The dragons from Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid might have only briefly visited New York City in their animated world, but their real-life counterparts, voice actors Yuki Kuwahara (Tohru) and Maria Naganawa (Kanna), embarked on their own exciting adventure to the Big Apple for Anime NYC in August! During their visit, we had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with them. We chatted about the international release of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to Be Loved, their most cherished memories from both the series and the movie, and what audiences can eagerly anticipate from the anime’s grand theatrical debut!
What’s something you’re really looking forward to experiencing or doing here in New York City?
Yuki Kuwahara: I’ve only ever seen New York City’s vibrant streets in movies and TV shows, and I’ve always admired them from afar. Since I haven’t had the chance to visit before, there isn’t one particular place I’m set on seeing. Instead, I’m just eager to soak in the famous streetscapes and diverse architecture of NYC.
Maria Naganawa: For me, it has to be the famously large portions of food! [laughs] My general impression of New York’s food and drinks is that everything is “huge.” So, I’m really hoping to fully enjoy that while I’m here.
Any specific dishes you have in mind?
Maria Naganawa: Big steaks and big hamburgers. I just want to sink my teeth into them!
It’s quite amusing that Kanna – and Tohru secretly in the background – actually visited New York in Dragon Maid S, Episode 10! Do you plan to visit any of the spots featured in that episode while you’re here?
Maria Naganawa: There’s a memorable scene where Kanna eats a hot dog, so I’m absolutely determined to find and enjoy a New York hot dog myself!
Yuki Kuwahara: In that same episode, Tohru is secretly watching over Kanna, and you can spot a tiny Tohru enjoying a soft-serve ice cream in the background. So, I would absolutely love to try a big soft serve just like that!
With the Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid movie arriving four years after the second season concluded, did you have any specific practices or techniques to help you get back into character for Tohru and Kanna?
Yuki Kuwahara: Even though four years passed since the TV series, we were fortunate to have many opportunities to voice Tohru and Kanna for video games and other projects during that time. So, it didn’t really feel like a long break. What I do remember is how genuinely happy we were to record together again. I don’t think we forgot anything about our roles at all.
Maria Naganawa: No, not really!
Yuki Kuwahara: It truly felt as if Tohru and Kanna were always with us. It was like we simply picked up right where we left off at the end of Season 2, and it all felt incredibly natural.
Maria Naganawa: To get myself ready for the movie, I rewatched Seasons 1 and 2 and even checked out some fan reactions on X (formerly Twitter). Looking back at my performance as Kanna in Season 1, it had been a while, and there were many moments where I thought, “Gosh, if I could do that again right now, I’d play it differently!” Of course, when I was recording Season 2, I gave it my absolute best as Kanna at that time. But I’m always striving to grow as a voice actor, and I hope I do. So, approaching this movie after two seasons, especially with Kanna’s story being the main focus… I know Kanna is universally loved, but I really wanted to enhance her loveliness and sweetness for this film, hoping she’d be cherished even more.
Was there a significant difference in how you approached your voice acting style for the movie compared to the TV series?
Yuki Kuwahara: This movie truly centers on Kanna’s story. In the TV series, the narrative generally explores the heartwarming and amusing daily lives of the dragons. But in the film, with Kanna and her father at the core, Tohru’s role shifts to a fight to protect Kanna and Miss Kobayashi. While Tohru in the series is often exclaiming, “I love you, Miss Kobayashi!”, in this movie, she’s battling fiercely to defend those she holds dear. This means her expressions are more serious, and there are many powerful, “cool” scenes featuring Tohru. You can definitely expect a lot of battle sequences with Tohru in this film, both in her full dragon form and her human form. In a way, you’ll see Tohru’s growth from Seasons 1 and 2, as she now has even more people she wants to protect. This growth is evident in her demeanor, and I distinctly remember reading the manga and the script, thinking, “I absolutely have to bring my A-game to portray this.”
Maria Naganawa: The TV series highlights Kanna’s heartwarming and adorable side. She isn’t typically a character who outwardly shows many emotions, and her facial expressions don’t change drastically. However, in this movie, you’ll see her get angry, for instance. She becomes much more expressive about her feelings, both in what she says and through her facial expressions. You’ll witness a lot of this in the film, seeing Kanna when she’s angry or sad – emotions we rarely saw in the TV series. In the series, I never really had to raise my voice or speak loudly to play Kanna. But in this movie, you’ll see a wealth of emotions from her. She speaks in ways she never has before, using volumes she’s never utilized, yet I still had to maintain Kanna’s unique voice… I worked incredibly hard on achieving that balance.
