Not Just Voice Acting, But the Soul Drummer: An In-Depth Analysis of "BanG Dream!" Shiina Rikki's Voice Actress "Hayashi Koko"

In the work "BanG Dream! It's MyGO!!!!!", the drummer Shina Rikki has captivated countless fans with her unique, independent personality and intensely passionate heart. The one who breathes soul into this character is the voice actress and drummer Hayashi Coco. She not only perfectly performed Rikki's slightly sharp voice and complex emotions, but also personally picked up the drumsticks in the real-life MyGO!!!!! band, becoming the名副其实的 "Rikki herself".

From voice actress idol to skilled drummer: Hayashi Coco's path of transformation

Hayashi Coco, from Shizuoka Prefecture, had already stood out from 2,000 contestants through the "avex×81produce Wake Up, Girls! AUDITION" in 2017, forming the voice actress idol group "Run Girls, Run!" with Morishima Yūka and Atsuki Nanami. In this group, she served as the center (C位), and through experiences like voicing the protagonist Momoyama Mirai in "Kiratto Pri Chan", accumulated rich stage and voice acting experience. Interestingly, as her mother is a piano teacher, Hayashi Coco showed a love and talent for music from a young age, starting to learn singing from the age of 5.

However, voicing Shina Rikki and serving as the drummer was a completely new challenge for her. The character Rikki is set in the anime as possessing superb drumming skills, which also meant Hayashi Coco had to reach a level in reality sufficient for live performance. According to her agency's information, one of her special skills is jazz drum and percussion, which also enabled her to take on this high-difficulty project synchronizing fiction and reality.

The resonance of voice and drumming: How to portray "Shina Rikki"

The charm of Shina Rikki lies in her "contradictory nature". She appears cold and aloof on the surface, speaks with a sharp tongue, and is a standard "lone wolf", but deep down, she possesses an immense passion for music and holds an almost faith-like protective feeling towards the vocalist Takamatsu Tomori.

Hayashi Coco precisely grasped this characteristic. During voice recording, she masterfully portrayed Rikki's impatient, irritable tone, especially in the scenes where she bickers with Chihaya Anon, leaving a deep impression on the audience. However, when Rikki faces Tomori, that gentleness and concern hidden beneath the sharp words is also delicately conveyed by Hayashi Coco through subtle changes in her voice.

More importantly, at MyGO!!!!!'s live concerts, Hayashi Coco transforms into a real drummer. She must not only steadily keep the beat, but also recreate on stage the powerful and emotional drumming that Rikki displays in the anime. This combination of voice acting and real performance allows the audience, whether watching the anime or participating in the Live, to feel the strong presence and vitality of the character Shina Rikki.

A project synchronizing fiction and reality: The shared growth of voice actress and character

A major core of the "BanG Dream!" project is the shared growth of the voice actress and the character. Hayashi Coco's journey, from her experience in a past voice actress idol group to now challenging herself to become a genuine band drummer as a member of MyGO!!!!!, is itself filled with the MyGO!!!!! style of "moving forward amidst confusion". She has stated that being able to get the role of Shina Rikki was profoundly meaningful to her, allowing her to experience new growth and transformation.

From the sunny idol of "Kiratto Pri Chan" to the awkward yet powerful drummer in "BanG Dream! It's MyGO!!!!!", Hayashi Coco has demonstrated her diverse potential as a voice actress. She not only gave voice to Shina Rikki, but also struck the character's soul with her drumsticks, making us believe that the one shining on stage is truly that Shina Rikki who devotes everything for Tomori's singing.

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