Voice acting demands a huge emotional range and the skill to convincingly portray very different characters. While some voice actors become known for playing similar roles, the best ones can seamlessly switch between sweet, innocent characters and tough, intimidating ones. It’s not uncommon for an actor to be the voice of a cherished childhood character in one project and a menacing villain or warrior in another. This list celebrates the performers who excel at portraying both adorable and frightening characters.
Megumi Hayashibara
Yuko Hayashibara is a highly celebrated voice actress, perhaps the most famous of all time. She’s known for voicing the beloved Hello Kitty, a symbol of innocence and friendship who communicates through simple, happy greetings. However, Hayashibara also voiced Rei Ayanami in ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion,’ a very different role. Rei is a mysterious and seemingly emotionless character who fights terrifying creatures. Hayashibara uses a cool, distant voice for Rei, a complete contrast to the bright, cheerful tone she uses for Hello Kitty and other mascot characters.
Kumiko Watanabe
Watanabe is famous for voicing Keroro, the hilariously clumsy alien invader from ‘Sgt. Frog’—a cute frog who’s terrible at trying to conquer Earth and prefers building plastic models. But Watanabe also voiced Katejina Loos in ‘Mobile Suit Victory Gundam,’ a character who dramatically changes from an ordinary civilian into a fierce and dangerous enemy pilot. As the pilot of the Gotarlatan mobile suit, Katejina becomes one of the franchise’s most formidable villains. This shift from a funny, inept frog to a ruthless soldier really demonstrates Watanabe’s versatility as a voice actor.
Toshihiko Seki
Tomokazu Seki voiced two very different characters: Momotaros in ‘Kamen Rider Den-O’ and Rau Le Creuset in ‘Mobile Suit Gundam SEED’. Momotaros is a funny, fiery red demon who acts as a mascot for the hero, often providing comic relief with slapstick and energetic lines. In contrast, Le Creuset is a cold and calculating villain who pilots a powerful mobile suit and wants to destroy humanity due to his deep-seated hatred. Seki skillfully portrays both a boisterous, lively character and a smooth, threatening one, demonstrating his range as an actor.
Kazuhiko Inoue
As a longtime anime fan, I’ve always loved the voice work in ‘Natsume’s Book of Friends,’ and Kazuyuki Inoue is Nyanko-sensei – that hilarious, chubby lucky cat who’s secretly a powerful spirit! He’s just so funny with his constant craving for food and booze, all while keeping Natsume safe. But what’s really cool is that years before that, way back in ‘Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam,’ Inoue voiced Jerid Messa. Talk about a contrast! Jerid was this intense, prideful pilot, always at odds with the main character, Kamille. It was a really demanding role, showing this soldier slowly breaking down as he lost everyone around him in the war. It’s amazing to see how versatile Inoue is!
Tomokazu Seki
Tomokazu Seki is a versatile voice actor known for playing very different characters. He voices Whisper, the funny and quirky ghost butler in the ‘Yokai Watch’ series, a role that relies on nervous energy and comedic timing. This is a big contrast to his role as Domon Kasshu in ‘Mobile Fighter G Gundam,’ where he plays a passionate and powerful martial artist who fights to save the universe. Seki is known for his energetic delivery, which he uses for Domon’s powerful attacks, a style very different from the frantic, high-pitched voice he uses for Whisper.
Rie Kugimiya
Kugimiya is well-known for voicing Happy, the cheerful blue winged cat and loyal companion in ‘Fairy Tail.’ He’s famous for his signature phrase and dedication to his friends. However, Kugimiya also voiced Nena Trinity in ‘Mobile Suit Gundam 00,’ a very different role. Nena is a pilot who enjoys causing destruction and doesn’t hesitate to attack civilians. This part was a departure for Kugimiya, as she’s usually cast as sweet, sometimes feisty, or innocent characters.
Takahiro Sakurai
Sakurai provided the voice for Tentomon, a bug-like Digimon in ‘Digimon Adventure,’ who is Izzy’s smart and helpful partner. Tentomon is known for speaking with a polite accent from the Kansai region of Japan and often provides both comic relief and sensible advice. In ‘Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion,’ Sakurai voiced Suzaku Kururugi, a talented pilot of the powerful Knightmare Frame Lancelot. Suzaku is a conflicted soldier who struggles with his morals and secretly longs for sacrifice in battle. This role required a much more serious and emotional performance compared to the cheerful digital monster he played.
Maaya Sakamoto
Sakamoto provides the voice for Mokona, a small, white, cheerful creature in ‘Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle’ who acts as a guide and helps the characters travel between dimensions. She’s known for her high-pitched voice and consistently positive attitude. Sakamoto also voices Mari Illustrious Makinami in the ‘Rebuild of Evangelion’ films. Mari is a mysterious and daring pilot who uniquely sings during battles with the Angels. Sakamoto skillfully portrays both the sweet, innocent Mokona and the intense, adventurous Mari.
