FREE TALK in otome CDs

[BlackF]

Personally, I usually skip them because they feel kinda irrelevant. Once the main story ends, I'm already satisfied, so hearing the seiyuu talk about the recording, their character, or random behind-the-scenes stuff isn't really something I'm interested in.

But I've noticed that so many drama CDs have a free talk track, so now I'm curious why is it such a common thing? Is it mainly for the fans who enjoy hearing the seiyuu themselves, or is there another reason they're included?

 

[Daisy Magnus229]

Same here, I'm not interested in the free talk either, so I'm quite curious why they always include it. Other than free talk, maybe sleeping sounds, like an ASMR type of thing, lol

 

[mowanjian]

So do I. Unless the content of the talk is very interesting — they just need to focus on doing their voice acting work properly,

 

[ufoufufu]

I enjoy free talk ^_^ Though I don't often listen to CDs nowadays, so I'll mostly be talking about games where they're included, so feel free to correct me on anything that doesn't apply.

I'd say seiyuu is indeed a big factor (even more so for voice CDs where more people probably pick them up depending on the specific people they're into), but I'm also not very invested in real people lol. I'm mostly interested in the process. After experiencing a story or a situation my first instinct is to want to talk or hear others talk about it and this kind of thing satiates that desire instantly. It's especially nice to listen to seiyuu gushing about (or slandering lol) their character.

Even when the story stuff I'm more interested in isn't the focus of these talks, it's pretty funny to see the gap between character and the seiyuu. Often it'll be a regular dude talking about something awkward that happened in a restaurant he went to other day, and I'll be like, "this is the voice that broke into my apartment and drugged me?!" Same with energetic ray of sunshine types being voiced by really lowkey/tired dudes lol. It might be immersion breaking to some, but to me it has the opposite effect where I'm really able to see the character as their own separate being who miraculously, somehow was able to come alive.

 

[innikomoru]

i like the free talks! i don't always listen to them, especially since i don't know the language super well, but when it is a voice actor that i particularly like i do take the time to understand what they are saying. part of it is interest in the voice actor themselves, but i think most of it for me is just getting to hear more of their voice

 

[nerim-w]

I always skip them sorry but i like to keep the voices a fantasy in my head and not attached to a real life person. Its lowkey awkward drifting off at the end of a track, after listening to a loving and sweet conclusion to the drama CD, only to be met with a "HAIIII MINASAN KONICHIWA KONBANWA" and then i have to frantically get my phone and pause it

Its also sad when im like oh look they have 500DL reward!! Oh wait its just free talk....

 

[momomimiri]

I enjoy the free talks sometimes. Mostly if it's an audio by a VA I like just bc I like their voice. I listen to them like a normal podcast or conversation to retain some of my Japanese language skills. Listening to audios makes me remember this is not how general Japanese people act or speak so its kinda refreshing to hear the free talks at the end with a pleasant voice.

 

[AmnesiaArya]

I think it's similar to how movies have post-screening Q&A sessions with the cast and crew, or how games come with booklets detailing the settings, character designs, and scene concepts. In the same way, the free talk track on a drama CD is another channel for the audience to get a glimpse of the recording process and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. Personally, I don't really listen to them, but I'm sure there are plenty of people who enjoy that kind of content.

 

[owo2024]

I'm the same, but I've seen others share their thoughts on free talk. Maybe they prefer the actual CV more, find listening to free talk interesting, and consider it more like behind-the-scenes content

 

[shuubaruotaku]

personally i love when drama cds have free talk because you can hear their thoughts about recording and how they felt. it makes me happy when i see free talks!

 

[FrozenFrog]

Free talks are great. They have the same vibe as the director's commentary tracks on movies they used to include as bonuses on DVDs. If you don't care, you don't have to listen, but sometimes they can give good insight into how the characters were played.

 

[Riz.]

I really enjoy their free talk. I think once you start liking someone's voice, you naturally become curious about the person behind the voice, including what they're like as a person when they're not playing a role. I also love hearing little stories from the recording sessions or about how they approached developing their characters. Somehow, knowing those things makes me feel like I can immerse myself even more deeply when I listen to the main story again.

 

[Blind]

Same here. I usually don't bother listening to them either,unless I really like the CD, in which case I might just give it a random skim. That's why I prefer text; I can read through it in just a minute or two, whereas listening takes way longer.

 

[chuubiey]

same here, i always skip free talk.. sorry:'3

 

[Hayate Sasa]

I think some listeners want to feel closer to the voice actors, so they're interested in their perspectives, natural way of speaking, and topics related to their personal lives, and I suppose free talk tracks exist to meet that demand.
I'm not really interested in the voice actors' personalities, so I don't listen to free-talk tracks very often.
The only time I really listen to that is when I'm curious about the voice actors' impressions of the work.

 

[BlackF]

I always skip them sorry but i like to keep the voices a fantasy in my head and not attached to a real life person. Its lowkey awkward drifting off at the end of a track, after listening to a loving and sweet conclusion to the drama CD, only to be met with a "HAIIII MINASAN KONICHIWA KONBANWA" and then i have to frantically get my phone and pause it

Its also sad when im like oh look they have 500DL reward!! Oh wait its just free talk....

Exactly, for me that HAIIII MINASAN KONICHIWA KONBANWA is rlly annoying right after that deep and perfect ending

 

[Cyna23205]

Ever since I first got into listening to drama CDs, I've always skipped the free talk. But one time, I was so down bad for a VA that I actually gave his FT a listen

During the track, someone asked if he ever listens back to his own work and he basically said once he's done recording, the enjoying part is for the audience. Ever since, I haven't been able to shake off the thought that VAs must find these R18 drama CDs insanely cringey. It's probably the same feeling as re-reading your old cringe social media posts from years ago.

Lowkey wish I'd never listened to that free talk ngl