Anime dubbing has evolved a lot in the last 30 years. Localization has gotten a lot better, along with the translations and script writing, which means the dubbing has also gotten more advanced as time has gone on. This is a really good thing, as the days of Speed Racer are long passed. Anime dubbing has also had a mixed reputation for a very, very long time, despite the many strides that have been made in that arena. In fact, many dub artists in anime these days are celebrities in their own right, coming out to the screams of adoring fans at conventions across the world.
There is something fun about having a recognizable celebrity pop up in anime. Playing the “wait, I know that voice!” game with one’s friends can be a lot of fun, and sliding down that IMDb rabbit hole can be more than a little gratifying. Hollywood celebrity voice actors are a lot more common to hear in theatrical releases, but it never stops being an entertaining time when it happens. Plus, there are a lot of celebrities who have lent their voices to anime at this point.
10 Details Only True Studio Ghibli Fans Know About Kiki’s Delivery Service
It’s hard to know everything about a film, even if it’s beloved. Only true Studio Ghibli fans know these Kiki’s Delivery Service details.
10
David Tennant Voices E92 in Netflix’s Eden
Tennant Plays a Robot Who Adopts a Human Child
David Tennant is a household nerd name for his time on series like Doctor Who, Jessica Jones, and Good Omens, but he also lent his voice to a Netflix exclusive sci-fi anime called Eden. Directed by Yasuhiro Irie of Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood fame, this 2021 anime takes place after humanity has disappeared from the Earth. Robots continue to work the fields for their dark, robotic overlord who wants to completely eradicate humankind. E92 and his partner, A37, accidentally stumble upon a small human child named Sara and build a family while on the run from Eden 3.
While this is a relatively short anime series, Tennant delivers a wonderful, quirky sort of energy to his character, who becomes Sara’s father. While this makes sense, given what Tennant is known for, there’s a lot of fun and subtle energy to the character as he debates abandoning Sara early on. He manages to put a lot of personality into the robotic characters while still making them believable as a robot, and that takes a certain amount of skill.
Eden
- Release Date
-
2021 – 2020
- Network
-
Netflix
- Writers
-
Kimiko Ueno
9
Kirsten Dunst Voices Kiki in Studio Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service
Dunst Was Still a Kid Herself in the Role
Kiki’s Delivery Service is a beloved Miyazaki film that, like most of his work, captures a sense of childlike wonder and joy with its beautiful visuals and wonderful music. The film was originally released in 1989 in Japan and got an English broadcast in the late ’90s, produced by Disney. Kirsten Dunst was given the role of everyone’s favorite little witch at 15 years old, which doesn’t come as a surprise as she’s been in front of the camera since she was a very young girl. This is a very fun and cozy movie, and Dunst’s performance is a large part of what makes it so enjoyable.
Dunst brings a sense of joy to Kiki in the way she speaks. After all, Kiki is trying to build herself a home and a business in her new town, and that comes with a wider sense of growth for such a young character. Dunst was the perfect age at the time to underscore that Kiki is a bit more worldly as a witch, but is also still trying to find her sense of self and what makes her special. Kiki’s Delivery Service is one of the earliest anime films that most people will remember in America, and Dunst’s performance is a big part of that nostalgia.
8
Robert Pattinson Voices the Gray Heron in Studio Ghibli’s The Boy and the Heron
Pattinson Really Exhibits His Range in This Role
The Boy And The Heron is one of the more experimental Studio Ghibli films out there. With a wide range of visuals and a non-linear story, the movie is going more on vibes than anything else, but it manages to capture a snapshot of growing up during World War II in the Pacific Theater. The main character, Maki, lost his mother during the fire bombing of Tokyo, and much of the movie is about his coming to terms with his father’s new marriage and growing into a person who can leave selfish desire behind to become someone who can live for others.
This 1 Storyline Ruined Studio Ghibli’s Most Underrated Film
Though this plot point is integral to From Up on Poppy Hill’s story, it may have just been too controversial for audiences.
