My name is Zhao

It was still unbelievable to me, a normal loser like me getting to go and voice a character from one of my favourite modern Mangaka. Get it? I said the title of the...forget it.

The date? September 20, 2024. Just a few months before the anime’s winter release. Apparently, HIM likes for the subtitled and dubbed version to be released at the same time, so buckle up, the day was just getting started.

Let’s start with my arrival. The Fukikae building was… not what I’d pictured. For a company responsible for dubbing legendary anime, you’d think it would look sleek and futuristic, like the set of Blade Runner. Nope. It was more like, “Hi, I’m a forgotten government building from the ‘70s, and I’ve seen some shit.”

The lobby carpet was older than me, and the receptionist looked like she regretted every life choice that led her to that desk.

“Name?” she said chewing a bubble gum, not even looking up.

“Max Harvey,” I said, trying to sound important.

She handed me a badge that said Guest Star.

“Guest Star?” I muttered. “What am I, the musical act on Saturday Night Live?”

I made my way to the recording studio and was greeted by an explosion of energy in human form: Kenta, the director. He practically radiated enthusiasm. It was awesome.

“Max Harvey!” he exclaimed, clapping his hands together like he was about to announce I’d won a million-dollar prize. “Welcome! We’ve heard great things about you!”

“You have?” I asked, confused.

“Of course!” Kenta grinned. “HIM said you’ve got the perfect voice for Zhao. Very natural, very relatable.”

Relatable? Zhao is a pirate turned assassin turned philosopher. I don’t know what that says about me, but I decided to take it as a compliment.

The studio itself was incredible. The walls were lined with soundproofing foam, and there was a massive glass window separating the recording booth from the control room. Microphones and headphones everywhere. It was like stepping into a sci-fi movie, except instead of saving the galaxy, I was here to talk like a morally conflicted pirate.

Once inside the booth, they handed me a script the size of a small novel. The first thing I noticed? My character had a lot of inner monologues.

Kenta’s voice crackled over the intercom. “Okay, Max, let’s start with line 47. Zhao is reflecting on his past choices while standing on the deck of the ship. We need intensity, regret, and a dash of arrogance. Ready?”

I adjusted the headphones, channeling my inner Kenjiro Tsuda, English edition. “In the end… the sea clai—”

“Stop, stop, stop,” Kenta interrupted. “Can you use your normal voice, please?”

Ouch, he didn’t even give it a chance. Okay. I took another breath and tried again.

“In the end, the sea claimed more than my treasure. It took my soul…and my heart.”

Kenta’s face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. “YES! Perfect! Do it again, but this time, add more… pain.”

We spent the next three hours diving into Zhao’s psyche. I went from shouting battle cries to whispering heartfelt confessions. At one point, I had to growl like a tiger (don’t ask—it’s a weird subplot), and by the end of the session, my throat felt like I’d swallowed sandpaper.

But you know what? It was amazing. For those few hours, I wasn’t Max Harvey, therapist extraordinaire. I was Zhao, the tragic antihero searching for redemption. Anyway that was my entire work for the season, my character was supposed to come in the third final act of the season for five episodes.

After we wrapped up, Kenta put his hands on my shoulders. “You’re a natural, Max. If therapy doesn’t work out, you’ve got a future in voice acting.”

I laughed. “Technically, the pay is somewhat similar only I don’t have to listen to other people’s problems and pretend I have an answer.”

“What are you talking about? You’re not getting paid.”

Wait, what?

As I was processing my apparent pro bono voice acting debut, HIM walked into the lobby. He looked lighter, happier.

“Hey,” he said, “I wanted to thank you. For everything.”

“No problem,” I replied. “That’s what they PAY me to do.” The hint was subtle.

“No, not just for the therapy,” he said, his voice serious. “For believing in me. I don’t think I realized how much I needed that.”

I felt a lump in my throat. “Well, for what it’s worth, I think Zhao is going to be a fan favorite.”

He smiled. “That’s because of you.”

Now I’m on the subway, heading home. I’m feeling exhausted. and I’m pretty sure I left my dignity back in the tiger growl scene. And am not getting paid? But you know what? I wouldn’t trade today for anything, other than money, of course.

Signing off,
Max Harvey, Therapist, Pirate Philosopher, Possibly broke but Happy Voice Actor?