Naruto, a famous Japanese manga series created by Masashi Kishimoto, centers around the adventures of a spirited and determined ninja. The series spawned its very own multimedia franchise and became one of the most iconic anime series ever to grace TV screens around the world.
What some fans may not know is that behind these beloved characters lies equally talented voice actors who put their hearts and souls into bringing these characters to life. This article will explore 10 of the most iconic Naruto characters and their respective English and/or Japanese voice actors.
Uncover new details about your favorite Naruto characters in this special article on 10 Famous Naruto Characters Voice Actors:
Contents
1. Sasuke
Sasuke Uchiha is a much-beloved character in the anime series Naruto, and his voice actor has played an essential part in creating the unique persona of this hero in the show.
From Japan, Noriaki Sugiyama voices Sasuke in both the original Naruto series, as well as its sequel, Naruto Shippuden. As a result of his exceptional performance that fits perfectly to the personality of Sasuke, fans continue to praise Sugiyama for bringing the character to life.
His anime resume is vast, having many other leading roles throughout various popular shows, such as Fumiko Orikasa’s character in Bleach and Saori Hayami’s character in Sword Art Online.
2. Jiraiya
Voice actor Chie Nakamura is well-known to anime fans for her iconic portrayal of Jiraiya, the elder sage of Konoha in the global phenomenon that is Naruto. With nearly two decades of experience as a voice actress, she was the perfect fit for this beloved character, which is equal parts mischievous and wise.
As Jiraiya, Nakamura has shown us that he is able to be a teacher and mentor when needed but also unleash some pretty impressive fighting moves such as his signature “Sage Art,” an ultra-powerful ninjutsu move which Yuuko Sanpei has been able to successfully sync up with his vocal performance.
Nakamura’s ability to pull off these various vocal features without making Jiraiya sound too angry or too light and comical has drawn positive reviews from critics. Fans have praised her for her pitch-perfect range of character and genuine emotion every time she speaks out in line with her role.
3. Sakura
Sakura, a character from the popular anime series Naruto, is voiced by Japanese voice actor Chie Nakamura. She is known for her leading roles in several other anime and video game projects. Nakamura has been voicing Sakura since the show debuted more than two decades ago.
Over the years, she has developed an impressive resume with over 300 credited roles in anime, movies, and video games. Her adoption of Sakura’s gentle yet determined persona has made her familiar to millions around the world, endearing her to many fans of the series.
Her use of a broad range of expressions makes her one of the best voice actors in Japan today. While she continues to grow as a veteran voice actress, she still brings new insight into her performances as Sakura, creating memorable dialogue that stands out even among other highly talented cast members.
4. Naruto
Naruto is a popular anime series beloved around the world, and its characters are instantly recognizable. Voice actors bring the characters to life, making it easy for viewers to become captivated by the storyline.
Many notable voice actors portray Naruto characters, including Maile Flanagan as Naruto Uzumaki, Kate Higgins as Sakura Haruno, and Yamaga Takahashi as Rock Lee.
Having played her role from the beginning of the show in 2002 until 2007, Maile Flanagan has become well-known for voicing young Naruto and conveying his charming and mischievous personality.
Meanwhile, Kate Higgin has come to be known as the authoritative and resolute Sakura, while Takahashi brought Rock Lee’s youthful energy and determination alive with his performance. Each of these performances adds uniqueness to their respective character’s personalities.
5. Orochimaru
The iconic character of Orochimaru, a major antagonist in the popular anime series Naruto, had fans hooked on his menacing persona and mysterious motivations. Appearing often throughout the series as an illusion or physical body, Orochimaru’s voice actors were paramount to developing and deepening his presence in the show.
Japanese fans were also particularly fond of Orochimaru due to the performances provided by veteran fan-favorite Katsuhiko Sasaki, Hisao Egawa, and Soichiro Hoshi. The three voice actors expertly conveyed Orochimaru’s grandiloquence with undertones of infamy that make up his character without fail.
They managed to capture the essence of this complex Sannin ninja for fans across Japan and abroad—carefully blending tones of both darkness and power when conveying every duel between him and other ninjas.
6. Kakashi
Kakashi Hatake is one of the most beloved characters in the Naruto series, and his voice actor, Kazuhiko Inoue, is an integral part of bringing this lovable character to life. Inoue has been voicing Kakashi since the first season of the anime in 2002 and continues to do so today.
