A worldwide phenomenon, everybody is after Denji’s Chainsaw heart with the major theatrical release of Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc.
As the titular Chainsaw Man, professional voice actor Ryan Colt Levy has given voice to this explosive anime’s protagonist Denji.
We recently had a heart-to-heart with this legend ahead of Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc’s release – learn more with our interview.
Ryan Colt Levy Interview – Professional Voice Actor Talks Chainsaw Man’s Denji
Gamers Heroes
The man of the hour!
Congrats on the upcoming release – I’m going to get the popcorn bucket myself. I’m so looking forward to it!
Keeping things top-level – what are some of your favorite moments voicing Denji throughout the series?
He’s a truly fantastic character. He’s been through so much, and he’s going to continue going through so much with Reze Arc…
Ryan Colt Levy
You know, I read the manga before the show was even announced to be in production!
I actually came from this as a fan!
The very first episode has quite a few moments…
There’s this sequence when he first gets stabbed in the warehouse, and then essentially is a dream – the worldly sequence where he’s communicating with Pochita.
There’s the contract, and the speech on the log, and then the sort of rebirth.
That whole set of scenes to me – that moment – is so powerful and special.
Getting to have that be one of the first things that we got into when working on this whole thing, and knowing that was so crucial to the entire journey working, was incredibly special.
There are so many one-liners throughout that show that are so funny.
I mean, the first scene between him and Aki in the alleyway is a classic!
There’s also the training sequence with Kishibe and Power, which is amazing.
There are so many moments!
Then there’s really human moments…I love the quiet stuff with Denji, too.
But for this movie, I think so many people feel this is where the story really starts.
It takes it to a different level of depth, nuance, sadness, and human connection.
As much as it is so gnarly, I think there are some scenes and moments in this that, when I first read it years ago, not even knowing I would get to be on this journey…
I was like,
“I can’t wait to see if they get to this. What is this going to look and feel like when it’s animated?”
I knew it would be a show, and I knew it would be special, but it’s been beyond my wildest dreams.
Gamers Heroes
The fans are definitely there – I saw the New York Comic-Con takeover with the Pochita balloons!
That leads me to my next question…
I know there are so, so many fans out there – I’ve seen your Tweets and I love how you love your fans.
Ryan Colt Levy
You know, it’s a mutual love!
It’s so wide-ranging, because I am so present.
As far as being in the conversation online, every week a new chapter comes out and I’m talking about it vaguely.
Whenever I travel for conventions, I’m meeting so many people who care so deeply about these characters who have their own feelings and perspectives.
I’m lucky to just be the vessel for this thing that I also deeply love.
There’s a mutual, shared excitement that is really easy to tap into with each other.
To me, seeing their cosplays – the amount of time and effort and creativity they put into such passionate expressions of art and humor!
If you spend time on Twitter, it’s extraordinary; it’s all over the place!
Every fan base has a little bit of everything, but there’s an incredibly deep, analytical section of the fandom that is always breaking down these interesting ideas and theories, keeping it constantly alive – even when there are break weeks.
In the three years we’ve had between the show and the film, so many people have been so dedicated – even just from the show.
There is a whole army of people who come from loving the manga, but there’s this new family that we’ve all attained, people who’ve just come at it from the show and have waited patiently.
I’ve spoken to a lot of people who have picked up the manga, and I’ve spoken to a ton of people who said:
“I’m waiting because I like you.”
People have waited so long for what I know is such a special arc – I’m really excited!
We just saw it the other night – I hadn’t seen it yet, so I just got to soak it up.
And I’m really proud of it!
I think it’s something really special, and I think the fans of this story are going to be so, so excited and satiated.
Gamers Heroes
Absolutely – I saw the red carpet picture with you and Adam McArthur!
I interviewed him a while back – he’s truly amazing too!
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Ryan Colt Levy
Yeah, I love Adam!
He’s everywhere, he’s amazing, and he’s a good, good friend.
He’s like a genuine brother to me!
We’ve been buddies for a couple of years now, and he’s always just been such a bright light and a great talent.
He’s someone I really I love being able to go on an adventure with.
Gamers Heroes
That’s the only way to live life though! That’s how you get stories, right?
Ryan Colt Levy
I agree!
You know, we’re just really lucky to be able to do this and do it in this way.
