The “Dragon Quest Day Special Program: Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai Latest Information Dai Release Special!” is a live event on Youtube that is set to be broadcast on May 27, 2020 (Dragon Quest Day). In the same show, it was announced that the new TV anime will be aired from Oct. 2020, and information about the cast members, including Tanezaki Atsumi, Toyonaga Toshiyuki, Komatsu Mikako, Hayami Saori, Sakurai Takahiro, and Kaji Yuuki were also released.
“Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai” is originally a manga with the same title, which started to be serialized in the “Weekly Shonen Jump” magazine in 1989 as the first long-term serialization of the role-playing video game “Dragon Quest” series.
“Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai”, which has sold a total of 47 million copies of its manga, has been adapted into a completely new anime about 30 years after the serialization began. The story of friendship and growth of Dai and his friends is expressed through a new hybrid of CG and animation techniques.
The cast features six members: Tanezaki Atsumi, voice of the protagonist and young boy Dai, who dreams of becoming a hero; Toyonaga Toshiyuki as Pop, a young magician who becomes Dai's friend; Komatsu Mikako as Maam, a priest-warrior girl who also becomes Dai's friend; Hayami Saori as Leona, the beautiful princess of the Kingdom of Papnica; Sakurai Takahiro as Avan, Dai's master; and Kaji Yuuki as Hyunckel, one of the commanders of the army of the Demon King Hadlar.
Additional media contents for “Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai” were also announced.
In particular, the line-up includes three game titles, which are the smartphone RPG “Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai – Tamashii no Kizuna”, the action RPG for home console “Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai – Infinity Strash”, and the arcade game with collectible trading cards “Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai – Xross Blade”.
Furthermore, various products are set to be on sale, including the “Dai Collection Set 1”, which contains palm-sized metal miniatures of weapons and items from the show, “Visual Figures”, which are 3D display figures with the shape of acrylic cards which beautifully depict all the characters, and “Act Braver”, which is a collection of grip-sized figures with movable joints to recreate the special attack poses.
The new TV anime “Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai” will begin airing on TV Tokyo channels in Oct. 2020.
In addition, a newly colored edition of the manga (25 volumes in total) will be published in Oct. for 10 consecutive months. The new cover is illustrated by Inada Kouji, the same illustrator of the original.
<The full commentary is below>
Tanezaki Atsumi (as Dai)
I truly loved “Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai” when I used to watch it as a child. With this great passion for that work, I've always hoped to see a new series of it. I will do my best to make sure that both those who are new to this work and those who had the same passionate feelings about it in the old days will able to enjoy it.
Toyonaga Toshiyuki (as Pop)
My favorite adventure of Dai…
On top of that, I never thought that I would be able to play Pop.
I wish I could tell that to myself as a teenager since I read this manga so many times. “You'll be voicing Pop in the future!”.
In that case, you would spill some mucus from your nose as you say, “That's amazing!”.
I'll do my best to play my character, including the uncool scenes, the coward scenes, and the scenes full of courage! Medoroaaaaaaa!!
Komatsu Mikako (as Maam)
A world that everyone longed for, a group of characters that gave courage to everyone, a story that inspired many people. I feel very honored to be involved in such a work that can be considered as the Bible of Life. I want to put my heart into it and express the true spirit of Maam through my voice!
Also as a viewer, I'm looking forward to seeing the newly colored “Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai” of the Reiwa era!
Hayami Saori (as Leona)
I feel happy and nervous at the same time of being able to be involved in this work that is loved by so many people.
While enjoying the noble and strong-willed (and sometimes mischievous) Leona, I'll do my best in the dubbing session by joining this great adventure with all the staff and cast members. Let's look forward to the release!
Sakurai Takahiro (as Avan)
My name is Sakurai Takahiro and I will be the voice of Avan.
He is a character who appears to be so mature in terms of thought and interpersonal distance that he earned the saying, “A wise man keeps his knowledge to himself”. He learned how to draw his own strength.
I think this is a work that will be nostalgic for our generation, and those in their teens and twenties will be able to find excitement in the fight scenes.
Let's all of us join this great adventure with Dai and his friends!
Kaji Yuuki (as Hyunckel)
I never thought I'd be able to get involved in the “Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai” as a voice actor and even as Hyunckel…! Seriously, I really feel like I'm having a dream. I'm so happy.
When I was a child, I used to read the manga with great excitement and do impressions of its characters. I actually might have used the “Amudo” impression during the audition (laughs).
I will do my performance with great responsibility and pride. Stay tuned for the broadcast!
(C) Sanjou Riku, Inada Kouji / Shueisha, The Adventure of Dai Production Committee, TV TOKYO (C) SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.
(C) Sanjou Riku, Inada Kouji / Shueisha (C) SQUARE ENIX CO.
