Popular Seiyuus

[Spar-Q]

(First, let me say that I hope this is the right board.. I didn't see any other one more apropriate)

I'm noticing lately in a lot of new anime series, Kawasumi Ayako (made famous for me by Mahoro) is a lead voice actress... Now, is it just me, or is she doing a LOT of stuff this season? Let me list off the new series I can think of:

Girls Bravo
2x2 = Shinobuden
Samurai Champloo
Tristia of the Deep Blue
Phantom Memory KURAU
Kujibiki Unbalance

Are there any other seiyuus like this doing so many series that it seems almost sickening? LOL (ok, sickening is a bad word.. but god, she's got a mouthfull there LOL)

[kj1980]

Out of top of my head:

Saitou Chiwa
Noto Mamiko
Nakahara Mai

And I think your phrase "sickening" is not that far-fetched...many popular seiyuus do suddenly drop (literally) from traumatic stress and overwork. Most recently, Momoi Haruko fainted right out of the blue at Shinjuku Station from overwork and was hospitalized for almost two weeks.

Especially, I am very worried about Noto Mamiko since she has many anime voice roles currently, and cannot help but wonder what her schedule is like to juggle so many anime episode at different aft-reco studios all across Japan every week.

[Secca]

I don't know if these guys popular or not, but they play in alot of series that I recognize their voice instantly. :)

- Tomokazu Seki. ^^
- Yamaguchi Kappei
- Akira Kamiya
- Also I don't remember the name, but the guy that plays as Myoga in Inu Yasha, I remember his voice in alot of the older series. ^^

[AznPmsAvenger]

My favorite seiyuu is Inoue Kikuko (see Belldandy in Ah! Megami-sama, Mizuho Kazami in Onegai Teacher, many more). She has the kindest and gentlest voice ive ever heard.

I also happen to like Hayashibara Megumi (see Ayanami Rei in EVA, Faye Valentine in Cowboy Bebop)

Good times.

[ramune]

I wonder if Horie Yui is working on any series for this season (or maybe next)?

[Ashi-chan]

Oh yeah, I've got a couple seiyuu that are in so many anime it's sickening.

Hayashibara Megumi - Ack, probably my #1 sickening seiyuu. Take note, I'm not bashing her voice work. I'm just tired of seeing her name in the cast of every anime in the world. Mean as this might sound, I was so happy when I found out she went on maternity leave and wouldn't be voice acting for a while. >.<*

Seki Tomokazu - About the same story as Hayashibara-san, except that a lot of his characters sound exactly the same to me, no voice pitch variation whatsoever. Not only that, it's like every anime he's part of HE'S the lead male character. Dag, give some other poor guy a chance!

Hoshi Souichirou - I actually like the sound of his voice a lot, but it annoys me to see his name in every recent anime. Then again, he did voice Ginosuke in Tokyo Underground, so I can't hate him that badly. ^.^;;

Kawasumi Ayako - Aaah, she's everywhere! Dear lord, NO!!!

Yeah, I'm sick of quite a lot of popular seiyuu, but maybe it's just because I'm a losery, disgruntled Kikuchi Masami fan. ^.^;; Where is he these days, really? Last role I remember was Kyanchome in Gash Bell.

[Melazoma]

Oh yeah, I've got a couple seiyuu that are in so many anime it's sickening.

Seki Tomokazu - About the same story as Hayashibara-san, except that a lot of his characters sound exactly the same to me, no voice pitch variation whatsoever. Not only that, it's like every anime he's part of HE'S the lead male character. Dag, give some other poor guy a chance!

Yeah, I'm sick of quite a lot of popular seiyuu, but maybe it's just because I'm a losery, disgruntled Kikuchi Masami fan. ^.^;; Where is he these days, really? Last role I remember was Kyanchome in Gash Bell.Well if it eases your pain, Seki is only a "Sasuke" in Ninin ga Shinobuden. :)

[Secca]

Oh yeah, I've got a couple seiyuu that are in so many anime it's sickening.

Hayashibara Megumi - Ack, probably my #1 sickening seiyuu. Take note, I'm not bashing her voice work. I'm just tired of seeing her name in the cast of every anime in the world. Mean as this might sound, I was so happy when I found out she went on maternity leave and wouldn't be voice acting for a while. >.<*
Lol yeah, she's rather maniac when it come to anime and singing opening and ending song. :heh:

I'm not complaining tho, she play interesting and memorable characters, like Ayanami Rei, Pen Pen :) , Lina Inverse, Ranma, Faye Valentine, Nuku Nuku, Megumi in Cheeky Angel and so on. ^^

I'm just wondering where her partner in crime Masami Suzuki they did alot of stuff together since Slayers. ^^

[Burner of Anime]

I wonder if Horie Yui is working on any series for this season (or maybe next)?

