Oh? You're describing me? Instead of running to Kazuyuki Okitsu or Daisuke Ono you're coming to my description? Even though Yumiko Kobayashi rushed to tell you that my legend dates back to the nineteenth century, like an exam student scrambling to finish the problems on an exam until the last moments before the chime?
We can't describe the shit out of you without getting closer.
Takehito Koyasu (born May 5, 1967 in Yokohama, Japan) is currently the most prolific voice actor in the business. And when we say prolific, we mean it, with lots of varying roles he can pull off easily. Starting from a Determinator, to a calm, cool, intellectual, sarcastic character, to a nobleman to just plain comic relief/gay character. He created Knight Hunters, and is a part of the Weiß group, alongside the other leads: Shin-ichiro Miki, Tomokazu Seki, and Hiro Yuki. He is a true Man of a Thousand Voices.
According to Anime News Network
, he has the most number of roles in anime — as of December 2023, he is the only voice actor with over 750 credits. That is over 130 more credits than the next highest on the list.
Has an alter-ego named "Zazel". Zazel sings the theme song for the CD drama starring Weiß's rivals, Schwarz.
It shall be noted, also, that he's a Promoted Fanboy. Yep, he was a long-time Mobile Suit Gundam fan before landing the roles of Zechs, Gym, Mu and Algreus.
Currently working on a series of CD dramas called Velvet Under World, which may or may not be a Knight Hunters spin off. For the most compelling arguments in favour of that, "Velvet Underworld" is Knight Hunters's first opening theme and VUW's main character's name? A.Y.A.
He seems to be a good friend of Hikaru Midorikawa and, as a result, there's lots of instances where he plays characters who are rivals with Midorikawa's character, usually with Koyasu's character being the instigator of rivalry. Koyasu has also replaced Kaneto Shiozawa in many roles since the latter's death and can be seen as his successor as they do sound rather similar. Also has relationships with Akira Ishida, Unshō Ishizuka, and to an extent Tesshō Genda.
He's a married man (though with someone outside voice acting business) and has a son, Kouki Koyasu, who eventually also followed his footsteps in becoming a voice actor.
Koyasu's Roooooles! Koyasu's Roooooles! From the various series! Take a look if you please! They're going to Californiaaaaa....
- Abe no Seimei in New Getter Robo and Super Robot Wars NEO
- Adam Blade in NEEDLESS
- Adams Forte Chevalier in ID-0
- Ainosuke Shindo in Sk8 the Infinity
- The Blondy Aisha Rosen in the 2012 Ai no Kusabi OVAs
- Akito in 100 Sleeping Princes and the Kingdom of Dreams
- Akito Horikawa in Area no Kishi
- Akutsu Junya in GTO: The Early Years
- Alciel/Shiro Ashiya in the Drama CD of The Devil is a Part-Timer!
- Alex Taylor in the Japanese dub of The Crew
- Alfman in Ar tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica
- Alfred the Great in the Japanese dub of Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
- Amadeus K. Dorssia in Valvrave the Liberator
- Antwan (Taika Waititi) in the Japanese dub of Free Guy
- Aokiji AKA real name: Kuzan in One Piece
- Asato Kido and Jyaki in YuYu Hakusho
- Asuham Boone in Overman King Gainer
- Baul Zigvolt in Twisted Wonderland
- Beast Titan/Zeke Yeager in Attack on Titan
- Benno in Ascendance of a Bookworm
- Betterman Lamia in Betterman
- Braev/Brave Lee in Bravely Default
- Billy Campbell in the Japanese dub of Melrose Place
- Biomon in Digimon Universe: App Monsters
- Bird #2 in Elegant Yokai Apartment Life
- Bluffman in The Caligula Effect 2
- Bobobo in Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo
- Bonchien Nicoli La Tastypeach Uralius in To Your Eternity
- Boris Cliff in BNA: Brand New Animal
- Bruno Glening in Animamundi Dark Alchemist
- Captain Kraft in Level E
- Carlos Miyamoto in Street Fighter 6
- Caster (Hans Christian Andersen) in Fate/EXTRA CCC and Fate/Grand Order
- Mephistopheles in Fate/Grand Order
- Ozymandias/Rider in Fate/Prototype Fragments of Blue and Silver and Fate/Grand Order
- Chōchin-obake and Lord of the Arakawa River in Onmyōji (2016)
- Chameleon in The Detective is Already Dead
- Chotaro Banba, aka "Bancho" in Gate Keepers
- Claudia Hodgins in Violet Evergarden
- Clayman in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
- Darunis in Another Eden
- Deadpool in Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers
- Di-amon in Bastard!! (1988) (2022 Netflix anime)
- Dio Brando in the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure TV anime, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle, and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven. He also voices Diego in the games.
