The UGAnime Board

CrouchingMouse · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:13 am Post subject: Voice Actor Chat

I really enjoy following voice actors, and it's always fun to chat about your favorites (and not-so-favorites!). Japanese seiyuu are fair game for discussion as well, of course.

I'll start off by talking about some of my favorite English-speaking VAs:

Cam Clarke is one of those old-school VAs who's been in all kinds of crap since like the 80's, but I didn't hear him until I played the game Tales of Symphonia, where he voices Kratos Aurion. I absolutely love his voice; it has this smooth, distinctive quality to it, but he's also very flexible. He hasn't done a lot of anime; I think he's mostly dubbing video games nowadays, but he's been in a lot of iconic stuff. Some of his more notable roles: Kaneda from Streamline's Akira dub; Liquid Snake from Metal Gear Solid; Max Sterling from Robotech; He-Man from He-Man; and one of the Ninja Turtles (I always forget which).

Crispin Freeman has a very prolific career in anime, including doing the script adaptations and ADR stuff for several. He's known for having a pretty deep voice, and I think he tends to play slightly older, sometimes spooky-sounding characters. I first heard him playing Regal Bryant in Tales of Symphonia (this was pretty much the game that sparked my interest in VAs), and after hearing him in other stuff I was surprised by his range. I believe he's known as one of the better English VAs, since he's great at emoting. Some notable roles: Kyon from Haruhi Suzumiya; Tylor from Irresponsible Captain Tylor; Alucard from Hellsing; Hideki Motosuwa from Chobits; and Togusa from Ghost in the Shell: SAC.

Caitlin Glass is one of my new favorites, thanks to some of the excellent Funimation dubs I've seen over the past year. Like Mr. Freeman, in addition to acting she does a lot of the technical work for dubs as well. She also seems to be pretty active at cons and does some panels and interacting with fans. I enjoy listening to her performances since she has a nice "peppy" kind of voice without being shrieky like a lot of voice actresses tend to be, but she does a good job of voicing more relaxed characters as well. Some notable roles: Winry Rockbell from Fullmetal Alchemist; Haruhi Fujioka from Ouran Highschool Host Club; Triela from Gunslinger Girl; Miria Harvent from Baccano!; and Nefertari Vivi from One Piece.
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Kamonichan · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:45 am Post subject:

Sure, I'll bite. Gotta get in on this before Randy posts his dissertation.

I don't know too much about seiyuu, but there are two I really follow: Kawasumi Ayako and Fukuyama Jun.

Kawasumi Ayako: She's a seiyuu many people probably have heard but don't really know. Her debut role was Melfina from Outlaw Star, and I've noticed a trend in her more famous works. For some reason, directors tend to cast her in roles where she is an "Outsider," and usually as the love interest to the main character. As examples: Melfina (bioandroid) in Outlaw Star, Saber (Servant) in Fate/Stay Night, Alice (Chain) in Pandora Hearts, and Lafiel (Abh) in the Seikai series. I first started following her when someone on the Abh Nation mentioned that she played both Lafiel and Saber.

Fukuyama Jun: This guy does a whole lotta roles. You can usually tell it's him when his character starts talking excitedly. He was Mutou Kazuki in Busou Renkin, Takishima Kei in Special A, and Kraft Lawrence in Spice and Wolf. When I listened to his character songs for Special A, I decided right then and there that, if his voice were human, I'd make love to or allow myself to be made love to by it. It is just that sexy.
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invader_sin · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:30 am Post subject:

Cam Clarke was Leonardo.
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Mediaright · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 3:45 pm Post subject:

I'll do mine in parts when I have time (busy today). Sad

Katsuyuki Konishi:
Probably my favorite VA at this point. He's awesome and really fun as it turns out. You've heard him...no, seriously, you've heard him. Kamina in Gurren Lagann, Ozma in Macross Frontier, the creepy dude from Loveless, he's America in Hetalia, a dozen and one Pokemon over the years...just...on and on and on.

He went to AX this past time and cosplayed as Kamina! He just seems like a really fun guy.

Link

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Kamonichan · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 5:58 pm Post subject:

Link

Listen to this, and just try to tell me with a straight face, which I can clearly see through the waves of the internet, that you don't find this voice sexy.
_________________

No reason. Just Horo.

Look me up. Maybe we can have some fun.

Mediaright · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 10:32 pm Post subject:

CrouchingMouse · Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 12:20 am Post subject:

Hmm, I can't be shown up by you guys and your fancy-pants YouTube videos. Here's one of Cam Clarke in Metal Gear Solid (hint: he's not Snake). I kind of prefer his normal voice to the one he uses for Liquid.

Link

Anyway time for more Voice Actor Fun Time Spotlight!

Jerry Jewell is one of those guys where I like what I've heard from him, but I wish I could find him in more stuff. He has a very interesting voice which has a certain quality to it that makes it easy for him to sound creepy. So it makes sense that he's played a good few creepy characters. Apparently he's also something of a singer, having done some ending themes for a few English dubbed anime. Notable roles include: Kyo Sohma from Fruits Basket, Pinocchio from Gunslinger Girl 2, Claire Stanfield from Baccano!, Jimmy Kudo from Case Closed, and Barry the Chopper from Fullmetal Alchemist.

Kari Wahlgren has been in lots of games and lots of anime. She's very good at playing both relaxed-sounding adult women and mischievous, spunky girls. One of the first places I heard her was (once again) Tales of Symphonia, as Raine Sage. I was surprised to hear her range in other works. Some notable roles: Haruhara Haruko from FLCL, Fuu from Samurai Champloo, Lavie Head from Last Exile, Anemone from Eureka Seven, Ashe from Final Fantasy 12, Kokonoe from Blazblue, and Kyon's sister and Tsuruya from Haruhi Suzumiya.
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Spit out your Stride gum and chew another piece already.
Or we'll find you.