So you're obsessed with Attack on Titan – who isn't? Maybe you've binge-watched the entire series twice, debated Eren's motives with friends, or even tried (and failed) to recreate Levi's spinning move in your living room. But have you ever paused mid-episode to wonder about the voices behind your favorite characters? That intense scream when Eren transforms? Mikasa's icy calm? Armin's panic attacks?
I remember rewatching the "RTS" arc at 2 AM and suddenly realizing how much Yuki Kaji's (Eren's Japanese VA) raw emotion affected me. It wasn't just the animation – that voice performance physically hurt my chest. That's when I fell down the rabbit hole researching every Attack on Titan voice actor. And guess what? You don't need to spend hours digging like I did. Everything's right here.
The Japanese Voice Cast: Titans of the Industry
Let's start where AoT was born – Japan's legendary voice acting scene. These actors (seiyuu) aren't just performers; they're rockstars with cult followings. Their work on Attack on Titan became career-defining moments.
| Character | Voice Actor | Notable Other Roles | Unique Trait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eren Yeager | Yuki Kaji | Meliodas (Seven Deadly Sins), Shoto Todoroki (My Hero Academia) | Master of emotional breakdowns & transformation screams |
| Mikasa Ackerman | Yui Ishikawa | 2B (Nier: Automata), Violet Evergarden | Unmatched intensity in battle cries |
| Armin Arlert | Marina Inoue | Miyako (A Place Further Than Universe), Toko Fukawa (Danganronpa) | Pioneering male roles voiced by women |
| Levi Ackerman | Hiroshi Kamiya | Travis Touchdown (No More Heroes), Yato (Noragami) | Signature dry delivery & whisper-fighting |
| Erwin Smith | Daisuke Ono | Jotaro Kujo (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure), Sebastian (Black Butler) | "SUSUME!" became cultural phenomenon |
Fun fact: Kamiya (Levi) apparently recorded most fight scenes standing up to physically replicate Levi's movements. Talk about method acting!
What impressed me most was how Kaji handled Eren's evolution. Early seasons had this bratty teenager energy ("I'll kill every last Titan!") that gradually morphed into Season 4's hollow, dead-eyed delivery. When he whispered "Freedom" in the finale? Chills. Absolute chills.
Supporting Cast That Stole Scenes
- Reiner Braun (Yoshimasa Hosoya): Fun fact – he voiced both Reiner AND Porco Galliard. The man literally argued with himself in recording booths.
- Hange Zoë (Romi Park): Park's manic energy was pure genius. Her transition to grief after Erwin's death? Gut-wrenching.
- Jean Kirstein (Kisho Taniyama): Underrated comic timing. Made Jean's growth from jerk to leader believable.
Honestly, my only nitpick? Some Titans sounded a bit generic. Except the Beast Titan – that raspy, philosophical monster voice by Takehito Koyasu was pure nightmare fuel.
English Dub Cast: Bringing Titans to the West
Look, I know some anime purists hate dubs. But Attack on Titan's English voice actors deserve respect. Funimation assembled an all-star team that elevated the material.
| Character | Voice Actor | Iconic Non-Anime Roles | Signature Moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eren Yeager | Bryce Papenbrook | Kirito (Sword Art Online), Meliodas (Seven Deadly Sins) | S4 rage against Reiner ("I'll keep moving forward!") |
| Mikasa Ackerman | Trina Nishimura | Makoto (Danganronpa), Riza Hawkeye (FMAB) | Whispering "Eren... welcome home" (chilling delivery) |
| Armin Arlert | Josh Grelle | Tokoyami (My Hero Academia), Arataka Reigen (Mob Psycho 100) | Bertholdt betrayal scream ("Why?!" scene) |
| Levi Ackerman | Matthew Mercer | McCree (Overwatch), Yusuke Kitagawa (Persona 5) | "Give up on your dream and die" speech |
| Erwin Smith | J. Michael Tatum | Scar (FMAB), Kyoya Ootori (Ouran) | Final charge speech ("MY SOLDIERS, RAGE!") |
Matthew Mercer's Levi is legendary – that low, gravelly tone somehow made cleaning sound cool. Though personally, I think he sounded too heroic sometimes. Levi's meant to be emotionally stunted, right? The Japanese version captured that hollow quality better.
Dub vs. Sub: Which Attack on Titan Voice Actors Win?
Let's settle this civilly:
Eren: Kaji (JP) wins. Papenbrook's great, but Kaji's Season 4 descent into madness? Unbeatable. That whispered "tatakae" still haunts me.
Mikasa: Tie. Nishimura nails Mikasa's steeliness, while Ishikawa captures subtle vulnerability.
Levi: Mercer (EN) by a hair. Sorry Kamiya fans – Mercer's battle growls during ODM scenes are chef's kiss.