- Doctor Thaddeus Sivana in Japanese dub of SHAZAM!
- Dojima Gin in the anime adaptation of Food Wars!
- Eddie in Guilty Gear XX
- Later voices Zato-1 in Xrd.
- Excalibur in Soul Eater
- Faust VIII in Shaman King
- Fire Emblem:
- Navarre in the OVA of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light. And ever since, he's gotten other roles in the franchise in general, and whenever he can, especially in Heroes, he will reprise.:
- Lon'qu and Validar in Fire Emblem: Awakening
- Saber in Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
- Lewyn and Pent in Fire Emblem Heroes, since the original game has no voice overs.
- Niles (Zero) in Fire Emblem Fates
- Seteth in Fire Emblem: Three Houses
- Kagetsu in Fire Emblem Engage
- Fool in Kaleido Star
- Freddy Jones (Freddie Prinze Jr.) in the Japanese dubs of both the Scooby-Doo live-action film and its sequel, Scooby-Doo: Monsters Unleashed.
- Fujimiya Aya in Knight Hunters
- A.Y.A in Velvet Under World
- Gai in Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato
- Gamlin Kizaki in Macross 7
- Gandal in Grendizer U
- Gastro in Assassination Classroom and Koro-Sensei Quest!
- Geoffrey Stuart in My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!
- Ghetsis (G-Cis) in Pokémon Evolutions
- Gijiri in The Epic of Zektbach: Masinowa (Drama CD)
- Gingira in E.X. Troopers
- Gorrila Grodd in Batman Ninja
- Gremio in the Suikoden Radio Drama
- Gundam:
- Dwight Camury in Gundam F91 (his first Gundam role as a named character)
- Zechs Merquise in Gundam Wing
- Gym Ghingnham in ∀ Gundam
- Mu La Flaga & Neo Roanoke in Gundam SEED, Gundam SEED Destiny, and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom
- Frederick Algreus in Gundam AGE
- La Guu in Reconguista in G
- Gyoro Gyoro in One-Punch Man
- Mr. Hanamori in Princess Jellyfish
- Happy Science movies:
- Hermes in Hermes: Winds of Love and The Laws of Eternity
- Taiyou Sorano and Shakyamuni Buddha in The Rebirth of Buddha
- Shou Shishimaru and Rient Arle Croud in The Mystical Laws
- Hand Demon in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Harvey in Octopath Traveler II
- Hotohori in Fushigi Yuugi
- Igneous and Dungobeet in Spider Riders
- Ignis 'Will' Wisp in #COMPASS
- Il Palazzo in Excel♡Saga
- Jade Curtiss in Tales of the Abyss
- Jahan Augustinus in Sdorica
- Also plays Hyde Oust in that game.
