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Kenjiro Tsuda is one of the best voice artists in the anime industry. His voice can bring a character to life, making people fall in love with him. He has been working in the industry for years, and thanks to the industry going mainstream, he has found worldwide fame. The new generation of anime fans will be familiar with him from Jujutsu Kaisen’s Nanami. Thanks to his voice, the character became so popular that a memorial, Nanami Kento Memorial Shrine, was built for him at Kuantan Beach in Malaysia.
Even while he was recording Nanami’s last dialogue, it looked like he was holding back his tears, and his voice made the entire fandom cry like babies. It shows how much he gets within the character to form such a connection. Apart from Nanami, there are also other popular characters that he has given voice to. Here is a list of characters that the legendary voice artist has voiced, which might be unknown to many.
Spoilers Ahead!
1. Kishibe
- Anime: Chainsaw Man
Kishibe is a Devil Hunter in Chainsaw Man, and one of the few individuals who has contracts with at least three Devils. He is an elderly man who is considered to be dangerous and point-logical. He is true to his profession and hides a layer of madness under his calm demeanour. While Kishibe seems to carry an aura around, Kenjiro Tsuda’s voice has significantly increased it. The deep and gravelly voice perfectly suits him and makes him look like a proper veteran. While he is not loud, his voice through Kishibe is often lethal, making it one of his best works.
2. Joker
- Anime: Fire Force
Fire Force’s Joker can be described with multiple adjectives – theatrical, chaotic, cunning, deadly, etc. He is a former assassin who now works as a rogue informant. Just like his name, he is a wild card, literally and figuratively, making him one of Kenjiro Tsuda’s toughest roles to date. However, the veteran voice actor has gracefully done his part. With a smooth tone and a hint of whisper-like feature, Tsuda has brought out the mysterious nature of Joker. The character’s playful, yet calm personality feels more natural thanks to him.
3. Nowak
- Anime: Orb: On the Movements of the Earth
Being a staunch believer in the Church’s teachings, Nowak acts as the antagonist of Orb: On the Movements of the Earth, who is dead against heliocentrism. Initially, he was an armed mercenary, but later became an inquisitor. Nowak is a cold-hearted person, but shows potential for character growth by questioning himself. Even if he is a hated character, he has a lot of depth. It was the perfect decision to cast Kenjiro Tsuda as Nowak’s voice actor, as he beautifully portrayed him. His voice brought out the moral complexity and commanding power of the character.
4. Kai Chisaki (Overhaul)
- Anime: My Hero Academia
Kai Chisaki is the main antagonist of the Shie Hassaikai arc in My Hero Academia. He possessed a powerful quirk, Overhaul, which allowed him to reassemble and disassemble matter, including humans, upon a single touch. Kenjiro Tsuda has portrayed several antagonists, but Kai Chisaki is often considered one of his best works. There was no emotion in his tone, which was crucial for such a cold-blooded killer, yet there was an eerily calmness that left a massive impact on others.
5. Mifune
- Anime: Soul Eater
Mifune is another antagonist on Kenjiro Tsuda’s resume. Even though Mifune was introduced as an antagonist, he later became a morally complex character. He is an honourable warrior who puts his life at risk to save the weaker people. Kenjiro Tsuda’s voice gave Mifune a stoic, disciplined, and calm voice that established him as a character with gravitas. To date, it remains one of the most impactful characters ever played by Kenjiro Tsuda, but remains impactful.
6. Kylo Ren
- Anime: Star Wars
Kenjiro Tsuda has voiced Kylo Ren from the Star Wars trilogy. Kylo Ren is a character with inner conflict, charismatic menace, and explosive rage. He also possesses violent ambition and tormented vulnerability. Kenjiro Tsuda has brought out the character’s redemption, tension, and angst, creating a perfect blend of Western cinematography with Japanese dub.
Also Read: 5 Sci-fi Anime Series to Watch If You Loved Star Wars: Andor
7. Monspeet
- Anime: Seven Deadly Sins
Monspeet is one of the Ten Commandments in Seven Deadly Sins, representing the Commandment of Reticence. Even though he is a Demon, he is surprisingly calm, rational, and showcases feelings like humans, with the most prominent being his love for Derieri. With his mesmerizing voice, Kenjiro Tsuda has taken Monspeet’s character to new heights by bringing out the intensity of the demon, without rage. His voice carries an emotional weight, revealing Tsuda’s versatility.
8. Hyakunosuke Ogata
- Anime: Golden Kamuy
Hyakunosuke Ogata is a backstabbing character who often betrays his allies to fulfil his goals. A brilliant sniper who is a former Imperial Japanese Army Soldier, Ogata is as cold and emotionless as possible. He can be described as a person who has depth but portrays no sympathy, and has no emotional sympathy. It sounds like a difficult character to portray, but Kenjiro Tsuda made it seem easy. With an unfazed and whispery tone, he brought out the chilling aspect of his speech. Since the character is a sniper, Tsuda made sure to add a layer to his work showcasing signs of overwhelming others through psychological menace.
9. Tatsu
- Anime: The Way of the Househusband
A legendary Yakuza boss, who turned into a house-husband, The Way of the Househusband follows Tatsu’s story, once hailed as The Immortal Dragon. While there seems to be seriousness and intimidation in the air, the anime delivers unlimited laughter to its viewers. Kenjiro Tsuda spectacularly uses his deep tone to bring out Tatsu’s true self, even while he is cooking. The character became so iconic, he even played the character in a live-action promotional video. Tsuda as Tatsu shows that the voice actor can also shine in comedy roles.
10. Seto Kaiba
- Anime: Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters
Seto Kaiba is one of Kenjiro Tsuda’s early and iconic works. The character is the CEO of KaibaCorp and Yugi’s greatest rival. There are only a few who can challenge him in a card game because of how good he is. Seto Kaiba is an arrogant character who is power-hungry, but Kenjiro Tsuda managed to pinpoint those details and make something legendary. Due to his high and mighty status, Tsuda implemented sharpness and swagger in his voice, with superiority oozing out. His dialogues were intense and smooth, creating a perfect fusion of arrogance and charisma. Even after so many years, people still talk about his portrayal of Seto Kaiba.
Honourable Mentions: Ryuga (Beyblade: Metal Fusion), Seijuro (Free!), Joe (Ninja Kamui), Nicolas (Gangsta), Dainsleif (Genshin Impact)
Priyanko is currently pursuing his Master’s in Economics. He loves to read manga or watch anime in his spare time. He is a massive fan of One Piece, Naruto, and Haikyu. Amidst the Great Pirating Era, he wishes to become the greatest Hokage, even though he is short.
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