Voice Actors Who Quit Anime Series Mid-Season

Voice acting is a vital component of anime production, providing the emotional core for beloved characters through distinct vocal performances. However, various circumstances such as health issues, personal scandals, or contractual disputes sometimes force a change in the cast during a series’ run. These transitions can be jarring for fans who have grown accustomed to a specific actor’s portrayal of a character. This list examines several instances where prominent voice actors had to step down from their roles, leading to a mid-season or mid-series replacement. The following entries highlight the complex nature of maintaining consistency in long-running animated productions.

Tatsuhisa Suzuki

Tatsuhisa Suzuki was the original voice for Anos Voldigoad in the first season of ‘The Misfit of Demon King Academy’. Following a publicized personal scandal and a subsequent health-related hiatus, the production committee announced his departure from the role. Yuichiro Umehara took over the lead character for the second season and all subsequent animated installments. This change occurred despite the character’s immense popularity and Suzuki’s established performance during the show’s initial success. The transition was part of a larger withdrawal from several of his high-profile ongoing projects at the time.

Takahiro Sakurai

Takahiro Sakurai was originally cast as Haruaki Kurama in the original anime project ‘Ayaka’. However, following reports regarding his private life, the production team decided to replace him to avoid further controversy before the series aired. He was also replaced in the ‘Mononoke’ film project where he was set to reprise his role as the Medicine Seller. These changes took place during the production phases of these titles, necessitating re-recordings of his previous work. His departure marked a significant shift for several franchises where he had been a mainstay for years.

Risa Taneda

Risa Taneda voiced the character Erina Nakiri during the first two seasons of ‘Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma’. In 2016, she announced an indefinite hiatus from voice acting to undergo treatment for a throat-related illness. Because of her medical leave, she was unable to participate in the third season of the series as it entered production. Hisako Kanemoto was selected to step into the role of Erina to ensure the production schedule remained on track for the new episodes. Taneda eventually returned to the industry but did not resume this specific role in the franchise.

Akira Kamiya

Akira Kamiya provided the iconic voice for Kogoro Mouri in ‘Detective Conan’ for over a decade. In 2009, he abruptly left the series due to a breach of contract and disagreements regarding trust with the production staff. This departure shocked the fanbase, as his portrayal of the character was considered a staple of the long-running show. Rikiya Koyama was quickly cast to take over the role starting from episode 553 of the anime. Kamiya later expressed his regrets over the situation on his personal blog, marking the end of an era for the series.

Vic Mignogna

Vic Mignogna was the voice of Qrow Branwen in the popular web-anime ‘RWBY’ starting from the third volume. Following a series of sexual harassment allegations and an internal investigation by Rooster Teeth, the company terminated its professional relationship with him. As a result, Mignogna was replaced by Jason Liebrecht for Volume 7 and all subsequent appearances of the character. This decision also extended to his role as Broly in the ‘Dragon Ball’ franchise during the production of ‘Dragon Ball Super: Broly’. The replacement caused significant discussion within the English-dubbing community and changed the vocal direction for several characters.

Keiji Fujiwara

Keiji Fujiwara was the longtime voice of Hiroshi Nohara in ‘Crayon Shin-chan’ and Leorio in ‘Hunter x Hunter’. In 2016, he took a leave of absence to seek medical treatment for cancer, leading to his temporary replacement in several ongoing series. Toshiyuki Morikawa took over his role in ‘Crayon Shin-chan’ during this period to keep the character active in the weekly broadcasts. Although Fujiwara eventually returned to work for a short time, his health continued to fluctuate until his passing in 2020. His roles were eventually permanently recast to honor his legacy while continuing the long-running stories.

Kazunari Tanaka

Kazunari Tanaka voiced Keishin Ukai, the coach of the Karasuno High School volleyball team, in ‘Haikyuu!!’. During the production of the third season, Tanaka passed away suddenly due to a brain hemorrhage. His final recorded lines were aired in the eighth episode of that season, leaving the production team to find a replacement immediately. Hisao Egawa was brought in to voice the character for the remainder of the season and all subsequent animated content. The cast and staff paid tribute to Tanaka’s contribution to the show’s success during this difficult transition.

