Attack on Titan Final Episode
100 cameras captured voice actors' battle to perfect their performance for the final episode of anime "Attack on Titan"! A cast of top actors gathered for the final recording, led by a legendary sound director to guide them through each weighty moment. They pour heart and soul into performances that will send a thrill up your spine. The whole team discusses every note and exhalation in the script to ensure utter perfection. Our cameras filmed the three leads in their very final recording session. Tune in for a climax that was a decade in the making.
Transcript
100 cameras
installed in one place
This time...
Eren...
Thank you for wrapping this scarf around me.
100 CAMERAS
ATTACK ON TITAN ANIME Final Episode
It's "Attack on Titan's" last episode!
It's really ending.
The final episode a decade after it first aired
Are hidden cameras filming us?
Up there.
Everywhere.
Recording studio
Mixing Room
Voice of Eren The main character: Kaji Yuki
No! I don't want that!
Mikasa finding another man...?!
I want her to think about me and no one else!
Even after I die. For ten years, at least!
How do I put this? What's the emotion here?
Even Bertolt. Unforgiveable.
Dig deeper. An eruption of rage.
Unforgiveable.
Unforgiveable.
Unforgiveable.
Unforgiveable.
Unforgiveable.
An uncompromising audio battle
100 CAMERAS
I will destroy them!
ATTACK ON TITAN: Humanity's ongoing struggle against the titans who rule the world
ATTACK ON TITAN: 120 million copies of the manga published. Anime began in 2013.
Tokyo May
OBSERVATION BEGINS
You worked on "Super Mario," right?
I did.
- It was super fun.
- Thanks.
Sound Director: Mima
We're gonna start with some squats.
I'm just kidding. But that's the spirit.
Final episode: Main character Eren tries to destroy the world as his friends try to stop him
At the start, you're bone-tired, but you're on your feet.
You've finally made it. Survived.
If you can't make that emotion happen, it's squats.
Okay, let's go.
Actors record against incomplete images with no sound effects or music
We have to find a target three feet long and four inches across?
There's no way!
We need to prepare for the worst.
Time for squats.
The emotion isn't coming through?
You're not using your gut.
So there's no depth in your voice.
Jean is barely standing. So voice it from the gut.
"MEMO" Explains the significance of each scene and guides the acting
Do as Jean says, and prepare for the worst.
Raising energy levels
OK Shouty, let's go.
Recording
We have to find a target three feet long and four inches across?
There's no way!
We need to prepare for the worst!
Good, okay.
Habit 1
Turning voice actors into warriors
This camera's just for you, Hayashi.
Director: Hayashi
Oh, really?
It'll reveal another side of you.
No, it won't!
He scans over 2,000 shots and fixes them himself
Test.
In this scene: Blown back by a shockwave, Connie passes out
Test
What's going on with the 'panting' here?
Passed out, everything's hazy.
Shallow breathing's fine.
Remember, you're unconscious.
Almost like you're asleep?
Recording
Cut. Any thoughts?
Excellent.
OK.
Habit 2
The middleman between the director and the actors
A key scene where Eren's friends decide to kill him
A decisive line
How will it be performed?
Test
Mikasa...
Eren...
Let's kill him.
This section is really tough. It's the hardest part.
How to express the strain of deciding to kill a friend
We thought it sounded like you didn't have the will to fight.
Add some tension.
• Show a will to fight
• Add tension
Mikasa...
Eren...
Let's kill him.
Don't add any pain or sorrow.
You're trying to persuade yourself.
OK.
'Let's kill him,' you know?
You're choking out the words. It's the last thing you want to say.
•Show a will to fight
•Add tension
•Choke out the words
Mikasa...
Eren...
Let's kill him.
That's still not it.
Eren...
We need more intensity on 'kill him.'
Yes.
•Add intensity
Eren...
Let's kill him.
Too much crying.
•Hold back the tears
Mikasa...
Eren...
Let's kill him.
And cut!
OK.
Mikasa...
Habit 3
Live up to every request
Eren...
Let's kill him.
"MEMO" The final episode comprises mostly combat scenes- Dialogue is limited
"MEMO" Actors must express emotion through non-verbal sounds, and timing
Building a world through sound!
The voice actors' challenge
Thanks for waiting, Hanae.
Falco: Hanae
Hanae voices Falco, a flying Titan
Falco notices some projectiles.
A scene where he notices projectiles
The script only has "!"
He sees what's happening.
You slip past the projectiles.
Then escape.
How can sound bring the scene to life?
- Cut. How was that?
- Very good.
Gabi: Sakura
Bridging the gaps between dialogue
Gabi reunites with her parents after a long time
Add the run, up to the embrace.
Her joy and excitement must be expressed with her breath
OK.
A one-take wonder!
A single manga panel
I also did the scene where the Cart Titan parkours up to Eren's neck.
Director Hayashi: Created a 15-second scene from a single manga panel
Pieck: Numakura
A three-panel battle becomes...
A 15-second showstopper!
Levi: Kamiya
Habit 4
Breathing life into the original
6 days before audio recording
Editing Room
MAPPA
Director: Hayashi
Editing: More complete images are switched in Lengths are matched to the voiceovers
It's missing something.