The Gray Heron comes in as a character that entices Maki into a magical world and kicks off the adventure that brings the boy change. The Heron, voiced by Pattinson, barely sounds like him and gives an amazing example of the actor’s range. The Heron is a snarky character at first who also grows to become more selfless alongside Maki. Since the Twilight days, Pattinson has been showing off his acting chops in a wide range of genres, so lending his voice to a Studio Ghibli film simply makes sense. He also manages to make himself sound so different that, without a little Googling, it’s hard to recognize him, and it allows the character to shine on his own.
7
Tony Hale Voices the Joker in Batman Ninja
Hale Brings a Wacky, Creepy Energy to the Iconic Comic Villain
Playing the Joker is a very, very high bar to clear when it comes to the voice-acting game, especially for anyone coming after the great Mark Hamill. Batman Ninja was a more experimental film using both American and Japanese creators to make the anime movie come to life in 2018. While Batman has been in many, many different settings over the years, there is something exciting about seeing the Caped Crusader bring his rogues gallery to the setting of Feudal Japan. So, of course, the Joker would have to be a staple in this story as it was simply too fun to pass up.
Every voice actor who tackles the Joker will inevitably be compared to Hamill, but Tony Hale really manages to hold his own. Rather than going for the deeper voice that Hamill often used, Hale stays at a higher pitch with every line ending in a devious cackle. The character is very high energy, and it works, considering the fact that this version is actually a skilled fighter rather than some of the other versions. Hale’s take on the character leans into the unrestrained and unhinged pacing that the Clown Prince of Crime is known for.
6
James Marster Voices Zamasu in Dragon Ball Super
It Had To Work Out Eventually, Right?
Dragon Ball Super brought a lot of changes and opportunities to the Dragon Ball universe, with a colorful set of characters and a wider universe to explore. Zamasu came on as one of the more dangerous antagonists, with his desire to wipe out all mortal beings in pursuit of a better reality. He’s ruthless, cold, and even a little charming — which makes sense, considering James Marster of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer fame is the man voicing the character, despite his use of an alias for the character early on.
This, of course, was not Marster’s first run in the world of Dragon Ball as he was in the live-action movie as King Piccolo. Funimation wanted to keep Marster’s involvement a surprise as it is well-known that the actor is a big fan of the franchise, and he deserved another shot at putting a mark on the series. Marster brought a lot of cold-blooded fun to the character and made him incredibly memorable as a villain in Dragon Ball Super.
5
Liam Neeson Voices Fujimoto in Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo
Neeson’s Voice Is Quite Recognizable, Yet It’s Perfect for Fujimoto
Liam Neeson has a bad track record when it comes to losing kids in movies, and Ponyo is no different. As Fujimoto, a wizard who lives underwater with all his daughters, he ends up losing Brunhilde, later renamed Ponyo, after she latches onto a jellyfish and gets picked up by a fishing vessel. He spends most of the movie trying to recover his lost daughter and keep her in the sea, despite Ponyo wanting to become human and live on land. In the end, Fujimoto comes to respect Ponyo’s choice as she and her human friend Sosuke pass the tests needed to let her stay on land.
Neeson’s particular voice is very recognizable but in a very good way. Neeson brings a certain sense of quiet dignity to Fujimoto, even in his louder moments. Neeson gets to flex a little, too, here, as he scrambles from quiet moments to frantic distress over the implications of the loss of his daughter’s magic.
Ponyo
- Release Date
-
February 4, 2010
- Runtime
-
111minutes
4
Bryan Cranston Voices Isamu Alva Dyson in Macross Plus
Cranston Was Originally Credited as “Lee Stone”
Bryan Cranston has had an incredibly interesting career with a lot of range, from Malcom in the Middle to Breaking Bad and many more. So, it can be hard to remember that he played the protagonist of Macross Plus, Isamu Alva Dyson. This was all the way back in 1994 as well, when it was dubbed the “International Version” for distribution outside of Japan. This particular round for Macross was an OVA that got turned into a movie as well, and the fourth episode of the OVA actually replaced Cranston with David Hayder of Metal Gear Solid fame in the Bandai publishing.
