Story by Toyabe Kohei
The final season of the TV anime “Dr. STONE SCIENCE FUTURE” Part 2 is currently available to stream on Crunchyroll.
“Dr. STONE” is a popular manga series by Riichiro Inagaki and Boichi, which was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump (Shueisha) from 2017 to 2022. The TV anime adaptation began in 2019. The final chapter of the story, “Dr. STONE SCIENCE FUTURE” (planned for a three-part broadcast), started in January 2025, with the second part currently airing.
In this final season, Senku and his friends aim for the Moon, the headquarters of Whyman, the mastermind behind the petrification of humanity. They embark on a massive project to build a spacecraft from scratch, starting with a journey to the American continent. There, they face a final showdown with Dr. Xeno and his team, who become Senku’s scientific mentors.
To commemorate the broadcast, Animate Times interviewed Megumi Han, the voice actress for Chelsea. We delved into the charm of her character, affectionately known as “Blunt Chelsea” for her friendly and curious nature, coupled with her tendency to speak her mind without reading the room.
Understanding Senku and Co. and Being Able to Put It Into Words is Chelsea’s Charm
— Please share your impressions and thoughts on the work.
Megumi Han (voice of Chelsea): I’ve been reading it since it was serialized in “Weekly Shonen Jump,” but I feel it has reached a future that was unimaginable back then.
I’m more of a “Bunkei” (humanities and social sciences) person, but reading “Dr. STONE” taught me that “science is something equal for everyone.” As Senku Ishigami (voiced by Yusuke Kobayashi) says, “Science makes everyone equal.” Whether you’re small in stature, you can still be useful to others. From glasses for eyes to medicine for illnesses, science brings equality to people. In that sense, I truly feel that “Dr. STONE” has taught me that “science equally takes people into the future.” I used to view science from a distance, sometimes enviously thinking, “It would be nice if I could do that,” but after reading this work, that barrier disappeared, and I began to feel science much closer to me.
Senku represents science, Taiju Oki (voiced by Makoto Furukawa) represents physical strength, and then there’s Chrome (voiced by Gen Sato), who’s about the same age but doesn’t know the pre-petrification civilization, and even younger characters like Suika (voiced by Karin Takahashi). The series proves that “not a single person is unnecessary.”
Whether it’s through ideas or physical strength, everyone contributes in some way. Even if you don’t know anything, you can fight together and live on. I find that incredibly beautiful. And it’s not just within the story – it makes you believe that “surely, this must be true in our world too,” which is wonderful.
Also, while “Dr. STONE” fans certainly include those in their teens and twenties, there are quite a few families who enjoy it together, which also speaks to its universal appeal.
— Could you tell us about the character Chelsea?
Han: I absolutely love how she’s fundamentally intelligent, yet comes out with these unexpected remarks. Chelsea’s ability to blurt out her unfiltered thoughts might seem socially unaware at times, but I believe her comments actually stem from a deep understanding of people’s feelings. You can’t reach those kinds of insights without truly grasping emotions.
In an upcoming scene, Asagiri Gen (voiced by Kengo Kawanishi) explains a relationship chart that’s completely bonkers, and Chelsea just lets loose with her reactions (laughs). This sensibility is uniquely Chelsea, but what makes her so appealing is her ability to quickly understand these people she’s just met, grasp their individual emotions and feelings, and put it all into words. Her straightforwardness is also really endearing.
— Chelsea feels like a breath of fresh air, and she’s a character that’s hard to dislike, isn’t she?
Han: Even in serious scenes, her outbursts tend to lighten the mood, helping to break the tension.
People are all different, with various ways of perceiving things, so among those she’s interacted with before, there might have been some who found her difficult to deal with. Nevertheless, I felt it was crucial to build her character on a foundation of intellectual curiosity and sound judgment, even while maintaining her off-the-wall nature.
Instinctive and Rational Aspects Required To Portray Chelsea
— Could you share any memorable directions you received from the staff?
Han: I tend to be someone who, when I get carried away, I keep pushing boundaries, wanting to play around and try new things. There are several scenes where Chelsea makes a circle (OK sign) and thinks. I wanted to make those a bit more interesting, so I tried acting them out in a playful way. But then I was told, “Please make this a bit more intellectual.” That made me realize, “Oh right, she is intellectual, isn’t she?” It was a bit of a wake-up call for me.
She’s an excellent geographer, so she needs to have that intelligence. In my case, if I go too far with exaggerated acting, I lose sight of the character. That’s just my personality, but I remember receiving that direction and consciously pulling myself back to act more calmly. So, the ad-libbed parts where I tried to portray her more intellectually became symbolic poses for Chelsea.
— So there’s room for ad-libbing too?
Han: Yes, we were allowed quite a bit of ad-libbing (laughs). For example, in scenes where Chelsea pops up among everyone else, I might throw in a laugh or add something unexpected, even if it’s not a line (laughs).
Chelsea’s expressions are also quite exaggerated and charming, aren’t they? There’s a part in the comics called “Blunt Chelsea,” and in the anime, those lines are actually spoken. So in that sense, there are plenty of playful elements.
But playing Chelsea had both fun and challenging aspects. I felt that the key was to maintain high energy while conveying not just emotions, but also knowledge accurately.
Watching the anime “Dr. STONE,” I’ve always been impressed by Kobayashi-san, who voiced Senku, and others accurately convey knowledge and information. I realized that to play Chelsea, you need both instinctive and rational aspects. After engaging with Chelsea’s character, I’ve come to appreciate how truly fascinating she is.
