Some of these legendary voice actors have been in the game since the 1990s and are still going strong today, proving that their vocal cords are practically indestructible.
In Japan, voice actors or called seiyuu are like idols, with fan followings, concerts, and an endless list of characters they’ve brought to life.
These ten seiyuu are so prolific, it’s like they’ve voiced half of anime history themselves—and chances are, you’ve heard them in everything from iconic classics to the latest shows.
Let’s dive into the multiverse of their epic vocal careers!
10. Akio Otsuka
Voice Type: Deep, intimidating, and smoother than a jazz saxophone solo.
You know that character who looks like they could punch through a steel wall and has a voice to match? Yeah, that’s Akio Otsuka.
Whether it’s a grizzled soldier, a demonic villain, or some mysterious mastermind, if someone sounds like they’re planning world domination with a cup of coffee, it’s probably him.
He could make reading a grocery list sound like a military briefing.
Iconic Roles:
- Batou (Ghost in the Shell)
- Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid)
- Blackbeard (One Piece)
- Shunsui Kyoraku (Bleach)
- Rider Iskandar (Fate/Zero)
9. Unsho Ishizuka
Voice Type: Fatherly and wise, but also ready to throw down with the younger generation.
The late Unsho Ishizuka’s voice was the embodiment of “wise old mentor” with a dash of “I’ll still out-muscle you in a brawl.”
His characters often gave off an aura of experience, like a man who’s seen it all—probably because he has, considering how many different worlds he’s voiced in.
Iconic Roles:
- Professor Oak (Pokémon)
- Jet Black (Cowboy Bebop)
- Joseph Joestar (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
- Kizaru (One Piece)
- Van Hohenheim (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
8. Toshiyuki Morikawa
Voice Type: Suave and heroic—or deceptively villainous when the occasion demands.
Morikawa’s the guy who walks in with charm and wit, but can also flip a switch and turn into the most underhanded antagonist.
If you need someone who can sweet-talk the heroine and hold a sword to the hero’s throat, he’s your guy.
His villains are so cool, they make you wonder if the hero’s the real problem.
Iconic Roles:
- Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII)
- Dante (Devil May Cry)
- Naraku (Inuyasha)
- Minato Namikaze (Naruto)
- Isshin Kurosaki (Bleach)
7. Katsuyuki Konishi
Voice Type: Loud, passionate, and capable of pulling off both meathead heroes and surprisingly sensitive types.
Konishi’s voice is basically the human equivalent of a punch to the face—powerful and direct. But he’s also got that range, sliding from shouting battle cries to heartfelt emotional scenes as if the two are the same thing.
His voice can inspire you to take on the world… or at least punch something.
Iconic Roles:
- Kamina (Gurren Lagann)
- Tengen Uzui (Demon Slayer)
- Laxus Dreyar (Fairy Tail)
- Kotaro Amon (Tokyo Ghoul)
- Lloyd Irving (Tales of Symphonia)
6. Koichi Yamadera
Voice Type: Versatile like a Swiss Army knife—a smooth talker, a dramatic narrator, or a comic relief buffoon. You name it, he’s got it.
Yamadera has more range than an entire radio station. From suave secret agents to literal animals, he can voice anything. Seriously, he could probably voice you better than you.
Fun Fact: He voiced Donald Duck in Japanese. So yeah, the man can quack.
Iconic Roles:
- Spike Spiegel (Cowboy Bebop)
- Beerus (Dragon Ball Super)
- Togusa (Ghost in the Shell)
- Ryoji Kaji (Evangelion)
- Corazon (One Piece)
5. Tessho Genda
Voice Type: Deep, commanding, and with the kind of gravitas that makes you stand up straight when you hear it.
When Genda speaks, it’s like the voice of the gods has descended. His deep, booming tone is perfect for characters who lead armies or just happen to be ten times larger than everyone else around them.
His voice has more authority than your actual boss.
Iconic Roles:
- Optimus Prime (Transformers)
- Kurama (Naruto)
- Kaido (One Piece)
- Dozle Zabi (Mobile Suit Gundam)
- King / Gale Raregroove (Rave Master)
4. Takahiro Sakurai
Voice Type: Calm and collected—he’s got the “aloof but secretly troubled” vibe down to a science.
Sakurai’s voice is what you hear in your head when you imagine an enigmatic, brooding anime character staring off into the sunset, thinking about how much life hurts.
He’s also got a knack for villains who are way too calm about the whole “destroying the world” thing.
His voice is so smooth it could probably cut through butter.
Iconic Roles:
- Suzaku Kururugi (Code Geass)
- Rohan Kishibe (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
- Giyu Tomioka (Demon Slayer)
- Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII)
- Suguru Geto (Jujutsu Kaisen)
3. Miyuki Sawashiro
Voice Type: Cool, seductive, and can flip from heroine to anti-heroine faster than you can blink.
Miyuki Sawashiro’s voice is like a velvet glove covering a fist. She can play an alluring villainess, a cute girl-next-door, or a badass fighter with equal flair.
There’s no way you haven’t fallen for one of her characters at some point.
She makes villainy sound so tempting, you might start rooting for the bad guys.
Iconic Roles:
- Kurapika (Hunter x Hunter)
- Celty Sturluson (Durarara!!)
- Fujiko Mine (Lupin the Third)
- Raiden Shogun (Genshin Impact)
2. Shinichiro Miki
Voice Type: Playful and carefree, but can shift to cool and collected in a second.
Miki is the guy who sounds like he’s just having a good time, whether he’s a mischievous rogue, a flirtatious side character, or a deadly assassin.
You can always hear a smile in his voice, even if the character is plotting something nefarious.
He makes sounding cool seem effortless—probably because it is for him.
Iconic Roles:
- Roy Mustang (Fullmetal Alchemist)
- Urahara Kisuke (Bleach)
- Takumi Fujiwara (Initial D)
- James (Pokemon)
- Lockon Stratos (Gundam 00)
1. Takehito Koyasu
Voice Type: The ultimate villain—sleazy, charismatic, and always one step ahead. Or, you know, the guy who plays every kind of character ever.
Koyasu’s voice is so iconic that you’ll recognize him immediately, whether he’s the snarky bad guy, the lovable rogue, or even the ridiculous comic relief. He’s literally everywhere. If you’ve watched anime for more than a week, you’ve already heard him at least five times.
Fun Fact: He’s voiced so many characters, there’s a running joke that every anime universe has at least one Koyasu.
Iconic Roles:
- Dio Brando (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
- Touga Kiryuu (Revolutionary Girl Utena)
- Excalibur (Soul Eater)
- Aokiji (One Piece)
- Roswaal (Re:Zero)
There you have it—ten voice actors whose range is so vast, they might as well be an entire cast by themselves.
Whether they’re heroes, villains, or the guy selling ramen in the background, these seiyuu have voiced the characters that make anime what it is: absolutely chaotic and full of voices we can’t help but love!
