voice actor Archives | 100 Word Anime

Top 5 Characters Voiced By Miyano Mamoru

Posted on December 21, 2021January 1, 2022 by Karandi

I don’t give voice actors enough credit on my blog. They can really make or break a character and an anime, but other than Daisuke Ono I’ve never really focused on the voice actors in shows. However, with the return of Bungo Stray Dogs I decided to turn my attention to yet another voice actor I’ve really enjoyed over the years and am sharing my Top 5 characters voiced by Miyano Mamoru. I’d love to know some of your favourites so be sure to let me know in the comments below.

Number 5: Setsuna F. Seiei from Mobile Suit Gundam 00

While some of his other roles will show off a much wider range of emotion and expression than Setsuna, I really love the way Setsuna was portrayed in Gundam 00. His level and unemotional delivery for the most part really sells the tragedy that has occurred as Setsuna is very much a product of having grown up surrounded by war and conflict. Where a lesser voice actor might have made his character come across as dull, there’s intensity and nuances to the delivery of Setsuna F Seiei that make for an interesting performance and one that made him a fairly memorable character even if I didn’t realise until far later that Setsuna was voiced by Miyano Mamoru.

Gundam 00 - Setsuna F Seiei - Voiced by Miyano Mamoru

Number 4: Dazai from Bungo Stray Dogs

Arguably the reason this list exists as Dazai’s character continues to both amuse and frustrate, I have to give absolute credit to the performance delivered by Miyano Mamoru here. Dazai can be an infuriating character for both the audience and the rest of the cast but the changeable nature from serious to playful and back again, the vaguely knowing and taunting tone that he delivers when teasing others, the sheer crazy or bored depending on the situation, everything about the performance is tailored to the situation and it works. As much as I might criticise aspects of Bungo Stray Dogs, I certainly can’t fault the voice acting for Dazai’s character.

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Number 3: Fushimi from K

Another fairly over the top performance but one that again shows a nice range as Fushimi can go from the bored and disinterested character to intense and borderline obsessed in a very short span of time. Fushimi is definitely a character who stands out in K, which is saying something in a large cast of zany and interesting characters, and a lot of the reason for that is the vocal performance. Regardless of the situation, Fushimi delivers his lines in a way that makes you pay attention and again we see that even when delivering lines as though bored, there are nuances to the performance here that make it interesting rather than dull to listen to.

Number 2: Okabe Rintarou from Steins;Gate

Come on, there was no way I was making this list without Okabe being on it. Given the sheer amount of dialogue packed into Steins;Gate, if the VA’s weren’t spot on it could make for one very dull viewing experience. Fortunately, the cast are all superb and none more so than the lead. Miyano Mamoru is the cackling self-proclaimed Mad Scientist who can deliver insane statements as if they are solid truths and can declare the invention names with absolute conviction even when they aren’t complete. While there are plenty of reasons to love Steins;Gate, the vocal performance delivered here is probably one of the best.

Number 1: Light from Death Note

It is a tough act to beat Okabe Rintarou in terms of vocal performance but I’ll have to put my favourite character voiced by Miyano Mamoru as Light Yagami. Sure, Light has his moments of crazy, declaring himself a god amongst other things, but he’s also the model student, the good son, the seductive manipulator and takes on literally whatever role he needs to in order to achieve his goals. All of that means he needs a versatile voice that matches the occasion and Miyano Mamoru rises well and truly to the occasion to create an unforgettable character.

That is my list for this week but there are a lot of other great characters voiced by Miyano Mamoru so please be sure to let me know your favourites.

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Karandi James

Top 5 Kaede Hondo Voice Roles in Anime – Plus One I Hate

Posted on November 18, 2021November 15, 2021 by Karandi

I really need to do more posts about voice actors in anime because there are some truly excellent ones out there. Which I’ve been reminded of yet again this season with Mieruko-Chan. Kaede Hondo voices the best friend, Hana, and while Hana might have become quite an annoying character with a less skilled vocal performance, instead we get a really great portrayal and Hana works wonderfully as a supporting character as she bounces off of the protagonist Miko.

