"Disney Twisted-Wonderland The Animation" is officially streaming its first season exclusively on Disney+, bringing characters inspired by iconic Disney Villains to the screen. With Season 2 (Savanaclaw) and Season 3 (Octavinelle) already in production, lead voice actors Seiichiro Yamashita and Chiaki Kobayashi discussed their experience transitioning from the game to the anime. In an exclusive interview, they highlight how their roles as Ace Trappola and Deuce Spade have deepened, offering fans fresh insight into the beloved first-year duo.
Rediscovering the Roles Through Animation
──First, please tell us your honest thoughts when you heard that "Twisted-Wonderland" would be adapted into an animation.
Seiichiro Yamashita, the voice of Ace Trapolla (hereafter, Yamashita): It felt like it was finally time—this is truly the animation that everyone has been dreaming of. Personally, ever since the game was released, I felt that it absolutely had the potential for this.
That’s how captivating it is. I’m one of the many people who fell in love with Yana Toboso-sensei’s characters, the world-building, and the story. Even when the teaser and PV were released, they drew in even more people, and I received many reactions from people around me saying "I'm looking forward to it," so I was truly happy.
Chiaki Kobayashi, the voice of Deuce Space (hereafter, Kobayashi): Since I was involved in this work when I was relatively new, I have strong feelings for it, so I was genuinely happy.
Even though we live in the real world, the way "Twisted-Wonderland" is depicted with such realism—including the distinct cultures of the characters' hometowns—makes the world feel very "real" to me.
I feel like having this "other world" to turn to serves as a source of emotional support; it truly is a "Land of Dreams."
──The animation is based on the manga adaptation. When performing the story from the game again for the anime, were there any changes in your mindset or approach?
Yamashita: Since this is an anime based on the manga, the main plot of Season 1 follows the events of "Episode 1" from the game.
While I felt the joy and anticipation of getting to perform the Heartslabyul episodes again, I also set a high bar for myself. Of course, I gave it my all and faced Ace Trappola, but when the game was first released, after actually playing it myself, I often felt "I wish I could have done it like this."
As the story progressed, I understood Ace Trappola's character better, and I felt that I should understand him better now. So I faced him again—or rather, considering the depth I'd built with Ace Trappola up to now, I wondered what he was thinking in the early stages.
I think the way I perceived things and what I imagined were different from the original game recording and now that I fully know the charm of "Twisted-Wonderland," so I feel I was able to dive deeper and have more fun with the performance.
Kobayashi: Through my long involvement with "Twisted-Wonderland," I think the way I see Deuce Spade and the range of my performance have expanded. However, going back to the first episode allowed me to reflect on how I originally performed and how I approached him back then.
In the end, I realized that my original style—not overthinking and playing him more intuitively or "head-on"—actually suited Deuce’s character perfectly. So, for the anime recording, I decided not to be too stiff about "recreating the past." I was able to just let go and tell myself, "I just have to play it straight with the heart of the Deuce Spade I carry within me now."
──The first-year duo of Ace and Deuce has a lot of back-and-forth dialogue. Were there any differences or changes between the game and anime recording sessions?
Yamashita: (To Kobayashi) I believe during the game recording, there was a moment when we decided on the characters' direction, right?
Kobayashi: Yeah. We went into the booth at the same time and recorded together, didn't we?
Yamashita: For Chapter 1 of Heartslabyul, we were basically able to record with all the voice cast together, so I thought that was unusual for game recordings.
Since I was able to hear everyone’s performances—not just Chiaki’s but the whole cast's—it was really interesting to hear how everyone approached their roles again. Thanks to that environment, I felt our back-and-forth dialogue naturally began to evolve..
Kobayashi: Yamashita-san and I have been performing together all along, but in the animation, I had more composure—back then I was really in a state of complete dependence.
Yamashita: No, no, no. You've already gained so much experience.
Kobayashi: You sound like my mom (laughs).
Yamashita: I feel more like a proud uncle! (laughs).
Everyone: (Laughs).
Kobayashi: Since I was still such a rookie back then, I had my hands full just dealing with my own lines. But after five years of experience, I was able to actually listen to Yamashita-san’s delivery during the anime recording and adjust my acting accordingly. For me, it made our chemistry feel even more natural and comfortable than before. I’d be really happy if the fans could feel that difference.
Trusting the Person Who Annoys You Most
──In this adaptation, we are introduced to Yuuken Enma, voiced by Yohei Azakami. What were your impressions of the "Prefect," Yuuken Enma, and his interactions with Ace and Deuce?
Yamashita: It's a different character image from the game—surprisingly, a new character type that didn't quite exist in "Twisted-Wonderland." His strength and boldness, and despite being in another world, his flexible thinking and heart that helps him overcome crises—these scenes create a different drama from the same path the prefect took in the game.