— Did you feel confident after the audition?
Han: Not at all! (laughs) But I was incredibly excited when I received the invitation to audition! Actually, it was a role unlike anything I’d ever attempted before.
When I heard I was among the final candidates, I thought, “Yes! But it’s all up to fate now,” and there was a period where I was just praying for the best. When I actually got the part, my reaction was more like, “Huh? Really?”
This Job is the Ultimate “Craft”
— In the series, Senku uses science to craft various things. Do you, Ms. Han, engage in any crafting activities? Is there anything you’re as passionate about as they are?
Han: While I do play online games and engage in crafting there, if we’re talking about something beyond that, I’d say this job is my ultimate craft.
I believe this profession is driven by an insatiable curiosity that can be pursued indefinitely. You may feel satisfied at times, but you never truly reach a point of complete fulfillment. I always give my all in each moment, but on my way home, I find myself reflecting, thinking, “I could have done this better, or that differently.” These thoughts keep emerging. That’s what this job means to me, so it feels like there’s always a goal, yet never a final destination. It’s a daily challenge that requires both creativity and imagination to keep going.
I’ve tried various hobby classes in the past, but my interests have always shifted. Even the ones I stuck with the longest only lasted about six years. If I had continued, they might have contributed to my artistic growth in some way. But I was interested in so many things. I even quit ballet, which I had been doing for a long time, simply because I wanted to try hip-hop dancing, partly influenced by the trends at the time (laughs).
Somewhere inside, even though it was a small feeling, I had also felt my limits in continuing to take ballet lessons. I’m from the generation of Namie Amuro, SPEED, and Morning Musume（late 90s to early 2000）. After being exposed to that kind of entertainment, I thought, “This (ballet) isn’t it” (laughs). When I started hip-hop with the desire to “dance,” I found that the way of using the body was completely opposite to ballet. I’ve always lived driven by interest and curiosity, finding myself drawn to various things.
However, my love for performances, acting, and the desire to express myself have remained constant. That’s why I feel so fortunate to be in this profession. I believe this is the first and last true craft of my life (laughs).
I’m truly grateful that I can continue doing this job that I love so much, and I feel blessed with the people I’ve met along the way. So, while it’s completely different from the world of science, I can relate to the world of “Dr. STONE” through my own world of acting.
In the series, Gen mentions that entertainment and culture will eventually develop as well. In that sense, I feel a connection, even though our fields are different. If you keep building on your efforts and experiences, they will never betray you and will become a source of confidence. Senku also says, “We call this stupidly steady effort science!” I think that’s not only the ultimate statement about science but also a phrase that resonates with many people in various fields.
— Please share a message for the fans who are looking forward to this work.
Han: As for Chelsea, while she’s quite eccentric and somewhat of a mascot character (laughs), she’s also a genius geographer with a proper sense of humanity. She knows how to respect people and feels indebted to Senku and the others. There will be scenes that showcase this side of her, so I hope the audience will keep an eye out for that.
As for the series itself, the phrase “Science makes all people equal” has become a source of support for me. No matter what adversities or seemingly hopeless situations arise, they’re still better off than the initial petrification state. They now have experience, skills, and a system of cooperation in place. So, I want to convey that “no matter what happens to Senku and the others in the future, there’s always hope.” I believe the audience can look forward to a future that makes them want to believe in this hope.
— Thank you very much!
Interview by: Risk Son
Photo by: Shinzo Inoue
About “Dr.STONE SCIENCE FUTURE”
Synopsis
After a grueling battle on the perilous Treasure Island, Senku and his valiant companions return triumphantly to the Kingdom of Science.
Using the newfound petrification device, they awaken Tsukasa from his icy slumber, a formidable ally joining the ranks of the Kingdom of Science!
The malevolent Why-man, orchestrator of humanity’s petrification, is unveiled to be lurking on the moon! Senku and his audacious team set their sights on the cosmos!
In this Stone World, they embark on a daring project to construct a spacecraft from the ground up.
With unwavering determination, Senku and his crew set sail on the Perseus, scouring the globe for materials to build their spacecraft.
Their maiden voyage leads them to the American continent, a land teeming with corn, an essential ingredient for the life-giving Revival Fluid.
As they embark on this perilous odyssey that will test their courage, unity, and scientific brilliance, a menacing threat looms on the horizon, ready to shatter Senku and his team’s resolve.
Senku and his friends’ adventure transcends boundaries, reaching a global—and even cosmic—scale!
To salvage humanity’s future, Senku and his comrades will defy the limits of science with every fiber of their being!
Cast
Senku Ishigami: Yusuke Kobayashi
Taiju Oki: Makoto Furukawa
Yuzuriha Ogawa: Kana Ichinose
Kohaku: Manami Numakura
Chrome: Gen Sato
Suika: Karin Takahashi
Gen Asagiri: Kengo Kawanishi
Kaseki: Mugihito
Tsukasa Shishio: Yuichi Nakamura
Hyoga: Akira Ishida
Ukyo Saionji: Kensho Ono
Ryusui Nanami: Ryota Suzuki
Francois: Maaya Sakamoto
Dr. Xeno: Kenji Nojima
Stanley Snyder: Koji Yusa
Luna: Akira Sekine
Carlos: Chiharu Sawashiro
Max: Taishi Murata
Brody: Hiroki Yasumoto
Chelsea: Megumi Han
Joel: Yuki Sakakihara
©Kome studio,Boichi/SHUEISHA,Dr.STONE Project
