My Clueless First Friend

Molly Zhang Interview: Voicing Akane Nishimura on ‘My Clueless First Friend’ Dub, Bullying

Published

2 years ago

May 30, 2023

Nir Regev

Photo Credit: (left) Molly Zhang / (right) Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

Molly Zhang spoke with The Natural Aristocrat® about voicing Akane Nishimura in the ‘My Clueless First Friend’ English dub and her own experience being bullied as a child.

This Molly Zhang interview contains spoilers for Crunchyroll anime series, ‘My Clueless First Friend’.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 1 – “The Grim Reaper and the Transfer Student”. Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

THE NATURAL ARISTOCRAT (NIR REGEV): School bullies clearly trampled on Nishimura’s self esteem & self worth prior to meeting Takada. What does it mean to you to voice a character drowned of affection from her peers?

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 5 – “Call Me The Grim Reaper?” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

Representing the voice of the voiceless for many children sitting in the back of class worldwide.

MOLLY ZHANG: Truthfully, when this show first dropped, I didn’t really know too much about it. Every season there’s always so much anime, that it’s kind of hard to keep track of them all. When I finally did watch the first episode after I got cast, I realized quickly what kind of show this was.

I’m really honored for the opportunity because I’m Chinese and I have Monolids, which means my eyes are really small. So being laughed at for the way you look, or specifically the way your eyes look, like how they make fun of Akane by calling her the Grim Reaper, is pretty familiar.

‘My Clueless First Friend’ Episode 6 – “Changing Desks, Class Reps, and New Friends” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

When I came to this country, there wasn’t many Asian kids where I grew up. So kids do that thing where they hold their eyelids upwards to create that ‘slant’ appearance.

They’ll ask you, ‘If your eyes are actually open?’ And it’s just like little jabs here and there. But because my own culture already has such immense beauty standards where large doe eyes are considered beautiful, I’ve had family members that go through surgery to change their eyelids.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 6 – “Changing Desks, Class Reps, and New Friends” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

So coming from that experience, when Akane gets repeatedly made fun of by her classmates for something just extremely outside of her control… It just reminds you how easily it is to be isolated by your peers for the smallest of reasons that make you different.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 1 – “The Grim Reaper and the Transfer Student”. Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

There’s so many times where Takada is trying to lift Akane’s spirits and her responses are just heartbreaking. She just echos what the bullies say to her. If Takada has a compliment for her, she’s like, “Oh, there’s no way he’ll want to hang out with me.”

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 1 – “The Grim Reaper and the Transfer Student”. Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

There’s a pervasive underlying theme of how little she thinks of herself. And she’s so lonely. She’s got a crippling lack of self-esteem at the start of the show.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 5 – “Call Me The Grim Reaper?” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

But we are halfway through the series now and every episode you can see her speak a little louder, smile a bit bigger…

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 5 – “Call Me The Grim Reaper?” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

I’m just really grateful to have the opportunity to portray that experience for her.

THE NATURAL ARISTOCRAT: Despite being under the guise of a wholesome family anime, there’s fairly complex themes about looks and ‘othering’ in the Grim Reaper nickname. What are your thoughts on that?

MOLLY ZHANG: For me, I thought the overall vibe for this show was still leaning towards something more wholesome and lighthearted at first. It wasn’t until the episode where Takada finds out that Akane’s mother has passed away when she was born…

I think that was the episode that I realized everybody calling her the Grim Reaper has this underlying meaning to it. I definitely thought this was intended to be a kids show. So I don’t know how it’ll be received. I’m hoping it’ll be wholesome.

But that episode, I cried.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 4 – “Grandma’s House?” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

That episode when they revealed the death of her mom, I woke up in the middle of the night, couldn’t sleep randomly. So I decided to watch that episode before it aired.

The moment where Takada realizes the connection of the Grim Reaper nickname and he starts crying, I started crying too.

