Celebs Who Voice Both Saturday Morning Cartoons and R-Rated Anime

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It’s common for voice actors to work on a wide range of projects, from shows for kids to more adult-oriented animation. You might be surprised to discover that the voices of beloved cartoon characters have also brought to life characters in mature, sometimes even violent, animated films. This article highlights twenty voice actors who have successfully worked across this entire spectrum of animated content.

Bryan Cranston

Bryan Cranston is now celebrated for his acclaimed roles in serious TV dramas. However, he started his career doing voice work, notably as various monsters on the children’s show ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’. He’s also known for voicing the fiery pilot Isamu Dyson in the English version of the anime series ‘Macross Plus’. Interestingly, this anime features strong violence and mature content, a stark contrast to his early work for kids.

Mark Hamill

Mark Hamill is widely celebrated for his voice acting, especially his iconic performance as the Joker in ‘Batman: The Animated Series’. His chilling laugh and dramatic style shaped how a generation remembers the character. He later took on a very different, much grittier role as Bin in ‘Afro Samurai: Resurrection’, a film known for its intense violence and mature themes – a significant departure from typical superhero animation.

Ron Perlman

Ron Perlman is well-known for his voice acting, particularly as the villain Slade in the Cartoon Network series ‘Teen Titans.’ His powerful and deliberate performance made Slade a standout bad guy in children’s TV. He also provided the voice for the character Justice in ‘Afro Samurai,’ a show famous for its unique animation style, action, and mature themes.

Kiefer Sutherland

Kiefer Sutherland is well-known for playing characters in exciting action movies and TV shows. He’s also done voice work, including the role of Bron in ‘The Land Before Time X’ and the detective Ross Sylibus in the anime film ‘Armitage III: Poly-Matrix’. ‘Armitage III’ is known for its mature content, including strong language and violence, and received a restricted rating because of it.

Pamela Adlon

Pamela Adlon is well-known for voicing Spinelli, the strong and endearing character from the popular Disney cartoon ‘Recess’. Her distinct, slightly rough voice was a perfect fit for the tomboy who confidently led the playground. Adlon demonstrated her versatility by also voicing Leila, a vampire hunter, in the anime film ‘Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust’, which is famous for its dark, gothic style and intense imagery.

Tony Jay

Tony Jay had a remarkably deep voice, which he famously used to portray Shere Khan in the popular Disney show ‘TaleSpin,’ a Saturday morning favorite in the early 1990s. He also gave voice to Count Magnus Lee, an ancient vampire, in the well-regarded anime film ‘Vampire Hunter D.’ That movie is known for its horror and violence, making it best suited for mature viewers.

Steve Blum

Steve Blum is a well-known voice actor who played Vilgax in the original ‘Ben 10’ cartoon on Cartoon Network. However, he’s perhaps best known for his role as Spike Spiegel in ‘Cowboy Bebop.’ While ‘Cowboy Bebop’ is generally aimed at teenagers, the related movie contains more intense violence. Blum has also lent his voice to characters in ‘Ninja Scroll: The Series,’ which is known for its extreme violence.

Wendee Lee

Wendee Lee is well-known for voicing T.K. Takaishi, the kind and gentle character from the original ‘Digimon Adventure’ series, making her a familiar voice on Saturday morning cartoons. She also voiced Kagero, a ninja with deadly poison, in the movie ‘Ninja Scroll,’ which is a controversial anime film remembered for its intense violence and adult content.

Johnny Yong Bosch

Johnny Yong Bosch is well-known for his voice work, including playing Nate Adams in the Disney XD show ‘Yo-Kai Watch’. Many kids recognize him from his time as a Power Ranger. He’s also famous among anime fans for his iconic role as Kaneda in the English dub of the classic film ‘Akira’, a highly-rated R-movie known for its intense action and striking visuals.

Crispin Freeman

Crispin Freeman is a voice actor known for playing a wide range of characters. He voiced the villain Electro in the animated series ‘The Spectacular Spider-Man,’ and often lends his talent to more refined characters in shows for children and teens. He’s also famous for voicing Alucard in the anime series ‘Hellsing’ and its extended version, ‘Hellsing Ultimate,’ which are well-known for their dramatic violence and dark, supernatural storylines.

Mary Elizabeth McGlynn

Mary Elizabeth McGlynn is a voice actress known for her work on popular animated series. She brought a warm and caring presence to the character of Dr. Maheswaran in ‘Steven Universe’. She also voiced the much more serious and stoic Major Motoko Kusanagi in ‘Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex’, a sci-fi series known for its mature themes and thought-provoking stories.

Joshua Seth

Joshua Seth is famous for voicing Tai Kamiya in the original ‘Digimon Adventure’ series. His lively performance really brought the leader of the DigiDestined to life for a generation of viewers. He also provided the English voice for Tetsuo Shima in the 2001 dub of ‘Akira’, a character whose horrifying transformation is considered one of the most unsettling moments in anime.

Kirk Thornton

Kirk Thornton is the voice of Shadow the Hedgehog in the animated series ‘Sonic Boom,’ a funny and action-packed show designed for younger fans of video games. He also voiced Taki in the horror film ‘Wicked City,’ which is known for its blend of demonic themes and mature content.

Liam O’Brien

Liam O’Brien is a voice actor known for playing villains and intense characters. He voiced the Red Skull in the Disney XD show ‘Avengers Assemble’, bringing a suitably threatening performance to the superhero series. He also provides the voice for Guts, the swordsman, in the ‘Berserk’ film trilogy, a franchise famous for its dark fantasy setting and graphic violence.

Beau Billingslea

Beau Billingslea is a voice actor known for his work on ‘Digimon Adventure’, where he played Ogremon and several other digital monsters. He frequently voiced strong or villainous characters in shows for children. He also provided the voice for Jet Black, a former police officer, in the anime series ‘Cowboy Bebop’, which explores serious themes like loss and the meaning of life alongside action-packed scenes.

Bridget Hoffman

Bridget Hoffman was the English voice of Mimi Tachikawa, a sweet and stylish character in ‘Digimon Adventure’. She was a key part of the show’s English dub. She also voiced Mima Kirigoe in the thriller ‘Perfect Blue’, a disturbing and intense R-rated movie that explores themes of stalking and identity.

John DiMaggio

John DiMaggio is famous for voicing Jake the Dog on ‘Adventure Time’. Jake is a funny and heartwarming character who lives in the imaginative world of Ooo. DiMaggio also provided the voice for Rokimon, a rock monster, in ‘Ninja Scroll: The Series’, which kept the dark and violent style of the original movie.

Kari Wahlgren

Kari Wahlgren is a prolific voice actress known for her work on popular animated shows like ‘Phineas and Ferb’ and ‘Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness’. Her range is impressive, as she’s also voiced the energetic alien Haruko in ‘FLCL’ and characters in the action-packed vampire series ‘Hellsing Ultimate’.

Yuri Lowenthal

Yuri Lowenthal is a well-known voice actor who first gained major recognition playing Ben Tennyson in ‘Ben 10: Alien Force’. He also voiced the unique character Kuma, a warrior with a teddy bear head, in ‘Afro Samurai’, a show known for its intense and violent action.

Matthew Mercer

Matthew Mercer is known for his voice work in several popular animated series. He played Tygra, the architect and stealthy warrior, in the 2011 ‘ThunderCats’ reboot on Cartoon Network. He also voiced Kiritsugu Emiya in ‘Fate/Zero’, a series known for its intense battles, tragic events, and complex characters.

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2025-12-16 05:25