You don’t always know the kind of people that will come into your life, or the people you’ll get to work with.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate that they are just a giant swath of amazing humans!
Gamers Heroes
As Spike Spiegel says, “Whatever happens, happens!”
Ryan Colt Levy
Yeah, truly!
Gamers Heroes
Chainsaw Man’s got an amazing dub cast!
Obviously there’s you, but you’ve also got Suzie Yeung as Makima and Casey – fantastic name – as the Angel Devil.
I also know you’ve worked with Casey on Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance!
What’s it like working with all this all-star talent?
I’m sure you are great foils to each other, building off of each other’s strengths and having a lot of fun in the sound booth!
Ryan Colt Levy
There’s something so special about working with a cast that is as equally magnetic and powerful and inspiring!
You know, every single one of them is so accomplished, just as human beings and as performers beyond this.
This is just kind of this amazing playground they all get to really flex their muscles in.
You know, I’ve known all of them in some slight capacity, or worked with them in a slight capacity – at least in the main cast before Chainsaw Man.
Once we got this show, we became a family very quickly.
Sarah, who plays Power, and I have this idiot sibling energy that is genuine!
It’s extraordinarily funny, present, and alive.
You feel that energy coming off of her!
Reagan is so eloquent and such a beautiful soul, and understands the depth of Aki.
He gives him so much, and he really gives him different shades in the movie than he did in the show as the character is building and walls are breaking down.
And Casey only had a little bit of time in the first season to jump in – but immediately set the tone so well for Angel Devil.
I think the movie really lets them showcase the kind of balance, especially off the Aki stuff.
Suzie is a powerhouse; absolutely in every way, shape, and form.
Her performance as Makima is so mesmerizing; you just get drawn in with the way that her voice is so measured, and there’s a texture to it that is just amazing.
Everybody loves their roles so much!
I was thinking about it – how, from doing the show, sitting with those characters for so long, and then doing things…having the last three years of really soaking it in and resonating with them even more.
It was so interesting for me to watch the movie, because when everybody shows up and all the different characters come on and do their thing, I didn’t hear things like:
“Oh yeah, that’s my friend.”
They’ve completely become these characters to me now, and it’s so beautiful!
And Alexis, who is joining the cast now as Reze, is perfect. She’s an incredible addition to this family!
I think people are going to be moved by this whole experience.
For anybody who has been with us on the dub for this journey this far, I really hope they feel how much it is a love letter to them as well!
Gamers Heroes
Absolutely – and I definitely look forward to experiencing it!
I’m being fully mindful of spoilers – we are a spoiler-free zone!
I saw a recent Tweet where you said there’s a lot of improv.
Keeping things very top-level, but what can you talk about regarding this, either here or in previous roles?
Ryan Colt Levy
It’s interesting with this kind of work, specifically.
Improvisation is usually pretty rare, because the source material or the script is short.
There’s a million reasons why.
More often than not, we’re not improvising or doing a heavy rewrite.
In this case, Denji and the story Fujimoto is writing has a very particular style and energy.
There’s stuff to keep in mind, like the time frame that it’s set in, he rules of the universe, the energy of the character, things they would or wouldn’t say, or how they would or wouldn’t say it.
As a fan of the manga, I’m just as connected to those lines as anybody else!
The first thing I want to do is fight for as close to an exact translation of a thing.
That line in the trailer:
“Everybody’s after my chainsaw heart! What about my heart? Denji’s heart? Does nobody want that?!”
Because of what happens when things get animated, sometimes based on lip flaps or the way the scene moves, dialogue has to be altered to actually just fit the face.
That line was actually something that was slightly altered.
I asked the Director:
“Let me try and make this other way fit, because it’s really important.”
And she said:
“I trust you. Let’s try it!”
I think that is important – and she helped me fight for it.
We got to keep it, and it worked!
But the improv stuff, a lot of it is more on the humor side. It is more in reference to ways that we had already built the character in season one, and how he would respond to something, or say something, or reference another character.
There’s some fun stuff that we threw in – I can be more open about it after the movie is out for a while.
Gamers Heroes
I absolutely understand!
Ryan Colt Levy
It’s never about improvising for the sake of being funny.
It’s more,
“Okay, what’s the best version of what Denji is trying to say?”
Or, how do you clarify an idea?
Because I think Denji is also a very mischaracterized individual.
It’s the kind of change that is going to show people there’s a lot more going on.