‘My Clueless First Friend’ Season 1 Episode 4 – “Grandma’s House?” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

I even texted the director (Helena Walstrom), “I was like, oh my God, I’m bawling my eyes out. If I show up in the studio with red eyes, you know why?” And she sent me a little devil emoji back. I didn’t cry just because that moment was sad although it definitely was very sad.

But the fact that she has a friend that cares so much about her, and how badly he wants to treat her kindly and the fact that he cries his whole little heart out at the thought of just potentially hurting her… It meant a lot.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 4 – “Grandma’s House?” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

I don’t think her classmates call her the Grim Reaper knowing that her mom passed away. But it just kind of goes to show that you never know what people are going through. So your words do have some weight to them.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 3 – “Summer Vacation Begins” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

THE NATURAL ARISTOCRAT: What’s your approach to making Akane Nishimura sound so gentle vocally? I noticed it immediately.

MOLLY ZHANG: From the very beginning, the director (Helena Walstrom) and I knew what we wanted her to sound like. But physically, because I am a larger person, I’m 5’10, I had some difficulty maintaining that pitch because I really wanted her to sound like a child.

Voice actress Molly Zhang recording. Photo Credit: Provided by Molly Zhang

You can tell from hearing my natural voice that Akane is pretty different than how I usually sound.

So we knew what kind of voice we wanted and I knew from the very start what I wanted to do with that voice.

It was a matter of maintaining it. Because she goes through so many very subtle emotions and because her voice is smaller, she starts off this series not talking much.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 7 – “Field Trips and the Magic of Marinated Eggs” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

She’s not someone who socializes very much with her peers and barely even with her family. You can see her show some affection towards her grandparents.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 4 – “Grandma’s House?” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

But then that’s like the biggest, she’s gone. At the very start of the show, she’s just very small.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 1 – “The Grim Reaper and the Transfer Student”. Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

So physically, I have to be standing at a slight hunch and I have to make sure my hands are curled under my neck. Just kind of withdrawing myself into my body to make myself as small as possible.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 5 – “Call Me The Grim Reaper?” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

Because I feel like that’s the best way I can get her voice to sound as small as possible. And that’s been the challenge of trying to maintain it.

But from the very get go, we knew we wanted her to sound that way.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 5 – “Call Me The Grim Reaper?” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

THE NATURAL ARISTOCRAT: It sounds kind of painful positioning like that.

MOLLY ZHANG: It’s very weird. I only have my hand on my throat sometimes, really curling and the director’s just looking from the corner like, “You okay?” It’s a fun experience. (laughs)

THE NATURAL ARISTOCRAT: How do you feel about Nishimura lying to her father about how her peers treat her at school?

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 1 – “The Grim Reaper and the Transfer Student”. Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

According to the U.S. Department of Education, it’s estimated 64% of students who are bullied do not report it. (Petrosina, Guckenburg, Devoe and Hanson 2010).

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 1 – “The Grim Reaper and the Transfer Student”. Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

I think many teachers are blind to it and the victim is typically hesitant to report anything due to it being considered ‘uncool’ socially to do so.

MOLLY ZHANG: Her situation in particular is so special because she’s raised in a single family household and I am as well. And there’s that responsibility that you feel towards your single parent that you don’t want them to worry.

‘My Clueless First Friend’ Season 1 Episode 1 – “The Grim Reaper and the Transfer Student”. Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

And Akane’s father tries so hard to make her feel like she’s included, to make her feel like she’s not missing out on any experiences.

And you do see that in the episode where Takada finds out her mom is dead, because Akane doesn’t feel like she’s different from everybody else because her father gives her so much love.

I think because her father loves her so much and cares for her so much and he’s just trying his best. I think she knows that and she doesn’t want him to worry, which is why she lies to him about being bullied at school.

‘My Clueless First Friend’ Episode 7 – “Field Trips and the Magic of Marinated Eggs” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

From my interpretation of the first episode, I think he knows that something is wrong too. And then later on in the current episode of the Dub, he performs an act of parenthood.

