Since the beginning of One Piece, “Red-Haired” Shanks has been a crucial character. He not only inspired Monkey D. Luffy to become a pirate, but also gave him the famous straw hat as a token of their bond. Although he hasn’t been in many episodes, Shanks has been central to some of the series’ most memorable moments, and much of that is thanks to his Japanese voice actor, Shuichi Ikeda.
Shuichi Ikeda is a highly respected voice actor with a remarkable 56-year career in anime, and at 76, he’s still working! He’s voiced countless popular characters, demonstrating incredible talent and versatility. While many know him as the voice of Shanks, he’s left his mark on numerous other anime series. Here are seven of his most well-known roles throughout his career.
Char Aznable In Mobile Suit Gundam
A Charming Antagonist Who Became A Hero
Besides Shanks, Shuichi Ikeda is perhaps most famous for voicing Char Aznable in the Mobile Suit Gundam series. This isn’t surprising for longtime Gundam fans, as he’s played this popular villain-turned-hero since 1979.
Ikeda is a natural choice to voice Char, bringing out the character’s smooth, charismatic, and strong-willed nature perfectly. Remarkably, he’s been voicing this legendary character for over 47 years, since the original Mobile Suit Gundam debuted, and continues to do so in new series, video games, and commercials today.
Kite In Hunter X Hunter (2011)
A Wise Mentor With A Tragic Fate
It’s not surprising that Shuichi Ikeda voiced both Shanks in One Piece and Kite in the 2011 version of Hunter x Hunter. Both characters act as mentors and father figures to the main characters, teaching them about their worlds. They even share similar personalities, though Shanks is generally more energetic than Kite.
The biggest difference between Shanks and Kite is what happened to them: Shanks is still alive and well in the world of One Piece, while Kite’s death is one of the most emotionally impactful scenes in Hunter x Hunter. That scene wouldn’t have been so powerful without the amazing performance by the actor who played Kite, which made the audience truly care about him before his sudden and violent death at the hands of Pitou.
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Masayoshi Shido In Persona 5: The Animation
A Despicable Villain From The Persona Franchise
Voice actor Shuichi Ikeda is known for his work in gaming and anime, and he brought the character Masayoshi Shido to life in both the Persona 5 game and the Persona 5: The Animation series. This role was a departure for Ikeda, as audiences typically recognize him for playing kind, wise characters—a contrast to the manipulative and arrogant villain he portrayed in Persona 5.
Jun’ichi Ikeda’s portrayal of Shido is surprisingly excellent and often overlooked. He really showed off the range of his voice, making the character sound convincingly sleazy, forceful, and booming – perfect for someone with questionable ethics. Considering his work on both Shido and Char Aznable, it’s clear Ikeda is exceptionally talented at voicing anime villains, and he should get more opportunities to do so.
Sazanami In Naruto
One Of The Coolest Filler Characters In Naruto
Ikeda has voiced characters in both One Piece and Naruto, two incredibly popular action anime. While his role in Naruto wasn’t as long-lasting as some fans hoped, he still had the chance to play a really cool character, and his voice was a perfect fit for the part.
I always found Sazanami to be a really cool character in the Naruto series, specifically during the Gosunkugi Capture Mission Arc. He used to make swords, but now he’s a bounty hunter, and he’s incredibly skilled with a blade – he can take down opponents easily, even Naruto and his team! What’s interesting is that he feels a lot like Shanks from One Piece – a strong, charismatic figure with a scar and a straw hat – and that’s despite being a character created just for the anime, as part of a filler storyline. He really left an impression on me.
Toichi Kuroba In Detective Conan/Case Closed
The Original Kaitou Kid
It’s interesting to note that several voice actors from One Piece have also worked on Detective Conan. For example, Kappei Yamaguchi, who voices Usopp in One Piece, also voices Kaito Kuroba/Kaitou Kid. And Shuichi Ikeda, who voices Toichi Kuroba, a key character and father figure, also lends his voice to One Piece.
Toichi is the original Kaitou Kid, a famous magician and thief who uses illusions and trickery to steal valuable items. Veteran voice actor Ikeda’s smooth delivery is a perfect match for the character. He’s been voicing Kaitou Kid since 2001, and the role has become one of his most recognizable, despite often being less well-known than the character’s son.
Scorpio Milo In Saint Seiya: Knights Of The Zodiac
The Heroic Guardian Of The Scorpius Temple
Toei Animation, the studio famous for shows like One Piece, first gained prominence with series such as Saint Seiya. Because of this, they developed lasting professional relationships with many of the voice actors from Saint Seiya, later casting them in One Piece. A prime example is Shuichi Ikeda, who originally voiced the character Scorpio Milo in the classic anime.
Milo, a Gold Saint who protects the Scorpius Temple, is a noble warrior famous for his powerful Scarlet Needle attack. Voice actor Shūichi Ikeda usually performs quieter roles, so it was refreshing to hear him portray a non-villainous character. This role was also incredibly important for launching Ikeda’s career.
Dark Vader In Gintama
A Penguin Version Of Darth Vader (Yes, This Is Real)
Almost every Japanese voice actor eventually works on Gintama because the show is known for letting actors be playful and showcase their skills, especially with comedy. That’s why Shuichi Ikeda, typically known for playing serious and noble characters, was perfect for the role of Dark Vader in this funny and action-packed anime.
Dark Vader, a strangely adorable robot shaped like a penguin, attempts to conquer Earth in the Renho Arc, but Gintoki ultimately defeats him. The unexpected contrast of hearing the voice of Shanks coming from such a silly character is both odd and endearing, and it’s just another example of voice actor Ikeda’s incredible talent and ability to excel in any role, no matter the show.
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2026-04-04 18:38