Voice actors Emi Lo and Dawn M. Bennett add depth and emotion to the dark-fantasy anime series “Sentenced to Be a Hero,” which uniquely inverts the concept of heroism.
In an exclusive interview with Where Is The Buzz, correspondent T’Keyah Day spoke with Emi Lo and Dawn M. Bennett about their roles in “Sentenced to Be a Hero,” dealing with complex characters in a dark fantasy series, and discovering humanity in a goddess character.
Finding Humanity in a Goddess
Emi Lo plays Teoritta, a powerful sword goddess who is both gentle and powerful. Emi explained her approach to portraying her character by focusing on her innocence.
“At her core, she’s just very innocent and pure. And so, I try to focus on that childlike innocence and wonder when I’m portraying her character.”
Though Teoritta is powerful and dignified as a goddess, Emi explained that her character has a more playful side that makes her feel more human.
“There are little cracks in that dignified tone. She’s a goddess, but she wants head pats and little moments of affection. That’s what makes playing her so much fun.”
She further explained that her character’s benevolence defines her as a powerful goddess who still chooses to help others, even at her own detriment.
A Leader Who Waits Before Acting
On the other hand, Dawn M. Bennett plays Patausche Kivia, a captain who must deal with internal temple corruption while remaining mindful of her responsibilities as a leader to her subordinates.
In portraying her character, Dawn explained that she focused on her character’s observant nature rather than her authority as a leader.
“She’s very observant, but quietly observant. She’s not quick to take action because it’s such a delicate situation.”
According to Bennett, this measured approach is a characteristic of a good leader.
“As a captain, you can’t act impulsively because people could get killed,” she explained. “What makes her strong is that she listens to the people around her.”
Bennett also said that Kivia’s change in perspective as she interacts more with the story’s main hero is a good characteristic of a leader.
“That openness to learning and growing is what makes a good leader,” Bennett said.
Redefining What It Means to Be a Hero
Unlike other fantasy series and novels, the story does not present heroism as something glorious but as something punishable. The show’s heroes are sentenced to an endless cycle of dying and reviving.
However, the two actors said that, despite the show’s premise, there are moments of heroism in the series.
“I think the biggest heroes are the unsung ones,” Lo said. “The ones who do it not for glory but because it’s the right thing to do.”
Bennett agrees with this definition of heroism.
“Those are the real heroes,” she said. “The ones who would lose sleep if they didn’t help someone.”
Would They Survive in This World?
When asked whether they would fight for a world in which heroes are sentenced to death and can be revived, the two actors said it would be a tough situation.
“I would cry,” Lo said in jest.
She explained that she might enjoy working behind the scenes rather than being the focus of public hatred.
“I don’t know if I could handle being despised like that publicly,” Lo explained. “That takes some serious guts.”
Bennett agreed that the psychological aspect of the heroes is part of the story.
“Even the toughest characters are still human,” Bennett explained. “Those looks from people still affect them.”
A Dark Fantasy With Heart
When asked to sum up the season in a sentence, the actors gave the audience an overview of the intrigue and emotional depth that defines the series.
Lo described the series as “a dark fantasy with plenty of intrigue and mystery,” while Bennett described it as “an epic underdog story where the people in the story aren’t rooting for the hero, but you will.”
The two actresses hope the audience can connect with the character development seen in the series.
For Bennett, the character development that stands out most is Kivia’s.
“She starts very set in her ideals, but she learns from the people around her,” Bennett explained. “She grows and builds something new from those experiences.”
For Lo, the character development she hopes the audience will pick up on is Teoritta’s.
“She learns that there’s value in just being alive,” Lo explained.
Sentenced to Be a Hero is drawing in fantasy and anime fans, and the two actresses believe the series’s emotional depth and darkness keep the audience interested.
“This has been amazing,” Day concluded the interview. “I’m excited to see what’s next for the series.”
