Pop Japan

Wondering who’s behind the voice of your favorite anime and game character?

Seiyu or the Japanese term for voice actor, are people who studied and trained the art of voice-acting and dubbing. They are commonly heard in animes, video games, movies, and radio dramas. Their flexible voice are used to dub the characters in order for them to come to life.

What does a seiyu do?

They speak, more often than not. Seiyus are one of the key to an anime’s success. The voices are first recorded, before the anime is even drawn or made in order to match the facial expression of the character to the tone of the actor’s voice. Anime dubbing is the top job of a seiyu above all. Foreign dramas and films are also dubbed in Japanese. This is also one of the top duties of a seiyu. Lines are translated to Japanese and the voice actors deliver them. Game characters are also dubbed by voice actors. It also considered as one of the top paying jobs in the seiyu industry. Narrations in commercials or dramas also need voice actors, adding to the list of option a seiyu can do.

How does one become a seiyu?

There are several voice acting schools in Japan for those who really want to be a professional voice actor. Voice acting schools offer terms between school breaks and all year long. Students are taught proper breathing, projection, and intonation. However, these schools do not guarantee an entrance to the voice acting industry immediately.

Most voice actors started as theatre actors. Because theatre is a great training ground for voice projection, they are the most likely people to be accepted by dubbing studios. Child actors have also been in the limelight due to their small voices. Young boys even tend to dub a girl’s character because of their cute and high pitched voices.

There are also management and talent companies for seiyu. They are mostly teamed up with anime, movie, and music companies for collaborations and projects.

Got a knack for projecting your voice? Why not try voice acting your self!