Ayumi Fujimura

Ayumi Fujimura is known for voicing characters like Neferpitou in ‘Hunter x Hunter’ and Eevee in ‘Pokémon’. In 2019, her agency announced that she would be taking an indefinite hiatus from all voice acting activities. This led to her being replaced in several active roles, including her character in the second season of ‘The Promised Neverland’. The agency did not provide specific reasons for her departure, leading to much speculation among fans regarding her sudden exit. Her roles have since been filled by various other prominent voice actresses to ensure continuity.

Tomoko Kawakami

Tomoko Kawakami was the original voice of Soi Fon in the hit series ‘Bleach’. She was forced to step down from the role mid-series after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Houko Kuwashima took over the part to ensure the character’s storyline could continue without interruption during the Soul Society arc. Kawakami fought the illness for several years before passing away in 2011. Her performance is still remembered fondly by the staff and fans of the ‘Bleach’ community today.

Daisuke Gōri

Daisuke Gōri was the voice of Mr. Satan and Enma Daio in the ‘Dragon Ball’ franchise for many years. During the production of ‘Dragon Ball Kai’, which was a remastered version of the original series, Gōri tragically passed away. The production had to find a new actor to voice the character for the remaining episodes of the Cell and Buu arcs. Unshō Ishizuka was eventually chosen to take over the role of the martial arts champion in ‘Dragon Ball Kai’ and subsequent projects. This change marked a somber moment for the long-running martial arts anime franchise.

Hirotaka Suzuoki

Hirotaka Suzuoki was famous for voicing Bright Noa in ‘Mobile Suit Gundam’ and Giovanni in ‘Pokémon’. He passed away in 2006 due to lung cancer while both franchises were still in active production cycles. In ‘Pokémon’, the role of the Team Rocket leader was passed to Kenta Miyake to continue the character’s presence in the anime. Suzuoki’s deep, authoritative voice was a hallmark of his characters, making the replacement a difficult task for the sound directors. He remains one of the most respected figures in the history of Japanese voice acting.

Kaneto Shiozawa

Kaneto Shiozawa was a prolific voice actor known for his unique, silky voice in series like ‘Crayon Shin-chan’ and ‘Fist of the North Star’. He played the character Buriburizaemon in ‘Crayon Shin-chan’ until his untimely death in 2000 after an accidental fall. Out of respect for his iconic performance, the character remained silent or was written out of the show for 16 years. It wasn’t until 2016 that Hiroshi Kamiya was officially cast to succeed him in the role. This long gap highlighted the profound impact Shiozawa had on the production and his peers.

Takeshi Aono

Takeshi Aono was a veteran voice actor who voiced Dracule Mihawk in ‘One Piece’ and Shiro Fujimoto in ‘Blue Exorcist’. He suffered a stroke in 2010 which forced him to retire from his ongoing roles mid-production. Due to his inability to return to the studio, the role of Mihawk was recast with Hirohiko Kakegawa for the Marineford arc. Aono’s distinctive rasp had defined several legendary characters across multiple decades of anime history. He passed away in 2012, leaving behind a massive legacy in the animation industry.

Ichirō Nagai

Ichirō Nagai was the voice of Chairman Isaac Netero in the 2011 adaptation of ‘Hunter x Hunter’. He passed away in early 2014, right in the middle of the show’s pivotal Chimera Ant arc production. Because the character of Netero was central to the ongoing conflict, the role was quickly recast with Ginzō Matsuo. Nagai had already recorded several key episodes, allowing the transition to happen between major plot points in the story. His legendary career spanned over fifty years, making his sudden departure a major loss for the project.

Kiyoshi Kobayashi

Kiyoshi Kobayashi was the final remaining original cast member of the ‘Lupin the Third’ franchise, voicing Daisuke Jigen for over five decades. In 2021, he announced his retirement from the role during the production of ‘Lupin the Third Part 6’. He voiced the character for the first episode of the season, which served as a formal goodbye to his long tenure. Akio Otsuka took over the role for the remainder of the season and all subsequent projects. Kobayashi passed away less than a year after his final performance as the iconic marksman.

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