- Jikkyū Mitsutada in Touken Ranbu
- JK in Occult Academy
- The Joker (Jared Leto, Zach Galifianakis) in the Japanese dubs of Suicide Squad (2016) and The LEGO Batman Movie
- Jonathan Ariga in Catherine
- Jonathan Tyberius in Legend of the Blue Wolves, under the pseudonym "Hayato Juumonji"
- Julius Monrey in Alice in the Country of Hearts
- Juubei Kakei in Get Backers
- Kai Hirose in Brave Command Dagwon
- Kale Vandelay in Hi-Fi RUSH
- Kalian Loss in Chrome Shelled Regios
- Kapaeru in Ghastly Prince Enma: Burning Up
- Katsumi Kanzaki in 18if
- Kazuo Matayoshi in Daimidaler the Sound Robot
- Kei Ibuchi in Yakuza Kiwami 2 (The Majima Saga)
- Yutaka Yamai in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
- Keiki in The Twelve Kingdoms
- Keith Anyan in Toward the Terra
- Kenshiro in the New Fist of the North Star OVA
- Kenzan Takakura in Penguindrum
- Kershner in Tenrou Sirius the Jaeger
- Kiryuu Touga in Revolutionary Girl Utena
- Kieldiar and The Terrible Overlord in Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom
- Knight Leader in A Certain Magical Index
- Kojiro Hyuuga in Captain Tsubasa: Road to 2002
- Kosaburo (Butch) in Pokémon: The Series
- Danku in the prologue to the Mewtwo's Awakening special of the 16th movie.
- Kousuke Shibasaki (the titular Uncle) in Uncle from Another World
- Kraft in Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
- Kyouhei Kannazuki in Date A Live
- Kyousuke Isazu in A.I.C.O. Incarnation
- LeBlanc in Divergence Eve
- Lezard Valeth in Valkyrie Profile
- Li Hō in The Law of Ueki
- Lucifer in You Are Being Summoned, Azazel
- Lucius in Granblue Fantasy
- Luck Gandor in Baccano!
- Luke Valentine in Hellsing Ultimate
- Luta in Platinum End
- Maoh/the Devil in Love Tyrant
- Margarette Macaron in Mashle: Magic and Muscles
- Marvel Cinematic Universe's Japanese dubs:
- Masamune Date in Brave10
- The Masked Lumen / Balder in Bayonetta 2
- Maxwell Trier in Triangle Strategy
- Mitsurugi Hanagata in Saber Marionette J
- Mondo in It's a White Tomorrow, Team Rocket!
- Mordecai/Morsayati, Xenos, aka The Progenitor in Dragalia Lost
- Mordred in The Eminence in Shadow
- Motonari Mōri in Sengoku Night Blood
- Mustang in Goddess of Victory: NIKKE
- Nagi Springfield in Negima! Magister Negi Magi (except for the 2nd season)
- Naoya Sagiri and Takahashi Ichimonji in the Muv-Luv franchise
- Narumi in the Raidou Kuzunoha Drama CD
- Naze Koumori, Combat Commentator bat and its human form Kotaro Ijuuin in Rosario + Vampire
- Neuro in Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro and Koro-Sensei Quest!
- Nikolai Gogol in Bungo Stray Dogs
- Ninja Cookie in Cookie Run: Kingdom
- Nobuyuki Sugou/Oberon in Sword Art Online
- Nurarihyon/Nurarishin in Yo-kai Watch
- Obsidian in Vermeil in Gold
- Ochiai in Knights of Sidonia
- Octo in Princess Connect! Re:Dive
- Olive in Angelique
- Olivier Lenheim/Prince Olivert Reise Arnor in the Trails Series
- Ootoshi-no-Kami in Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha (he's later referenced to in the manga as "that guy who sounds like Takehito Koyasu")
- Ophiel Herbert in Phantasy Star Online 2
- Optimus Primal in the dubs of Beast Wars, Beast Machines, Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts along with a guest appearance in Beast Wars II
- Nanosec (or "Speed King") in the Japanese dub of Transformers: Animated
- Optimus Prime in the Japanese dub of Transformers: Cyberverse
- Overlord Zetta in Makai Kingdom and Disgaea
- Pandora in Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters
- Takuma Saioh in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX
- Papa Shirogane in Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
- Peacemaker in Suicide Squad ISEKAI
- Pesche Guatiche in Bleach
- Poop in the Japanese dub of The Emoji Movie.
