Though there is much contention around whether subbed or dubbed anime is better, there is no denying the talent and charisma of the actors who bring Japanese animation to English-speaking audiences. Not only do dub actors have to match their words to already animated characters, but they are also working to bring already established casts into new life.
Many of the best dub actors have been working in the field for decades, and have voiced countless fan-favorite characters. In some cases, the dubbed versions of anime are preferred thanks to these actors’ tireless commitment to their characters. No matter which side of the argument fans are on, there is no question that these actors are among the best anime dub actors in the industry.
10 Monica Rial
Monic Rial, best known for playing Bulma in Dragon Ball Z, has an unmistakable voice. Her high but stern vocals gives her characters a feisty presence that demands audiences’ attention. Playing mostly romantic and comedic roles, Rial has had an illustrious career full of stand-out characters.
Some of Rial’s most notable characters include Tsuyu Asui from My Hero Academia, Tanya from The Saga of Tanya the Evil, and Yona from Yona of the Dawn. With all her characters, Rial gives them a vibrant energy that makes her roles unforgettable. Rial is a staple in the anime community, and fans are all the better for it.
9 Laura Bailey
Laura Bailey’s voice acting is so skillful that it is sometimes unbelievable that her characters are voiced by the same person. From a young schoolgirl to a femme fatale, Bailey uses her voice to portray everything audiences need to know about her characters.
Some of her most notable roles include Tohru Honda from both Fruits Basket shows, Maka Albarn from Soul Eater, and Lust from both Fullmetal Alchemist properties. The differences between Lust and Tohru alone are enough to have fans wondering how Bailey makes her characters sound so different. Bailey’s skill is a testament to her craft and makes her one of the best anime dub voice actors.
8 Matt Mercer
Matt Mercer is known for many things including his Dungeons & Dragons series Critical Role and numerous video game roles. Additionally, Mercer has provided the voice for many popular anime characters. Some of his most notable characters include Levi Ackerman from Attack on Titan and Jotaro Kujo from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
Mercer’s unique timbre gives all of his characters a cool persona. Yet, he also blends humility in their voices that belies their outward personality. Throughout his career, Mercer has voiced many complex characters that never fail to delight fans.
7 Caitlin Glass
Caitlin Glass has played many different types of characters over the years. Though she is most known for her tomboyish characters like Haruhi Fujioka from Ouran High School Host Club, and Winry Rockbell from the Fullmetal Alchemist franchise, Glass transforms her voice to fit any role.
Case in point, two of her most recent roles were Damian Desmond, a young pretentious elementary schooler from Spy x Family, and Komori, a professional kitsune woman in The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague. Glass imbues all her characters with their own personalities, making them particularly distinct from each other. Glass becomes any character she voices, which makes her one of the great anime dub actors.
6 Colleen Clinkenbeard
Although she has portrayed villainous and heroic roles, Colleen Clinkenbeard is most known for voicing the Straw Hat Pirates’, Luffy from One Piece. Additionally, she voiced Akito in Fruits Basket and Risa Hawkeye from the Fullmetal Alchemist franchise.
Clinkenbeard’s deep, resonating voice gives her villains sinister undertones, while it helps her heroes to sound more confident and sure. Apart from Luffy, Clinkenbeard’s signature maturity is what makes her characters so famous. Clinkenbeard is a beloved anime dub actor because she melds into the characters she portrays.
5 Aaron Dismuke
Aaron Dismuke literally grew up in the anime dub industry. Beginning his career at the age of twelve, Dismuke voiced Alphonse Elric in 2003’s Fullmetal Alchemist. He went on to voice Slave Number 23 in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, as well as countless characters since then.
Today, Dismuke is most recently known for his romantic comedy role as Miyuki Shirogane in the sweeping hit, Kaguya-sama: Love is War. However, he is also known for his roles as Ouri Kagami in Corpse Princess and Tamaki Amajiki in My Hero Academia. Plus, he is the scientifically minded Senku Ishigami in the education anime, Dr. Stone. Dismuke has played a wide range of characters throughout his long career with hopefully many more to come.
4 Luci Cristian
Luci Christian is a long-time anime dub actor whose best roles range from young girls and boys in high school to more mature characters. Some of her most notable roles include Nami from One Piece and Mitsukuni Honinozuka from Ouran High School Host Club. However, she is currently most known for her role as the bubbly and tenacious Ochaco Uraraka from My Hero Academia.
Christian’s versatile voice allows her to play many different characters from countless genres. Magical girls, Shojo heartthrobs, and comedic side characters are all a part of Christian’s resume. With an impressive vocal range, Christian has become one of the most notable names in anime dub voice acting.
3 Christopher Sabat
Chris Sabat has been on the anime scene for decades. Beginning with Dragon Ball, Sabat has voiced many iconic characters including Vegeta and Piccolo, as well as All Might in My Hero Academia.
Though Sabat does mostly action roles, he has dabbled in romance as well. His portrayal of Son Hak – the snarky bodyguard from Yona of the Dawn is one such role that combines Sabat’s comedic and dramatic talents. Chris’s bombastic voice is well-suited for characters with big personalities. Sabat effortlessly brings these roles to the screen with a charismatic presence that audiences are not soon to forget.
2 Johnny Young Bosch
Johnny Young Bosch is another prolific anime dub voice actor who has played numerous iconic protagonists. Characters like Ichigo Kirisaki from Bleach, Vash the Stampede from Trigun, and Lelouche Lamperouge from Code Geass are all Bosch roles.
Bosch has a masterful skill for comedic timing, as well as a piercing coolness with more serious roles. Whether comedic or dramatic, Bosch never fails to bring charisma to his unforgettable characters. Whether he is a cat in Sailor Moon, a swim team captain in Free!, or a stoic Hashira from Demon Slayer, Bosch never fails to make his characters stand out.
1 Ian Sinclair
Ian Sinclair is one of the most versatile anime dub voice actors. Playing romantic, comedic, and dramatic roles, Sinclair embodies each genre expertly to give audiences authentic characters. Ian’s signature brand of humor makes his comedic roles uproariously relatable as with the Narrator for Kaguya-sama: Love Is War and Homare Koiwai in Recovery of an MMO Junkie.
He speaks everything audiences are thinking with the same intensity as an ecstatic fanboy. Conversely, his romantic and dramatic roles are played much more quietly, allowing audiences to feel his characters’ complicated feelings. No matter the role, viewers can be assured that the character will be one of their favorites if they are voiced by Ian Sinclair.
