We had the pleasure of speaking with celebrated Japanese voice actress Mariya Ise at Anime Weekend Atlanta 2025, a performer renowned for bringing to life some of anime’s most recognizable and emotionally resonant characters. With a career spanning more than two decades, Ise has showcased remarkable range across television anime, film, and video games, earning widespread acclaim for her ability to portray complex and dynamic roles.

Among her most notable performances are Killua Zoldyck in Hunter x Hunter and Kasugano Urara / Cure Lemonade in Yes! PreCure 5 and Yes! PreCure 5 GoGo!, roles that have remained deeply meaningful to fans over the years. During her time at Anime Weekend Atlanta, Ise reflected on her creative process and the evolution of characters she has portrayed at different stages of her life, offering insight into the passion and care she brings to her work.

LastLooks: First of all, thank you so much for being here at Anime Weekend Atlanta.

Mariya Ise: Thank you so much.

LastLooks: You’ve voiced so many iconic characters across genres—Killua in Hunter x Hunter, roles in Made in Abyss, and more. When approaching a new role, what is the first thing you look for in a character when crafting their voice?

Mariya Ise: First of all, for something like Hunter x Hunter or Made in Abyss, these are original manga works. So I read a lot of the original manga. I read it so I can really create the backbone behind the character.

When it’s an anime that does not have original source material, I will read the script again and again and try to find similarities with the character to help draw that out in my process.

LastLooks: Does that make it a lot more difficult when there isn’t original source material such as a manga?

Mariya Ise: Yes, it does in many ways, because you don’t really know the future. If there’s an original story, you already have an idea of where the character is going. But with a new project, there’s nothing that gives me an idea of that direction.

So I talk to the director, the producer, and everyone involved in the project to get as much information as possible to help create the character.

LastLooks: Some of your roles—like Killua and Cure Lemonade—have been part of your life for a very long time. When you revisit those characters years later, how does that affect your performance?

Mariya Ise: That’s a very good question. Of course, for Killua it’s a ten year span, or maybe even longer. So the first time I played Killua or Cure Lemonade, I was younger. I’ve matured since then, and my voice is probably a little lower now even than it was ten years ago.

A lot of things have happened in my life over that time. So is it a little bit different? Yes. However, inside, I know this character more than anyone. We’re synchronized—we’re really melded into one person.

So even though it might be ten years later and my voice may sound a little different, the character’s personality, way of thinking, and core feelings haven’t changed.

LastLooks: When you go back into the studio for a character like Killua, how do you reconnect with that voice? Do you listen to old recordings?

Mariya Ise: Usually we do tests. We do a couple of tests, and that’s when I can get back into it. It takes a little time, but not too much. It’s just a bit of adjusting back into the character.

LastLooks: When you were younger, you dressed up or cosplayed as characters like Killua. Did you ever imagine that one day you’d actually portray this character you loved that much?

Mariya Ise: Of course not!

LastLooks: How did you feel when you got the audition and then when you found out you got to voice Killua?

Mariya Ise: I loved Hunter x Hunter so much. I loved Killua so much. I never knew why, but I was just so attracted to it. I loved it, loved it, loved it.

So when I got the audition and found out I had been cast, it felt like a light went on. It was an “aha” moment. Everything I had done in life—the hard things, the joyful things, that love I had for Killua and Hunter x Hunter—it all made sense.

It really felt like a full-circle moment.

LastLooks: So instead of being super shocked, it was more of an “aha!” moment?

Mariya Ise: Yes, it was like a light went off. I thought, “I see now!”

LastLooks: You spoke previously on how recording sessions changed a lot due to COVID, with smaller groups instead of the full cast. Has that shift remained till now or has it reverted back?

Mariya Ise: Yes, during COVID, recordings were done in very small numbers, and I would only record my own scenes. Now, it’s gone back to the ensemble way that it was before.

So if it’s a 30-minute anime, we record together from start to finish as if it’s performed live. So it’s completely reverted back to how sessions were done pre-COVID.

LastLooks: Speaking of recording sessions, before we wrap up, I’m curious—do you have any pre-recording rituals or habits?

Mariya Ise: I have a few. For my voice, I do vocal exercises to warm up. I also put on hand cream because otherwise my hands get too dry and it’s hard to turn pages.

Also, even if the studio is full of people, including other voice actors, I do stretching. I don’t care if anyone is watching.

LastLooks: Thank you so much for your time and for being here with us.

Mariya Ise: Thank you very much.

Stay tuned for more coverage of Anime Weekend Atlanta, including more exclusive interviews with special AWA guests, and photo galleries from Anime Weekend Atlanta 2025—only on LastLooks.org!