‘My Clueless First Friend’ Episode 7 – “Field Trips and the Magic of Marinated Eggs” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

That to me is is the most love you can show to your child because he has a line where he says, “You can’t take your child to school. You can’t go to school with them.”

In that aspect of their lives, they do have to tackle it somewhat on their own. He can’t leave work and go to school with her.

She needs to learn that little bit of independence, but he’s always supporting her through other methods. And I think because of that love, she feels she can’t show him that she’s suffering a little bit at school.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 1 – “The Grim Reaper and the Transfer Student”. Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

But when she shows her happiness, like with Takada and stuff, he’s always there. The grandma’s always there.

THE NATURAL ARISTOCRAT: What are your thoughts on Nishimura being afraid to select a swimsuit that’s ‘too cute’ because the attention might lead to her being singled out and insulted again? Or even wear her hair differently…

MOLLY ZHANG: I feel she’s got a crippling lack of self-esteem from her school bullies repeatedly saying the same things to her over and over.

And because it’s based off of what she looks like… Akane feels like she needs to kind of amend to that as well to look the same way.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 3 – “Summer Vacation Begins” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

For me, her very first experience wearing cute clothes, I thought it was beautiful that it was with Takada’s older sister.

She was such a good little cheerleader and making her feel reassured, making her feel comfortable with it.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 2 – “Lunch Duty and Ghost Photographs and Love Letters” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

I think she had a little bit more confidence than when she first started when picking out a swimsuit. Not too much. She’s still very, very, very shy.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 3 – “Summer Vacation Begins” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

The fact that she cared about it enough to take her dad to spend so much time picking a swimsuit showed a noticeable change. She was still going to be worrying of course.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 3 – “Summer Vacation Begins” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

But at this point in the show, Akane had the support of Takada’s sister and she’s had the support of her father while picking the swimsuit out.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 3 – “Summer Vacation Begins” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

When she does the big swimsuit reveal Takada is there with her. I think that changed everything!

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 3 – “Summer Vacation Begins” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

THE NATURAL ARISTOCRAT: What are your thoughts on neutral students joining in on mocking Nishimura just to be socially accepted before Takada came into the picture?

Why in your opinion is this kind of tidal wave common?

‘My Clueless First Friend’ Episode 1 – “The Grim Reaper and the Transfer Student”. Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

MOLLY ZHANG: Blending in with a crowd is gonna be a lot easier than standing up for someone else. People like Takada are very, very rare. You don’t see people like that very often. They’re an outlier in how kids are treated there.

There’s very little times where you see someone so genuinely accepting of every little flaw a person has. For me, when all of those bullies join in on bullying… It kind of reminds me in Asian culture, we are taught from a very young age to keep our heads down, mind your own business, do your own work. And the key thing here is don’t stand out.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 1 – “The Grim Reaper and the Transfer Student”. Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

Because if you stand out, if you don’t follow the norm, then you’ll have problems on your hands when you stand out. That’s when you’re most likely to be bullied because you’re different.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 1 – “The Grim Reaper and the Transfer Student”. Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

No one can say for sure what the motivations for these characters are… But it does definitely feel like they don’t want to be bullied.

They joined the side of the bullies because it’s just the easier way out. It takes a lot more courage to be someone like Takada who is almost immune to bullying.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 1 – “The Grim Reaper and the Transfer Student”. Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

He’s very much unique in his personality and his way of life. And for me, I think he’s just a special, very special case.

THE NATURAL ARISTOCRAT: What are your feelings on Nishimura viewing the Grim Reaper nickname differently when Takada calls her it?

MOLLY ZHANG: I think it was a beautiful moment in the show for Akane! For her entire school life, she’s had that moniker tagged alongside her name.

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 5 – “Call Me The Grim Reaper?” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

That’s a key part of how she perceives herself. So when Takada changes the tune for it and makes it a cool thing… He makes it something that she can now regard in a more positive light.

I think that’s really good for her because it doesn’t make her reevaluate her previous experiences being called that name.

