Sosuke Aizen’s voice actor, Sho Hayami revealed his unhinged method for bringing out the character’s emotions in Bleach series in an interview.

SUMMARY

Bleach is remarkable in both animation as well as voice acting.
Aizen VA Sho Hayami revealed the reason behind “stripping his personality” in an interview.
Thousand Year Blood War exemplifies Aizen’s moral ambiguity and mystique.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is all the rage with its stellar animation and splendid visuals. It is truly a masterpiece in terms of its storytelling and characterization. But what tops the charts is the voice acting.

Often, we come across voice actors going unhinged during performances and rehearsals. While this is a common phenomenon, this voice actor took it to another level with his bizarre method.

Ichigo Kurosaki in a still from the anime | Credit: Studio Pierrot

Aizen’s VA Sho Hayami resorted to an insane method as revealed in an interview. While it may seem a stretch, it makes sense considering his reasons for doing so. Moreover, it ties in well with the character’s mystique along with his moral ambiguity as explored in the sequel.

Bleach VA’s unhinged method for his performance

Between the animation and pacing, Bleach often doesn’t get enough credit when it comes to the voice cast. The cast goes above and beyond in fine-tuning their characters according to the events. This is also attributed to Tite Kubo’s expertise and insight which further helps them perfect the character.

In particular, Masakazu Morita was able to perfect his scenes with the mangaka’s guidance. But he wasn’t the only voice actor who faced difficulties for the most part. Majorly, it had to do with the ten-year hiatus that reflected on the performances.

Sosuke Aizen in a still from TYBW anime | Credit: Studio Pierrot

In a similar vein, Sho Hayami faced difficulties while voicing Aizen’s role. This is especially true with the reflection of age in voice, something that even Morita experienced. Both VAs had to tweak their styles to fit in with the character.

Most voice actors have methods and techniques that are unique to them. And while it isn’t uncommon for voice actors to go unhinged with their methods, Hayami went the extra mile with his performance of the character.

When asked by an interviewer at Oricon News about socializing with his coworkers, Hayami quoted:

Oh, I joined in during breaks, of course! (laughs) But when recording, while other actors brought out 100% of their personalities, I did the opposite by intentionally “stripping away” my personality to embody Aizen’s character.

The isolation tact is not only impressive but mirrors the character perfectly. From his aloofness to his scheming persona, Hayami’s method makes sense. It further aligns with the character’s moral ambiguity as reflected in the sequel series.

Aizen’s moral ambiguity in Thousand Year Blood War

It is a known fact that Aizen is one of the strongest characters in the series. Though his Bankai is unknown, he wields immeasurable power through his Shikai. This is evident when he unleashes Kyoka Suigetsu on his comrades.

Furthermore, he is driven by his desires and the need for power which has often been questioned by fans. His motives and morals are rather greyscale considering his hatred for the Soul King. What is even more interesting is the major pothole regarding his unmatched strength.

Sosuke Aizen in a still from TYBW anime | Credit: Studio Pierrot

From inventing Hokgyoku to leading Arrancars, he is a true mastermind. In Thousand-Year Blood War, his powers are detrimental against Yhwach’s assault. His isolation is what makes him a rather appealing and charming character as Hayami quoted:

His independence is really appealing. People often look for a place to belong, but Aizen refuses that entirely. He stands alone, unwavering in his ideals, and that strength is part of his beauty.

Unlike most Shinigami, he has a zeal for power and a thirst for knowledge. This is true with his feats in the series especially with his information about the Soul King.

By and by, Tite Kubo went above and beyond in creating one of the coolest characters in the Bleachverse. In the same way, Sho Hayami notched it up through his voice acting.