8 Anime Characters Voiced by My Hero Academia’s Deku Voice Actor

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In a new era of anime, My Hero Academia has introduced a host of endearing characters, with the lead character Izuku Midoriya, also known as Deku, standing out among them. It’s no surprise that his captivating journey, valiant spirit, and amazing superpowers were made even more impactful by the skillful voice acting of Daiki Yamashita.

Yamashita is a Japanese voice actor who’s thrived in the anime industry for over a decade. His youthful tone frequently sets him apart, breathing life into countless kind, noble, and charming characters across various series. Throughout his impressive career, he’s given numerous outstanding performances, but these eight stand out as his absolute finest to date.

8. Yushiro

In Demon Slayer

It’s quite common for anime enthusiasts to confuse Daiki Yamashita and Natsuki Hanae due to their similar vocal styles. While Hanae is well-known for portraying Tanjiro Kamado in Demon Slayer, Yamashita has given voice to a character who contrasts significantly with the protagonist – Yushiro, Tamayo’s devoted demon companion who harbors deep affection for her.

Yamashita skillfully portrayed the character as fiery-tempered, passionate, and slightly resentful, yet endearing and comical, particularly during humorous scenes. It’s intriguing to see an actor who gained fame for voicing a noble and kind character like Deku, bring such an unanticipated edge of meanness to his voice. However, despite Yushiro appearing to be an unexpectedly mean demon, he ultimately desires to aid humans, suggesting that Yamashita might not have been as far from his comfort zone as it initially seemed.

7. Goh

In Pokemon Journeys

2019 saw Daiki Yamashita undertaking a significant challenge: He was chosen to voice Goh, Ash Ketchum’s only companion in “Pokemon Journeys”. This role meant working side by side with the legendary Rika Matsumoto, which undoubtedly brought a great deal of pressure and a heavy workload. However, he admirably handled this new character with skill and finesse.

Goh is designed to contrast Ash, a novice trainer who’s less experienced and has much to learn from the veteran Pokemon master. Yamashita skillfully portrayed Goh as both innocent and intelligent yet impulsive and occasionally frustrating, fitting the script’s demands. Moreover, his exceptional acting synergy with Masumoto’s Ash was a significant factor in making Pokemon Journeys one of the show’s finest seasons.

6. Ryūnosuke Yuki

In Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War

Among the standout features of Pierrot’s latest take on the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc from Bleach is the opportunity for new Japanese voice actors who weren’t active during the initial series to participate, and Daiki Yamashita was certainly one of these talented individuals, as he voiced Ryūnosuke Yuki in the premiere episode.

Yuki closely resembles the typical characters created by Yamashita, as he assumes the role of a powerful and noble Shinigami tasked with protecting Karakura Town. However, contrary to his strong exterior, Yuki is shy and somewhat fearful. As anticipated, Yamashita’s subtle acting style perfectly suits this fresh character, making him distinctive among the numerous Shinigami fighters in Bleach.

5. Yamada Asaemon Senta

In Hell’s Paradise

In MAPPA’s 2023 adaptation of “Hell’s Paradise”, the character Yamada Asaemon Senta seems tailor-made for Daiki Yamashita to voice, as he bears striking resemblances to some of Yamashita’s other characters such as Deku or Goh. Initially, Asaemon appears timid, anxious, and even somewhat pitiful as the monitor in charge of overseeing Yuzuriha.

Over time throughout the season, Senta showed himself to be a powerful and courageous fighter, despite his flaws, and he shared a charming and amusing relationship with Yuzuriha. It’s worth mentioning that Yamashita’s voice was not just suitable for this character, but he delivered an exceptional performance during a moving scene at the season finale.

4. Young Zeke Yeager

In Attack on Titan

In the captivating world of “Attack on Titan”, I’ve come across few characters as multifaceted and thought-provoking as Zeke Yeager. This enigmatic figure is brought to life by two exceptional Japanese voice artists: the esteemed Takehito Koyasu lends his talent to the adult Zeke, while Daiki Yamashita breathes life into his youthful counterpart in all the pivotal flashback scenes. Although he’s now a formidable adversary, Zeke once was an innocent child who was molded and transformed by the ambitions of his father, Grisha, seeking to exploit his royal lineage to make him a warrior and a spy.

In this instance, Yamashita’s acting was exceptional, portraying how Zeke’s upbringing was marred by his parents and transforming him into the ruthless antagonist that Attack on Titan fans both despise and feel for. This talented actor performed the role so convincingly that it seems as if a younger Takehito Koyasu voiced Zeke’s childhood character.

3. Hokuro

In Ranking of Kings

In typical fashion, Daiki Yamashita consistently shines in portraying virtuous and compassionate characters capable of acting courageously when needed. One of his latest standout roles was that of Hokuro from the popular 2021 series, “Ranking of Kings.” Despite his imposing physical presence and appearance, Hokuro is a devoted guardsman of the Bosse Kingdom who remains fiercely loyal to Prince Bojji.

I, an observer, found myself among the realm’s soldiers, where only a handful were willing to learn sign language for communicating with our prince. Without a moment’s hesitation, Yamashita was one of those few who stood ready to defend Bojji when Domas attempted his life. It came as no surprise that Yamashita masterfully embodied this role, and his gentle voice transformed Hokuro into one of the kindest and adored characters in an anime teeming with self-centered and cruel individuals.

2. Senpai (Naoto Hachiouji)

In Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro

Daiki Yamashita is not just known for his roles in mainstream action shōnen anime; he has also taken part in various other genres. For instance, one of his notable and memorable roles was as Senpai (real name: Naoto Hachiouji) in the romantic comedy “Miss Nagatoro” where he plays with me.

The character Senpai is portrayed as shy and pitiful, particularly when subjected to teasing and bullying by the central figure Nagatoro Hayase. However, he also has a stronger, romantic side. Acting brilliantly in this part, Daiki Yamashita mirrors his previous roles of Senta or Yuki. His exceptional acting chemistry with Sumire Uesaka adds humor and cuteness to the dynamic between the two principal characters.

1. Narancia Ghirga

In JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Vento Aureo

In 1996, Part 5 of “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” was first published, which means that Narancia Ghirga had been a character in the manga for over 22 years before he and his Team Bucciarati comrades made their appearance in David Production’s contemporary animated series. Although several well-known Japanese voice actors had previously given voice to him in video games, the studio opted for Daiki Yamashita for the anime version, who was still basking in the glory of his recent triumph as Deku in “My Hero Academia”. To the delight of many fans, Yamashita turned in a stellar performance, ultimately earning acclaim as the best voice for this cherished character.

Instead of his typical characters, Narancia deviates significantly. This young criminal is known for being impulsive, crude, aggressive, and mischievous with a touch of ruthless humor. However, what truly defines him is his innocent childlike nature and deep affection for his close companions, which Yamashita skillfully brought to life through his distinctive soft-spoken delivery. Though many anime enthusiasts will forever associate Daiki Yamashita with his role as Izuku Midoriya in “My Hero Academia”, there’s no disputing that his outstanding portrayal of Narancia Ghirga solidifies him as one of the most gifted voice actors in the current anime scene.

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2025-02-24 16:38