Confirmed in Re: Cutie Honey, Gunbuster 2 and hazard a guess she'll replay Multi in the To Heart Sequel. Maybe Bottle Fairies 2 as well [reprising Sarara] :heh:. Not too active this year though.

Thing is, looking at the VA business if you don't specialise somehow or are able to express an amazing range of characters you'de disappear after 2-3 years. Looking at a lot of yr 2004 titles with Mai Nakahara, Mamiko Nota, Chiwa Saito, Yukari Tamura, Haruka Momoi, Akeno Watanabe, Sayaka Ohara and Ai Shimizu playing. Not complaining, good to see other people trying to get ahead in the business with the heart and talent to back it up.

And I don't mind seeing Ayako Kawasumi's name in the credits, not because she's over rated but because she's just that damn good. How to say, she does 1 character type really well [ya, the teen homegirl] but is known to excel near everything she plays [especially a piano :D]. Personally, her best efforts was in Crest/Banner of the Stars, Marohomatic and Ayashi no Ceres [showstealer :heh:].

Other people you see a lot of:

Rie Tanaka. Getting popular and not too hard to see why. Can play the soft spoken girl and tell a straight line. Needs more variety though.

Yukino Satsuki. Loud, Militant femme [Kaname Chidori] or terminally dense angel [Otohime Mutsumi]. Problems with none. Both these characters are basic stock in anime so big chance she'll take up a number of them.

A lot of work by Michiko Neya as well, though much of the recent work has been in supporting character roles instead of the lead.

Orikasa Fumiko. I think this year she's done maybe 2 less roles than Ayako Kawasumi [2003 featured her 14 times though :p]. Still very well sought after by both Studio Bones and Gonzo for working hits. One of a very rare group of seiyuu that have not been typecasted into any specific role. Hasn't done male though :(

Kuwashima Houko. Another great and popular VA and maybe a match for Aya Hisakawa in terms of the character range she's able to play. She's done male/female/plain wierd with equal facility and on top of that can sing rather well.

Mitsuishi Kotono/Aya Hisakawa/Megumi Hayashibara: 15+ years in the business. Anyone with that sort of pull and staying power are legend.

I want more Romi Raku, Ryou Hirohashi, Yumi Kakazu and Megumi Toyoguchi in anime.

[wao]

I don't know anything but I can deifnitely agree, Ayako Kawasumi is EVERYWHERE. o_O;;; It's almost freaky. Another two I see very often is Tomokazu Seki and Houko Kuwashima. (Both of them happen to be in KBS. Hmm....)

Houko Kuwashima, from what I can find out, does these current roles... Sango (Inuyasha), Vess (KBS), Margaret (Madlax), Sheila (Tweeny Witches), and Bocca (Melody of Oblivion) ... still, not as bad as Ms. Kawasumi :P

Is Mamiko Noto really that overworked?

let's see, she plays... Yuka (Elfen Lied), Sasaki (Girls BRAVO), Rin (IY, though is this a major role?), Angel Moa (Keroro Gunso), Shimako (Mari-mite Haru), Nina (Monster), and happens to be the Melody of Oblivion in Melody of Oblivion though that isn't half as major a role as Bocca....

But like I said, I don't know... and also, those are just roles CURRENTLY, it must be really taxing having to go almost every single day to act... in the entire year it must be very stressful.
It must be rather hard (for the seiyuu) having good seiyuus being used again and again and again. I suppos ethey don't have a choice as to whether to take the job or not? I wonder, do they suffer from any sort of stigma from working in the anime industry as seiyuus? Some of them get a lot of... attention from fans...
Also, I only juts remembered to take into consideration having to travel across Japan (I'm not used to it, living in such a small country), and also not having enough time to... live one's own life :( plus having to make appearances at various conventions and so on...

My memory is bad but for now one seiyuu I remember is Takeshi Koyama who played the wizard Boax in the anime movie PRincess Arete.... I thought he did it very well. IT was commanding and effective.

[Burner of Anime]

Houko Kuwashima, from what I can find out, does these current roles... Sango (Inuyasha), Vess (KBS), Margaret (Madlax), Sheila (Tweeny Witches), and Bocca (Melody of Oblivion) ... still, not as bad as Ms. Kawasumi :P


You forgot Rose for Full Metal Alchemist :p It's current but a minor role and puts her at equal to Ayako Kawasumi. Closest to this is Orikasa Fumiko at 5 current roles [KBS, Samurai 7, Natsuiro, Stratos4, Poirot/Marple]. Looking at what's about to be released till the years end I'd say it's going to be a very close race to see who takes on the most roles for these 3 ladies. :p