This is a very young Cranston, which means his voice may not be very recognizable for most fans who have gotten to know his distinctive growl over the last 20 years. He has a youthful, roguish energy that carries over into Dyson in the story and it fits. Dyson is a loose cannon with a wild streak, and Cranston’s voice portrayal shows that off while also implying a lot more strength beneath his veneer. It’s a great performance, and not one that often gets the attention it deserves.
3
Samuel L. Jackson Voices Afro Samurai in Afro Samurai
Jackson Has 1 of the Most Recognizable Voices in Hollywood
Samuel L. Jackson is a big lover of anime, and he absolutely had to be the one to bring the titular Afro Samurai to life. Originally serialized in the avant-garde manga magazine Nou Nou Hau from 1998 to 2002, Afro Samurai brought a lot of hip-hop and soul music influence into the anime space. The whole feel of the anime is feudal yet futuristic with a kinetic style and an amazingly bright presentation, with a little bit of that intense violence that sets it apart.
10 Controversial Anime Endings That Still Aren’t As Bad As Game of Thrones Season 8
These anime endings may be polarizing, but are nowhere near as bad as Game of Thrones’ infamous conclusion.
Samuel L. Jackson is Samuel L. Jackson and, as a result, has one of the most recognizable voices in Hollywood. While that could be a distraction in other cases, it actually works out really well here. Jackson has a long history of being in movies with a heavy sense of personal style, lots of influence from music, and with the good old ultra-violence. His voice feels like a natural fit for something as character-driven as Afro Samurai.
Afro Samurai
- Release Date
-
2007 – 2006
- Network
-
Spike
- Showrunner
-
Takashi Okazaki, Fuminori Kizaki
- Directors
-
Fuminori Kizaki
2
Tim Curry Voices the Cat King in Studio Ghibli’s The Cat Returns
Curry Continues to Make Fans Both Excited & Wildly Uncomfortable
Tim Curry has done a lot of voice acting over the years, often popping up in places where audiences least expect him. He is actually quite a decorated voice actor at that, appearing in series on Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network along with many films, yet it is often forgotten that he made an appearance in the Studio Ghibli’s The Cat Returns as the Cat King.
While Curry has a relatively minor role as the Cat King, he brings a lot to the performance. The Cat King is odd-looking, kind of messy with eyes that drift apart, and he brings good humor to the character while also giving him a threatening edge. After all, the King is trying to make his son marry a human girl named Haru who distinctly does not want to do that. Curry’s performances are always fun, even when they are relatively minor, and this one is no exception to the rule.
The Cat Returns
- Release Date
-
July 13, 2005
- Director
-
Hiroyuki Morita
- Writers
-
Aoi Hiiragi, Reiko Yoshida, Hayao Miyazaki, Cindy Davis, Donald H. Hewitt
1
Christian Bale Voices Howl in Studio Ghibli’s Howl’s Moving Castle
Bale Went on to Have Another Ghibli Outing in The Boy and the Heron
Howl’s Moving Castle is one of those Ghibli movies that is practically built to make fans’ hearts melt and to get them embroiled in the stunning visuals. Howl himself is one of those stunning visuals as a beautiful wizard who wants to make sure he remains beautiful. While not as obsessed as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, the characters share their actor in Christian Bale. Bale brings a lot of charm to Howl while also making it clear that Howl can be devastatingly useless in certain situations.
Bale manages to bring a lot of depth to Howl, his mercurial moods being on wide display for the young wizard and so much more. There’s also a lot to be said for Howl’s quiet, sweet moments with Sophie. It’s no wonder why she falls so deeply in love with him, and the audience does too. This also wasn’t Bale’s last outing, as he would come back to voice the father in The Boy and the Heron, showing a certain affinity for Ghibli projects.
