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Voice Actor Comparison: Dragon Ball/Z/GT – Piccolo

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My pick: Toshio Furukawa

Reasoning: I love how Toshio Furukawa can sound snarky and arrogant one minute and really serious and sharp the next, depending on Piccolo’s mood. He’s got that devilish feel to him. However, it’s not a "character voice"; it sounds natural in every scene. As far as the English dub(s) are concerned, Scott McNeil’s Piccolo edges out the competition by having a wild flare to it, while still remaining solidly rooted. In comparison, Sabat’s Piccolo seems a little bland and the others just sound plain bad. read more

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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.
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Voice Actor Comparison: Excel Saga – Excel


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My pick: Kotono Mitsuishi
Reasoning: I love how Mitsuishi can sound so wacky and over-the-top, but in a very sincere and passionate manner. Likewise, I sense that same sense of sincerity from both English VAs who played her. However, I give the edge to Jessica Calvello, because Larissa Wolcott sounded a little too shrill for her own good at times. I have to admit, though, she really grew on me towards the end of her run. I still like her Excel, just not as much as the others. Mitsuishi is the clear winner because she did what took two English VAs to do, and better than both of them.
Breakdown: Mitsuishi > Calvello > Wolcott read more

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Voice Actor Comparison: Fullmetal Alchemist – Roy Mustang

Something a bit less controversial:

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My pick: NO PREFERENCE, AS THEY ARE ALL AWESOME
Reasoning: If one bases Travis Willingham’s Roy soley on his performance in Brotherhood (he was okay in the first series, but not great), he surely lives up to either Toru Okawa or Shinichiro Miki in his performance as Roy Mustang. All three are able to keep Roy sounding serious and authoratative, but with a little bit of cockiness, too.
Breakdown: Okawa = Miki = Willingham (Brotherhood) > Willingham (First Series) read more

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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.
　
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