In celebration of legendary voice actor Akira Ishida's upcoming birthday on November 2, Japanese anime publication Anime! Anime! has officially launched its annual reader survey to determine his most beloved character role. Debuting in the 1990s, Ishida has established an enduring legacy across anime, video games, and foreign film dubbing, iconic for his distinctive voice tone and compelling portrayal of complex figures.
Decades of Iconic Roles
Throughout his celebrated career, Ishida has garnered critical acclaim and widespread industry recognition, earning the Best Supporting Actor Award at the 1st Seiyu Awards in 2007 and the Most Valuable Seiyu (MVS) honor at the 20th Seiyu Awards in 2026. His extensive catalog includes landmark roles such as Kaworu Nagisa in Neon Genesis Evangelion, Kotaro Katsura in Gintama, Gaara in Naruto, Athrun Zala in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, and Akaza in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
His recent momentum remains formidable, contributing voice work to high-profile projects including Yomi no Tsugai, Iwamoto Senpai no Suisen, Battle Spirits [Re] Zekkai no Sora, and the upcoming feature film Gintama: Yoshiwara in Flames. Ishida also made headlines with his reprised Japanese dubbing work for Jack Dawson in the broadcast revival of Titanic.
How to Participate
The reader poll covers all mediums where Ishida has performed, including television anime, theatrical films, original video animations (OVAs), streaming series, video games, drama CDs, and live-action dubs. Voting remains open through October 27, with the final rankings scheduled for publication shortly after. Fans interested in casting their vote can submit their choice via the official Anime! Anime! Survey Form.