Gamers Heroes
Absolutely! As you stated, Denji is in safe and loving hands with you.
I believe it 100% – you’ve already proven yourself, A+, top marks.
You got it!
Ryan Colt Levy
Thank you!
It’s weird because when we first did it three years ago, nobody knew who I was, and I was very conscious of that, and I didn’t want to disappoint anyone.
And you don’t know what’s going to work.
I’m really glad that it’s resonated!
Gamers Heroes
I got a chance to read your Forbes story from 2022!
You mentioned that you’re looking how to work on your personal brand, and how it speaks for itself.
First off, I hope you get to work with Hideo Kojima someday – we’ll get you into Death Stranding 3 with Reedus and Conan O’ Brien!
Ryan Colt Levy
That’s the dream!
As far as I’m concerned, whether it’s a video game or if he actually starts a movie studio…
I want to work with that man!
Gamers Heroes
Absolutely!
But to the original point, you talked about how you have your personal brand and how it speaks for yourself.
It’s a fantastic mantra – you’ve shown that, and your fans know that!
It’s been about three years since that interview, and you’ve absolutely crushed it as Denji – and you continue to crush it.
How exactly has your brand evolved in those three years?
Ryan Colt Levy
That’s an interesting question!
I think it’s a weird thing to be conscious of, because I’ve always been self-conscious about it.
I think so much of what I have actually learned from this experience in this story – Denji and the whole thing – is to just be as true, open, raw, and real as possible.
Let that just be the brand you know!
I’ve been able to experience so much in these last three years.
From traveling to different places to meeting so many different kinds of people, I’ve been learning so much and having so many life experiences.
It has just made me more present, more calm, more focused, and more grateful.
I think, more than anything, I feel more open now to create even more outside this space again…
To work on music, to paint and put that out there, to get back on camera – to just be creative and expressive in all forms.
It allows you to know what feels right to come out!
If anything, I want you to know if someone’s going to see my work – or perceive whatever we call a brand – and go:
“You know what, I can go do that too.”
That’s my hope!
Gamers Heroes
That’s really great!
That leads me to my last question…
I’ve chatted with a lot of people at press events and the like. People have told me that they want to get into the voice acting space, they want to be creative!
You have a lot of people to look up to you – I can tell you that as a fact!
Ryan Colt Levy
Oh my gosh!
Gamers Heroes
I’m serious! I can’t lie – I’m like Marta from Knives Out.
What advice would you give to those who are looking to enter the voice acting space?
I know there are multiple pathways, but no really wrong way…
Ryan Colt Levy
I definitely don’t think it hurts to take acting classes that are outside the voiceover space.
I think it’s great to do improv classes, scene study classes, and things where you’re in person with people. I think grounded acting and being vulnerable is so important to being genuine to any of this work.
Also, know that you can’t compare yourself to other people or other people’s journeys.
You just have to love the process and doing the thing for the sake of doing the thing, all without the expectation of anything happening.
I never could have imagined any of this happening; I didn’t have it planned, I didn’t think it was a possibility.
I just knew I loved what I did, and if I could just figure out a way to enjoy doing that.
It was a gift in itself, and I’ve always been one of those people who loved life.
In my time, when I wasn’t getting paid to do this at all, I was going to classes.
I was reading every book I could find, I was watching interviews with my favorite filmmakers.
I was with friends, doing it because I loved it – and I let it be a part of that.
And always have your own back!
It’s going to take you believing in yourself before anybody else starts backing you up or helping you out or introducing you to anybody.
There are so many steps that people ask about…how do I do this and this and this?
Start at the beginning, and literally just put one foot in front of the other. The other things will sort of reveal themselves in time when it’s right, when you’re ready.
You know, preparation meets opportunity!
Gamers Heroes
I like that a lot!
Ryan Colt Levy
Thank you Casey! I appreciate it.
Gamers Heroes
It’s an absolute pleasure – thank you for everything!
I really appreciate your time, and I look forward to seeing the movie.
Ryan Colt Levy
Oh, man, I hope you dig it! Thank you so much.
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc is now being shown exclusively in theaters – one can learn more and get their tickets via its official website.
Feeling social? Be sure to follow Ryan Colt Levy via his official Twitter/X, TikTok, and Instagram social media accounts!
Thank you to PR for arranging this interview, and Ryan Colt Levy for his time!
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