Seiyuu Series: Kana Hanazawa

Welcome to next part of my Seiyuu Series where I highlight a Japanese voice actor or actress that I love hearing and/or know well. I’m pretty sure every anime otaku knows who HanaKana is, and even if you don’t know the name, I’m sure you’d recognize her voice. She’s one of my top three favorite female voice actors, and she’s extremely talented. Due to the sheer number of roles HanaKana has played, I definitely won’t be including all of them. In fact, I’m only going to mention the roles I’ve heard, and maybe not even all of those. Let’s get started.

List of Roles

(Akame ga Kill) Seryuu

(Angel Beats) Kanade/Tenshi

(Binbougami ga!) Ichiko

(Black Rock Shooter) Mato Kuroi

(Bokura wa Minna Kawai-sou) Ristu Kawai

(Bungou Stray Dogs) Lucy Maude Montgomery

(Danganronpa 3) Chiaki Nanami

(Deadman Wonderland) Shiro

(Durarara!) Anri Sonohara

(Fairy Tale) Zera

(Gabriel Dropout) Raphiel Ainsworth

(Guilty Crown) Ayase Shinomiya

(Happy Sugar Life) Satou Matsuzaka

(Ibara no Ou) Kasumi Ishiki

(Keseijuu) (Parasyte): Satomi Murano

(Monogatari series) Nadeko Sengoku

(The Irregular at Magic Highschool) Mayumi Saegusa

(Nagi no Asukara) Manaka Mukaido

(Nisekoi) Kasaki Onodera

(Orange) Naho Takamiya

(Pandora Hearts) Sharon Rainsworth

(Persona 4 Golden) Marie

(Psycho-Pass) Akane Tsunemori

(Shin Sekai Yori) Maria Akizuki

(Sora Yori mo Tooi Basho) Shirase Kobichizawa

(Steins;Gate) Mayuri Shiina

(Teekyuu) Marimo Bandou

(To LOVE-ru) Mikan Yuuki

(Tokyo Ghoul) Rize Kamishiro

(Tonari no Seki-kun) Rumi Yokoi

(WataMote) Naruse Yuu

(Yuuki Yuna is a Hero) Sonoko Nogi

(Zetsuen no Tempest) Aika Fuwa

Notes

Hanazawa has a distinct and lovely voice, which is part of why she’s such a great seiyuu. But it’s not all about innate traits. This voice actress also shines because of her ability to play a variety of roles and connect with each of them. She can play sweet and gentle characters, such as Onodera in Nisekoi. She can play melodramatic villains such as Seryu in Akame ga Kill, as well as the more calm and calculated villains like Satou in Happy Sugar Life. Mysterious and clever types like Aika from Zetsuen no Tempest are also roles HanaKana plays well. She’s even good at playing ditsy and slightly weird characters like Mayuri from Steins;Gate. This woman is amazing!!

First Time Hearing

The first time I heard Kana Hanazawa, I was watching the English sub of Steins;Gate, which I still prefer over the dub any day. As mentioned earlier, she plays Mayuri. Some fans really dislike this character, but I’ve always found her adorable and interesting. She has great importance to story in Steins;Gate and the development of its other characters.

Favorite Role

As for favorite role, I can narrow it down to three. These are Maria from Shinsekai Yori, Aika from Zetsuen no Tempest, and Akane from Psycho-Pass. The fact that I love these characters certainly has an influence here, but regardless, Hanazawa plays them excellently.