Prompto’s Jap VA Interview
Today, Dec 24th, is actually the birthday of Prompto’s Japanese VA, Kakihara Tetsuya. I did this translation (of a translation, with the permission of the original translator) some time ago but did not find time to post it … I guess that now’s as good a time as any! I hope all who read this post can appreciate the work that Kakki-san did in the process of shaping Prompto into the character that we all know and love. Happy birthday, Kakki-san!
FFXV Japanese Voice Actor Interview – Kakihara Tetsuya (Prompto Argentum)
One of the companions of the protagonist Noctis, Prompto is the livewire of the group. He is an easy-going skirt-chaser, but with an extremely strong tendency to be considerate of his friends. Interest: Photography.
First time ever in the history of gaming?! Prompto’s lines are full of ad-libs!
Q: What kind of character is Kakihara’s Prompto?
A: Prompto is the only character who is not of royal or aristocratic birth, but a child of a common family. Hence, he is somewhat different from the other three characters. Despite this, he considers the other three his close friends, and they, in turn, do not mind the inequality in status. As he has the trust of his comrades, he sometimes behaves in a silly manner but is always aware of the general mood. It is quite obvious that he is always considerate of his friends. As the other members of the entourage are the quiet type, I felt that it was important to be the mood-maker during the recording sessions.
Q: Were the voice actors of all four main characters present during recording?
A: Yes, just like in anime, we did recordings every week. Other characters besides the four main characters were also present. The direction and rhythm of the other actors influenced me. Even if our schedules did not match, I listened to the recorded content as I recited my lines. Knowing that the next person’s line must come in based on where mine ended, I had to deliver my lines within that small window of allocated time. It was very enjoyable, like being in a play.
Q: You can only perform like that based on many years of trust among your cast-mates. In that case, please tell us what you were the most concerned about when you were voicing Prompto.
A: I felt that among the four characters, this character was responsible for creating a happy mood. Gladio reflected anger and greater fluctuations in mood, while Ignis kept things calm. Everyone was responsible for creating a different atmosphere, and Prompto’s responsibility was to create happiness. His character is one that tries to energise others no matter how depressed he is, which shows a great inner strength. Hence, the bright and happy moments were simply conveyed, and I also put in my all to portray how much he liked girls. However, when his companions are weakened in the face of difficulties or in more serious circumstances, he tones down and accepts the general atmosphere. This aspect of Prompto is his most likeable trait. It is something that even men appreciate, and it is very important to me. I think that the production staff was also trying to create this impression. When we first began the recording several years ago, I was told once about this aspect of his character. Now, I just portray him freely and naturally.
Q: In retrospect, how was Prompto’s voice actor selected?
A: Through auditions. I received a few details about the character’s design and lines from the original script. The confidentiality factor was very high, as I only got these on the day itself at the audition venue. Even though I did not know which character I was auditioning for, at the time my eye was caught, out of the four main characters, by the character with a cheerful disposition. I thought to myself “That should be my character”, and it turned out to be Prompto. (laughs)
Q: Just like that! (laughs) What was the audition like?
A: At first I was told, “Don’t try to force it. We hope to see a natural form of acting.” Just like in anime, there is no need to deliberately create a role, but to portray what the actor naturally has within his personality. So, I said the lines on the script very normally, but used many different techniques to act. The audition was completed after about half an hour, and I felt that whether I was selected or not, it was more important to leave an impression of my own version of Prompto. I was already very happy to even get a chance to audition. Back then, the product was “Final Fantasy Versus XIII” before it become “Final Fantasy XV”, and its design was gradually changed. The production staff said to me, “Right now, Kakihara-san understands Prompto even more than us.” So during the formal recording, I really had the liberty to portray him in my own way.
Q: The recording took such a long time. Were there any lines that left a deep impression?
A: Everything about Prompto leaves a deep impression, so it’s hard to choose just one. In addition, almost everything was ad-libbed, even the way the sentences ended. The production staff modified the original script based on the changes I made, which was tough on them! While I do feel apologetic, I was given the liberty to act freely, so I recorded with the mindset that “everyone just has to go along with me”. I was never told, not even once, to “please record once more, this time according to the script.” I also only said lines that I felt Prompto would really say. As for whether I overdid things, there were some things that were a grey area for me, times when even I wondered “Is this really OK?!”, such as adding “Bam bam bam bam bam - bam bam bam!” (FFXV’s victory fanfare). No NG was ever given, though I do not know if things like that ended up being used. (laughs)
Q: It seems it was indeed used! (laughs) That said, it is really surprising that there were so many ad-libs.
