Naruto: 8 Popular Anime You’ve Heard Kakashi’s Voice In

Team 7 – Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura – are all fan favorites, but Kakashi Hatake consistently stands out as one of the most beloved characters in Naruto. Though he first appears relaxed and somewhat indifferent, Kakashi quickly shows himself to be a wonderful friend, a strong leader, and a courageous ninja haunted by a difficult past. Japanese voice actor Kazuhiko Inoue perfectly captured all these layers of Kakashi’s personality.

Kazuhiro Inoue is a highly respected voice actor with a career spanning back to 1975. While he’s best known for voicing Kakashi, he’s also brought many other famous characters to life in anime. Inoue has proven his incredible range by playing everything from truly evil villains to noble heroes, and here are eight of his most memorable performances.

Kars In JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

The Pillar Man Who Tried To Become A God

People are often surprised to learn this actor voiced both the beloved Kakashi and a truly awful anime villain. That’s because Kazuhiko Inoue is incredibly talented – he brought the character Kars to life in the 2010s version of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 2: Battle Tendency.

It’s wild realizing that the voice actor behind Kars, Katashi Inoue, is almost completely different from what you’d expect! Kars is such a fascinating villain because Inoue plays him with so much unpredictability – one minute he’s smooth and charismatic, the next he’s completely unhinged, especially once he ascends to almost god-like power. Honestly, Inoue killed it as Kars; it’s one of his best roles, and it really proves he needs to voice more anime villains – he’s just perfect for it!

Yoriichi Tsugikuni In Demon Slayer

The Progenitor Of The Breathing Styles

In stark contrast, we have Yoriichi Tsugikuni from Demon Slayer. Considered the most powerful demon slayer ever and the originator of the Breathing Styles that define the series, Yoriichi appears primarily through flashbacks. Veteran voice actor Kazuhiko Inoue has been bringing him to life for several years, consistently delivering a deeply moving performance.

Yoriichi is incredibly powerful, but also a gentle, peaceful, and somewhat sad figure who profoundly changed the world. Even Muzan Kibutsuji fears him. The voice actor, Inoue, beautifully captures Yoriichi’s likable nature. It’s impressive how versatile Inoue is, considering he also voiced characters as different as Kars and Kakashi.

Toichiro Suzuki In Mob Psycho 100

The Most Dangerous Esper In This Series

Kazuhiko Inoue is well-known for playing Kakashi in Naruto, but he truly shines as a voice actor for strong anime villains. He’s brought many iconic villains to life, including Kars from JoJo’s and Toichiro Suzuki, the main villain in Mob Psycho 100.

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Toichiro is a compelling villain, ranking as the second most powerful psychic in the series and the leader of Claw. He serves as a great contrast to Mob, highlighting Mob’s tendency to feel superior due to his powers – making their interactions particularly engaging. Where Mob is gentle and reserved, Toichiro is boastful and self-centered. Their final battle is especially memorable, largely thanks to the fantastic voice acting performances by Kazuhiko Inoue and Setsuo Itō.

Faraday In Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

A Cold And Calculating Villain With Cybernetic Enhancements

The anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners unexpectedly became very popular, introducing many viewers to the Cyberpunk 2077 universe. English-speaking audiences praised Giancarlo Esposito (known for Breaking Bad) for his role as the villain, Faraday. However, the Japanese dub featured a fantastic performance by Kazuhiko Inoue as Faraday, and he delivered just as well.

This is a great example of the voice actor’s talent for portraying cold, heartless villains – characters who sound completely different from Kakashi. While villains like Kars and Toichiro are loud and bombastic, Faraday is much more subdued, rarely raising his voice. This makes him feel more believable and, surprisingly, even more threatening. It fits the realistic, grounded world of Cyberpunk, which is a departure from the more fantastical settings of the other anime mentioned.

Willy Tybur In Attack On Titan

A Charming Eldian Noble

I’ve been a fan of Kazuhiko Inoue for years – he’s voiced so many amazing characters, both good and bad! But his recent work as Willy Tybur in Attack on Titan really blew me away. It’s fantastic to see him tackle a character who isn’t simply a hero or villain, especially in a show with such complex politics. Willy comes across as genuinely charming and honorable at first, a noble Eldian living in Marley who’s easy to root for. But then you realize he’s actually the one who sets a lot of the conflict between Paradis and Marley in motion by revealing the truth about the Rumbling. It’s a really nuanced performance!

Like many characters in Attack on Titan, Willy is a complex figure – you can easily find yourself both rooting for and frustrated with him. The creator, Inoue, does a great job of showing all his different facets. The show also deliberately leads you to believe he’s the War Hammer Titan, which makes him seem like he craves attention.

Tansu Floke In Delicious In Dungeon

An Intelligent Gnome Scholar

I’m a huge Kazuhiko Inoue fan, and what I love about him is that he’s always willing to take risks with his roles! So, when the Delicious in Dungeon anime came out in 2024, I was totally surprised – and thrilled! – to hear him voicing Mr. Tansu, the wonderfully grumpy old gnome. It was such an unexpected, but perfect, choice!

At first, this character seems like a brilliant but conceited and impatient old scholar. However, he reveals a warmer side, quickly becoming a fan favorite, and plays a crucial role in the series’ overall story. He also has the typical gravelly voice you’d expect from a character like him, which is surprising considering the same voice actor also plays characters like Kakashi and Kars.

Happosai in Ranma ½ (2024)

A Perverted Old Man In An Absurd World

Kazuhiko Inoue has voiced many older characters, and while Tansu is one of his most famous roles, his performance as Happosai in the 2024 remake of Ranma ½ is quite different. Though Happosai is meant to be a skilled martial artist, he’s better known for his mischievous and often inappropriate behavior – which fits the show’s comedic and romantic tone.

The “creepy old man” character is definitely a divisive topic in anime – not everyone enjoys it. However, most viewers agree that Inoue delivers a fantastic performance as Happosai. He initially sounds like a typical wise elder, but quickly exaggerates his mannerisms for comedic effect, playing up the character’s perverted side. It’s an unusual portrayal, but it perfectly suits the character.

Gildarts Clive In Fairy Tail

Looks Like Shanks, Sounds Like Kakashi

Kazuhiko Inoue is a prolific voice actor, and one of his most well-known roles – second only to Kakashi – is Gildarts Clive from Fairy Tail. Gildarts is a remarkably powerful mage, and early in the series, many viewers noted his strong resemblance to Shanks from One Piece. Although his personality and story are quite different, and his appearance was later updated, the two characters share a similar vocal quality.

Initially, Inoue’s portrayal of Gildarts seemed to borrow from his work as Shanks’ voice actor, Shuichi Ikeda. However, his performance quickly became unique and really showcased his talents. Gildarts is a strong and principled warrior who usually appears relaxed, but knows when to be serious – much like Kakashi Hatake. It’s no surprise that fans of both Naruto and Fairy Tail appreciate that the same voice actor brought these two awesome characters to life.

2026-04-03 04:05