Even for those who already know the story from the game, there are new developments that make the experience feel fresh.
I personally work with Azakami-san on many projects, but even so, I really felt his "hidden power"—his performance that further draws out Enma Yuken's charm—beside me, and thanks to those exchanges, I was able to bring out an Ace Trappola I didn't even know existed, which was a very valuable experience.
Kobayashi: Enma Yuken, played by Azakami-san, feels powerful enough to survive in. Night Raven College is a school for mages, after all, so it must be incredibly difficult for a student who can’t use magic to get by.
The way he overcomes that with his natural physical strength and swordsmanship has persuasive power—he possesses a strength that doesn't lose to the other students.
Also, Yuuken is a character with a very strong sense of justice. Seeing that contrasted against a magic academy filled with characters who possess the souls of villains is a fascinating imbalance. I think that's a huge part of what makes Yuuken such a compelling Prefect for this story.
──Yamashita-san's Ace Trappola and Kobayashi-san's Deuce Spade are a first-year duo and also rivals, but how do you perceive their relationship?
Yamashita: If they really had bad chemistry and didn't get along, they wouldn't have that kind of relationship—there's something that connects at their core. Their daily "vibes" are completely different, but the heat in their hearts and the strength of their feelings are the same...
Kobayashi: Also, while they have issues with each other, they each have things the other doesn't, so they can envy and respect each other without saying it out loud—I think that's the secret to being together for a long time.
They trust each other implicitly without needing to put it into words... though, as you’d expect, there are still plenty of things about each other that get on their nerves! (laughs).
──What are some notable scenes or highlights of these two you'd like to point out?
Yamashita: As expected with animation where the images move, things like what distance they're at when bickering—those differences in distance are fresh and interesting.
Also, the compositions are truly wonderful, so I hope people pay attention to that. For example, when Grim comes along and how the three of them create chaos together—having that flow of movement is fresh, or rather, there was an interesting sense of what we'd been experiencing in the game taking form.
Kobayashi: Because it's a work we've been involved with for a long time, and because Yamashita-san and I have exchanged lines many times, being able to record from the first scene with a fresh start while having built up our careers gave it a freshness and depth of flavor that comes with experience—a different enjoyment from the recording at that time.
I think the exchanges we performed while having fun are reflected in the completed footage.
──By the way, when we interviewed Natsuki Hanae-san, who plays Riddle Rosehearts, he mentioned that he could really feel the growth of the Heartslabyul cast.
Yamashita & Kobayashi: Oh! That's nice to hear!
──Additionally, he said Kobayashi-san's attitude had gotten bigger (laughs).
Yamashita: Ahahahaha (laughs). Well, if Hanae-san says so, then it must be true!
Kobayashi: I'll return that right back to him (laughs).
Everyone: (Laughs).
──But that just shows what a great atmosphere you had during the recordings, right?
Kobayashi: Thankfully, the Heartslabyul cast has had many opportunities to get together for livestreams and events, so I think everyone is more relaxed during recording than at the beginning.
Finding Charm Through Deeper Exploration
──Please tell us about parts of the character you play that are similar to you or that you relate to.
Yamashita: This might be true of all humans, but the part where he acts for himself. I think Ace Trappola is quite good at maneuvering. I'm not that skilled, but thinking about how to move to avoid loss as much as possible, what the best solution is—I feel that's similar, and it's also something I admire.
In the game, as the story progresses, you see Ace Trappola's complexes and his passionate side, so I relate to that, and while performing in the animation, I thought I might have the same parts as Ace Trappola within me.
Being able to dig deeper in the animation, Ace Trappola's way of living and being loved became my goal.
Kobayashi: I’ve thought about this a lot, and for Deuce Spade, it comes down to being a "good son." Because he’s caused trouble in the past and doesn't want to make his mother sad anymore, he has this incredibly strong determination to live an honest, straightforward life.
I also live with gratitude to my parents, but now rather than for my parents, I live more for myself or thinking about my own future, so I don't quite understand the feeling of working hard for other people as much as Deuce Spade does, but I still think there's a limit to working hard just for yourself.
For example, for me, I have the driving force that working with Yamashita-san is fun. Deuce Spade has something similar to that, and I think it's amazing that he's thinking about various things, trying to become what his parents wish for.
──His ability to recognize his mistakes and actually take action to fix them is something we could all learn from.
Kobayashi: From high school until now, I've been living for myself rather than for others, so I think it's truly wonderful and noble that despite being young, he can think this way and work hard to put it into action.
──Did you have a "rebellious phase" like Deuce did, Kobayashi-san?
