Interview with Kentaro Kumagai (Laios from Delicious in Dungeon)

Written by Ross Locksley on 01 Mar 2024

Thanks once again to Kadokawa, we were given the chance to send some questions to the talented voice actor Kentaro Kumagai, whose work includes playing Aston Atland in Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans, Theo Cornaro in Record of Grancrest War and Hideo Akuno on Idomaster SideM.

As the leader of the Delicious in Dungeon party, Laios, he'll have to convince us that all these monsters are tastier than they look!

Did you know about the original manga? What was your first impression about the fantasy series Delicious in Dungeon?

I was familiar with the series beforehand, but the first time I actually read the complete series was just before the audition. My first impression was that it was really, really interesting and entertaining.

What do you think makes the character voice in Delicious in Dungeon feel different in comparison to previous roles you have done?

I believe that my character Laios is very easily misunderstood. So the way he communicates with the people around him is one of his characteristics that is different from the other roles I’ve done.

Not everything is delicious in the dungeon...

What aspects of your character do you find most intriguing to portray? Or what did you like most about playing the character?

As a character, one of the things that is most characteristic and very intriguing about him is that he has a very straightforward personality. One of his main goals in the series is to save his sister and then also, of course, be able to try out all these delicious monsters that he’s very curious about.

So, kind of having that sincerity toward his own wants, and what he wants to try out is similar to a young boy, so he has very sincere emotions that I find very interesting to play. It’s also what I like about him.

He always listens to the voice of his heart and his morals when he acts. He doesn’t really try to be funny or fool around but ends up doing it by accident. So those are some of the things that are intriguing about him.

Laios is a very serious character in the series and carries the traits of a leader. At the same time, Laios actually has a mission to rescue his sister, Falin. As such, when he acts differently, it can be funny. How are you aware of this gap in understanding and acting the character? Or what image do you have in mind while acting as Laios?

I believe Laios doesn’t actually try to be a leader or act like a leader of the party, although that is indeed his role within the adventurer party. I don’t think he tries to act as it or takes actions in order to seem like a leader. He doesn’t even think the role suits him.

However, the actions he ends up taking either to save his sister Falin or toward monsters and his curiosity ends up creating that gap or that difference in how he can be funny and serious at the same time. So, when I’m acting, I don’t try to purposely create that gap or try to force it. It comes out because of how he is and the way he thinks.

To viewers who have not read the manga, Whatis the main appeal of the Delicious in Dungeon anime? Why should we watch it?

As the title suggests in Japanese, Dungeon Meshi, which is roughly translated as Dungeon Food, the story basically portrays people eating food in a dungeon.

However, dungeons are usually places where there is nothing to eat, which is why adventurer parties need to bring their own food so they can survive.

However, in the case of Laios’ party, they see food in a different way per se, and kind of start out experimenting with things that aren’t supposed to be edible. And I guess experimenting with how to prepare, cook, and then eat those things. Basically, it is portraying life in a dungeon.

Of course, it is a gourmet story and gourmet anime. But I feel like the story focuses more on how they live, eat, and. survive. The importance of what food plays in life and the importance of taking a life in order to survive is also key. So, it has a lot of deeper tones to it that you can learn while you watch the anime or read the series. Seeing a different aspect of food and what food means in our lives, I think, is one of the things you learn from this anime which is why you should watch it.

Voice actor Kentaro Kumagai clearly enjoys the role

Delicious in Dungeon has garnered significant anticipation with its manga's success. How does it feel to be part of the team bringing this beloved series to life as an anime, and what can viewers look forward to in the adaptation?

As mentioned, Ryoko Kui’s manga is already a very popular series, and in order to make it an anime, we were able to join forces with animation studio TRIGGER, which has already increased the hype and anticipation towards this anime.

I feel very honored to be able to portray Laios, which is a very important role in the series, and I feel very happy to be a part of this creation and production. I look forward to portraying it and doing my best through my acting to do it justice.

I can’t really decide one specific thing or one single thing that I want people to look forward to. Basically there’s so much heat and passion that was put in by every single member of the team to create this series such as the animation by TRIGGER, the story and composition, the art and designs that show respect to the original series, the music, and the acting and energy we put in as a cast to voice the characters.

Those are the things that have come together with so much love and so much passion that I can’t really just choose one thing. That is, we can say that it is filled with love and passion by every single member of the team, so that is one thing we would like you to pay attention to or look forward to in the series.

Any final comments to fans overseas as they watch the anime series?

Delicious in Dungeon is loved by so many people all over the world. I really feel a lot of pride in being able to be a part of the making of this anime, and I will do the best I can to be the best Laios and put all my energy into the acting.

Please watch it once it comes out, and please enjoy it as much as we do and feel the love that we have put into it.

Our thanks to Kentaro Kumagai for his time, and Kadokawa for making the arrangements.

About Delicious in Dungeon:

Synopsis:

Delicious in Dungeon. That is, “to eat”, or “to be eaten” ―――
Within the depths of the dungeon, his younger sister was eaten by a Red Dragon – and adventurer Laios barely made it back to the surface with his life.
He attempts the dungeon again, but money and food are deep within its bowels…
Faced with the critical situation where his sister may be digested at any moment, Laios decides:
“Food shall be self-providing from within the dungeon!”
Slimes, basilisks, mimics and even dragons!
While eating those that attack you, aim to traverse the dungeons, adventurer!

Staff:
Author: Ryoko Kui (Delicious in Dungeon / KADOKAWA)
Director: Yoshihiro Miyajima
Story Editor: Kimiko Ueno
Character Design: Naoki Takeda
Monster Design: Yuto Kaneko
Concept Art: Sayaka Shimada
Food Design: Mao Momiji
Assistant Director: Hideyuki Satake
Art Director: Sachiko Nishiguchi　Yusuke Nishikimi (Inspired)
Art Supervisor: Osamu Masuyama (Inspired)
Color Design: Hitoki Takeda
Composition Director: Katsunori Shiradou (Graphinica)
Editor: Masato Yoshitake
Music Composer: Yasunori Mitsuda
Music Production: KADOKAWA
Sound Director: Kohei Yoshida
Sound Effects: Kenji Koyama (Sound Box)
Recording Adjustment: Daiki Yamaki (KlagClan)
Animation Producer: Shunsuke Shida
Animation Production: TRIGGER

Music:
Opening Song: BUMP OF CHICKEN “Sleep Walking Orchestra”
Ending Song: Ryokuoushoku Shakai "Party!!"

Cast:

Kentaro Kumagai as “Laios”
Sayaka Sembongi as “Marcille”
Asuna Tomari as “Chilchuck”
Hiroshi Naka as “Senshi”
Saori Hayami as “Falin”
Akira Miki as “Namari”
Shinji Kawada as “Shuro”
Wataru Katoh as "Kabru"
Rie Takahashi as "Rinsha"
Miyu Tomita as "Mickbell"
Toru Nara as "Kuro"
Yuya Hirose as "Holm"
Kei Kawamura as "Daya"

Official Platforms:
Japanese Website: https://delicious-in-dungeon.com/
English Webpage: https://delicious-in-dungeon.com/special-abroad/
English Twitter: https://twitter.com/dun_meshi_en

Streaming Information:

Streaming weekly on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/81564899
Copyright: ©Ryoko Kui,KADOKAWA/Delicious in Dungeon PARTNERS