Jung Hae-in and Kang Ha-neul, Faces Erased..Breathing with Their Voices in 'Gills' [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actors Jung Hae-in and Kang Ha-neul sculpt their characters solely through voice acting in the animated film 'Gills'.

'Gills' (directed by Ahn Jae-hoon) tells the dazzling story of Gon, the only child born with gills after being cast into a deep underwater world, and the beings who were everything to his world.

Born from director Ahn Jae-hoon's fingertips, 'Gills' features voice performances by Jung Hae-in, Kang Ha-neul, Lee Chung-ah, Yoo Jae-myung, and musical theater actor Kim Sun-young, each adding unique texture to their respective characters.

Animation dubbing differs from live-action acting. Neither eye contact, facial expressions, nor body gestures can be directly shown to the audience. Ultimately, what actors can rely on are the pitch and rhythm of their voices, speaking speed, and the silence between lines.

Rather than having familiar star faces distract viewers, erasing those faces allows audiences to focus more intensely on the characters themselves. For Jung Hae-in and Kang Ha-neul, 'Gills' becomes another stage where they must fully convince through voice alone.

Jung Hae-in voices Gon, who survives in deep waters and develops gills.

Although the character possesses a setting that does not exist in reality, what audiences ultimately follow is Gon's emotions. Jung Hae-in captures Gon's unfamiliarity, fragility, and longing to connect with someone amidst loneliness through his signature calm and delicate tone, adding realism to the character.

Kang Ha-neul portrays Kang-ha, who becomes Gon's family, friend, and another world. As the character who drives the emotional arc of the work through his relationship with Gon, changes in vocal temperature are especially crucial. Kang Ha-neul expresses a wide range from familiar bright energy to moments of emotional vulnerability, bringing vitality to the character.

Additionally, Lee Chung-ah plays Hae-ryu, the woman who becomes the story's starting point and forms a deep bond through a fleeting encounter. Like her name suggests, Hae-ryu resembles the flow of seawater; though sometimes weary and exhausted, she reveals courage and boldness at critical moments, firmly anchoring the work's core.

Here, Yoo Jae-myung voices an elderly man who discovers and raises Gon, while Kim Sun-young provides the voice for I-yeong, filling out the story's texture. The fact that actors known for their strong presence in live-action films set aside their faces to meet within a single space through voice alone is another unique viewing point of 'Gills'.

Ultimately, what the actors showcase in 'Gills' is faceless acting. Actors including Jung Hae-in and Kang Ha-neul breathe life into Gon, Kang-ha, and the world surrounding them with voices that seem to have swallowed their characters whole.

Original author Gu Byeong-mo stated, "I am grateful that the characters from the book were born onto the screen with soft colors and beautiful artwork. I also thank all the performers who added personality along with their voices."

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*This content was translated by AI.