Have you heard of the word seiyuu? This word is used to refer to the beautiful and famous voice actors of anime, games, and more. What are the differences between Western and Japanese voice actors? Today we will understand the meaning of being a voice actor in Japan.
Seiyuu in Japan is not just a simple voice actor. In Japan, they tend to be as famous as an actress, and they need to perform shows, sing, and win over many fans around Japan and the world. Being a voice actor in Japan is a profession and a childhood dream.
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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 resolve the confusion between actor and voice actor, thus designating those who only lent their voice to characters or did narrations; the term was only consolidated in the 1970s.
At that same time, the first musical group composed solely of seiyuus emerged. Slapstick, formed by Akira Kamiya, Tooru Furuya, and Toshio Furukawa, are considered legends of Japanese dubbing to this day.
Thus, the band expanded the job possibilities for seiyuus, who could now be singers, in addition to the other roles they performed, such as voice actors in anime, commercials, games, and movies.
Still in the 1970s, the first magazine focused on Japanese animation was created, promoting the work of 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 voice acting schools; such was the encouragement that today there are approximately 130 schools for this training.
However, it was only in the 1990s that Brazil had contact with anime, through TV Manchete or VHS tapes, until the mid-2000s. After that, Cartoon Network began airing Dragon Ball Z, dubbed, and only when Cartoon brought Samurai X did we have true contact with seiyuus. Nowadays, it is very common for seiyuus to be singers and actors.
What are the jobs of a voice actor?
A Seiyuu does not only dub anime. These talents also dub foreign films, video games, radio dramas, CD dramas, performances, puppetry, narration, theater, music, and more. Some even do commercials and appear on advertising posters.
Generally, a female voice actor does not only dub female characters. Many famous male characters have a female voice actor, such as Alphonse and Naruto. The opposite also happens, but rarely.
Many voice actors need to perform songs and accompanying music for an animated work. Generally, they are great singers and even release their singles and albums. Voice actors are true Idols in Japan.
Voice actors are very successful because Japan produces about 60% of the animated series in the world. Some voice actors are required to make somewhat strange 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 won’t show a tutorial on how to do this, especially since you would need to be fluent in Japanese and live in Japan. We just want to show the steps.
In addition to having skills with their voice, a person needs to be dedicated and even fight to gain a space in this large market. Most of these talents are discovered through a voice acting school, where most young people who watch anime and wish to become a seiyuu enroll.
Other talented voice actors are discovered through a talent agency, theater acting, or even through their career as an idol and actress. Some are discovered in school, even if they are minors.
Some famous Seiyuu
Some of the most famous seiyuus are:
Megumi Hayashibara – She has won 13 awards at Animage, she is also a singer and voiced Haibara Ai in Detective Conan, Haruka from Love Hina.
Yui Horie – Famous for singing various openings and endings of anime, she has worked on thousands of works, voicing: Kaga Kouko – Golden Time, Minori Kushieda – Toradora! and Siesta – Zero no Tsukaima.
Rie Kugimiya – Taiga from Toradora, Louise from Zero no Tsukaima, Alphonse Elric and Xiao Mei in Fullmetal Alchemist.
Akio Ohtsuka – Metal Gear Solid (Solid Snake), Bleach (Shunsui Kyouraku), 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 seiyuus of all time
Let’s post in the order of the most beautiful first; the criteria used are various Japanese rankings from recent years. It is worth noting that their works and their kawaii voice influence their position, not their appearance.
Although the word seiyuu is a unisex word, this list will only feature girls, as they are always the center of attention. We won’t number the ranking because I don’t like to place anyone above another; it is a matter of taste.
Kana Hanazawa – 1989 – Tokyo.
- Kuroneko in Oreimo;
- Kanade in Angel Beats;
- Onodera in Nisekoi;
Saori Hayami – 1991 – Tokyo.
- Azuki from Bakuman;
- Nishimiya in Koe no Katachi;
- Miyuki from Mahouka;
Rie Kugimiya – 1979 – Kumamoto.
- Louise from Zero no Tsukaima;
- Taiga from Toradora;
- Alphonse in Fullmetal;
- Kagura in Gintama;
Suzuko Mimori – 1986 – Tokyo.