Kobayashi: Oh, I was a real troublemaker... just kidding (laughs).
Yamashita: Wait, was that a joke? (laughs).
Everyone: (Laughs).
Kobayashi: Deuce Spade's hobby is Magical Wheels, so he often says in the game that it feels good to become one with the wind while riding. So I'd like to experience the wind that Deuce Spade feels someday.
Also, I have moments when my language becomes very rough, so in the sense that I'm restraining myself to "use better language" when in public, I might be similar to him.
Yamashita: You're trying hard (laughs). But I've never seen you with rough language?
Kobayashi: That's because we only meet in public places (laughs).
Yamashita: Even when we go out to eat!?
Everyone: (Laughs).
──Now for questions related to the work. Within Heartslabyul dormitory, which character do you think you’d get along with personally?
Yamashita: Trey Clover and Cater Diamond are wonderful, aren't they? However, I feel like Deuce Spade is the one most similar to me in nature, so from a freshman's perspective, I think we’d get along and work well together. Conversely, I think I’d be a bit hesitant or "on guard" around Ace Trappola (laughs).
Kobayashi: I'm relatively the type to want to get along with everyone, so I feel like I could become friends with all five... but if I had to pick, maybe Cater Diamond. He has a playful spirit and can read the room, so when I'm with him, when I want to be alone he'd leave me alone, and when he thinks it's better to be together, he'd quietly stay by my side—that mature behavior seems comfortably moderate.
Also, even more so than Trey, he seems like he’d take the lead on pranks and playing around, so I don't think I’d ever get bored being with Cater.
──Also, if you could decide for yourself, which dormitory would you want to enter?
Yamashita: If I really followed my desires, I'd say Scarabia dormitory with its delicious spicy food, festivals, and fun dorm leader and students. But if I wanted to strictly improve myself, I think Pomefiore would be good.
In the game, Ace Trappola and Deuce Spade have a bit of involvement with Pomefiore dormitory's Vil Schoenheit, and he properly tells them "This is why it's no good, do it this way."
At first I thought he was a scary upperclassman, but my impression changed to thinking he's a good person who points out why something is wrong and gives you the best solution. It's like going to a slightly strict prep school (laughs).
Kobayashi: (Laughs).
Yamashita: I once saw a post from a fan (Prefect) who was on a diet and said, "I'm working hard by imagining Vil-sama is the one telling me what to do." I thought, "That’s the Pomefiore-style self-improvement! That might actually be a great idea!" (laughs).
──Pomefiore-style self-improvement sounds like a great way to stay motivated!
Yamashita: I'm the type of person who is a bit easy on myself, so as a fresh start, I'd like to enter Pomefiore dormitory, occasionally be comforted by Rook Hunt, and encourage each other with Epel Felmier saying "let's do our best"—that would be wonderful.
──How about you, Kobayashi-san?
Kobayashi: For me, it's either Heartslabyul dormitory or Octavinelle dormitory.
Yamashita: Oh! Octavinelle!
Kobayashi: If I spent several years at Octavinelle dormitory, I feel like I could survive anywhere in the future.
Yamashita: You mean for the business skills, right?
Kobayashi: Exactly. Even in terms of "social survival skills," if I could navigate school life smoothly and become friends with those three, I think they'd become powerful business partners looking ahead, so looking forward, it's Octavinelle dormitory.
Heartslabyul dormitory would be genuinely fun if spending student life there. They're certainly strict about rules, but if you watch the animation, your perspective will change a bit, and I think the shared understanding of clearing strict rules allows you to become friends regardless of grade level.
Fresh Discoveries for Longtime Fans and New Viewers
──I actually watched Episode 1, and I was moved by the truly wonderful high-quality footage.
Yamashita: Really, it's such a wonderful Episode 1 that it moves you. During recording, the images were still in rough state, but even with just that, you could see the attention to detail. Personally, I was strongly drawn to the interesting cinematography and storyboarding.
Especially, Episode 1 starts with the big commotion of Yuuken Enma being summoned to another world and getting mixed up in the entrance ceremony at the magic training school Night Raven College. Despite there being so many characters, I felt the way they perfectly summarized the world-building, everyone's roles, and their personalities was a masterclass in information management.
The balance of expressing through images what would become tedious if explained one by one, or explaining through the headmaster's words, was wonderful. For about 30-minute animation, it was dense yet felt like it ended in a flash.
From Episode 2 onwards, there are more scenes where Ace Trappola and Deuce Spade meet and interact with Yuuken Enma, but the level of completion as a "hook" was truly high and surprising.
Kobayashi: I myself had experienced it through the game and comic adaptation, but the animation really increased the resolution of "Twisted-Wonderland."
