Celebs Who Voice Both Saturday Morning Cartoons and R-Rated Anime

Many actors build diverse careers by lending their voices to projects with vastly different target audiences. Some performers transition seamlessly between wholesome children’s programming and mature animated features filled with graphic content. Fans of Saturday morning cartoons may be surprised to learn that their childhood heroes also voiced characters in gritty R-rated anime. This list explores twenty talented individuals who have worked on both ends of the animation spectrum.

Bryan Cranston

Bryan Cranston is best known today for his award-winning live action roles in prestigious television dramas. He actually began his career providing voices for monsters in the ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ series that aired on Saturday mornings. He famously voiced the hotheaded pilot Isamu Dyson in the English dub of ‘Macross Plus’. This anime miniseries contains intense violence and adult themes that contrast sharply with his work for children.

Mark Hamill

Mark Hamill became an animation legend through his portrayal of the Joker in ‘Batman: The Animated Series’. His menacing laugh and theatrical performance defined the character for a generation of young viewers. He took on a much darker role as the character Bin in ‘Afro Samurai: Resurrection’. This film features extreme bloodshed and mature content that goes far beyond standard superhero cartoons.

Ron Perlman

Ron Perlman voiced the villainous Slade in the popular ‘Teen Titans’ animated series on Cartoon Network. His intimidating and calculated delivery made him one of the most memorable antagonists in children’s television. He later lent his deep voice to the character Justice in the ‘Afro Samurai’ television series. The show is known for its stylized violence and adult sensibilities.

Kiefer Sutherland

Kiefer Sutherland is famous for his intense action roles in live television and film. He provided the voice for Bron in the children’s animated movie ‘The Land Before Time X’. He also voiced the detective Ross Sylibus in the cyberpunk anime ‘Armitage III: Poly-Matrix’. This film features strong language and violence that earned it a restrictive rating.

Pamela Adlon

Pamela Adlon voiced the tough but lovable Spinelli in the hit Disney cartoon ‘Recess’. Her raspy voice was perfect for the tomboy character who ruled the playground. She showed a different side of her range as the vampire hunter Leila in ‘Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust’. This anime movie is renowned for its gothic horror aesthetic and graphic violence.

Tony Jay

Tony Jay possessed a distinctively deep baritone voice that he used for Shere Khan in ‘TaleSpin’. This Disney show was a staple of Saturday morning lineups during the early nineties. He also voiced the ancient vampire Count Magnus Lee in the cult classic anime ‘Vampire Hunter D’. The film is filled with horror elements and gore that make it unsuitable for younger audiences.

Steve Blum

Steve Blum voiced the alien warlord Vilgax in the original ‘Ben 10’ series for Cartoon Network. He is arguably even more famous for voicing Spike Spiegel in ‘Cowboy Bebop’. While the series is rated for teens, the subsequent movie features violence that pushes into mature territory. He also voiced characters in the ultra-violent ‘Ninja Scroll: The Series’.

Wendee Lee

Wendee Lee voiced the kind and gentle T.K. Takaishi in the original ‘Digimon Adventure’ series. She became a fixture of Saturday morning television through her work on this popular monster franchise. She also voiced the poisonous ninja Kagero in the movie ‘Ninja Scroll’. This film is infamous among anime fans for its extreme sexual violence and gore.

Johnny Yong Bosch

Johnny Yong Bosch voiced the protagonist Nate Adams in the Disney XD broadcast of ‘Yo-Kai Watch’. He is a recognizable figure in children’s entertainment due to his background as a Power Ranger. He delivered a legendary performance as Kaneda in the Pioneer dub of ‘Akira’. This cyberpunk masterpiece is rated R for its graphic mutations and intense action scenes.

Crispin Freeman

Crispin Freeman voiced the supervillain Electro in ‘The Spectacular Spider-Man’ animated series. He often plays sophisticated characters in shows targeted at younger demographics. He is also the voice of Alucard in the horror anime ‘Hellsing’ and its OVA ‘Hellsing Ultimate’. These projects are celebrated for their stylized bloodshed and dark supernatural themes.

Mary Elizabeth McGlynn

Mary Elizabeth McGlynn voiced Dr. Maheswaran in the acclaimed Cartoon Network series ‘Steven Universe’. Her warm and authoritative tone fit the role of the caring mother perfectly. She took on a much colder persona as Major Motoko Kusanagi in ‘Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex’. The franchise deals with complex philosophical questions and features mature sci-fi violence.

Joshua Seth

Joshua Seth is the well-known voice of Tai Kamiya in the ‘Digimon Adventure’ series. His energetic performance defined the leader of the DigiDestined for millions of kids. He also voiced the troubled psychic Tetsuo Shima in the 2001 dub of ‘Akira’. The character undergoes a grotesque transformation that is one of the most disturbing scenes in anime history.

Kirk Thornton

Kirk Thornton voices Shadow the Hedgehog in the ‘Sonic Boom’ animated series. The show is a comedy-action series aimed squarely at younger video game fans. He also voiced the character Taki in the supernatural horror film ‘Wicked City’. This movie is notorious for its combination of demonic horror and explicit sexual content.

Liam O’Brien

Liam O’Brien voiced the Red Skull in the Disney XD series ‘Avengers Assemble’. He plays the villainous role with a menacing flair suitable for a superhero action show. He also voices the swordsman Guts in the ‘Berserk’ film trilogy. The ‘Berserk’ franchise is synonymous with extreme violence and dark fantasy themes.

Beau Billingslea

Beau Billingslea voiced Ogremon and various other digital monsters in ‘Digimon Adventure’. His deep voice often lent itself to tough guys and villains in kid-friendly shows. He voiced the former cop Jet Black in the mature anime series ‘Cowboy Bebop’. The show tackles adult themes of loss and existentialism alongside its gunfights.

Bridget Hoffman

Bridget Hoffman voiced the sweet and fashion-conscious Mimi Tachikawa in ‘Digimon Adventure’. She was a core member of the cast for the English adaptation of the children’s show. She also voiced the pop idol Mima Kirigoe in the psychological thriller ‘Perfect Blue’. This film is an R-rated examination of stalking and identity that is disturbing and intense.

John DiMaggio

John DiMaggio is beloved as the voice of Jake the Dog in ‘Adventure Time’. The character is known for his humor and heart in the whimsical fantasy land of Ooo. He also voiced the rock monster Rokimon in ‘Ninja Scroll: The Series’. The show maintains the grim tone and graphic violence of the original film.

Kari Wahlgren

Kari Wahlgren voiced various characters in the hit Disney channel show ‘Phineas and Ferb’. She has an extensive resume in children’s animation including roles in ‘Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness’. She voiced the chaotic alien Haruko in ‘FLCL’. She also voiced characters in the violent vampire series ‘Hellsing Ultimate’.

Yuri Lowenthal

Yuri Lowenthal voiced the teenage hero Ben Tennyson in ‘Ben 10: Alien Force’. He became a superstar in the voice acting world through this iconic superhero role. He also voiced the teddy bear headed warrior Kuma in ‘Afro Samurai’. The character engages in brutal combat within a world filled with bloodshed.

Matthew Mercer

Matthew Mercer voiced Tygra in the 2011 reboot of ‘ThunderCats’ on Cartoon Network. He played the architect and invisible warrior of the feline team. He also voiced the ruthlessly pragmatic Kiritsugu Emiya in ‘Fate/Zero’. This series is a dark battle royale featuring tragic deaths and mature psychological elements.

Let us know in the comments which of these voice acting credits surprised you the most.