A: It is the first time such a scenario has happened in the Final Fantasy series. Initially, the concept was “As there is a motivation that must be conveyed, please follow the script exactly, without even a word out of place.” As the recording progressed, it became “Kakihara-san’s Prompto, please act freely for the whole thing.” It was the complete opposite of all the other characters – only Prompto was allowed to do this. Because it is such a plain and natural speaking style, everyone else was initially quite shocked. However, as the game progressed, they began to anticipate if I would add something silly at certain points. As I enjoyed this anticipation, once I began recording, I added something that caused laughter. As I hoped that this character will be loved by everyone, without realising it, I began to ad-lib more and more. As an actor, I received a really meaningful role.
“A character that is loved is not one that studies the atmosphere, but one that creates it.”
Q: Speaking of Prompto, the story of his youth in “Brotherhood” is fairly impactful.
A: “Hey hey, I used to be fat!” I was shocked by this as well. (laughs)
Q: And he was a reclusive and anxious character, the complete opposite of his present self.
A: After watching the anime, and knowing that Prompto had such a past, one should find Prompto even more lovable in the game. As the anime was produced much later, I didn’t know that Prompto had a history like this. Looking back at the scenes of his present self, I got a more concrete sense that this character is one who is really determined to improve himself. No matter how weak he is, having met such great companions, he becomes someone completely trustworthy. It also shows that before this, he would never have made it to where he is without his own effort. Because of the anime, I feel that Prompto has become even more lovable.
Q: Kakihara-san also acted as the older Prompto in the anime. Was there any difference acting in the anime compared with the game?
A: The length of time allocated for dialogue and the number of frames are predetermined, so there are limited lines that can be recorded. As the line-length and number of seconds given are already fixed, there is no freedom to manipulate the time, so the acting and speaking format becomes very strict. The seiyuus’ unique speaking style still exists on a basic level. In the game, there is no strict rule on the length of time taken for a line to be spoken, so just like speaking with friends backstage, one can be completely natural in delivery. While recording “Final Fantasy XV”, I often recalled things that happened when I was in high school, so Prompto was extremely natural and “Kakihara-like”. Under such circumstances, “acting” can become very artificial, so I was careful to avoid contrived ways of conveying emotions.
Q: What are some similarities between Prompto and Kakihara-san?
A: We are similar in terms of the cheerful personality, and in the way we seemingly don’t “read the atmosphere” but are actually carefully aware at all times of the surrounding mood. Initially, I used to consider it important to “properly read the atmosphere”, but over the past ten years or so my beliefs have changed, and now I am more of a mood-maker. Honestly, I feel that a lovable character is not one who is responsible for studying the atmosphere, but for creating a mood.
Q: I often hear that Kakihara-san is the one who enlivens the atmosphere during the recording sessions. This is exactly what Prompto does.
A: If there is no happiness then life becomes meaningless, so I must try to make others around me happy! In general, I make myself the one who enjoys the process the most, and then influence others. If I can help others to feel like the surrounding environment is a happy one, I become very happy too. I always approach a recording session with the attitude that, besides the acting, creating a convivial atmosphere is also within my checklist of duties.
Q: Are there any deep impressions regarding the recording of the episodes?
A: The recording sessions are always filled with laughter. The four of us have completely different directions, so playing off one another is very enjoyable. The trust and camaraderie among us has also been built up thanks to these four characters. When we began recording, I was in my 20s, and now I am in my 30s. Everyone’s ability is growing, so the opportunities to meet each year to do re-recording (for scenes that were not initially passed) have gradually lessened. Now all four of us are still active on the frontline of our voice-acting careers, and I feel very happy about that as it is not an easy thing to achieve. I am really grateful to everyone. I also have this production to thank for keeping me in this field, as I had the mindset that before this product is released, I cannot stop my acting career. As an actor, this has been a very meaningful project, and for the four of us, the time we spent together is the most unforgettable. This production holds everyone’s youth within it.
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