Even though everyone loves all the members of Team 7 – Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno, it cannot be denied that their original instructor, Kakashi Hatakehe is one of the most likable characters Naruto series. At first he comes across as lazy and careless, but he eventually turns out to be a great friend, an inspirational mentor, and a brave ninja with a tragic backstory and his voice actor in the Japanese version, Kazuhiko Inouehe did an excellent job of getting the different sides of his character right.
Inoue himself is a legendary voice actor who has been working in the anime industry since 1975, and while Kakashi was obviously the role that put him on the map, he has also voiced many iconic characters in other popular anime shows. From incorrigible villains to heroic warriors, Inoue has showcased his talent and range on numerous occasions, with the following eight performances being the most famous of his career.
The 8 Most Powerful Users in Shonen Anime
Whether it's magic or martial arts, these users are the strongest in shonen anime.
Kars in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
A pillar man who tried to become a god
This is one of those roles that always blows people's minds when they hear about it. How is it possible that the voice actor behind Kakashi also voiced one of the nastiest villains in all of anime? Well, that's exactly why Kazuhiko Inoue is a master of his craft, seeing how he helped bring Kars to life in the 2010 adaptation JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 2: Battle Tendency.
After learning this fact, you can somehow hear Katashi's voice in Karsova, but the truth is that Inoue is almost unrecognizable in this role. The Leader of the Pillar Men is quite unpredictable as he can sound benign and charming one moment, but become over the top and ruthless the next, especially after he basically became a deity at the end of Part 2. Inoue's performance as Kars was one of the highlights of his long career and remains a solid case that he should voice villains in anime more often.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni in Demon Slayer
Precursor to Breathing Styles
It's on the complete opposite end of the spectrum Yoriichi Tsugikun from Demon Slayerthe strongest demon slayer in history and the alleged creator of the series' signature breathing styles. While he only appears in flashbacks, Kazuhiko Inoue has been voicing him for several years and still gives an emotional performance as him.
Despite his immense power, Yoriichi is a kind, calm and even somewhat tragic man who ended up having a huge impact on the world, to the point that even Muzan Kibutsuji cringes at the thought of his existence, and Inoue's pleasant voice perfectly conveys how endearing he is. At the end of the day, Yoriichi, Kars and Kakashi are three completely different characters, showing that this voice actor can adapt to practically any role.
Toichiro Suzuki in Mob Psycho 100
The most dangerous esper in the series
Although mostly known for his work as Kakashi v Narutoit's safe to say that Kazuhiko Inoue excels at voicing strong anime villains, which is why he's been cast as some of the most memorable in the industry. Not only did he portray Kars JoJo'sbut he also spoke up Toichiro Suzukithe main antagonist Mob Psycho 100.
Guess the anime from emoticons.
Start
Guess the anime from emoticons.
Easy (120s) Medium (90s) Hard (60s)
As the leader of the Claw and the second most powerful esper in the series, Toichiro is an endlessly fascinating villain: he's basically a fake for Mob, who believes he's better than everyone else just because he has psychic powers, so the dynamic between them is nothing short of captivating. While Mob is calm and kind, Toichiro is arrogant and egotistical, and their climactic fight scene wouldn't be as memorable as it is if it weren't for Kazuhiko Inoue and Setsuo Itō's impeccable voice work.
Faraday In Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
A cold and calculating villain with cybernetic enhancements
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners was a surprise hit that made many people fall in love with the world Cyberpunk 2077. While those watching in English got to enjoy a solid performance by the one and only Giancarlo Esposito (Gus Fring in Breaking Bad) as the main antagonist, Faradaythe same character was voiced by Kazuhiko Inoue in the Japanese dub and he certainly did not disappoint.
This is another prime example of the voice actor's talent for voicing cold and ruthless villains who sound and feel nothing like Kakashi. However, unlike Kars or Toichiro, Faraday almost never raises his voice, making him sound much more realistic and ultimately menacing at times. This makes sense given how grounded the world is Cyberpunk is compared to all the other anime on this list.
Willy Tybur in Attack on Titan
Charming Eldian Noble
While Kazuhiko Inoue has voiced both heroes and villains throughout his extensive career, his recent performance as Willy Tybur in Attack on Titan proves that he can portray even more morally gray characters from a series with complicated political themes. He is a charming and honorable eld nobleman living in Marley, who at first seems quite likeable, but also stirs up a military conflict between Paradise and Marley by warning everyone of Rumbling's existence.
Like most Attack on Titan character, he's very easy to love and hate, and yet Inoue still excels at portraying all the different sides of his personality. It's also worth noting that the show deliberately tries to trick the viewer into thinking that Willy is the wielder of the Titan's warhammer, so he comes across as a bit of an attention seeker.
Tansu Floke In Delicious In Dungeon
Smart Gnome Scholar
Kazuhiko Inoue is clearly not afraid to step out of his comfort zone and play characters that no one would even expect him to vote for. Consequently, when the animated adaptation Delicious in the Dungeon began airing in 2024, many fans were surprised to hear his voice coming from a grumpy elderly dwarf, Mr. Tansu.
At first, he comes across as a smart but arrogant old scholar who has no patience for others, but he eventually shows a different side to his personality and becomes much more popular with fans, not to mention being very important to the series' lore. As expected, he has the classic “old man voice” that characters like him usually have, which makes the fact that he shares actors with the likes of Kakashi and Kars all the more incredible.
Happosai in Ranma ½ (2024)
A twisted old man in an absurd world
But Tansu isn't the only elderly character Kazuhiko Inoue has voiced; although one of the most recognized of his career, Happosai from the 2024 remake Ranma ½ it is completely different in terms of design and personality. Even though he's supposed to be a martial arts expert, he's mostly remembered for his twisted antics, which makes sense considering it's a romance/comedy anime.
Needless to say, the “perverted old man” trope in anime isn't for everyone and has proven to be quite polarizing among mainstream audiences, but no one can deny that Inoue gave an outstanding performance as Happosai. At first he sounds similar to Tansu (old and wise) but eventually turns everything up to eleven during comedy scenes where he comes off as an irritating pervert. It may be a strange feat, but it suits the character quite well.
Gildarts Clive In Fairy Tail
Looks like Shanks, sounds like Kakashi
One of the most famous roles in Kazuhiko Inoue's extensive career (second only to Kakashi) is undoubtedly Gildarts Cliveone of the most powerful S-class mages in the world Fairy Tail. This character is notorious for looking too similar to Shanks One piece during his earlier appearances, and while he's shown to be very different in terms of personality and narrative role (not to mention his design was drastically changed in later arcs), they share a similar voice.
At first it seemed like Inoue was trying to replicate the voice of Shuichi Ikeda (the Japanese voice actor for Shanks) at times, but his iconic performance as Gildart eventually evolved and now I feel like he plays to his strengths perfectly. After all, he is a powerful and honorable warrior who acts relaxed and carefree most of the time, but knows when to take things seriously, just like Kakashi Hatake himself. Needless to say, both Naruto and Fairy Tail Fans can relate to the fact that two of the most iconic characters in their respective series are voiced by the same man.
Naruto
- Release date
-
October 2, 2002
- Network
-
Swimming for adults
