There are many anime series that quickly catch on with audiences, but Kohei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia has blossomed into one of the most popular shonen series of the decade. My Hero Academia tells a traditional underdog story and Izuku "Deku" Midoriya works hard to become the next Number One Pro Hero.
The thrilling displays of superpowers and rewarding character relationships are just some of the reasons as to why My Hero Academia is so beloved. However, it's also an anime that has one of the more impressive dubs and an exceptional array of voice actors who bring the series' colorful characters to life. Voice acting can make or break a series, which makes the range of performances in My Hero Academia particularly fascinating.
10 Nailed It: Luci Christian Brings Ochaco Uraraka's Awkward Sensitivity To Life
My Hero Academia has a cumbersome cast of characters and many of the supporting players at U.A. High fade in and out of focus. But Ochaco Uraraka is one of the most important presences in Midoriya's life, both as a friend and an ally in battle.
Luci Christian does an excellent job with portraying Uraraka's determined fighting spirit, but also the softer and more vulnerable side to the character. Christian nails Uraraka's awkward exchanges with Deku, but can also make her sound like a legitimate threat.
9 Failed: Patrick Seitz's Endeavor Becomes A Gruff Stereotype
My Hero Academia features so many characters that there are occasions where individuals get introduced and come across as caricatures, only for them to slowly gain integral character development down the road. Endeavor is a flashy Pro Hero who often lets his emotions and power get the better of him.
Patrick Seitz makes sure that Endeavor sounds sufficiently mighty and in charge, but it's a thin reading of the character that can come across as one-note. Endeavor has grown in important ways over My Hero Academia's most recent seasons, but Seitz's performance still showcases a simpler version of the hero.
8 Nailed It: Christopher Sabat Imbues All Might With The Voice Of A Legend
Christopher Sabat has built an enviable reputation for himself as a voice actor and he's gotten to portray some of the most popular characters in the medium. All Might is a vital character in My Hero Academia and Sabat's casting in the position of authority is sublime.
Sabat is able to dip into the necessary macho bravado that All Might displays to the public, but also portray the frail side of the character. Sabat could push this performance too far, but he understands the restraint that's necessary for such a character.
7 Failed: Colleen Clinkenbeard's Momo Yaoyorozu Is Waiting To Break Out
It can be more difficult to properly capture the voice and personality of My Hero Academia's supporting cast. These characters can disappear for large stretches of time and it's harder to understand what they're going through.
Momo Yaoyorozu and her Creation Quirk are extremely powerful and resourceful, but the anime struggles to figure out what to do with her. Similarly, Colleen Clinkenbeard provides an entertaining voice for the character, but can't always cover the full range of Momo's emotions. Momo is far from a generic anime girl, but her voice implies otherwise.
6 Nailed It: Kellen Goff's Overhaul Is Villainous Perfection
Every season of My Hero Academia brings forward new and frightening threats, but Kai "Overhaul" Chisaki is easily one of the most despicable beings to enter the anime series. Overhaul and his Shie Hassaikai organization are extremely deluded, and his abuse of young Eri is utterly heartbreaking.
It's paramount that a villain of this magnitude sounds properly evil and Kellen Goff is absolute perfection. Goff has played some revered villains in other anime series, but his calculated and confident version of Overhaul is such a delight.
5 Failed: Hero Killer, Stain, Is Robbed Of Nuance By Robert McCollum
One of the more complex villains to come along in My Hero Academia is season two's Hero Killer, Stain. Stain attempts to overthrow society's status quo and incite a revolution with villains. Stain is someone who preaches controversial values, but also has a memorably disturbing character design and a Quirk that's just as aggressive.
Robert McCollum turns Stain into a terrifying presence, but it often feels like a generic villain performance. Stain is more layered than this and requires a voice with variety that can make him sound as logical as he is intimidating.
4 Nailed It: Newton Pittman Taps Into The Truly Twisted Nature Of Twice
Twice might not be the most esteemed villain in My Hero Academia, but he's unforgettable because of his deranged nature and unstable mindset. Twice's Quirk allows him to make duplicates of himself, but he's progressively lost track of this and can no longer tell if he's his original self or just a copy.
Newton Pittman goes for broke with his Twice performance and he makes the character sound just as eccentric as he should be. Twice is often referred to as My Hero Academia's version of Deadpool and Pittman's performance stays true to that.
3 Failed: Alex Organ Reduces Shota Aizawa To A Monotone Tutor
There's a fine line between characters who are reserved and those who sound checked out and bored. Shoto Todoroki, for instance, has a somewhat monotone delivery, but there's still constant emotion that’s able to sneak through. Shota Aizawa, on the other hand, isn't handled with the same complexity. Shota Aizawa should sound exasperated and worn out, but never complacent.
Alex Organ presents a closed off version of Aizawa that makes the character seem less interesting than he really is. Christopher Wehkamp eventually replaces Organ as Aizawa, but it's a comparable take that still pales in comparison to the Japanese original.
2 Nailed It: Katsuki Bakugo's Explosive Temperament Is Effortlessly Achieved By Clifford Chapin
It's important for every character in My Hero Academia to have an appropriate voice to properly display their full range. However, it's even more crucial that the main characters in the anime have quality voices, since they'll be a constant part of the series.
Katsuki Bakugo is a fan-favorite character and Clifford Chapin seems to truly understand his anime alter ego. Chapin lets loose and beautifully portrays Bakugo's explosive nature. Chapin always gives 100%, just like Bakugo, and he's truly made the role his own.
1 Failed: Eric Vale's Take On Tomura Shigaraki Isn't For Anyone
Tomura Shigaraki is one of the most dangerous characters in My Hero Academia. Eric Vale doesn't portray Shigaraki as a typical villain and he's not afraid to use a higher register that even makes Shigaraki occasionally sound whiny.
It's a very different take than Shigaraki's Japanese voice actor and it will either connect with audiences or fail to meet their expectations. Vale's performance as Shigaraki is especially significant since he ostensibly becomes the series' main villain. This means that Vale's work is subject to greater scrutiny and it's that much more important that he makes a bigger impression than the rest of the villains.