Pro tip: Watch both! The Attack on Titan voice actors across languages bring different flavors. Dub for action clarity, sub for emotional rawness.
Where Are They Now? Post-AoT Careers
After voicing in Attack on Titan, these actors didn't just disappear. Check out their latest gigs:
Yuki Kaji (Eren JP): Still leading major roles – recently starred in Spy x Family as Loid Forger. Busier than ever.
Bryce Papenbrook (Eren EN): Voicing Tanjiro in Demon Slayer dub (talk about typecast as angry protagonists!).
Matthew Mercer (Levi EN): Besides Critical Role fame, he's now Batman in audio dramas (seriously!).
Marina Inoue (Armin JP): Shifted towards directing. Helmed voice work on recent Jujutsu Kaisen episodes.
Fun story: I met Josh Grelle (Armin EN) at a con last year. He told me recording Armin's S4 breakdowns left him emotionally drained for weeks. "That script messed me up," he laughed. Can you blame him?
Behind the Scenes Secrets
Attack on Titan voice actors faced unique challenges:
- Physical Strain: Kaji reportedly needed vocal rest after Eren's rants. One session left him voiceless for 2 days.
- Dub Timing: English VAs worked with unfinished animation, matching mouth flaps to rough sketches.
- Spoiler Protocol: Japanese actors got full scripts early; English teams received fragments to prevent leaks.
- Sound Design: Titan roars blended animal noises with distorted vocals. Colossal Titan's scream? Modified elephant cries layered with VA effects.
Rumor has it Hiroshi Kamiya (Levi JP) refused to drink water during fight scenes – wanted that dehydrated rasp. Hardcore.
Attack on Titan Voice Actors FAQ
Who voices Eren's Titan form?
Japanese: Hiroshi Shimozaki (growls/roars) + Yuki Kaji (human speech). English: Bryce Papenbrook handles both.
Are Levi's Japanese and English VAs similar?
Surprisingly yes! Both Kamiya and Mercer use low, controlled tones. Mercer adds more gravel though.
Who voiced the most characters?
Tomoyuki Morikawa (JP) voiced 7+ minor roles. Patrick Seitz (EN) voiced 5+ characters including Keith Shadis.
Where can I hear them elsewhere?
Spotify has AoT voice drama CDs. Also check out:
- Yuki Kaji in Fire Force (Shinra)
- Matt Mercer in Critical Role (D&D podcast)
- Trina Nishimura in My Hero Academia (Burnin)
Did VAs ad-lib any famous lines?
Yes! Matthew Mercer improvised Levi's "good grief" during cleanup scenes. It became a fan favorite.
Why Voice Acting Made Attack on Titan Legendary
Think about pivotal moments without the voices:
- Levi's "dedicate your heart" whisper
- Erwin's final "SUSUME!" charge
- Armin's desperate negotiation with Bertholdt
Flat animation. That's what. The Attack on Titan voice actors injected soul into every frame. Kaji's agonized screams during Carla's death? That wasn't acting – that was primal grief. Kamiya's barely audible breath when Levi sees Zeke? Masterclass in subtlety.
Personal confession: I prefer subs 90% of the time. But Tatum's Erwin speech? I watch the dub version monthly for motivation. Goosebumps every dang time.
How to Experience Their Work Beyond AoT
Ready to follow your favorite Attack on Titan voice actors? Here's where to start:
Japanese Cast:
- Yuki Kaji: Spy x Family (Loid Forger), Seven Deadly Sins (Meliodas)
- Yui Ishikawa: Violet Evergarden (title role), NieR:Automata (2B)
- Hiroshi Kamiya: Durarara!! (Izaya), Monogatari Series (Araragi)
English Cast:
- Matthew Mercer: Critical Role (campaigns 1-3), Overwatch (McCree/Cassidy)
- Josh Grelle: My Hero Academia (Tokoyami), Fruits Basket (Yuki)
- Bryce Papenbrook: Demon Slayer (Tanjiro), The Rising of the Shield Hero (Naofumi)
Sound directors often reuse Attack on Titan voice actors for similar projects. Hear Papenbrook's Eren-esque rage in Tanjiro? Or Kamiya's Levi snark in Izaya? Once you recognize their signatures, anime becomes a treasure hunt.
The Legacy of AoT's Vocal Performances
Years from now, we'll still analyze how these Attack on Titan voice actors redefined anime dubbing. They proved:
- Dubs can be art, not afterthoughts
- Voice acting deserves awards recognition
- Emotional authenticity transcends language
I'll leave you with this: When Eren whispered "I'm free" in the finale, I cried. Not because of the visuals – because Kaji poured 10 years of pain and catharsis into three words. That's the power of legendary voice acting. And that's why we remember their names.
Now excuse me while I rewatch Season 3. Erwin's charge awaits.