While anime voice acting is often seen as a friendly and supportive community, it also has its share of disagreements and problems. Disputes over money, legal issues, and public controversies sometimes cause serious conflicts between voice actors and the companies that make anime. These conflicts can lead to actors being replaced, facing difficulty finding future work, and sparking arguments among fans. Looking at these real-life issues gives us a more complete understanding of the challenges within the voice acting world, both in Japan and for English-dubbed anime.
Vic Mignogna
In 2019, voice actor Eric Mignogna sued Funimation and fellow actors Monica Rial and Jamie Marchi, claiming they defamed him after publicly addressing accusations of sexual harassment. The lawsuit deeply divided the anime community and led to Mignogna’s removal from major projects, including ‘Dragon Ball Super: Broly’. While the court ultimately dismissed most of his claims, the damage to his career was lasting.
Monica Rial
The actress gained attention after publicly accusing a former coworker of misconduct. She shared her experiences during legal proceedings, describing incidents that happened at conventions and work events, which sparked a lot of discussion and disagreement in the entertainment industry. Even though she faced harsh online attacks from some fans, she continued to be a well-known advocate for popular anime like ‘Dragon Ball Super’ and ‘My Hero Academia’. The court’s decision in her favor brought the legal battle to an end and strengthened her position as a respected voice actress.
Akira Kamiya
In 2009, the voice actor for Kogoro Mouri in ‘Detective Conan’, Hiroshi Kamiya, had a very public disagreement with the show’s creators. The conflict stemmed from issues with his contract and how much he was being paid. Kamiya announced he was leaving the show on his blog, explaining that the producers had broken his trust. This was unusual, as it’s rare for a well-known Japanese voice actor to publicly criticize a major animation studio.
Aya Hirano
Hirano was once Japan’s top voice actress, but her career suffered after some public scandals and disagreements with her agency. In 2011, her label and management blocked her from taking on new voice acting work for several years, as she wanted to focus on acting in live performances and musicals, which they opposed. She later left her agency and successfully reinvented herself as a theater performer, while still appearing in ‘Fairy Tail’. This move gave her the freedom to control her career and move beyond the typical expectations for voice acting stars.
Takahiro Sakurai
As a long-time follower of voice acting, I was really surprised and saddened by the news surrounding voice actor Takahiro Sakurai last year. It came out that he’d been having an affair for ten years, and the industry wasn’t happy. The fallout was swift – he was immediately dropped from the ‘Mononoke’ movie, and a lot of other projects started looking for replacements. It’s a huge blow, especially considering how much studios had depended on his voice for so long. It’s a real shame to see a career built over decades impacted by something like this.
Tatsuhisa Suzuki
In 2021, Suzuki’s career hit a major setback when news of an affair and a confidentiality breach became public. He was accused of sharing unreleased music and script information with someone outside the company, which caused conflict with his colleagues. As a result, he was immediately removed from the anime ‘Tokyo Revengers’ and took a break from his band, Oldcodex. The situation forced him to step away from all public work temporarily to deal with the consequences. Although he later returned to some projects, the incident significantly harmed his reputation with leading anime production companies.
Chris Niosi
In 2019, Niosi publicly acknowledged emotionally abusing and harassing people he worked with and fans. As a result, he was replaced as a voice actor in both ‘Fire Emblem: Three Houses’ and ‘Pokémon Journeys’. Many fellow actors quickly supported these claims, confirming his problematic behavior. This situation demonstrated a growing trend of responsibility and consequences for how people treat each other within the voice acting community.
Toru Furuya
In 2024, veteran voice actor Furuya resigned from his well-known roles in ‘One Piece’ and ‘Detective Conan’ after publicly admitting to a long-term affair with a fan. Accusations of physical abuse during the relationship also surfaced. This confession created immediate conflict with his agency, Aoni Production, and the producers of both series, representing a major shift in the career of a highly respected figure in the Japanese voice acting world.
Nobuhiko Okamoto
The actor who voices Bakugo in ‘My Hero Academia’ faced consequences after news of an affair became public. Though he issued an apology and kept his main roles, the situation strained relationships with sponsors and those involved in the show’s production. As a result, his agency created stricter guidelines for how its talent handles public image. This incident highlighted the very high expectations for behavior placed on celebrities and voice actors in Japan.
Daisuke Namikawa
Namikawa faced a scandal after having an affair with someone at his talent agency. This sparked debate about whether it was appropriate for him to lead the company while also behaving unethically. Although the situation created controversy, he was able to keep his roles in ‘Lupin III’ and ‘Haikyu!!’. However, the incident damaged his relationships with colleagues in the voice acting industry.
Erika Harlacher
Harlacher gained attention for speaking out against harassment in the voice acting industry, publicly supporting those who came forward with accusations against former coworkers. While this stance created conflict with some fans who defended the accused, she used her position to emphasize the need for safe and respectful workplaces. Her actions were key in changing the conversation around responsibility and accountability within the dubbing community. She remains a popular voice actor, continuing to play leading roles in major games like ‘Persona 5’ and ‘Genshin Impact’.
Todd Haberkorn
I remember back in 2018 when allegations surfaced against Haberkorn, and it really caused a stir in the voice acting community. He always maintained his innocence and kept working, but it unfortunately drove a wedge between him and some of his peers. I heard some actors even refused to appear at the same conventions as him, which put event organizers in a really tough spot. It’s sad to say, but even now, it’s a clear example of how accusations, even if never proven, can cause lasting damage to professional relationships.
Share your thoughts on these voice acting industry controversies in the comments.
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2026-01-20 02:22