Brief on Hornet’s Characterization in Silksong
Silksong, the upcoming title in the Hollow Knight series, introduces Hornet as its protagonist, marking a significant departure from the original’s silent hero. Unlike the nameless knight, Hornet is voiced, with actress Makoto Koji bringing depth to her character. In an interview with The Verge, Koji described Hornet as confident and stoic, while also possessing a playful side. This complexity is notable, particularly in how Hornet, along with other characters in Silksong, communicates through short, nonsensical phrases in a unique gibberish language.
Koji explained her approach to creating this gibberish, stating that she often improvised her own words to convey emotions and actions within the game’s narrative. She noted that players have positively received some of these utterances, highlighting an example from the original Hollow Knight, where Hornet’s words during a climactic moment took the form of “gek tuu.” This phrase, interpreted humorously by players as a nudge to “git gud,” demonstrates the community’s engagement with the character’s dialogue.
Though Koji’s background is primarily in animation, her connection to the developers at Team Cherry, a small studio based in Adelaide, Australia, led her to the role. Initially, the part was intended for a friend, but circumstances allowed Koji to step in. She expressed a desire to do justice to Hornet’s character, stating that the development team supported her in exploring emotions often overlooked in everyday life.
Koji acknowledged that her voice work is just one aspect of the character’s overall creation, emphasizing the extensive effort involved in bringing Hornet to life, from initial sketches to narrative development.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/games/785915/hollow-knight-silksong-hornet-voice-actor-makoto-koji-gibberish