So, I’ve decided to do another of these videos that highlights various voice actors for anime, three Japanese, three English-language ones. I do this because it seems like I can be a little negative in my reviews and I wanted to talk about something I do enjoy, the talents of several voice actors. Here I highlight Masako Nozawa, Koichi Yamadera, Junichi Suwabe, Michelle Ruff, Crispin Freeman, and Colleen Clinkenbeard. Next time, I’ll get back to reviewing in my usual style, and with some storyline stuff, too.
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Anime Voice Talent Highlight #7: Kei Tomiyama
#7 Kei Tomiyama
One of the classic anime voices of the 70s and 80s, Kei Tomiyama’s tragically short life was nevertheless fruitful in his industry. Already well-known by the seventies for his role as the wrestler eponymous Tiger Mask, an character who has endured as an anime icon for decades, he went on to play a few other very notable roles. His tender, sincere voice at times belied his often firey delivery.
He played three classic science fiction characters. One of them is the hotheaded, but honest Susumu Kodai from Space Battleship Yamato. He brought a sense of romantic conviction to the character, and as the character grew from an angry young man looking to avenge his brother to a man willing to sacrifice himself for his convictions, his voice reflected it. In a different work associated with Leiji Matsumoto, he played Captain Harlock’s trusted friend and designer of the ship Arcadia, Tochirou Oyama in Galaxy Expres 999. These roles alone would have been enough to qualify him for this higlight. But he played one more unforgettable character in anime.
Anime Voice Talent Highlight #6: Masako Nozawa
#6: Masako Nozawa
It’s hard to imagine a voice talent who delivers with more warmth, charm, and sincerity than Masako Nozawa. Though she’s basically well-known only for a single character (and his look-alikes), it’s that one iconic role and equally iconic performance that makes her worthy of highlight. That role, for those of you in a cave for the past twenty four years, is Son Goku from Dragon Ball/Z/GT.
Anime Voice Talent Highlight #5: Ryo Horikawa
#5: Ryo Horikawa
A voice actor with a lot of presence, Ryo Horikawa (born Mokoto Horikawa) had a strong presence in the 80s and 90s in Japanese animation. He’s probably best known as the wicked prince of all Saiyans, Vegeta, in Dragon Ball Z, but he was acting before and has been doing work since.
Anime Voice Talent Highlight #4: Yasuo Yamada
#4: Yasuo Yamada
It may seem silly to highlight a voice talent who’s known for playing one particular role, but when this particular VA’s performance in the role is so iconic, and has spanned decades in that role, it’s perfectly appropriate to me. Especially when the character he’s known for playing is a favorite anime character: Arsène Lupin III!
R.I.P., Daisuke Gôri
You will be missed.
Anime Voice Talent Highlight #3: Kotono Mitsuishi
Anime Voice Talent Highlight #3 Kotono Mitsuishi
#3: Kotono Mitsuishi
Anime Voice Talent Highlight #2: Nozomu Sasaki
Anime Voice Talent Highlight #2: Nozomu Sasaki
Anime Voice Talent Highlight #1
Anime Voice Talent Highlight #1: Yoshiko Sakakibara
Yoshiko Sakakibara has been in some of the greatest female roles in anime. During the 1980s, she was a staple of anime, as ubiquitous as Megumi Hayashibara during the 1990s or Rie Kugimiya in the past decade. Playing largely powerful, strong-willed women, leaders and stateswomen, Sakakibara’s carefully measured tone and leveled pitch, even in histerics, make her an indispensible talent in the industry for over two decades.
Sakakibara’s earliest memorable role is the female villain of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and Mobile Suit Gundam Double Zeta, Haman Karn. Delivering power and believability to the role in every scene, never faltering, it’s no wonder that she garnered a reputation for strong performances in similar roles.