Anyway, I was so impressed with Hana’s voice work that I decided to look up what other roles Kaede Hondo had voice and which characters had really left an impression on me.

While I was doing that, I was surprised to discover that this Fall 2021 Kaede Hondo is also voicing Sumire Mochinoki from the train-wreck of a show that is Deep Insanity. Sumire being a particularly unimpressive part of that. In fairness to Kaede Hondo, it’s probably the writing because I legitimately have no idea how you could make the script and story of Deep Insanity any better than what they are doing, but wow the contrast between Sumire and Hana couldn’t be greater.

Sumire Mochinoki - voiced by Kaede Hondo

Top 5 Kaede Hondo characters in anime.

But rather than complaining about one character I’m not particularly fond of (understatement), I’d rather talk about five very solid performances from Kaede Hondo. As always, I’d love to know what your favourite roles are so be sure to leave a comment.

Number 5 – Hikari from Interviews With Monster Girls

Now, those who have followed my blog a long time will know I dropped Interviews with Monster Girls at episode 10 (even though it is only 12 episodes) because I was bored.

But as bored as I was with the seemingly absent plot (in fairness it is a school comedy), one shining moment did stick with me and that was the enthusiastic Hikari.

Largely because in what was a fairly flat show (for me at least) every scene Hikari was in became that little bit brighter in its own way. So making a character in a show I wasn’t enjoying the stand-out moment earns Hikari a spot on this list.

Interviews with Monster Girls
Hikari - Voiced by Kaede Hondo

Number 4 – Laika from I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years

Now Laika I only placed at the mid-way point when ranking the girls from I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years, but that was largely because her character was criminally underused in most episodes. In her introductory episode and one or two others that allowed her character to shine, Laika was brilliant and honestly I’d have happily watched a show about just Azusa and Laika without the rest of the crowd.

And if you don’t think Laika deserves a place on this list, just go back and watch the episode where she first confronts Azusa. This was a character who made an impression. It was just too bad the rest of the script short-changed her on giving her interesting things to say.

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Number 3 – Hana from Mieruko-Chan

Clearly a most recent addition but Hana was the character who inspired this list. Honestly, her exchanges with Miko as they discuss desserts or anything else are always delightful. I also love how she gives herself pep-talks and also tries to put a brave face on things.

Hana is just a bundle of fun to have on screen and she’s an excellent balancing factor when you put her next to Miko.

It would be fair to say that Mieruko-Chan would not be half as interesting without the excellent vocal work by Hondo Kaede as Hana and honestly Hana totally deserves a place on this list.

Number 2 – Maple from Bofuri

Like, seriously Maple had to end up on this list.

BOFURI was the cutest anime ever about playing an immersive RPG and that was largely due to Maple. Much like Mieruko-Chan, BOFURI’s real strength was in the friendship of Maple and Sally, and Maple just sold every single line. Whether she was learning about the game, trying out a new power, or celebrating something, it was just a joy to spend time with her character.

Kaede Hondo really brought Maple to life and what could have been a rather ho-hum experience was one where Maple really just made you want to spend time watching her play this game.

Number 1 – Elaina from Wandering Witch

What makes or breaks a slow travel story of a witch moving from town to town and just kind of seeing what is there? Yep, that is how much we enjoy spending time with the protagonist. And honestly, Elaina made me want to spend time with her.

She had just enough sass but also wasn’t just a one quip kind of character and her musings as she travelled about were all pretty entertaining. With Elaina being one of the few consistent characters throughout the series, most others came and went, Kaede Hondo had a lot of heavy lifting with the voice work in the anime and to be honest, she nailed it.

Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina isn’t an anime for everyone, but it is a great role for Kaede Hondo and one that I would like to celebrate.

And that’s my list but as always I’d love to know what would be on your list so feel free to leave me a comment below.

Thank-you for reading 100 Word Anime.
Join the discussion in the comments.
Karandi James

30 Day Anime Challenge: Day 10

Posted on July 3, 2017June 4, 2017 by Karandi

30 day anime challenge copy e1495940892299

Day 10 and we’re after a favourite voice actor. This one should be pretty obvious given they are the only voice actor I’ve done a top 5 character list for so far. However, if you missed that post here’s visual hint.