Shuichi Ikeda's Iconic Voice Lands in Granblue Fantasy: Fans Scramble for Valfried & Rare Autographs

The popular smartphone game 'Granblue Fantasy' (commonly known as Granblue) has announced the addition of a new limited series character, 'Valfried,' with his voice provided by renowned voice actor Shuichi Ikeda. This news has generated significant buzz on social media. Furthermore, a campaign offering autographed shikishi (signed boards) by Ikeda himself is also underway, leading to a wave of enthusiastic responses from fans.

Regarding the new character 'Valfried,' users have expressed overwhelming excitement with comments such as 'Shuichi Ikeda as CV is just too powerful,' 'The destructive force is too high...💥,' and 'I couldn't resist playable Shuichi Ikeda.' His commanding presence has captivated players. The casting of Ikeda for a character long-awaited by fans seems to be perceived as a 'must-get' or 'all-out effort' situation for many.

Of particular note is the present campaign being held to commemorate Valfried's debut. With only three lucky winners receiving a shikishi featuring an original illustration by the art team and Shuichi Ikeda's autograph, social media is abuzz with exclamations of surprise and excitement like 'Shuichi Ikeda's autograph is absolutely divine 🔥,' 'It's a family heirloom!' 'Something incredible has appeared,' and 'I have no choice but to apply!' Simultaneously, concerns about the difficulty of winning are also being shared, with comments such as 'I'm scared that the 'the more you want it, the less likely you are to get it' phenomenon will kick in.'

Shuichi Ikeda's casting in a social game once again underscores the immense impact of 'the sheer power of a CV by Shuichi Ikeda' as a phrase. This particular campaign is considered an unusual format even for Granblue's operators, and its lavish nature seems to have created a shared sentiment among fans: 'Of course, everyone wants Shuichi Ikeda's autograph.'

The fervor surrounding Valfried's appeal and Shuichi Ikeda's autographed shikishi is likely to continue for some time.

The context

Granblue Fantasy, often abbreviated as Granblue, is a highly popular fantasy role-playing gacha game developed by Cygames. It was first released in Japan in 2014 and has since gained a massive following both domestically and internationally. The game is renowned for its intricate storyline, stunning artwork, and vast roster of characters, each brought to life by famous Japanese voice actors.

Shuichi Ikeda is a legendary Japanese voice actor, widely celebrated for his distinctive deep voice and iconic roles. He is most famously known for voicing Char Aznable in the Mobile Suit Gundam series, a character whose popularity rivals that of the protagonist. His involvement in any project, especially a mobile game character, is a significant event that generates considerable excitement among fans.

A shikishi (色紙) is a square, rigid paper board, typically used in Japan for autographs, calligraphy, or small illustrations. Autographed shikishi from beloved celebrities, especially voice actors like Shuichi Ikeda, are considered highly valuable collector's items and personal treasures, often displayed with pride by fans.