I asked Saori Hayami about Rachel’s super evil laugh in TRAIN
4 mins read

I asked Saori Hayami about Rachel’s super evil laugh in TRAIN

Kaneb0

Saori Hayami is one of the biggest seiyuus (Japanese voice actor) to headline Anime Festival Asia 2024 in Singapore. Marketing Tower of God season 2, a Crunchyroll exclusive title, she joined costar Taichi Ichikawa (Bam) on stage to answer fan questions and perform a short scene together live.

Tower of God Season 2 takes place about five to six years after Season 1. For viewers, it’s fun and interesting to note which characters have changed overtime, how much they’ve changed, and in which aspects they haven’t really changed at all.

While leading man Bam is the poster child of transformations – literally – Rachel is far from forgotten despite having fewer scenes because when she appears, she moves mountains.

Rachel in a wheelchair in Tower of God Season 2
Credits: The Answer Studio, Crunchyroll, Viz Media, Lee Jong-hui

Curious about how Hayami-san approached such a complex character as Rachel who spends a lot of evil on air, ONE Esports got the chance to ask her about her processes, perspective and experience working on Tower of God Season 2.

How Saori Hayami approached her role as Rachel in Tower of God Season 2

For Hayami-san, she doesn’t feel that there is much change when portraying Rachel in Tower of God Season 1 and Season 2. That said, Season 1 had more emotional scenes that allowed viewers to see her emotional state, while Season 2 was filled with excitement, she points out.

“What’s Rachel thinking? You really can’t tell what she’s thinking. Then all of a sudden she does something shocking,” Hayami-san explained to ONE Esports about why she intentionally makes Rachel appear “on edge” to create impactful scenes.

Tower of God season 2 episode 12, Rachel shows her dark side
Credits: The Answer Studio, Crunchyroll, Viz Media, Lee Jong-hui

One of the most unpredictable characters in the series, Rachel goes from feigning disability to almost romancing Khun to stabbing Shibisu’s precious leg in Tower of God Season 2 Episode 11. After she cripples him in a brutal, bloody scene, she repeatedly utters “no wrong” which Hayami-san expresses in a powerful crescendo.

Towards the end of Season 1, fans got a look at Rachel’s wicked laugh, but it’s not until Season 2 that she lets loose and shows her true self through big actions and this one verbal gesture.

As for Rachel’s evil laugh, Hayami-san shared that she took cues from sound director Takayuki Yamaguchi.

Tower of God seiyuu Taichi Ichikawa and Hayami Saori visit Crunchyroll's booth at AFA SG 2024
Credit: Crunchyroll

“He would say ‘More, more, more!’ You can be scarier, fiercer!’” Hayami-san laughed. “I intentionally thought about how to make her evil laugh and voice lines more impactful in Season 2 and how to create emphasis.”

“Every time, after I performed Rachel’s lines and laughs, Yamaguchi-san said, wow, so scary. He repeated it so many times that I can still remember,” Hayami-san added.

Compared to other roles, she finds the most enjoyable part of playing Rachel is “staying hidden,” where her emotions are not revealed. Because it is sometimes challenging for the audience to understand what Rachel is feeling, they want to know more.

Credits: The Answer Studio, Crunchyroll, Viz Media, Lee Jong-hui

Although Rachel’s dramatic scenes can leave a deep, almost agonizing impact on viewers, the most significant scene that Hayami-san remembers is the shooting for Tower of God Season 2 with Nobuhiko Okamoto playing Khun Aguero Agnes.

IN season 2 episode 5we finally get to see these two characters interact for the first time since Bam’s supposed death. He visits her in her room in the safehouse he had set up for their new team. Although it looks like an ordinary conversation that is not outwardly emotional, their words are laced with intent.

“Khun and Rachel want to find out what each other is thinking. It’s precisely because Okamoto-san and I know each other so well that we were able to pull off this nervous, suspenseful scene, which leaves a lasting impression on me,” says Hayami-san.

As for which Tower of God characters she would like to climb the tower with as a trio, just like Khun, Bam and Rak, Hayami-san would choose Bam because he is very strong and has leadership skills, as well as Rak because he be kind to Bam.

READ MORE: How many episodes are there in Tower of God season 2? The number of episodes revealed

Website https://www.alpuntoycomagranada.es

Related Posts