I have chased English dubs since VHS fansubs, memorizing cast lists like sports cards.When the 2023 strike hit, my feed filled with these actors’ picket selfies, and I realised just how many iconic lines came from union talent. Narrowing the roster was brutal; the guild boasts dozens of greats.
So I weighed role count, pop-culture reach, and that unscientific jolt I still get when a scene drops in English and a familiar timbre kicks in.These ten top the charts. Each one loans more than sound, think of them more as lending their own heartbeat, humor, and sometimes pure existential dread.
12 Best Dubbed Anime You Should Definitely Watch
The rule of thumb is usually to watch the subbed anime, but some series have some fantastic dubbed voice acting. Here’s a list of the best.
10Johnny Yong Bosch
From Ranger Helmets to Cursed Black Swords
The first time I heardIchigo Kurosaki screamGetsuga Tenshō, I paused, rewound, then clocked it was the same voice that morphed into the Black Ranger back in the ’90s.Bosch balances snark and sincerity so well that even Vash’s pacifist speeches land without cheese.
His résumé spansTrigun,Bleach,Demon Slayer’s Giyu, and yes, he grabbed Tanjiro in the movie dub when Zach Aguilar rested.What gets him on this list is the sheer range: hot-blooded heroes, deadpan dads, and one memorably unhinged Lelouch laugh inCode Geass R2’s recap special.
Off-mic he fronts a rock band and mentors indie talent, living proof union membership and DIY spirit can coexist.
9Laura Bailey
Chameleonic Queen of Dub Emotion
I remember tearing upinFullmetal Alchemistwhen Lust whispered her last line; years later, Bailey made me cackle as Tohru Honda’s goofy optimism.She shape-shifts accents, pitch, even breathing patterns; I double-checked credits the first time she voiced both Maka inSoul Eaterand Kid Trunks inDragon Ball ZKai.
Her SAG-AFTRA card sits beside Emmys forThe Last of Us Part IIandCritical Role, a reminder voice actors can dominate multiple mediums.Whenever she pops up as Katsumi inBlue Lockor Lucina inFire Emblem, I brace for feels.
Bailey streams strike info to fans, proving advocacy can ride shotgun with artistry.
8Steve Blum
Gravel-Toned Legend of Late-Night Toonami
Spike Spiegel’s lazy drawl hit my teenage ears like jazz at midnight, and I have chased that baritone ever since.Blum’s cadence sells rogue charm (Cowboy Bebop) and flat terror (Naruto’s Orochimaru) without altering core texture; pure audio signature.
He still holds the Guinness record for “most video-game voice credits,” yet keeps dropping anime bangers, recently popping up asKaiju No. 8’s Hoshinain the dub.His social media “Good Night” posts became a pandemic ritual for me, proof that a union actor’s voice can soothe outside the booth too.
Every gravel-filtered syllable reminds me why SAG rates include hazard pay for vocal strain.
7Cristina Vee Valenzuela
Idol Pipes, Battle Screams, Fan-First Energy
My first Cristina Vee moment was Homura’s exhausted confession inMadoka Magica; seconds later she beltedKill la Kill’s pumps-you-up soundtrack at a con.That flip from fragile to ferocious keeps me hooked.
Marinette inMiraculous, Killua’s younger self, Sailor Mars, and the meme-fuel “Chika dance” dub all sit on her sheet.She records union songs, leads casting sessions, and still finds time to livestream karaoke for strike funds.
Whenever Vee lands a role (recently Power inChainsaw Man) I know I’ll get both vocal fireworks and an actor who champions fair residuals.
6Bryce Papenbrook
Eternal Shonen Protagonist, Scream-Conditioned
If a dub hero monologues about freedom while leaping rooftops, odds are Papenbrook.Eren Jaeger, Kirito, Rin Okumura, Inosuke, evenBlue Exorcist’s devil son, his wheelhouse is hot-headed youth.
Critics tease the similarity, yet I hear steady craft: subtle pitch drops when Eren loses hope, clipped consonants when Kirito analyses.He co-runs a SAG-AFTRA sign-in booth in LA, greeting fans between negotiation updates.
Papenbrook’s brand may be “yell and charge,” but the nuance under the noise keeps me returning.
5Cherami Leigh
Heartfelt Sparks in Every Register
Lucy Heartfilia’s pep talks, Asuna’s quiet resolve, Sailor Venus’s radiant cheer, these sit on Leigh’s reel, and I treasure every inflection.She excels at layering vulnerability beneath optimism; one crack in her voice can sell anentire character arc.
Her independent film credits and union board involvement show a performer refusing to box herself in.When she voiced Himiko Toga, the cheerful menace chilled me more than any gravel villain could.
Leigh reminds me range is not just pitch, it is emotional bandwidth, and union security lets actors stretch that bandwidth safely.
4Patrick Seitz
Baritone Built for Big Bads and Bigger Laughs
Seitz can boom Hellsing’s Germany-rousing monologue, then pivot to Franky’s “SUUUPER” hype inOne Piece.His vocal fry rattles speakers, yet the comedic timing lands just as heavy.
He adapts scripts too, punching up humor while preserving meaning; a behind-the-glass craft often unsung.During the strike he posted side-by-side comparisons of original lines and his rewrites, a mini-masterclass in localisation.
Every time Endeavor roars orDio Brando snarls, I remember Seitz’s pen helped shape the words, not just the sound.
3Amanda C. Miller
Determination, Distilled and Delivered
Sailor Jupiter taught my younger self that toughness could pair with tenderness; Miller’s take in the Viz dub cemented it.Since then, she has swung from Boruto’s rebellious angst to Jo’s gremlin energy inKid Cosmic.
Her unfiltered honesty about vocal health and union protections during game sessions made me rethink crunch culture.When she drops Lio Fotia’s sermons inPromare, the conviction convinces me to join the revolution every time.
I slot her here because she embodies modern dub ethos: talent, transparency, and tenacious self-care.
2Erica Mendez
Sharp Delivery, Relatable Soul
I knew Mendez would break big the moment I heard her Aladdin inMagi: bright, curious, slightly mischievous.Since then she has stacked hits; Ryuko Matoi, Gon Freecss, Raphtalia, each sporting distinct emotional fingerprints.
Off-mic she coaches up-and-comers, emphasising union workshops and safe vocal technique.Her tweets during the contract fight translated legalese into fan-speak, a service not every actor provides.
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They wore straw hats, orange gi, and moon brooches, turning Saturday cartoons into global landmarks.
Mendez’s gift is making protagonists sound like real teens on the verge of panic or triumph; that authenticity lands her close to the top.
1Robbie Daymond
Suave Storyteller, Serial Scene-Thief
Tuxedo Mask never sounded smoother than Daymond’s dub; later, Megumi Fushiguro’s deadpan groundedJujutsu Kaisen’s wild rhythms.He radiates calm charisma even when voicing greaseball villains like Goro Akechi.
A trained stage actor, he slides into narration gigs, audiobooks, evenCritical Roleadventuring, all while championing union solidarity.His “Read Me a Story Dad” streams for charity during the strike illustrated how far a voice can travel when contracts protect creativity.
Daymond closes my list by blending professionalism, openness, and a tone I’d trust to guide me through any cursed storyline.
