From the time that creators Takahiro and Yōhei Takamura started releasing Chained Soldier on Shonen Jump+ in 2019, the comic has been an enormous success. The narrative describes how humanity has been enlisting soldiers to fight the terrible Shuuki, monsters that originate from the enigmatic dimension of Mato, using the magical abilities of so-called “Peaches.” Yuuki Wakura, the main character, finds himself as the willing “slave” of Kyouka Uzen, the leader of the 07th Squadron of the Demon Defense Force, who has the ability to turn Yuuki into a potent weapon every time he gives her a kiss, demonstrating his devotion to her. The animated version of Chained Soldier by Studio Seven Arcs made its premiere at the start of this year. We had a conversation with producer Yuki Watanabe and lead actor Yūya Hirose, who plays Yuuki, ahead of their upcoming visit at Anime Boston 2024, about the extensive work that has gone into bringing this distinctive blend of massive action and seductive comedy to the screen.
Regarding the initial reason for the popularity of the original manga, Producer Watanabe remarked that “[Takahiro-sensei’s] female characters are so unique and attractive.” Additionally, the narrative flows naturally and is compelling enough to keep reading.The painting abilities of Yōhei Takemura-sensei are truly astounding. Few manga artists in Japan can create both strong and exciting battle scenes and endearing feminine characters to the same degree as him. The secret to this series’ success lies in the high caliber of creativity that Yōhei Takemura-sensei and Takahiro-sensei combined to create. Before trying out for the part of Yuuki, Yūya Hirose made care to read the manga. She continued, saying, “I read the manga and thought this series was filled with hopes and dreams of boys.” The awards, battles, and story were all well balanced, and I read the entire thing at once. The battles themselves are also really awesome.
The “rewards” Hirose speaks of are a special feature of the series’ allure. Although Kyouka’s ability to turn Yuuki into a monster that destroys Shuuki is immensely helpful, she must physically provide Yuuki any “reward” that his subconscious demands because she is Yuuki’s Master. Naturally, a ton of steamy antics go place, particularly when the other 07th Squadron girls discover how to share Kyouka’s control over Yuuki. Producer Watanabe described how the production team was acutely aware of the significance of accurately portraying Yuuki’s special bond with his teammates, having gained from his experience in prior series: “I think that in order to make a successful anime series, we need to show that the characters are multifaceted and as attractive as possible. Though they are only available in Japanese, we have prepared content for fans to learn new things about the characters, including mini-commentaries, voice cast after-recording chats, and character songs. I sincerely hope you like the entire series, along with any associated content.
A lot of work has gone into making Yuuki and the 07th Squadron females come to life. Cast members Yūya Hirose and others put in a lot of labor as well. “We were able to record together, generally speaking,” he remarked. “We all had fun recording as a group, but the reward scenes could be embarrassing.” In response to a question about any particular difficult parts of playing Yuuki, he said, “There are scenes where I needed to scream because the reward was getting stepped on.” It was difficult to find the ideal ratio of suffering to happiness! However, playing as Yuuki, who is played with and yells, is entertaining.
Producer Watanabe previously hinted that the success of Chained Soldier rests not only on casting Yuuki and Kyouka well, but also on the fact that the fandom adores the entire cast and that every lady in the 07th Squadron has the potential to become a favorite. In response to the question of which character he was most devoted to, Watanabe stated, “I like Himari.” I understand that she has a complex about her abilities and the familial circumstances, but she faces it and evolves as a person. While Himari and Yuuki are more akin to allies in combat, Kyouka and Yuuki have the dynamic of a master and her slave. I enjoy how they support and develop one another.
When Yūya Hirose revealed which of Yuuki’s many transformations he liked most, it also brought up Himari and Yuuki’s friendship: “I love the transformation when he fights with Kyouka and Himari!” His outfit, which resembles a Japanese kimono, gives him a powerful, awesome appearance. The staff at Studio Seven Arcs values Yuuki’s appeal as a hero who can be as strong and cool as he is silly and accessible. “We’re putting extra efforts into the battle scenes by the members of the Demon Defense Force such as Kyouka and also the reward scenes, so I hope you pay close attention to them,” Producer Watanabe said in closing to all of the fans tuning in to see Chained Soldier. Please observe Yuuki’s development as he goes through 12 episodes, evolving from a regular student to a hero.
At Anime Boston 2024, Yuki Watanabe and Yūya Hirose will both be HIDIVE guests for two panels. Every Thursday, Chained Soldier releases new episodes on HIDIVE.
