Alice Nanase (2025)

For a seiyuu in their late twenties, being cast in a Hayao Miyazaki film is the equivalent of winning an Oscar. In 2023, Alice Nanase joined the voice cast of How Do You Live? (internationally titled The Boy and the Heron).

While Studio Ghibli famously keeps their voice cast under strict embargo until release (and often uses live-action actors rather than professional seiyuu), Nanase was confirmed to voice a supporting role in the film’s ensemble. This casting was a major signal that the industry’s old guard—led by Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki—views Nanase not just as an "anime voice actor" but as a genuine dramatic performer capable of carrying the weight of Ghibli’s emotional subtext.

In interviews following the film’s Japanese release, Nanase admitted she cried when she received the callback. "I grew up watching Spirited Away on repeat," she told Anime! Anime! magazine. "To stand in the same recording booth as the masters... I felt like a ghost watching myself." alice nanase

In the vast landscape of Japanese voice acting (seiyuu), where stars often rise through child acting or idol training, Alice Nanase (七瀬 彩夏) presents a fascinating anomaly. With a stage name that carries a distinctly Western first name and a quiet, almost mysterious public persona, Nanase has captured the attention of anime fans worldwide not through viral marketing or reality TV scandals, but through sheer, undeniable vocal talent.

For many international viewers, the name Alice Nanase first appeared during the emotional rollercoaster of To Your Eternity (Fumetsu no Anata e), but her recent casting in a major Studio Ghibli production has cemented her status as one of the most intriguing young talents of the Reiwa era. For a seiyuu in their late twenties, being

This article dives deep into the career, distinctive style, and rising stardom of Alice Nanase.

Alice Nanase is introduced during Episode 116 of the anime (and Chapter 178 of the manga). The story revolves around the release of the "Owee" gaming console. A massive crowd has gathered outside the store, and a confrontation breaks out between the "Dragon Hunters" (a parody of the Yakuza game series Ryu ga Gotoku) and the local Gintama cast. While Studio Ghibli famously keeps their voice cast

To quell the violence, the store manager suggests a "character battle" tournament. Representing the Dragon Hunters is their leader, Tetsunosuke Saika. However, his team realizes he lacks the charisma to win a popularity contest. In a desperate move, they introduce their secret weapon: Alice Nanase.

In the crowded landscape of Japanese-inspired solo projects, Alice Nanase carves a distinct identity. The name itself is a juxtaposition: "Alice" evokes Lewis Carroll’s dreamy innocence and curiosity, while "Nanase" (often associated with the number seven, a digit of mystery and luck in East Asian culture) suggests a layered, possibly fractured, modernity. Alice Nanase doesn’t just perform or write; she constructs a world. Whether through haunting vocaloid-adjacent ballads or melancholic J-pop anthems, her work asks: What happens when the rabbit hole leads to a cyberpunk city instead of a garden?

If we treat Alice Nanase as a singer-songwriter (the most common usage of this name in indie circles), her signature is controlled fragility. Her vocals sit in a mid-to-high register, often layered with soft reverb that mimics a voice echoing through empty train stations or abandoned amusement parks.