Have you heard the word seiyuu? This word is used to refer to the beautiful and famous voice actresses of anime, games, and others. What are the differences between Western voice actresses and Japanese ones? Today we will understand the meaning of being a voice actor in Japan.
Seiyuu in Japan she is not a simple voice actress. In Japan they are usually as famous as an actress, and need to perform, sing and win many fans around Japan and the world. Being a voice actor in Japan is a profession and childhood dream.
Table of Content
History and Meaning of Seiyuu
The word Seiyuu [声優] is a unisex word derived from “Koe no Haiyuu” [声の俳優] which means voice actor.
This term was created to solve the problem of confusion between actor and dubber, and thus name those who only lent their voice to characters or made narrations, the term was only consolidated in the 70s.
At this time, the first musical group composed solely of seiyuus emerged. The Slapstick, formed by Akira Kamiya, Tooru Furuya, and Toshio Furukawa, are considered legends of the Japanese voice acting to this day.
In this way, the band expanded the possibilities for the work of seiyuus, who can now also be singers, in addition to the other roles they performed, such as voice actors in anime, commercials, games, and movies.
Still in the 70s, the first magazine focused on Japanese animation was created, promoting the work of the seiyuus and reinforcing their potential to become great idols.
Over the years, other magazines were created, supporting this idea and increasing the number of people interested in enrolling in dubbing schools, such was the incentive that today there are approximately 130 schools for this training.
However, it was only in the 90s that Brazil had contact with animes, through TV Manchete or VHS tapes, until the mid-2000s. After that, Cartoon Network started airing Dragon Ball Z, dubbed. It was only when Cartoon brought Samurai X that there was real contact with the seiyuus. Nowadays, it's very common for Seiyuus to be singers and actors.
What are the jobs of a voice actress?
A Seiyuu doesn't just dub anime. These talents also dub foreign films, video games, radio drama CD, performances, puppets, narration, theater, music and more. Some even make commercials and appear on advertising posters.
Usually a female voice actor doesn't just voice female characters. Many famous male characters have a female voice actress, such as Alphonse and Naruto. The opposite also happens, but rarely.
Many voice actresses need to perform songs and background music for an animation work. Usually, they are great singers and even release their singles and albums. Voice actresses are true Idols in Japan.
Voice actors are very successful because Japan produces about 60% of animated series in the world. Some voice actresses are subjected to making weird sounds, or even dub adult content, despite their supposed innocence.
How to become a Seiyuu?
Becoming a seiyuu or voice actor is a complicated mission just like becoming an actress, singer or idol. We are not going to show you a tutorial on how to do this, because you would need to be fluent in Japanese and live in Japan. We just want to show you the steps.
In addition to having voice skills, a person needs to be hardworking and even fight to gain a place in this large market. Most of these talents are discovered through a dubbing school, where most young people who watch anime and wish to become a seiyuu enroll.
Other talented voice actresses are discovered through a talent academy, stage actor, or even their idol and acting careers. Others are discovered at school, even though they are minors.
Some famous seiyuu
Some of the most famous seiyuus are:
Megumi Hayashibara - She has won 13 awards in Animage, she is also a singer and dubbed Haibara's voices in Detective Conan, Haruka from Love Hina.
Yui Horie - Famous for singing several anime openings and closures, worked on thousands of works, making the voices of: Kaga Kouko - Golden Time, Minori Kushieda - Toradora! and Siesta - Zero on Tsukaima.
Rie Kugimiya - Toradora, Louise de Zero at Tsukaima, Alphonse Elric and Xiao Mei in Fullmetal Alchemist.
Akio Ohtsuka - Metal Gear Solid (Solid Snake), Bleach (Shunsui Kyoraku), One Piece (Blackbeard), Naruto (Chiriku), and others.
Masako Nozawa – Dragon Ball Z (Goku and others), One Piece (Doctor Kureba), Cross Game (Nomo) and others.
Junko Takeuchi – Naruto (Uzumaki Naruto), Hunter x Hunter (Gon Freaks) Soul Eater (Maka Albarn) and others.
The most beautiful seiyuu of all time
We will post in order of the most beautiful first, the criteria used are various Japanese rankings from recent years. It's worth remembering that their works and their voice kawaii end up influencing their position, not their appearance.
Despite the word seiyuu being a gender-neutral term, this list will only feature girls, as they are always the center of attention. We will not number the ranking because I don't like to put anyone above another, it's a matter of taste.
Kana Hanazawa Kana Hanazawa - 1989 - Tokyo.
- Kuroneko em Oreimo;
- Kanade in Angel Beats;
- Onodera em Nisekoi;
Saori Hayami - 1991 - Tokyo.