- Himiko in Btoom;
- Sora in Digimon;
- Fujinomiya Neko in Masamune-kun;
- Sonoda from Love Live;
AI Kayano – 1987 – Tokyo.
- Menma from AnoHana;
- Inori from Guilty Crown;
- Saori from Girls und Panzer;
- Mashiro from Sakurasou;
Miyuki Sawashiro – 1985 – Tokyo.
- Suruga from Monogatari Series;
- Celty from Durarara;
- Kurapika from HxH;
Haruka Tomatsu – 1990 – Nagoya.
- Asuna in Sword Art Online;
- Naruko from AnoHana;
- Megumi from Accel World;
- Gintoki from Gintama;
- Lala from ToLove-ru;
Yui Horie – 1976 – Katsushika.
- Minori from Toradora;
- Kouko from Golden Time;
- Siesta from Zero no Tsukaima;
- Naru from Love Hina;
Nana Mizuki – 1980 – Niihama.
- Ehime. Hinata in Naruto;
- Nanami and Elmar in Dog Days;
- saya in Blood-C;
Rie Takahashi – 1994 – Saitama.
- Megumin in Konosuba;
- Emilia in Re:Zero;
- Rin in Keijo;
- Futaba in Sore ga Seiyuu!
Aya Hirano – 1987 – Aichi.
- Misa from Death Note;
- Lucy from Fairy Tail;
- Ume in Kimi ni Todoke;
- Migi in Kiseijuu;
- Suzumiya Haruhi;
Yoko Hikasa – 1985 – Kanagawa.
- Kyouko in Danganronpa;
- Mio in K-on;
- Stephanie from No Game No Life;
- Shino from Seitokai Yakuindomo;
Maaya Sakamoto – 1980 – Itabashi.
- Aura from .Hack;
- Motoko from Ghost in the Shell;
- Shiki from Kara no Kyoukai;
- Ciel from Kuroshitsuji;
Ayana Taketatsu – 1989 – Saitama.
- Kirino from Oreimo;
- Kotori from Data A Live;
- Suguha – SAO;
- Azusa – K-on;
Aki Toyosaki – 1986 – Tokushima.
- Chiyuri in Accel World;
- Iori in Kokkoro Connect;
- Yui from K-On;
- Momo from ToLove-ru;
Honorable Mentions
Many other voice actors have dominated rankings worldwide even with few works. I think it is worth mentioning some of these girls who could appear on the list above.
- Ogura Yui – Voiced Tsukiko in Hentai Ouji to Warawanai Neko;
- Inori Minase – Voiced Rem in RE:Zero;
- Marina Inoue – Voiced Tohka in Data A Live and Armin in Shingeki no Kyoujin;
- Sora Amamiya – Voiced Aqua in Konosuba, Elizabeth in Nanatsu no Taizai, and the princess in Aldnoah.Zero;
- Minori Chihara – Voiced Nagato Yuki in Suzumiya Haruhi;
- Azumi Asakura – Voiced Kumin in Chuunibyou and Yukiho in IDOLM@STER;
- Romi Park – Voiced Edward in Fullmetal, Temari in Naruto, and Toshiro in Bleach;
- Aoi Yuuki – Voiced Kayo in Boku Dake ga Inai Machi and Madoka;
And you? Who is your favorite Seiyuu? Leave in the comments anyone we missed on this list.
Animes about Seiyuu – Voice Actors
To finish, let’s leave a list of animes that talk about voice actors, in case you want to watch anime and understand more about how the world of seiyuu works. I hope you enjoyed the article; if you did, share it!
| Bakuman. | 2010 | 4.34 |
| Shirobako | 2014 | 4.31 |
| REC | 2006 | 3.9 |
| Koe de Oshigoto! The Animation | 2010 | 3.46 |
| Girlish Number | 2016 | 3.34 |
| Seiyuu’s Life! | 2015 | 3.34 |
| Hashiri Tsuzukete Yokattatte. | 2018 | 3.03 |
| Love Get Chu | 2006 | 2.86 |
| Seiyuu’s Life! A Small After-Party! | 2016 | 2.82 |
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