Since Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid often focuses on the delightful daily lives of Kobayashi-san and the dragons, do you each have a particular favorite scene or episode from the series?
Yuki Kuwahara: There was an episode where Tohru and Miss Kobayashi had a bento-making competition. Being so deeply in love with Miss Kobayashi, Tohru has always been like, “I’ll do anything for you!” But this was the first time Tohru actually competed against her. For me, it symbolized Tohru opening up even more to Miss Kobayashi, and performing that part made me truly happy. The fact that Tohru felt comfortable enough to show that competitive side of her influenced how I portrayed Tohru around Miss Kobayashi afterward.
Maria Naganawa: In Season 1, there’s an episode about Kanna’s sports festival. While Kanna had always relied on Kobayashi up to that point, that episode made it incredibly clear to me that Kanna was cherished by both Tohru and Kobayashi. Kobayashi even made her a lunch box, just like a mother would. And Kobayashi defeated Hades! [laughs] It wasn’t just the Kobayashis; the Saikawas were there, and Lucoa even came to cheer for Shouta. It beautifully showcased the warm, familial relationships each character shared, which is something we’ve come to expect and love about this series. That episode remains my personal favorite.
Moving on to the movie, is there any scene you particularly enjoyed performing, or perhaps one you loved just watching as an audience member?
Yuki Kuwahara: Among the scenes I performed, the battle sequences stand out most vividly in my memory. Tohru does fight in the TV series, but this time, she battles against someone truly unexpected. So, I poured all my energy into making those scenes powerful. Plus, the animation was absolutely incredible, and I felt compelled to match that intensity with my performance. You’ll definitely feel the impact of these battle scenes in theaters, so I hope everyone pays close attention to them. As for scenes I wasn’t in, you absolutely cannot miss Kanna’s moments where she displays such a wide range of emotions… I can’t reveal too much, but there’s one scene that brings tears to my eyes every single time I watch it. Hearing her voice in that particular moment makes me cry without fail. It’s not necessarily a sad scene, but I’m certain it will leave a profound impression on you as well. So please, look forward to it!
Maria Naganawa: The scene I enjoyed performing most, as I mentioned earlier, was one where I didn’t typically get to be loud with Kanna. But in this movie… Oh, I don’t want to spoil anything, but there’s a scene where Kanna gets truly angry and raises her voice. Being able to portray that anger in Kanna’s voice, and saying some not-so-nice things that I never expected her to utter, was a truly great experience. I hope it surprises you, making you think, “Wow, Kanna knows words like that?” As for my personal favorite scene to watch, there’s a moment that will be incredibly emotional for fans who have followed the TV series… But again, I don’t want to give anything away! However, other dragons and characters who only made brief appearances in the TV series will – how should I put it? – play a much bigger part in the story. Seeing that made me quite emotional, so I genuinely hope you look forward to it.
Do you have any final thoughts or messages you’d like to share with the international fans of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid who will soon experience the movie?
Yuki Kuwahara: First and foremost, I am incredibly happy that the Dragon Maid movie will be released overseas. It was exceptionally well-received by Japanese fans, with many saying they cried profusely or went to see it multiple times because they loved it so much. I myself went to the theater five times! Each viewing offered a new discovery; it’s truly a wonderful movie. Afterward, your heart will feel warm, and you’ll be inspired to be kinder to others. As we discussed in this interview, Kanna will display so many different sides of herself in this film, which always makes me cry. But truly, this movie will stay with you for the rest of your life. So, I sincerely hope you enjoy it and consider watching it multiple times.
Maria Naganawa: She’s said everything perfectly… But I truly am so grateful that this movie is being released overseas for international fans to enjoy. This film deeply explores the bond between a parent and a child. The key visual has already been released, showcasing the connection between Kanna’s father and Kanna, and delving into their past. Beyond the parent-child bond, however, you’ll also witness many other relationships throughout the movie, all rooted in love and compassion. It’s absolutely packed with them. Every time I watch this movie, it makes me want to visit my own parents and express my gratitude to all the people constantly around me. It truly is a beautiful film, and I hope you watch it and feel your heart warm up.