- Azuki de Bakuman;
- Nishimiya in "A Silent Voice";
- Miyuki de Mahouka;
Rie Kugimiya Kugimiya Rie - 1979 - Kumamoto.
- Louise de Zero's Familiar;
- Taiga de Toradora;
- Alphonse in Fullmetal;
- Kagura in Gintama;
Suzuko Mimori Suzuko Mitsumori - 1986 - Tokyo.
- Himiko in Btoom;
- Sora em Digimon;
- Fujinomiya Neko em Masamune-kun;
- Sonoda from Love Live;
AI Kayano Aikoromo Chino - 1987 - Tokyo.
- Menma de AnoHana;
- Inori from Guilty Crown;
- Saori from Girls und Panzer;
- Mashiro de Sakurasou;
Miyuki Miyuki Sawashiro Sawashiro - 1985 - Tokyo.
- Suruga de Monogatari Series;
- Celty from Durarara!;
- Kurapika de HxH;
Haruka Tomatsu Haruka Tomatsu - 1990 - Nagoya.
- Asuna in Sword Art Online;
- Naruko de AnoHana;
- Megumi from Accel World;
- Gintoki from Gintama;
- Lala from ToLove-Ru;
Yui Horie Yui Horie - 1976 - Katsushika.
- Minori de Toradora;
- Kouko from Golden Time;
- Zero no Tsukaima's Nap;
- Naru from Love Hina;
Nana Mizuki Nana Mizuki - 1980 - Niihama.
- Ehime. Hinata em Naruto;
- Nanami and Elmar in Dog Days;
- I am Blood-C;
Rie Takahashi Lyot Takahashi - 1994 - Saitama.
- Megumin em Konosuba;
- Emilia in Re:Zero;
- Rin em Keijo;
- Futaba in Sore ga Seiyuu!
Aya Hirano - Aya Hirano - 1987 - Aichi.
- Misa de Death Note;
- Lucy from FairyTail;
- Ume em Kimi ni todoke;
- Migi em Kiseijuu;
- Suzumiya Haruhi;
Yoko Hikasa - 1985 - Kanagawa.
- Kyouko em Danganronpa;
- Mio em K-on;
- Stephanie from No Game No Life;
- Shino de Seitokai Yakuindomo;
Maaya Sakamoto Maaya Sakamoto - 1980 - Itabashi.
- Aura de.Hack
- Motoko from Ghost in the Shell;
- Kara's Shiki no Kyoukai;
- Sky of Kuroshitsuji;
Ayana Taketatsu彩奈竹達 - 1989 - Saitama.
- Kirino de Oreimo;
- Kotori from Date A Live;
- Suguha - SAO;
- Azusa - K -On;
Aki Toyosaki Aki Toyosaki - 1986 - Tokushima
- Chiyuri in Accel World;
- Iori in Kokoro Connect;
- Yui de K-On;
- Momo from To Love-Ru.
Honorable Mentions
Many other voice actors ended up dominating rankings around the world even with few works. I think it's worth mentioning some of these girls that could appear in the list above.
- Ogura Yui - Voiced Tsukiko in Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko;
- Inori Minase - Voiced Rem in RE:Zero;
- Marina Inoue - Voiced Tohka from Data A Live and Armin from Shingeki no Kyoujin;
- Sora Amamiya - Voiced Aqua in Konosuba, Elizabeth from Nanatsu no Taizai, and the princess in Adlnoah.Zero;
- Minori Chihara - Voiced Nagato Yuki from Suzumiya Haruhi;
- Azumi Asakura - Voiced Kumin from Chuunibyou and Yukiho from IDOLM@STER;
- Romi Park - Voiced Edward from Full Metal, Temari from Naruto, and Toshiro from Bleach;
- Aoi Yuuki - Voiced Kayo in Boku Dake ga Inai Machi and Madoka;
Is that you? What's your Favorite Seiyuu? Leave in the comments any that were missing from this list.
Anime about Seiyuu - voice actors
Finally, let's leave a list of Anime that talk about voice actors, in case you want to watch the anime and understand more about how the world of seiyu works. I hope you enjoyed the article, if you liked it, share it!
Responsive Table: Scroll the table to the side with your finger >>
| Bakuman. | 2010 | 4.34 |
| Shirobako | 2014 | 4.31 |
| REC | 2006 | 3.9 |
| Koe from Oshigoto! The Animation | 2010 | 3.46 |
| "Girlish Number" | 2016 | 3.34 |
| Seiyuu's Life! | 2015 | 3.34 |
| Keep on running. | 2018 | 3.03 |
| Love Get Chu | 2006 | 2.86 |
| Seiyuu's Life! The Small After-Party! | 2016 | 2.82 |