English dubs often attract skepticism: purists insist that no translation can capture the nuance of the original performances, while others prefer dubs for convenience or because they find them more immersive. In reality, quality varies widely and must be judged on its own merits. For dubbing actors, the central question remains—how faithfully should they echo the original performance versus making the role their own?
That conversation has resurfaced as Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle opens in U.S. theaters this weekend, featuring a mix of seasoned voice talent and high-profile names like Channing Tatum. Ahead of the release, Polygon spoke with Zach Aguilar—the English voice of Tanjiro—about catching up on series lore, meeting Tanjiro’s Japanese actor Natsuki Hanae, and the single piece of guidance Hanae offered about portraying the character.
Aguilar’s résumé includes several prominent anime roles (he voiced David Martinez in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Genos in One Punch Man), yet he still celebrates the classics. “I love Naruto. I love Bleach, and right now I’m working my way through One Piece,” he admits—confessing that he’s a few hundred episodes behind but tries to catch up whenever he can.
Surprisingly, Aguilar names a quieter, more emotionally driven series as his favorite: Your Lie in April. That show also provided a direct connection to Hanae. “My favorite is actually Your Lie in April,” Aguilar explains. “In Japan, Natsuki Hanae—who plays Tanjiro—also voiced Kousei in that series. I really admired his work there.”
Aguilar describes Your Lie in April as ostensibly about a pianist, but he says that understates the series’ emotional breadth. The protagonist, Kousei, loses his ability to play after a traumatic loss, and one particularly devastating scene resurfaces online each year for its raw impact. “I grew up playing piano, so those recital moments really hit home for me,” Aguilar shared.
That admiration helped forge a rapport with Hanae, though logistics make sustained contact difficult. “We’re on opposite sides of the globe and schedules don’t always line up,” he explains, “but every interaction with Hanae-san has been wonderful. He’s kind, generous, and he’s offered me thoughtful advice about how to interpret Tanjiro in English.”
On that note, Aguilar relayed the guidance Hanae gave him: make the role yours. “He told me to put my own stamp on the character,” Aguilar said. “His message was simple—‘You are Tanjiro; play him as you see him.’ He even complimented my performance. He’s genuinely a great person.”
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle opens in theaters worldwide on Sept. 12, 2025.
Source: Polygon