But going forward it’s just a completely new life for her. I think that’s very important to tie back to the Grim Reaper nickname because something good can come from something that was initially bad.

THE NATURAL ARISTOCRAT: Have you met or are friends with Taiyo Takada (Taiyō) voice actress Madeline Morris in real life?

MOLLY ZHANG: I haven’t met her. I know her mostly through Twitter, surprisingly enough because we went through a whole pandemic of recording remotely.

So I knew of her through that, but I have not met her yet. It’s funny because we get always get scheduled on different times and different days, so we haven’t even bumped heads with each other in the hallway yet.

THE NATURAL ARISTOCRAT: Would you attend Anime NYC 2024 in a panel for ‘My Clueless First Friend’ or as a general guest if invited?

MOLLY ZHANG: If I get invited to any cons, I will most likely always say yes. So if they invite me, I will! I would love to go!

THE NATURAL ARISTOCRAT: Thanks Molly!

MOLLY ZHANG: Thank you!

– Stay tuned for Part 2 of this Molly Zhang interview for bonus questions on her dub roles in ‘More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers.’ (Natsumi Ohashi) and ‘Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie’ (Yui Hachimitsu).

Connect with Molly Zhang on Social Media:

Headshot photo provided by voice actress Molly Zhang

– Follow voice actress Molly Zhang on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and her official website.

‘My Clueless First Friend’ Dub Cast – Principle Voice Actors

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 3 – “Summer Vacation Begins” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

Molly Zhang as (Akane) Nishimura
Madeleine Morris as Taiyō Takada
Alex Hom as Akane’s Father
Dani Chambers as Umi
Lindsay Sheppard as Kasahara
Belsheber Rusape as Hino
Morgan Lea as Yamamoto
Kyle Ignecz as Kitagawa
Michelle Rojas as Kurokawa
Rachel Thompson as Moriguchi
Naya Moreno as Yanagieda
Alex Mai as Tanaka

Confirmed Additional VAs: Drew Breedlove, Celeste Perez, Paul Cline (also a crew member), Comona Lewin, Ciarán Strange, KyLeigh Zimmerer, Bev Mageto, and Morgan Lauré.

Principle English Dub Crew:

ADR Director: Helena Walstrom
ADR Script Writer: Macy Anne Johnson
Script Supervisor: Katelyn Barr
Assistant ADR Director: Kevin Thelwell
Assistant ADR Engineer: Paul Cline (also providing additional voices)
Lead ADR Engineer: Jaman Roberson
ADR Prep: Christian Thorsen

‘My Clueless First Friend‘ is made by Studio Signpost.

My Clueless First Friend – ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

– The ‘My Clueless First Friend‘ English Dub began streaming on Crunchyroll on April 16, 2023. It aired its seventh dubbed episode this past Sunday, May 28.

More Exclusive Anime Interviews:

Molly Zhang voices Akane Nishimura in ‘My Clueless First Friend’. Episode 3 – “Summer Vacation Begins” Art Credit: ©Taku Kawamura-SQUARE ENIX,GUIGUI Production Committee

Be sure to read:

– Jill Harris Interview: Sayu in Higehiro dub, teen runaways

– Moms Who Dub: Brina Palencia on realities of anime jobs

– Cherami Leigh Interview: Asuna Yuuki on Sword Art Online 10th Anniversary

– Lydia Mackay Interview: Voicing Kyoko Honda in Fruits Basket film

– Alex Hom Interview: Voicing Yoshida in Higehiro Dub

– nano.RIPE Interview: “Gekka” | Ending theme song in ‘The Devil Is a Part-Timer!’ Season 1

– Nowlu Interview: “Stuck on you” | Ending song in ‘More than a Married Couple, but Not Lovers.’

Check out the Anime Interviews section for more exclusive chats with the industry’s top dub talent and ani-musicians on The Natural Aristocrat®!

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Nir Regev

Nir Regev is the founder of The Natural Aristocrat. You can directly contact him at [email protected] for coverage consideration, interview opportunities, or general comments.