[CF 2024] Bringing Darkness to Light: Solo Leveling’s Taito Ban on Voicing Sung Jin-woo

We had the opportunity to interview Taito Ban, the voice behind Sung Jin-woo in Solo Leveling, during Comic Fiesta 2024 in Malaysia. As the anime continues to captivate audiences worldwide, Ban shared his experiences, insights, and thoughts about the series and his role in bringing the protagonist to life.

First Impressions of Malaysia 

Despite only being in Malaysia for a few days, Ban expressed warmth towards the country and its people. “My first impression of Malaysians is that they’re very warm. They’re very friendly, even to people who aren’t Malaysian, to foreigners especially,” Ban shared. Coming from winter in Japan, he found Malaysia’s climate particularly comfortable. 

When asked about local attractions, he showed interest in exploring the city: “I saw a very, very tall tower in the middle of the town… but also, nearer to the venue, I saw the Twin Towers. I’d really like to go there if I have the chance.” Regarding Malaysian cuisine, Ban displayed genuine curiosity, stating, “Because it’s my first time in Malaysia and I know there’s a lot of very good food here, I really don’t know what to go to first. So I really want to ask everyone what their suggestions of what I should eat are.”

Behind the Scenes of Solo Leveling Season 1 

Ban provided detailed insights into two pivotal moments from the first season that showcase the series’ dramatic evolution. Speaking about the crucial sixth episode, he emphasized the intricate sound design: “The music, the sound direction for that specific scene was very particular in its execution. Especially with the vocals and the music in that scene, you could tell that they were trying to play up the darkness factor of it.” 

He explained how this technical aspect reinforced the character’s development: “You could tell that the main character, Sung Jin-woo, isn’t going to be a very bright hero… he’s going to be more of a dark hero, someone more of an anti-hero.”

The iconic “ARISE” scene from the final episode held special significance for Taito Ban: “When the main character is talking to Igris, you could tell that… even from the atmosphere, it was a very different mood, very different pace from the rest of the story.” He particularly emphasized the scene’s subtle complexity: “Pay attention to the change in the tone of voice. It’s very subtle, it’s very short, it’s one word, but it carries a lot of meaning.”

Voicing Jin-woo’s Transformation 

Ban’s approach to voicing Jin-woo’s evolution revealed a deep understanding of method acting in voice performance. “Because these developments and transformations were such a key part of the character of Sung Jin-woo, Ban-san decided to put that into how he portrayed the character, even whilst recording the voice,” he explained. His physical technique was particularly fascinating: “When Jin-woo was still E-class, the weakest, he would portray Jin-woo with his back bent a little bit, bent over, crouching, with the mic just a bit lower, so when you’re crouched, you don’t project your voice so much.”

As the character grew stronger, Taito Ban adapted his approach accordingly: “As he grows stronger, as he gets more and more physically fit throughout the series, [I] would change his posture from leaning over to standing up straight, his chest out, get the strength of the voice projection back, have the mic higher.” This physical transformation in the recording booth helped capture Jin-woo’s character development authentically: “It was a very physical process.”

Looking Ahead to Season 2

“Even though the first season was so well executed… in the grand scheme of the story of the series, it is still the prologue,” Ban emphasized. Regarding the new season, he explained, “The second season brings in more characters into the mix and with the expansion of the cast… the world is going to expand far beyond just the dungeon that he was levelling in.” He also teased exciting developments: “With the threat of Igris looming again, the fights are going to be 10 times flashier, 10 times more impressive.”

Personal Connection to the Character Ban shared a deep connection to Jin-woo’s journey: “Even at the level of the audition he felt very personally connected to the character of Sung Jin-woo, whether it’s Sung Jin-woo’s feelings on being lesser than his peers, or Sung Jin-woo’s personal struggles with the feeling of helplessness… but also Sung Jin-woo’s spirit of never giving up.” Regarding his favorite character, Ban revealed, “A step from Sung Jin-woo, my favorite character is the female lead, Cha Hae-in… where Sung Jin-woo is the darkness, Cha Hae-in is the light in Solo Levelling.”

Personal Connection to the Character 

Taito Ban’s connection to Sung Jin-woo runs deeper than mere professional interpretation. “Even at the level of the audition he felt very personally connected to the character of Sung Jin-woo, whether it’s Sung Jin-woo’s feelings on being lesser than his peers, or Sung Jin-woo’s personal struggles with the feeling of helplessness… but also Sung Jin-woo’s spirit of never giving up,” he shared. 

This personal resonance helped him bring authenticity to the role: “It’s very difficult to imagine somebody else having this level of familiarity with the character’s own inner thoughts.” Beyond Jin-woo, Ban expressed particular admiration for Cha Hae-in: “Where Sung Jin-woo is the darkness, Cha Hae-in is the light in Solo Levelling.” 

He elaborated on his appreciation: “Part of what Ban-san feels is so mesmerizing about Cha Hae-in is the sort of road she had to take on her way to becoming a hunter… that journey itself is also something that makes her very, very endearing.”

Looking toward the future, Taito Ban shared ambitious hopes for the series’ continuation: “Of course we finished recording season one, season two, but of course I would really, really like it if the momentum continued and it didn’t just stop because there’s so much more of the story left to tell. So season three, season four, season five, maybe even a movie in the works.” His enthusiasm for the project’s potential was evident as he discussed these possibilities, suggesting that Solo Leveling’s journey is far from over.

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