Suicide Squad ISEKAI Interview: Harley Quinn & Joker Voice Actors On Their Experience Voicing The Iconic Characters

Suicide Squad ISEKAI is a new anime series that started premiering on 27 June 2024 and is now available to stream on HBO GO with new episodes every Thursday.

Courtesy of HBO Asia, Suicide Squad ISEKAI Japanese voice actors Anna Nagase (who voices Harley Quinn) and Yuichiro Umehara (who voices the Koker) answered several of our questions about the experience of voicing their characters and their favourite DC Comics characters.

KKP: Are you a fan of DC and who is your favourite DC character?
Anna Nagase: Having watched the live-action Hollywood movies, Suicide Squad and The Suicide Squad, as well as Birds of Prey, Harley Quinn was a character that really stood out to me and resonated as she’s quite a complex character to play, constantly evoking chaos, yet displaying a sense of loyalty.

Yuichiro Umehara: Since watching DC movies such as Suicide Squad, The Joker and The Dark Knight with key character, The Joker, I have often been inspired by the character’s versatility and excited by how I can use my voice to portray him in an anime version.

KKP: What were the biggest challenges of voicing iconic characters like The Joker and Harley Quinn?
Anna Nagase: What I found most challenging was how I needed to bring out Harley’s boldness, spontaneity and the various layers of her character, simply through my voice.

Yuichiro Umehara: Taking on the role of voicing The Joker was a daunting task especially given the numerous portrayals by renowned actors and voice actors over the years. I was nervous right up to the first recording session, but eventually overcame it and incorporated my own take of The Joker.

KKP: Did you enjoy voicing your characters in Suicide Squad ISEKAI?
Anna Nagase: I found myself enjoying the unpredictable nature of Harley Quinn during the recording process, her actions continue to surprise me throughout the series. She strives to enjoy herself no matter the situation which motivated me to simply enjoy the process, including improvising for a few scenes.

Yuichiro Umehara: Voicing a villain like The Joker gave me a sense of freedom and flexibility. What made it more enjoyable was that I was able to creatively introduce voice techniques that could amplify his villainous traits.

KKP: Other than your characters, which character do you like?
Anna Nagase: Other than Harley Quinn, Peacemaker would be one of my favourites. I just love how his scenes are so unexpected, versus his calm and composed appearance.

Yuichiro Umehara: It would have to be King Shark from the movie Suicide Squad. Yet, in Suicide Squad ISEKAI, I love how we get to see an adorable side to him, a side that can only be brought out through anime.

In Suicide Squad ISEKAI, Amanda Waller, the head of A.R.G.U.S., has assembled a group of notorious criminals — Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Peacemaker, Clayface, and King Shark — for a mission. These Super-Villains are sent into an otherworldly realm, ISEKAI, that’s connected to this world through a mystical portal, leading them into a land of swords and magic where orcs rampage and dragons rule the skies.

With lethal explosives planted in their necks, there’s no running or hiding, and failing the mission means a one-way ticket to the afterlife. Can Harley Quinn and her crew conquer this perilous ISEKAI? Brace yourselves for the pulse-pounding saga of the elite task force known as the “Suicide Squad” as they embark on a jaw-dropping adventure!

Characters in Suicide Squad ISEKAI are voiced by a stellar cast including well-known Japanese voice actress, Anna Nagase in the lead role as Harley Quinn, Yuichiro Umehara as The Joker, Reigo Yamaguchi as Deadshot, Takehito Koyasu as Peacemaker, Jun Fukuyama as Clayface, Subaru Kimura as King Shark, and Taku Yashiro as Rick Flag, Chika Anzai as Katana, and Kujira as Amanda Waller.

Produced by Warner Bros. Japan and WIT Studio, Suicide Squad ISEKAI is directed by Eri Osada with screenplay by Tappei Nagatsuki and Eiji Umehara. Character design draft by Akira Amano and character design by Naoto Hosoda, with music by Kenichiro Suehiro. Based on DC characters.

In the meantime, head on over here for our review of Suicide Squad ISEKAI.