Atsumi Tanezaki and the Cast Celebrate Funeral Freeren at AnimeJapan 2026
The massive AnimeJapan 2026 event at Tokyo Big Sight was truly something special this year, especially for the fans of the TV anime Funeral Freeren. Based on the widely acclaimed original work by Kaneto Yamada and Tsukasa Abe, the series has touched hearts everywhere. On March 29th, the "Funeral Freeren" 2nd Special Stage was held, and man, the crowd was just buzzing with excitement to see their favourite voice actors in person. It was a day filled with laughter, surprises, and a bit of emotional nostalgia as well.
The main attraction of the stage was definitely the presence of the core cast. We had Atsumi Tanezaki, who voices our favourite ancient elf Frieren, looking quite happy to be there. Joining her were Kana Ichinose, the wonderful voice behind Fern, and Chiaki Kobayashi, who plays the brave but often cowardly Stark. Seeing this trio together on stage always makes you realise why Frieren is a masterpiece of fantasy and emotion because of the sheer dedication they bring to these characters.
A Grand Surprise: Shinichiro Miki Takes the Stage
Just when everyone thought they knew what to expect, the event took a thrilling turn. As a massive surprise for the audience, Shinichiro Miki, who plays the powerful role of Divine Skill Revolte, walked out and took the stage. The energy in the hall changed completely! Having a veteran like him join the younger cast members brought a whole new level of gravitas to the discussion. The fans were absolutely cheering their hearts out when they saw him appear from the wings.
Scenes from "Funeral Freeren" 2nd Special Stage AnimeJapan 2026. From left: Chiaki Kobayashi, Atsumi Tanezaki, Kana Ichinose, and Shinichiro Miki. They all looked like they were having a great time interacting with the fans who traveled from all over to be at Tokyo Big Sight.
Key Highlights from the Event
If you missed the live stream or the event itself, here is a quick look at what was discussed on stage during this special session:
- Atsumi Tanezaki shared a very touching moment where she thanked the production staff for the scene where she reads Himmel's autobiography. She felt the staff captured the weight of that memory perfectly.
- The cast discussed how the atmosphere on the recording set changes whenever Shinichiro Miki is around, mostly due to his powerful and intense acting style.
- There were many laughs as Chiaki Kobayashi talked about Stark’s growth and his funny interactions with Fern.
- The event concluded with a look at the image and video gallery, showcasing some beautiful behind-the-scenes moments from the production.
Deep Dive into the Characters and Performances
One of the most talked-about parts of the stage was Atsumi Tanezaki expressing her deep admiration for Himmel. Even though he is a character from the past, his influence is felt in every single episode. Tanezaki-san mentioned that reading the autobiography scene was a personal highlight for her as an actor. It is these small, quiet moments that really define why Frieren is a masterpiece of fantasy and emotion for the global audience. The way the anime handles themes of time and regret is just so unique.
On the other hand, Chiaki Kobayashi couldn't stop praising Shinichiro Miki. He mentioned that Miki-san's performance as Revolte is so commanding that it actually helps the other actors get into their roles better. Miki-san, being the humble legend he is, simply smiled and thanked his juniors for their kind words. It was really heartwarming to see that kind of mutual respect between the different generations of voice actors.
Table of contents for the detailed event coverage:
Atsumi Tanezaki thanks the staff in the scene where she reads Himmel's autobiography
Shinichiro Miki makes a surprise appearance, and the atmosphere on set changes completely with his powerful performance
Image/video gallery (8 total)
Overall, the AnimeJapan 2026 stage for Funeral Freeren was a huge success. It reminded us all why we fell in love with this story in the first place. Whether it is the beautiful animation or the top-tier voice acting, this series continues to be a shining example of what makes modern anime so great. We are all eagerly looking forward to what comes next for Frieren and her companions on their long journey.