- Prince Blueblood in the Japanese dub of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
- Raiser Phenex in High School D×D
- Reiichi Himuro in Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side
- Rezo the Red Priest in Slayers
- Rheinback Jamil in By the Grace of the Gods
- Robert Sherwood (Dean Cameron) in the Japanese dub of ALF
- Roger Malen in Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings
- Rohan Kōda in Bungo to Alchemist
- Roswaal L. Mathers in Re:Zero and Isekai Quartet
- Rufus Falken in Atelier Meruru
- Ryo Kuroyanagi in Yakitate!! Japan
- Ryoji/Ranka Fujioka in Ouran High School Host Club
- Ryousuke Takahashi in Initial D.
- Sancraid Phahn in Fate/Prototype
- Sarutobi Sasuke in the Sengoku Basara series
- Satoru Yukidoh in Remember11
- Seisuke Kanou in Hungry Heart: Wild Striker
- Sett in the Japanese version of League of Legends
- Scar's brother in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- Lujon in the 2003 anime
- Seishirou Sakurazuka in Tokyo Babylon (succeeded by Tōru Furusawa)
- Seifer Almasy in Kingdom Hearts II and Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia
- Seven Changer in The Brave Fighter of Legend Da-Garn
- Sgt. Major Kululu in Sgt. Frog
- Shark Fujishiro in My Bride is a Mermaid
- Shibungi in Guilty Crown
- Shingo Yabuki in The King of Fighters
- Shinsuke Takasugi in Gintama.
- Shinya Aiba/Tekkaman Evil in Tekkaman Blade (this role essentially made his voice acting career).
- Shu Shirakawa in Super Robot Wars
- Shuri Chuza in Jack Jeanne
- Shuu Iwamine in both Hatoful Boyfriend CD dramas
- Shuusuke Wakatsuki in Myself ; Yourself
- Sister in Arakawa Under the Bridge
- Snufkin in Moomin (1990)
- Soumei in Cuticle Detective Inaba
- Sakujun Sa in The Story of Saiunkoku
- Tabi-Usagi-san/Rambler in Happy Happy Clover
- Tadatsuru in Bakemonogatari
- Takashiro Giou in Betrayal Knows My Name
- Takao Kuroi in The iDOLM@STER
- Takashi Misumi (Nagisa's dad) in Futari wa Pretty Cure
- Scorp in Yes! Pretty Cure 5 GO!GO!
- Fusion in Pretty Cure All Stars
- Oresky in HappinessCharge Pretty Cure!
- Tanaka the butler in Prétear
- Tatsurou Shiba in The Irregular at Magic High School
- Tatsuya Suou in Persona 2
- Ryo Kanzato in Persona -trinity soul-
- Tezcatlipoca in Tokyo Afterschool Summoners
- Thirteen in Grimoire of Zero
- Toji Fushiguro in Jujutsu Kaisen
- Tsukihiko in Mekakucity Actors
- Ukitsu/Yu Ji in Koihime†Musou
- Utopia in Demon Lord, Retry!
- Victim O'Rand in Brave Police J-Decker
- Weiss in Arc Rise Fantasia
- William Ellis in Identity V
- Wyvern Radamathys in Saint Seiya: The Hades Chapter
- Nasu Veronica in Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas
- Xanth (Sunder) in Breath of Fire III: Drama Album
- Yakuo Furio in Master Detective Archives: Rain Code
- Yantamu in Nakoruru: Ano Hito kara no Okurimono (VN and anime, Samurai Shodown Spin-Off based on Nakoruru)
- Yoshiyuki Honjo in Hell Girl (one-time character in episode four)
- Yosho in Tenchi Muyo!
- Yuchi Kayama in Sakura Wars series
- Yuichiro Kanzaki in Cardfight!! Vanguard G and Cardfight!! Vanguard (V Series)
- Zardias in The Strongest Sage with the Weakest Crest
- Zed in Wild ARMs: Alter Code F
- Zieda Ganbazzo in Yumina the Ethereal
Fool! These tropes are not associated with everything in the universe! It was I, Takehito Koyasu!