He has embodied everything fans love about Kakashi: his wisdom, his dry wit, and his loyal heart. He’s been a part of more than 300 episodes across various seasons and spin-offs over the past two decades.
Inoue brings him to life in a captivating way by imbuing Kakashi with an air of dignity that never fails to endear him to audiences all over the world. Aside from providing his iconic talents for Naruto and its spin-offs, Ino has also expanded his acting upon being cast as Kiba Madoka from Zatch Bell.
7. Pain
Pain is one of the most admired and feared characters in the Japanese manga series Naruto. The Pain was voiced by a highly acclaimed Va; Pain’s voice went through subtle changes throughout his journey as his character evolved from an unsuspecting Sasuke to a masterful leader of Akatsuki.
The voice actor that has captured the essence of Pain’s character is famous for portraying strong characters, Junji Tachibana. He has flawlessly reinvented Pain with each new adventure and inspired writers to create ever deeper stories around him.
His commitment to bringing multiple dimensions to the character is what stands out for Va fans everywhere. With his signature deep voice and nuance, he makes it easy for viewers to understand the stakes involved in any given situation presented on the show. Pain’s strong personality could not be brought alive without Junji Tachibana’s tremendous talent.
8. Tsunade
Tsunade, a powerful shinobi of the fabled Hidden Leaf Village, is one of the most beloved characters in the long-running Naruto universe. She has been voiced by some really talented actors throughout her appearances in both the manga and anime series.
In the original Naruto series, she was voiced by Sumi Shimamoto, who gave life to Tsunade with her expertly portrayed emotions and power-packed performance. Additionally, the English version had Debi Mae West lending her voice for Tsunade, thus making it even more captivating for international fans.
Tsunade’s awe-inspiring strength makes her one of the strongest characters among all Naruto protagonists. The grandeur and aura surrounding her character remain unrivaled thanks to these incredible voice actresses giving justice to this important character with their portrayal.
9. Madara Uchiha
Madara Uchiha, one of the three legendary shinobi, has been voiced by many talented Japanese and American voice actors in both the animated TV series and movie adaptations of Naruto. Shinichiro Miki did the honor of voicing him in all the original Japanese runs of Naruto and Naruto Shippuden TV series.
When it came to movies, Unsho Ishizuka was chosen to play Madara Uchiha’s character in most of them. His voice acting did absolute justice to Uchiha’s serious yet cunning demeanor, thus creating a timeless classic among anime fans.
When coming to English adaptations, previously Chris Edgerly provided a convincing vocal performance as Madara in Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3, but with time professional voice actor Steve Staley took over the mantle and nailed his mischief-filled villainous take on this profound character from beloved manga-turned-anime drama series.
His vocals provided an edge that matured well with every season due to their depth and intensity. Steven not only used his smooth baritone for Madara’s dialogue delivery, but he also gave life to his captivating battle cries, thereby inducing a melancholic feeling amongst the audience whenever he appeared on the screen.
10. Itachi Uchiha
Itachi Uchiha, one of the most beloved characters in the classic manga, ‘Naruto,’ is voiced by voice actors Nobutoshi Canna and Hideo Ishikawa. Both of these experienced voice professionals are dedicated to making Itachi a true character that stands out amongst other anime heroes.
Voice actor Nobutoshi Canna brings a strong yet restrained power to the character, while Hideo Ishikawa complements this with an edge of subtle calculation, giving Itachi an air of mysteriousness that fans all over the world appreciate.
These two legendary voice actors have truly brought Itachi’s character to life and created a unique persona for him, one that fans remember for years after reading Naruto.
While his character was initially mysterious and distant from many of the other characters in Naruto, he eventually becomes more relatable as his story progresses and reveals his singular motivations and convictions.
Conclusion
Naruto is a popular Japanese anime series featuring memorable characters with powerful personalities. After spending almost two decades watching these characters bring their personalities to life through voice acting, it’s easy to see why so many fans love the show.
In this article, we explored 10 of the most influential and famous Naruto characters and the talented voice actors who gave them life. From Madara Uchiha’s wise old sage words to Shikamaru’s laid-back approach to problem-solving, these voices shaped some of our best memories of the show.
It’s no wonder that Naruto continues to charm people around the world, even after all these years. When looking for iconic characters with inspiring visuals and consistent emotional performances, look no further than Naruto and its impressive lineup of veteran voice talent.