The scene transition is too soon.
Maybe a longer look below the cliff?
The Rumbling of the Titans drives people to a cliff edge
Could we lengthen the whole thing?
The base of the cliff is shown for more time
For 1445, I added 12 frames (0.5 secs).
A difference of just 0.5 seconds
Habit 5
Assists in tweaking images and sound
Crowd scene.
Everyone, please.
Yes.
Walla: Crowd noises
You’re the fleeing crowd.
The Rumbling scene fine-tuned by Hayashi
OK.
People are crushed or fall from the cliff
Ogami, this elderly man, please.
Kitada, could you be this guy?
Getting crushed.
Hoshi, the faller.
Of course.
Actors must improvise from a brief explanation
Takano, you're up.
Faller (2nd person)
Habit 6
Being killed is part of the job
Marley Soldier D - Put down your guns, Eldians!
"They voice unnamed characters"
He sounds like a gangster.
Commander
Look at their left sleeves...
You're Eldians, aren't you?
I can't take this!
It's like a gangster movie.
After the recording session
We got it.
Waaaaah!
This is great.
A crying baby takes the spotlight
Kaji sent me the data.
Did he record it like this?
Kaji, who plays Eren, recorded his baby crying
Kaji's baby was used because the story touches on the idea of inheritance
What will they think when they grow up?
When we say, 'This is your voice!'
An acting debut.
At under a year old.
Habit 7
The debut of a talented actor
"100 CAMERAS"
Hello!
Hi!
Black!
All black!
Mikasa: Ishikawa
Armin: Inoue
Why all the black?
Your clothes.
Because it's the final episode.
Formal attire!
I bet Kaji's in black too.
Eren: Kaji
I wore my "Attack on Titan" t-shirt.
For the final day!
Very nice.
Ten years. Amazing, huh? We've been doing this for a decade.
The final day of recording for the three leads
I remember the first morning.
I tied myself in knots rehearsing at home yesterday.
I couldn't get it right.
The more you practice, the more confusing it gets.
Yeah.
I couldn't control it.
Hope I'm okay today.
Oh no.
Habit 8
The final episode brings out the jitters
Okay, let's get started.
Practicing punches.
In this scene: Armin asks Eren how he feels about Mikasa
In this scene: Armin rages at Eren's lukewarm response
In this scene: Eren reveals his true feelings
I've never punched someone.
Wanna try? For real?
You offering?
Sound Director: Mima
To the booth, please.
Headphones.
Inoue, Kaji
They face each other to stay in sync
Thanks for waiting.
Test
It's just as you wanted.
Well, who knows.
What? I don't remember ever forgiving you!
She should forget about you and be happy at the very least.
Maybe she'll find someone perfect for her in no time.
No...
Huh?
No! I don't want that!
Mikasa finding another man...?! I want her to think about me and no one else!
Even after I die. For ten years, at least!
Can you be more pathetic? More desperate and clingy.
He should show vulnerability.
I want to see human weakness and fragility.
Right now, he's in denial. Frantic and angry.
Recording
No...
No! I don't want that!
Mikasa finding another man...?! I want her to think about me and no one else!
Even after I die. For ten years, at least!
This 'no...' in the script.
It's not said for Armin to hear.
It just comes out. Like a whisper.
Hayashi's opinion: Wants Eren's thoughts to spill out
What do you think, Kaji?
- I feel Eren would get mad.
- I see.
He wants to get his way.
A tantrum?
Kaji's opinion: Thinks Eren would get mad
What do you think, Mima?
I can see Eren throwing a tantrum.
'I want her to think about me and no one else!'
If he's tearful, it feels clingier, and adds pathos.
Mima's opinion: Wants clingy tears, with pathos
But how do you pull back from that?
Yeah, I...
I'd like to see another side of Eren.
I agree.
It's not the typical Eren. He shows humanity.
We see who Eren really is.
Inoue's opinion: Wants to see a new side of Eren
I'll try it again.
No...
No! I don't want that!
Mikasa finding another man...?! I want her to think about me and no one else!
Even after I die.
For ten years, at least!
I'm good with that.
I think Eren would get there, if we put aside some stuff.
Super cute!
It is a new, different Eren.
I really like it.
Habit 9
Comrades help you overcome barriers
Tissues
There's a box each so let's make use of them.
I know my nose will run.
A stream of tears and snot.
It can't be helped.
The climax to a decade of work
In this scene: Mikasa and her friends decide to kill Eren
Test
Eren is inside the mouth.
Everyone cover me.
Mikasa in this moment...
Is she ordering them? Or asking them?
She spent so long agonizing over Eren's fate.
Now, all of that's gone.
She's made her decision.
So it should be an order.
Recording
Eren is inside the mouth.
Everyone cover me.
What do you think?
Good.
OK.
Inoue gets emotional
In this scene: Armin holds Eren's head and cries
Recording
You okay?
This takes a lot of concentration.
Habit 10
Scream from the soul
Mikasa decapitated Eren
She whispers a farewell
See you later, Eren
See you later, Eren
OK.
Great work.
It's really over.
This anime really helped me grow.
I'm glad we had such a good ten years.
Habit 11
Thanks for fighting side-by-side