A Seiyuu Post (The Guys Only, Else It’ll be WAY Too Long)

These days, when I look at forums discussing the latest news regarding anime, the reactions to it are usually ‘this staff this, another staff that’ and of course base their opinions on the past records of these people. I’m very young to the anime world, so unlike them, I for one can never measure up their to level of expertise and experience in these aspects. Heck, my knowledge of such stellar contributors to the great media called anime is probably limited to greats like Anno Hideaki(father of EVA), Tomino Yoshiyuki(father of Gundam), Ishihara Tatsuya(Kyoto Animation’s most renowned staffer), Sushio(Gurren-Lagann lovers look up what he did), and music composers here and there(but that’s for another post). LOL. I’m sorry, I guess.

So I’ll stick with the people who’re still behind the scenes, but make up an aural integral part of animation. The ones who give a voice to all those moving figures and colours onscreen, if you will. Here’s a list of some of those guys I’ve noted:(not in any order of merit, and the names have their family name first, just like Oriental names go)

Oh, and this is going to be LONG.The Historically Honoured

• Wakamoto Norio - This guy’s voice is nothing short of awesome. The sense of authority and power that automatically comes when he speaks exudes nothing but that quality. Hot damn, just look at his current roles! Hear him in: Code Geass(Brittanian Emperor), Hayate no Gotoku(Voice of God)

• Shuuichi Ikeda - Char Aznable. Nuff said. Hear him in: Gundam SEED Destiny(Gilbert Dullindal)
• Koyasu Takehito - The most prolific one in this trade, with over 250 roles to his credit. His trademark baritone voice caught my attention when I was watching Initial D. Does better with comedic roles better than the above 2 IMO. Hear him in: No need for me to tell you, if you haven’t seen an anime with him in it, you haven’t watched enough. Period.

The All-Stars

• Seki Tomokazu - aka King of Versatility(only in my books). His voice can range from stoic(FMP!) to hotblooded(Anime Tenchou, G Gundam) even to act-cute(Kanon ‘06), and it seems like the end is not in sight for this dude, since he can even do a Noto Mamiko(Yakumo in School Rumble)! Definitely my favourite of this section.(it’s still not according to merit though)
• Shinichirou Miki - Took notice of him in Initial D as well, but as I watched more of his works, I thought he was one who is consistent, and is very good at retaining his innate tone even while displaying gratituous emotion, which makes him real good for singling out due to his individuality. Hear him in: Bleach(Urahara), FMP!(Kurz), & Initial D(Takumi)
• Seki Toshihiko - Most powerful bishounen seiyuu EVAR. He is the most ideal voice for every narrow eyed, long-blonde-haired, Titanic-sinking sharp-chinned act-cool anime character I know. But yet, his hidden fun-loving side is one to behold. Usually used for a hidden comedic side to his characters, he puts the ‘f’ in ‘deviant fun. Hear bishounen him in: Gundam SEED franchise(Raww+Rey), deviant comedy him in: Higurashi + Kai(Irie) and Naruto(Iruka).
• Fujiwara Keiji - The cool-father/mentor-you-wish-you-had type. He does the roles with so much assurance expressed that I can’t help but think that, even when he goes into funny mode it’s still an obsession over his beloved kid(see FMA’s first half for more details). Unfortunately he seems to be a little typecast in that aspect, but nevertheless, isn’t it because he fulfills the role’s requirements to perfection? Hear him further in: Eureka Seven(Holland), Honey & Clover(Prof. Hanamoto)
• Ueda Yuuji - Everyone probably remembers him from Love Hina(Keitaro). His wackiness sprang into view for me when I watched Honey & Clover(Morita) though. But he truly shines when his people hear his dramatic side right after the comedy(as opposed to the aforementioned, when it’s usually the other way), which can deal quite a good shock, as anyone who’s watched Nadesico(Akito) would attest.
• Hiyama Nobuyuki - If he’s not the Kaiser de HotBlood I don’t know anyone who can be. No other person gives an impression of struggle against better than he, probably due to the slightly higher pitched screams that he gives while going at it. LOL. The raspyness of his voice also makes him a great candidate for antagonistic roles, though it is usually combined with his screaming for HOTBLOOD! effect. But don’t be mistaken though, he can use that raspyness for comedy too, when it makes up a truly weird character. Hear him in: GaoGaiGar(ZA EVOLUDER), Gurren Lagann(Viral), & Genshiken(Madarame).

Up and Coming

• Sugita Tomokazu - When he’s so good that even the master of this blog makes a post about him, and the IMO most definitive blog covering FEMALE seiyuu has him as the only male in the database, I don’t have to say more(because I’m lazy). King of sarcasm and wisecracks. 2006 was his year.
• Konishi Katsuyuki - If Hiyama is the Kaiser de HotBlood, this guy is the Prinz de Hotblood, with a little more baritone. And it only took one show for him to solidify that nickname for me. Better yet, he doesn’t scrimp on the funnybone as well, having been in a primarily comedic role prior to that show. Seems that he’s been in the industry for a while now though, a little sad that he only caught people’s eyes(or ears should I say) so late. This guy needs more defining roles! THAT SHOW: Gurren Lagann(Kamina), THAT PRIOR SHOW: D.Gray-man(Komui)
• Fukuyama Jun - Best Male Lead Role in the inaugural Seiyuu Awards 2007 for Lulu in Code Geass. I’ve never heard such a secretly bitter voice in my little years of watching anime. I guess he’s finally come into his own typecast(however wrong that sounds) as a great candidate for shows with a lot of subterfuge and deceit. IMO he was rather pedestrian in his recent shounen comedy roles though. A jewel in the rough. Said shounen roles: Inukami!(Keita), Busou Renkin(Kazuki)
• Miyano Mamoru - A versatile voice right here. Coming into his own in Ouran Host Club(Tamaki), he smashed the critics with a very three-dimensional role in the hit Death Note(Light). A great competitor with Fukuyama for the typecast of double personalities. Needs more practice to get out of the Tamaki mould though.
• Kakihara Tetsuya - One of the top newcomers in the Seiyuu Awards, many were wondering if the selection process was rigged or something, as the role probably wasn’t well received. But I daresay that watchers of Nanoha A’s(including me) would definitely say otherwise. I’m looking at later 2007 being his time to shine, given his EXPROZION of roles very lately. Sometimes manly awesome, sometimes cowardly emotional, he will be in the spotlight in times to come. Hear him in: Nanoha A’s(All the Male German), RomeoXJuliet(Mercutio), Gurren Lagann(Simon)

Well I guess I’ll conclude this little(!) entry, before I continue listing every male seiyuu I know. If anyone wants to find out more about any seiyuu(aka who voiced that awesome dude from that awesome show), ANN’s search bar would be a great place to start. Oh and those who are looking forward(if anyone) to a similar post to this regarding female seiyuu, you don’t have to, since there is a much much more comprehensive place to get that information. Thanks for reading.