Hornet's Voice: Breathing Life into Silksong's Protagonist

In Silksong, much like its predecessor Hollow Knight, players encounter familiar gameplay. However, a distinct change is evident right from the beginning: Hornet, who once shared the silent traits of Hollow Knight's main character in the original game, now possesses a voice rich in personality, thanks to the talents of voice actor Makoto Koji.

In a conversation with The Verge, Koji describes Hornet as possessing an assuredness and a poised demeanor. Yet, she also reveals a playful side to the character, something that Koji believes Team Cherry has artfully woven into Hornet's character. This depth is even more impressive given the constraints of an invented language comprising short, nonsensical expressions used by all Silksong characters.

Creating a Language of Emotion

Koji explains her method of using this fictitious language to convey the game's narrative. She crafted unique gibberish-like terms, limited to just a couple of sounds to capture complex story elements. These were instinctively created, feeling authentic to her, and she later found humor in the fan community's interpretations of these quirky dialogues.

Recalling a scene from the original game, she shares an instance (spoiler alert!) where she invented words for an optional heroic intervention by Hornet during the climactic boss encounter. The direction was straightforward: convey urgency to act immediately. Koji scribbled down ‘gek tuu,’ words that have since taken on a life of their own among players as an allusion to Hornet's encouraging prompt to the player.

The Journey to Voicing Hornet

Although Koji is not formally trained in voice work, her path to voicing Hornet was serendipitous. Working close to Team Cherry—a friend initially consulted—she seized the opportunity after the original actress was unavailable. What began as offering help turned into a defining role, a journey Koji describes with appreciation and humor.

Koji approached her role in Silksong with the intention of authentically embodying Hornet. Team Cherry, affectionately referred to as 'the boys,' nurtured an environment where she could explore a range of emotions not typically accessible in daily life, leaving her with fond memories of the creative process.

Reflecting on her role in the game's creation, Koji humbly acknowledges that her contribution is just a fraction of the exhaustive effort it takes to breathe life into Hornet. From early sketches and character animations to complex narrative integrations, the vocal portrayal of Hornet serves as the finishing touch on a complex artistic endeavor.