Last year, Taneda Risa種田梨沙 suddenly burst onto the scene as a 24-year-old new seiyuu who could really act.
In her first leading role, as Saki in From the New World, she played her character at three different ages: 12, 14, and 26.
I can find very little info about her background. She was born 12 July 1988, and is from Tokyo. She apparently wanted to be a seiyuu from an early age, but was forbidden to work in entertainment during middle school and high school.
In her first leading role, as Saki in From the New World, she played her character at three different ages: 12, 14, and 26.
I can find very little info about her background. She was born 12 July 1988, and is from Tokyo. She apparently wanted to be a seiyuu from an early age, but was forbidden to work in entertainment during middle school and high school.
Her first foray into the business was on the radio show Tomokazu and Miki’s Big Bang, in 2007-8. Hosts Seki Tomokazu and Nagasawa Miki invite aspiring seiyuus to be “assistants” on their show. Tane-chan was there at the same time as Mikami Shiori.
From then until 2012, however, nothing was heard of her. Then she got her role in From the New World and was suddenly on the fast track to stardom.
She is represented by the famous Osawa Agency, which also represents Hanazawa Kana, Noto Mamiko, Kawasumi Ayako, Iguchi Yuki, Itou Miki, Watanabe Akeno, Kiuchi Hidenobu, Hayami Shou, Nakata Jouji, etc.
The agency has a reputation for being a bit staid, but also for getting good roles and treating its people well. When a former boyfriend exposed salacious details of his relationship with Hanazawa Kana, the agency didn’t blink an eye, and Kana-chan’s success has only increased since then.
This fall, Tane-chan is in three shows. She stars in Kyoto Animation’s Kyoukai no Kanata as Mirai, a youkai girl who has been shunned even by other youkai for her ability to manipulate blood.
She also stars in Strike the Blood as Yukina, an apprentice “sword maiden” charged with eliminating a powerful vampire.
And she has a supporting role in Gaist Crusher, as Sakura Sango.
Here are pics of all her main TV anime roles up to and including this season:
She also stars in Strike the Blood as Yukina, an apprentice “sword maiden” charged with eliminating a powerful vampire.
And she has a supporting role in Gaist Crusher, as Sakura Sango.
Here are pics of all her main TV anime roles up to and including this season:
 Saki (12) From the New World |  Saki (26) From the New World |  Asami Sukitte ii na yo |
 Hinata Yuyushiki |  Aya Kin-iro Mosaic |  Zenovia High School DxD NEW |
 Mirai Kyoukai no Kanata |  Yukina Strike the Blood |  Sakura Sango Gaist Crusher |
There are rumours that she went to an arts college or university during her years out of show business, and that she can draw well -- though I haven't seen examples yet.
Commenters on 2channel find her slight stoop cute and love the look of her legs, such as in this pic with Yamaoka Yuri, who is also in Kyoukai no Kanata:
Note the huge earlobes, which are supposed to be associated with good fortune and long life. She looks simple and pleasant in most shots, but can also be posed to look more sophisticated:
Tane-chan is not just a voice actress. She is also a good singer. That came through loud and clear in the first ED to From the New World, "Wareta Ringo":
She is also part of the seiyuu group Rhodanthe, which did the OP for Kin-iro Mosaic, "Jumping!!":
I want to hear more of her singing, as well as see her in more roles. Three in one season is a good start. Comments on Japanese sites remark on her broad range, and call her a seiyuu who got where she is based on her own ability. Since she is an "own ability" seiyuu who is not starting at a young age, people are comparing her with Kayano Ai.
Some comments suggest that since her voice is not strongly individual, she will end up as a useful cast member with many roles, rather than as a star. We shall see. I would not be at all surprised to see her doing a lot of TV/film dubbing, like a Kaida Yuuko.
She is cute and present in this Kin-iro Mosaic promo, with Nishi Asuka, Tanaka Manami, Touyama Nao, and Uchiyama Yumi. Tane-chan appears at around the 40-second mark, wearing a pink hairclip:
Links
agency page (with voice samples)
Anime News Network
Wikipedia
Japanese Wikipedia
Osawa clients tend not to have blogs or twitter accounts. There is an @TanedaRisa twitter account, but it is protected, and in any case may not really be hers.
Here is a full list of her work, mainly based on information in Japanese Wikipedia:
Anime
2012
Tari Tari as Ueno Midori
Love, Election & Chocolate as Schoolgirl (ep 7)
Natsuyuki Rendezvous as Kool
Driland as Sela
AKB0048 as Yuuka’s brother
Battle Spirits: Sword Eyes as Girl (ep 22); Maid (ep 17); Woman (ep 16)
From the New World as Watanabe Saki (12-14-26 years old)+ED
To Love-Ru Trouble - Darkness as Pretty Girl (ep 12)
Say, "I Love You" as Oikawa Asami
Magi - The Labyrinth of Magic as Tiare
Aratanaru Sekai (OVA) as Yakusa
Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu - Finale (OVA) as Yamato Koizumi Momoka
Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu - Finale (OVA) as Yamato Koizumi Momoka
2013
Oreshura as Asoi Kaoru
Haganai NEXT as Shenhua
Kotoura-san as Female student; Yuu-chan
AKB0048 next stage as Yuuka’s brother
Haganai NEXT as Jenfa
Haganai NEXT as Jenfa
Toaru Majutsu no Index: Endymion no Kiseki(movie) as Jane Elves
Battle Spirits: Sword Eyes Gekitouden as Sammy
Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet as Paraem
Yuyushiki as Hinata Yukari+OP
Kara no Kyoukai Mirai no Fukuin extra chorus(movie) as Suki
Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S as Female Student D
To Aru Majutsu no Index Endymion no Kiseki (movie) as Jane Elbus
Hanasaku Iroha Home Sweet Home (movie) as youth
Ro-Kyu-Bu! SS as Fujii Masami +insert song
Genshiken Second Season as Fuji
Kin-iro Mosaic as Komichi Aya+OP (w/Rhodanthe)
High School DxD New as Zenovia+ED2
Gaist Crusher as Sakura Sango
Kyoukai no Kanata as Kuriyama Mirai
Strike the Blood as Yukino Himeragi
Games
2012
Glass Heart Princess as Aika
2013
THE IDOLM@STER MILLION LIVE! as Tanaka Kotoha
Gaist Crusher as Sakura Sango
Kantai Collection - Kan Kore as Myoukou
Dubbing
Silent Hill: Revelation 3D as Suki
Radio
Tomoichi Miki no Radio Big Bang (assistant)
Love Talk Variety - I Love You section Super A+G+ 2010.12 - 2013.03
High School RADIOxRADIO Hibiki Radio 2013.06 -
Stop Radio Yukina + Nagisa’s Next-door Radio Station Hibiki Onsen 2013.09 -
Kyoukai no Kanata Fuyukai Radio Onsen 2013.10 -