If there's one voice actor who is extremely pigeonholed, but is just so awesome at doing his pigeonholed job that it doesn't matter, this man is that voice actor. Norio Wakamoto is a policeman turned voice actor (we assume he just had to yell "HALT, CRIMINAL!" and they'd immediately stopwhile shouting "YES, YOUR MAJESTY!"), well known for his quality, grandiose voice as a villain. So if you want a menacing, great Big Bad (or any other villainous role), contact him. And his range of villain roles is also quite wide, from manipulating and scheming to The Berserker type. Whether it's of a high position or as an underling (as long as it's no Mook). Beware...they can become Ensemble Darkhorses or Magnificent Bastards greater than the Big Bad himself.Villains, however, aren't his only forte (though it's undoubtedly what he's really good at). He is also capable of doing humorous, perverted roles or, rarely, heroic types.Norio Wakamoto is an expert in martial arts, and he will kick your ass.Also, thanks to his recent role as Social Darwinist and EmperorCharles of Britannia, he has reached a certain Memetic Badass status amongst Western anime fans (by that time, he'd already been considered one in Japan). There are people who state that any anime can turn instantly good if he is participating (or that any character he voices will always be perceived as Badass). It's even gotten to the point where, instead of having him "work his voice to fit a character", they work the character to fit his voice. The man is the Chuck Norris of Anime, with the voice of BRIAN BLESSED*
Not just amongst the fans, but he is also very well respected amongst the seiyuu circle, to the point that many have tried doing a 'Wakamoto impression'. For example, this one, as done by Tomokazu Sugita, Takahiro Sakurai, and Yuuichi Nakamura.Is known as 'Neta ni Ikiru Otoko' on Niconico Douga.A sample of his voicing can be found hereNorio Wakamoto...
It's said that while he was doing the voice of Cell, he would practice his lines at home. Children in the neighborhood would hear him, go up to his door, and yell "Cell, come out and fight us!", and in response, he would open his front door and shout "Who is that? Who wants to be drained?"
Vicious in Cowboy Bebop. Sort of playing against type, as, while certainly a villain, he's the icy, stoic type, rather than a Large Ham.
Dracula in the Castlevania series (from Symphony of The Night onward). This role utilizes his famous Evil Laugh better than most.
He has a VARIETY of them in Dracula X Chronicle, depending on battle stage and how much Richter is going to get demolished if the attack connects.
Igniz in The King Of Fighters 2001. In 2002, he did Rugal Bernstein, but in 2002 Unlimited Match, Rugal's voice was reprised by the original actor, Toshimitsu Arai.
The Umibozu sea monster from episode 3 of Mononoke.
A recent guest voice in the role of Zeibu of the Mummy in Tensou Sentai Goseiger, a MotW whose plan is to mummify the world, with a TV broadcast. I kid you not.
Onsokumaru in Ninin Ga Shinobuden — a role which must have been written with him in mind. He's given license to steal the show, and does it with gusto.
In Sailor Moon, he played a softspoken Nice Guy (bwuh?) named Yusuke Amade. He worked as a jazz artist and was in love with his co-worker, Akiko Yanagi, but was too shy to tell her. As Naru and Usagi attempted to get to know him more, since Naru was a major fangirl of him, Amade became a target of the youma and Sailormoon had to save him. His sexy voice (and piano playing) attracted all da ladies.
Ooshima, the Kuroda group's second-in-command in Gokusen. He's very funny.
He voiced the minor hero character Shuren in Fist of the North Star, though not for long, since storyline reasons demanded Shuren's failed Heroic Sacrifice against Raoh. He also did Raoh for a very short time in his silhouette debut.
He is also a narrator for Hokuto Musou.
Duke Duffau in Chrono Crusade, leader of the demon pursuers. Interestingly, the character was an antagonist of sorts in the manga (although he mostly ignored the heroes and went straight for Aion), but in the anime adaptation, he got upgraded to an uneasy ally with the Magdalene Order.
Non Human Sidekick Chew Toy Koujun from Ryofuko-chan.
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