Jun Fukuyama
Jun Fukuyama provides the voice for Panda in the anime ‘Shirokuma Cafe.’ Panda is a giant panda who works part-time and is completely obsessed with anything made of bamboo. The character is known for being lazy, a bit selfish, and using his adorable appearance to his advantage. However, Fukuyama is perhaps best known for voicing Lelouch Lamperouge in ‘Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion.’ In that series, Lelouch leads a rebellion against a powerful empire while piloting advanced robotic weapons called Knightmare Frames. This role demanded a strong, dramatic voice, a stark contrast to the slow, laid-back tone he uses for the character of Panda.
Hiroshi Kamiya
Hiroshi Kamiya plays Penguin in ‘Shirokuma Cafe,’ a character who often reacts to the silliness of the other animals with exasperation. He also voiced Tieria Erde in ‘Mobile Suit Gundam 00,’ a dedicated and somewhat cold pilot of the Gundam Virtue, who initially believes emotions are a hindrance. These two roles showcase Kamiya’s range – Penguin is a frantic comedic character, while Tieria is stoic and serious.
Takehito Koyasu
Koyasu is a voice actor known for playing very different roles. He famously voiced Excalibur in ‘Soul Eater’ – a comical, irritating character despite being a legendary sword. Excalibur is a running gag, constantly making absurd requests and frustrating anyone who tries to use him. Koyasu also voiced Zechs Merquise in ‘Mobile Suit Gundam Wing’, a skilled and mysterious masked pilot who is a major rival to the hero. He uses his signature deep, rich voice to bring the charismatic villain to life, a stark contrast to the high-pitched, annoying voice he uses for the Excalibur character.
Koichi Yamadera
Kappei Yamadera is famous for voicing Cheese, the adorable dog in the popular anime series ‘Soreike! Anpanman’. Cheese is a lovable character who mostly communicates with barks and other simple noises. Yamadera also brought to life Gyunei Guss in ‘Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack’, portraying a confident and technologically-enhanced pilot who fearlessly challenges the skilled Amuro Ray. This role showcases Yamadera’s versatility, as he convincingly plays both boastful characters and animals with a wide range of vocalizations.
Yuji Ueda
Ryohei Ueda is well known for voicing Wobbuffet in the ‘Pokemon’ anime—a popular character famous for unexpectedly appearing from its Pokeball and yelling its name. He also voiced Akito Tenkawa in ‘Martian Successor Nadesico,’ a troubled mecha pilot drawn into war. Akito fights to protect his ship using the Aestivalis mech, all while struggling with past trauma. Ueda skillfully portrays both the humorous, repetitive nature of Wobbuffet and the intense emotional pain of Akito.
Mamoru Miyano
Mamoru Miyano is a versatile voice actor known for a wide range of characters. He voices Wooser, a seemingly adorable mascot in ‘Wooser’s Hand-to-Mouth Life,’ who secretly has mischievous and selfish thoughts – a key part of the show’s comedy. Miyano first gained widespread recognition for his role as Setsuna F. Seiei in ‘Mobile Suit Gundam 00,’ where he played a child soldier who becomes a skilled Gundam pilot. Setsuna starts as a reserved character and gradually learns about human relationships. These two roles demonstrate Miyano’s ability to excel in both lighthearted, quirky comedy and intense, dramatic action series.
Nobuyo Oyama
For over twenty years, Masako Oyama was the beloved voice of Doraemon, the famous robot cat, and truly brought the character to life for many. Doraemon is a friendly robot who travels from the future to help a young boy using amazing, high-tech tools. Earlier in her career, Oyama also voiced Jin Kappei in the anime ‘Invincible Super Man Zambot 3’. Kappei is a young pilot facing the harsh realities of war with aliens, dealing with loss and difficult choices. Oyama will be remembered both for the cheerful warmth she brought to Doraemon and the strength she showed portraying a character in such a dark and challenging anime series.
Let us know in the comments which voice acting change was the most surprising to you.
Read More
- Fed’s Rate Stasis and Crypto’s Unseen Dance
- Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni’s Deposition Postponed to THIS Date Amid Ongoing Legal Battle, Here’s Why
- Dogecoin’s Decline and the Fed’s Shadow
- Ridley Scott Reveals He Turned Down $20 Million to Direct TERMINATOR 3
- Baby Steps tips you need to know
- Global-e Online: A Portfolio Manager’s Take on Tariffs and Triumphs
- The VIX Drop: A Contrarian’s Guide to Market Myths
- Top 10 Coolest Things About Indiana Jones
- Northside Capital’s Great EOG Fire Sale: $6.1M Goes Poof!
- A Most Advantageous ETF Alliance: A Prospect for 2026
2025-12-12 13:46