Alice Nanase -
While To Your Eternity and Ghibli are her headliners, Alice Nanase has built a robust portfolio of secondary roles that showcase her versatility:
For a seiyuu in their late twenties, being cast in a Hayao Miyazaki film is the equivalent of winning an Oscar. In 2023, Alice Nanase joined the voice cast of How Do You Live? (internationally titled The Boy and the Heron).
While Studio Ghibli famously keeps their voice cast under strict embargo until release (and often uses live-action actors rather than professional seiyuu), Nanase was confirmed to voice a supporting role in the film’s ensemble. This casting was a major signal that the industry’s old guard—led by Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki—views Nanase not just as an "anime voice actor" but as a genuine dramatic performer capable of carrying the weight of Ghibli’s emotional subtext.
In interviews following the film’s Japanese release, Nanase admitted she cried when she received the callback. "I grew up watching Spirited Away on repeat," she told Anime! Anime! magazine. "To stand in the same recording booth as the masters... I felt like a ghost watching myself."
| Date | Project | Expected Highlights | |------|---------|----------------------| | Nov 2024 | “Nanase x VRChat” collaboration | A limited‑time VRChat world where fans can meet a live‑controlled Alice avatar, complete with mini‑games and exclusive merch drops. | | Q1 2025 | Second Full‑Length Album “Quantum Horizons” | 12 tracks, mix of synth‑wave, J‑pop, and orchestral elements; includes a duet with Korean‑American artist IU (English‑Korean bilingual version). | | Spring 2025 | World Tour – “Neon Aurora Live” | Physical‑venue concerts in Los Angeles, Tokyo, Seoul, and London (augmented reality stage). | | Summer 2025 | Educational Series “Code & Create” | A YouTube mini‑course teaching basics of game development and digital art, aimed at middle‑schoolers; co‑hosted with a university professor. | | Fall 2025 | NFT‑Free Fan Token “NANA” | Blockchain‑based fan token for exclusive perks (early merch access, private Discord channels) – deliberately non‑speculative and fully regulated. |
Alice also serves as an important foil to Aqua. While Aqua is calculating every interaction to further his goals or hide his trauma, Alice interacts with him at face value. alice nanase
She sees him as a peer (and a slightly intimidating one at that). She doesn't see the "Gorou" inside him, nor does she see the "son of Ai." She just sees "Hoshino, the actor." In a way, interactions with Alice are some of the few times Aqua is treated like a normal human being rather than a celebrity or a vessel for revenge.
Her presence in the Lala Lai arc forces Aqua to operate in a space where his usual manipulation tactics are unnecessary. He has to help her, guide her, and work with her as a fellow actor. It normalizes him, which is vital for a character who is constantly spiraling into darkness.
In a seiyuu industry often criticized for typecasting (high-pitched screams for girls, deep gravel for boys), Alice Nanase represents a return to naturalism. She does not sound like an "anime character." She sounds like a real person who happens to be in an anime.
Her journey from the idol stages of Wake Up, Girls! to the hallowed recording booths of Studio Ghibli is a masterclass in perseverance. She is not the loudest seiyuu, nor the most famous. But for fans who appreciate subtlety—who listen for the crack in a voice rather than the scream—Alice Nanase is currently the most exciting talent working in Tokyo.
Listen carefully to her next role. You will hear the future of Japanese voice acting. While To Your Eternity and Ghibli are her
Are you a fan of Alice Nanase? Which of her roles—Rean, Akane, or her Ghibli character—made you first notice her talent? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Title: The Quiet Anchor: Why Alice Nanase is the Unsung Hero of Oshi no Ko
In a story defined by reincarnation, celestial twins, and the dark underbelly of the entertainment industry, it is easy to get swept up in the supernatural drama of Oshi no Ko. We obsess over Aqua’s quest for revenge, Ai’s tragic legacy, and the explosive trajectories of Kana and Akane. But in the background of the Lala Lai Theatrical Company arc, there is a character who quietly steals the spotlight—not through flashy acting or dramatic twists, but through the sheer, relatable power of being the "normal" one.
I’m talking about Alice Nanase.
While she hasn't had the screen time of the main cast, Alice serves a narrative function that is absolutely crucial to the story’s grounding. She is the audience surrogate, the hard worker, and the unfortunate reality check. Here is why Alice Nanase deserves way more love. Alice also serves as an important foil to Aqua
If you look up her album art or MV storyboards, expect:
This aesthetic is highly Instagram-friendly but never feels cheap. The attention to small details (like the Romanization of her name as "7-nanase" in hidden track titles) rewards repeat listening/viewing.
Let’s not ignore the fan culture aspect. Despite her serious role as the nervous straight-man, Alice has a hidden chaotic energy that the fandom has latched onto. Whether it’s her expressive faces of panic or her internal screaming, she provides the necessary comic relief in a series that can get incredibly heavy.
She reminds us that it’s okay to laugh at the absurdity of the industry. When everyone else is engaging in psychological warfare, Alice is just trying to survive the rehearsal.
No discussion of Alice Nanase is complete without acknowledging Rean Cropp from To Your Eternity (Season 1 & 2). While the anime is famous for the silent, stoic protagonist Fushi, Rean serves as the emotional anchor of the "Jananda Island" and "Renril" arcs.
Nanase was tasked with a difficult challenge: Rean starts as a spoiled, cowardly noblewoman forced into a brutal gladiator system and evolves into a resilient, compassionate leader. In the hands of a lesser actor, Rean would have been annoying. In Nanase’s hands, she became tragic.
Signature Scene: In Episode 12, when Rean cries out for Fushi to save her despite having been cruel to him earlier, Nanase’s voice cracks with a realism rarely seen in dubbed anime. She doesn't just cry; she hyperventilates, stutters, and lets the arrogance drain from her tone until only raw fear remains. Critics noted that Nanase’s performance single-handedly turned Rean from a hated character into a fan-favorite survivor.
