In one of the most competitive voiceover categories in the industry, who actually are the best anime voice actors?
While the debate over the superiority of subbed versus dubbed anime continues, the undeniable truth remains: the actors who convey Japanese animation to English-speaking audiences have remarkable talent and charisma.
Dubbing requires not only synchronising the voice with pre-existing animated characters but also breathing fresh life into established casts.
Many of these seasoned dubbing actors hold decades of experience, having lent their voices to numerous beloved characters. In certain instances, the dedication of these actors to their roles makes the dubbed versions of anime preferred. Regardless of where fans stand on this debate, it’s evident that these actors rank among the finest in the anime dubbing industry.
So, we’ve created a list of the top 10 best anime voice actors. Take a look:
🥇Christopher Sabat
@JustChrisSabat on X.
With over 600 voice acting roles across anime, video games, TV, and film, Christopher Sabat is undeniably one of the best anime voice actors in the world. He has been in the industry since 1998 and has voiced some of the most beloved characters in anime.
Christopher initially began his career as the a voice actor on Dragon Ball, later going on to be the Voice Director of Dragon Ball Z, with his own role as the series’ antihero Vegeta. You may also recognise his voice as Zoro from One Piece, Woerman in Attack on Titan, and Alex Louis Armstrong from Fullmetal Alchemist.
🥈Colleen Clinkenbeard
@ColleenClinkenbeard on Instagram.
Most known for her voice acting in the popular series One Piece as main protagonist Luffy, Colleen has voiced over 300 roles spanning across anime, video games, TV shows, and movies. She undoubtedly deserves a high rank as one of the best anime voice actors.
Colleen’s breakout role was in Dragon Ball GT as Colm, but would soon become recognised for her voice acting in the iconic anime One Piece as Luffy – one of the longest-running anime series’ in the world. Some of her other notable roles include Erza in Fairy Tale and Riza in Fullmetal Alchemist.
🥉 Matthew Mercer
@MatthewMercerVO on Instagram.
With an impressive voice acting portfolio across both anime and video games, Matthew Mercer voices some of the most recognisable anime characters in the business.
Many recognise Matthew from the popular series Attack on Titan as Levi Ackerman, but he also appears in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure as Jotato Kujo and as Trafalgar Law in One Piece.
You may also recognise Mercer for his roles in video games such as Fallout 4 or Overwatch.
4. Ryan Colt Levy
@RyanColt on Instagram.
Nominated for Best Voice Artist Performance at the 2023 Crunchyroll Awards, Ryan Colt Levy is best known for his voice acting in Chainsaw Man as Denji – the main character.
Ryan is also featured in several other popular anime titles, from Rody Soul in My Hero Academia to Furlan Church in Attack on Titan, and the actor has slowly become one of the best anime voice actors in modern English anime dubbing.
Ryan also features in one of the most popular anime video games as DaiPai in Genshin Impact.
5. Abby Trott
@AbbyTrott on Instagram.
American actress Abby Trott is best known and celebrated for her role as Nezuko in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Riko Aida in Kuroko’s Basketball. She has voiced English-dubbed anime characters in over 60 shows and films, earning her the title of one of the best anime voice actors.
Abby has won awards for her voice acting performances, including the Perfect Idol 2014 awards hosted by Bangzoom Entertainment and Starchild Records.
6. Zach Aguilar
@ZachAguilar on Instagram.
Los Angeles born voice actor Zach Aguilar has an inspiring career, being the youngest ever award winner of the Magi 2 Voice Acting Open Auditions at Anime Expo. He would then go on to land one of his most recognisable roles at just 17 years old as Genos in One Punch Man.
Zach’s most-known roles include David Martinez in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Colt in Hunter x Hunter, and Tanjiro in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba– which he won Best English Voice Actor for in the 2023 Crunchyroll awards.
7. Adam McArthur
@NinjaMac on Instagram.
Based in California, Adam McArthur is new to the anime voice acting world compared to others on the list – with just 18 anime English dub projects to his name. However, the American actor is not to be overlooked. His small yet impressive portfolio is what makes him one of the best anime voice actors.
Adam is most recognisable from his roles as Yuji Itadori in Jujutsu Kaisen and Chifuyu Matsuno in Tokyo Revengers. He also appears in Bungo Stray Dogs as Saigiku Jono and My Hero Academia as Trumpet.
8. Laura Bailey
@LauraBaileyVO on Instagram.
From femme fatale to young schoolgirl, American voice actor Laura Bailey is undeniably incredibly skilled at her craft. She made her voice acting debut as Shoken in Dragon Ball Z.
She is best known for her roles as Lust in Fullmetal Alchemist, Vex’ahlia in the ongoing series Critical Role, and Tohru in Fruits Basket.
9. Ian Sinclair
@IanSinclairVO on Instagram.
Versatile anime voice actor Ian Sinclair is known for voicing a range of English-dubbed anime shows, from romance and comedy to drama; he’s got it covered. With over 100 roles throughout anime TV shows and films, Ian Sinclair is undoubtedly one of the best anime voice actors.
Some of Ian’s most notable roles include Brook in One Piece, Toraji in Bamboo Blade, and Whis in Dragon Ball Super.
10. Johnny Yong Bosch
@JohnnyYongBosch on Instagram.
American voice actor, martial artist, and musician Johnny Yong Bosch landed his first major role in Power Rangers as the Black Power Ranger, Adam Park. He is a two-time American Anime Award nominee.
Johnny has a wide range of roles but is best known for his voice acting as Ichigo in Bleach, JoJo in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and Yukio in Blue Exorcist.
Conclusion
And there we have it: the best anime voice actors in English dubs.
If you’re aspiring to join the best anime voice actor ranks, don’t miss out on our blog on How to Become an anime voice actor. Uncover insider tips and valuable insights to kickstart your journey in this fiercely competitive industry – Don’t let your dreams remain fictional!
How to Become an Anime Voice Actor
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