Veteran voice actor Ryūsei Nakao, widely celebrated for his iconic role as Frieza in the Dragon Ball franchise, has officially joined the cast of the ongoing Gachiakuta TV anime as the character Alice. The announcement was made as part of the reveal for Episode 3, which aired on July 27, 2025.
A New Voice for the Pit’s Doctor
Ryūsei Nakao will lend his distinctive voice to Alice, a doctor residing in the treacherous Pit who provides treatment to the protagonist, Rudo, after he falls into the abyss. While Alice appears to be an old man, the character is, in fact, an old woman, adding an intriguing layer to the anime’s diverse cast. Nakao expressed his excitement for the role, particularly highlighting a line where Alice vehemently declares, “I’m a woman!”
The Gachiakuta anime, produced by Bones Film, a subsidiary of Studio Bones, premiered in Japan on July 6, 2025, and is streaming on Crunchyroll in various territories, including North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS (excluding Russia and Belarus), and the Indian subcontinent. Crunchyroll is also providing an English dub for the series.
Gachiakuta: A Dark Fantasy Unfolds
Based on the dark fantasy manga by Kei Urana with graffiti art by Hideyoshi Andou, Gachiakuta plunges viewers into a world divided. The story centers on Rudo, an orphan living in the slums of a floating town, where the impoverished are discriminated against by the wealthy inhabitants of the upper city. Rudo, known for his extraordinary physical abilities, survives by scavenging “trash” but is falsely accused of a crime and cast into the dreaded Pit.
In the Pit, a dangerous region teeming with mutated garbage monsters and deviant individuals, Rudo discovers a new power and joins a group called the Cleaners. This organization battles the “Trash Beasts” born from discarded waste. Rudo’s journey in the Pit is not only for survival but also to uncover the truth and seek vengeance against those who condemned him. The manga itself won the Global Special Prize in the Comics category of the Next Manga Awards 2022.
The anime is directed by Fumihiko Suganuma, with Hiroshi Seko handling the series scripts. Satoshi Ishino serves as both character designer and chief animation director, and Taku Iwasaki is composing the music.
Ryūsei Nakao’s Illustrious Career
Ryūsei Nakao is a highly respected and prolific voice actor with a career spanning decades. Born on February 5, 1951, in Tokyo, Japan, he is renowned for his ability to portray characters with high-pitched voices and often sadistic personalities.
Beyond his iconic portrayal of Frieza in the Dragon Ball series, Nakao’s extensive filmography includes numerous memorable roles such as Mayuri Kurotsuchi in Bleach, Caesar Clown in One Piece, Baikinman in Soreike! Anpanman, and Sniff in Delightful Moomin Family. His consistent and impactful performances have earned him significant recognition, including the Best Voice Actor award from the 25th Japanese Film Critics Awards in 2016 and the Kei Tomiyama Memorial Award from the 11th Seiyu Awards in 2017. His addition to the Gachiakuta cast further elevates the anticipation for the anime series.
