Describe Saeko Shimazu here! Right now! Ohohohohoho!
Mrs. Saeko Shimazu (born September 8, 1959) 島津 冴子 is a prolific Japanese voice actress from Isehara. As many others, she first had Naïve Everygirl roles, then started branching into more varied archetypes. Her breaching, however, took her to frequently switch to the Yandere or Dark Action Girl types. Also, she's credited to have voice roles in almost all the Rumiko Takahashi works - just look below. She's also done some singing, having recorded some image songs as Kodachi in Ranma ½.
Since she didn't have many major roles in the 90s and later, Mrs. Shimazu was believed to be retired by many people. That prompted the people in charge of the Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam movies to replace her with Yukana. She hasn't had a voice role in a TV series since 2004, despite spotty work on OVA's and video games since, and currently works predominantly as a narrator.
Her official twitter feed is here
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Some of Saeko Shimazu's roles include:
- Shinobu Miyake from Urusei Yatsura (first RT role)
- Sayoko Kuroki from Maison Ikkoku (second role)
- Kodachi Kuno from Ranma ½ (third role)
- Princess Abi from Inuyasha (... see the pattern here?)
- Mako Kiriga in Sasuga No Sarutobi (along with Shinobu, one of her first major roles)
- Four Murasame from Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. As mentioned above, replaced by Yukana.
- Glycine from Sakura Wars.
- Mathilda Toulonchamp in Honoo no Alpen Rose
- Kazane Tsukikage from Kensei: Sacred Fist
- Miz Mishtal from El-Hazard: The Magnificent World
- Yuri from the original Dirty Pair media. Replaced by Mariko Kouda.
- Reprises her role as Yuri in the 2022 Dirty Pair collaboration event in Alice Gear Aegis
- Saeko Mizuki in the Glass Mask OAV.
- Madoka Ayukawa in the Kimagure Orange Road pilot episode. Replaced by Hiromi Tsuru.
- Megumi Ayase in Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel. This role was written specifically with her in mind, and she didn't have to audition for it.
- Rag Rawro in Xabungle.
- Akiko Natsume in All-Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku.
- Luna Rossa in Dancougar.
- Fortuna in Tales of Destiny 2.
- The Sexy Lady (Kirei na Onee-san) in Yarudora series vol.2: Kisetsu o Dakishimete
- Valna in Valis III
Tropes associated with Saeko Shimazu:
- Noblewoman's Laugh: Several of her characters laugh this way, particularly Kodachi. She was the first seiyuu to display this laugh in anime.
- Woman of a Thousand Voices: Saeko can be quite versatile. She has voiced no-nonsense women (Glycine, Akiko Natsume), funny women (Kodachi Kuno), hot-tempered women (Shinobu Miyake, Megumi Ayase) and young and innocent women (Kazane Tsukikage).
