The voice actor Shimono Hiro, known for his role as Agatsuma Zenitsu from “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba”, Connie from “Attack on Titan”, and others, will appear in the anime movie “Gyokou no Nikuko-chan” produced by Akashi Sanma-san. After going through the open audition of “Sanma no Manma”, he had gotten the role of “Tokage (Lizard)” and “Yamori”, and the behind-the-scene video showing his interaction with Sanma has been released.

“Gyokou no Nikuko-chan” is the anime movie of Nishi Kanoko’s best seller light novel that has over 350,000 copies in circulation and the winner of the 152nd Naoki Awards. It depicts the trajectory as well as the growth of the mother and daughter, Nikuko-chan and Kikuko, who are living in a ship at the fishing harbor.

The director is Watanabe Ayumu, who had directed “Doraemon the Movie: Nobita’s Dinosaur 2006” and “Children of the Sea”, character design and general art director is the first batch joiner of Studio Ghibli, Konishi Kenichi, who is the animation director of “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” and “Children of the Sea”, the script is written by Ooshima Satomi (“Nagi’s Long Vacation”), the animation is produced by STUDIO4°C, who is known for “Tekkon Kinkreet”, “Children of the Sea”, “Poupelle of Chimney Town”, and others.

Shimono has participated together with his colleague from “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba”, Hanae Natsuki on the January 2 broadcast of “Sanma no Manma”.
Then, when he found out that Hanae is appearing on this work, he also voiced out his intention to participate in it, and it even develops to have an open audition in the program.
After that, Sanma requested “Can you do a lizard voice?” and Shimono immediately answered, “Yes, I can!”. Despite he was able to fulfill the request easily, Sanma didn’t give him an official answer till now.

Other than his role as “Tokage” that he has done in the program, he also played “Yamori” that acts as a proxy to voice out the true intention of Nikuko and Kikuko.
As Shimono will play the lizardman Wanibe in the 2021 summer anime, “The Dungeon of Black Company”, his comment on the role for this work is “It seem that I have fate with ‘Tokage’ this year”.

“Gyokou no Nikuko-chan” will be released on June 11, 2021, at TOHO Cinema Hibiya and other theatres.


Tokage, Yamori, etc. (Voice Acting): Shimono Hiro
I haven’t thought that an open audition will be held on “Sanma no Manma”. (haha)
I am glad that I got the roles, and I also feel proud that I am able to participate in Sanma’s work that I had watched since I was young .
Then, when I went to my agency due to another matter, my manager told me he got something to tell me with a secretive atmosphere, and after he bought me to a small room, he told me “Congratulation! Your appearance in ‘Gyokou no Nikuko-chan’ has been decided!”. It seems that my manager was also happy as well. (haha)
It seems that I have fate with “Tokage” this year… I am voicing a lizardmen in another work, but this is my first time voicing a lizard.
Yamori is an important role that as a proxy to Nikuko-chan and Kikuko-chan emotional state. The lines are emotionless and I voiced him as if he is an inorganic matter despite being a living being.
For the role of Yamori, the director has requested for a handsome voice.
Do look forward to the handsome voice Yamori.

(C) 2021 “Gyokou no Nikuko-chan” Production Committee