- Casting Gag:
- Koyasu who voices Dio Brando in the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure TV anime previously voiced Takuma Saioh from Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, who used an Arcana Force deck, cards of which are based off the Major Arcana, and whose signature monster is: "Arcana Force XXI - The World". Many memes were made that day. Then they got him to reprise the role for Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links, and suffice it to say, he embraces the meme shamelessly.
- Koyasu was cast for the Japanese dub of Thor: Love and Thunder, as Gorr, the God-Butcher. And like before, his most famous VA role is as Dio, whose first name in Italian translates directly as "god".
- Koyasu who voices Dio Brando in the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure TV anime previously voiced Takuma Saioh from Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, who used an Arcana Force deck, cards of which are based off the Major Arcana, and whose signature monster is: "Arcana Force XXI - The World". Many memes were made that day. Then they got him to reprise the role for Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links, and suffice it to say, he embraces the meme shamelessly.
- Evil Sounds Deep: Shuu and Dio in particular.
- The Gadfly: Some of his roles have this tendency sometimes going to Troll levels. The most notable examples are Shu and Jade. He also appears to have a bit of this himself.
- Large Ham: He's also a go-to guy if you want a middle-aged guy with hams to go. And always trust Koyasu to ham it up deliciously when he's being one.
- Man of a Thousand Voices: If you're reading his resume, you should know already that Koyasu is one, despite the fact that there are roles where his voice can be easily recognized; it can easily be assumed his small mouth gives him a very specific voice range unique to only him.
- Perpetual Frowner: He has the same upset expression in almost all of his photos out there. This is not because he's unhappy, but due to the fact that his upper jaw is slightly deformed◊, making his front teeth crooked. He is deeply aware of this, and smiles as rarely as possible, though he is known to be a very Nice Guy in real life.
- Playing Against Type:
- Shingo Yabuki is a bumbling (but still Hot-Blooded) Ascended Fanboy who idolizes The Hero (in this case Kyo).
- Bobobo is an extremely crazy variant of The Hero that wields a power that counts as a G-Rated Drug.
- There's also his turn in Prétear playing Tanaka, the squeaky-voiced, comical Butt-Monkey butler, who also made use of his Shingo-styled voice.
- Moomin fans were surprised that the same actor portrayed the deep-voiced Dio and the soft-spoken Snufkin in Moomin (1990).
- Kagetsu is a friendly Spirited Competitor who simply enjoys good natured sparring. Koyasu voices him with a similar cadence to Shingo.
- Promoted Fanboy:
- Takehito has been a Fire Emblem fan since the Famicom era, kept his Super Famicom to play Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War over and over and attempting to voice all characters regardless of gender since back then, it has no voice acting. So naturally, being casted as several Fire Emblem characters made him happynote and it culminates in him being chosen to voice Lewyn in Fire Emblem Heroes that he expressed it in a blog post. Though he mentioned that he'd be fine if he got chosen to voice anyone from Genealogy, not specifically Lewyn.
- He's also a huge Gundam fan, and would later get to voice Zechs Merquise, Gym Ghingham and Mu La Flaga.
- Takehito has been a Fire Emblem fan since the Famicom era, kept his Super Famicom to play Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War over and over and attempting to voice all characters regardless of gender since back then, it has no voice acting. So naturally, being casted as several Fire Emblem characters made him happynote and it culminates in him being chosen to voice Lewyn in Fire Emblem Heroes that he expressed it in a blog post.
- Screams Like a Little Girl: Surprisingly capable of a truly hilarious girl-like screech when his less-sympathetic roles get what's coming to them, such as Hanagata Mitsurugi of Saber Marionette J and Nobuyuki Sugou of Sword Art Online.
Hey, did you just describe Takehito Koyasu?
(ﺧ益ﺨ)
WRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!
And another thing, you're bad at right-hand corners with that noise!