Every corner—the hallways, the caves, the rooms—is depicted with such meticulous detail. You see things like the textures of the materials and think, "Oh, so that’s what it looks like!" The more you love "Twisted Wonderland," the more information there is to discover..
Of course, first-time viewers can enjoy it, but for prefects playing "Twisted-Wonderland," there are many new discoveries and surprising depictions, so it's an animation that deepens the more you know. I think you can keenly feel that it was made with deep love for "Twisted-Wonderland."
──Finally, since you two are together, please tell us about new charms and discoveries you felt about the character the other plays through the animation.
Yamashita: Approaching this animation recording, I felt that same sense of "growth" that Hanae-san mentioned—even though I’m still learning myself.
Chiaki's techniques have increased—or rather, I felt he expressed Deuce Spade more multifacetedly. For example, in little ad-libs and subtle nuances, I increasingly felt Chiaki's dedication and feelings.
As Chiaki himself said, during game recording he was still in his starting period, so I think he was facing Deuce Spade earnestly, but in addition, he was properly thinking about what to do to express him more attractively and reflecting that in his performance, so that's something I should learn from too.
Working on this animation has made me like Deuce Spade even more.
Kobayashi: My impression hasn't changed since the original game recordings: Yamashita-san’s Ace Trappola is incredibly magnetic.
In a sense, being captivated by this Ace Trappola allowed Deuce Spade to shine—that's why I was able to bite back at Yamashita-san's Ace Trappola, to not lose to him, which was good.
And for this animation recording, I hope I could approach it differently from that time. While thinking I could perform on equal footing with Ace Trappola, Yamashita-san's Ace Trappola still has that elusive quality I first perceived.
Through this recording, I started to see more of his "human" side—his social nature, or how he can’t help but get fired up. He felt more "alive" than ever before.
I’ve always felt Ace's charm because Yamashita-san was leading the way, but this time, he felt truly three-dimensional.
[Text by Miki Fukumuro]
About "Disney Twisted Wonderland: The Animation"
Season 1 "Episode of Heartslabyul"
Streaming exclusively on Disney+ since October 29!
Synopsis
Twisted-Wonderland is a world where magic exists.
The great figures passed down as legends in this world are the Great Seven: the Queen of Hearts, the King of Beasts, the Sea Witch, the Sorcerer of the Sands, the Beautiful Queen, the King of the Underworld, and the Mistress of All Evil.
Serving as a prestigious academy for training mages in Twisted-Wonderland, Night Raven College has produced many exceptional mages throughout its history. Under the Headmaster, there are seven dormitories, each modeled after one of the Great Seven and overseen by a respective Dorm Leader.
One of these seven Dorm Leaders is Riddle Rosehearts, the leader of the Heartslabyul Dormitory, which is founded on the strict spirit of the Queen of Hearts. This "Crimson Tyrant," Riddle, severely rules and torments his dorm students through the "Laws of the Queen of Hearts."
Why did Riddle become a "tyrant," and what exactly is he imprisoned by...?
Cast
Heartslabyul Dorm
Riddle Rosehearts: Natsuki Hanae
Ace Trappola: Seiichiro Yamashita
Deuce Spade: Chiaki Kobayashi
Trey Clover: Ryota Suzuki
Cater Diamond: Tatsuyuki Kobayashi
Savanaclaw Dorm
Leona Kingscholar: Yuichiro Umehara
Jack Howl: Taito Ban
Ruggie Bucchi: Aoi Ichikawa
Octavinelle Dorm
Azul Ashengrotto: Atsushi Tamaru
Jade Leech: Wataru Komada
Floyd Leech: Nobuhiko Okamoto
Scarabia Dorm
Kalim Al-Asim: Kazuki Furuta
Jamil Viper: Kaname Futaba
Pomefiore Dorm
Vil Schoenheit: Hiroki Aiba
Epel Felmier: Shimba Tsuchiya
Rook Hunt: Yojiro Itokawa
Ignihyde Dorm
Idia Shroud: Kouki Uchiyama
Ortho Shroud: Shota Aoi
Diasomnia Dorm
Malleus Draconia: Kazuki Kato
Lilia Vanrouge: Hikaru Midorikawa
Silver: Nobunaga Shimazaki
Sebek Zigvolt: Haruki Ishiya
Night Raven College Staff
Dire Crowley: Mitsuru Miyamoto
Divus Crewel: Kento Ito
Mozus Trein: Rikiya Koyama
Ashton Vargas: Ryota Takeuchi
Sam: Subaru Kimura
Other
The Dark Mirror: Kenyu Horiuchi
Che'nya: Kento Hama
Yuken Enma: Yohei Azakami
Grim: Noriaki Sugiyama
©2025 DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
© Animate Times
*Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
