form, so I did them separately myself. But I think me not knowing the original story to TenSura actually worked in my favor, as I didn't have any preconceived notions about the character at the time.

What kind of characters would you like to voice in the future?

I originally always wanted to play boys and non-human characters, and I got both wishes fulfilled at the same time with Rimuru. And so now, I think I want to strive to see if I can do true-to-life characters and also high school characters.


Images © Taiki Kawakami, Fuse, KODANSHA/"Ten-Sura" Project

Interview was conducted through an interpreter and has been edited for clarity. Special thanks to BANDAI NAMCO.