How to Start Your Career in Anime Voice Acting

voice over artist

Anime voice acting is an exciting and rewarding career for those passionate about bringing animated characters to life. If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a voice actor for anime, this guide will help you navigate the industry, find voice acting jobs, and build a successful career in voice-over work.

  1. Get Familiar with Anime’s Style
     Colleen explains that anime dubbing is trickier than it looks. “It’s both more difficult and less appreciated than other voice acting,” she says. You’ve got to nail cold reads, adjust your timing to match animated mouth movements, and make emotional sense of odd pauses. She calls it “left-brain acting”—a mix of science and puzzle-solving that sets it apart from video game or commercial work. Watching tons of anime can help you get a feel for its rhythm and quirks.
  2. Practice Reading Out Loud
     Grab a line of dialogue and play with it. Colleen suggests finding three or four ways to say it that still fit the scene. Being flexible with how you deliver a line is a huge asset—it keeps you from getting stuck on one tone or style.
  3. Listen to Yourself
     Record your voice and listen closely. Are your words clear? Are you rushing? Got an accent or speech habit you want to tweak? Colleen says it’s all fixable: “You just need to be real with yourself about what to work on.”
  4. Take Some Classes
     Acting workshops or coaching can sharpen your skills. There are even programs tailored to anime voice acting, like:
    • Adventures in Voice Acting
    • The VoiceOver Network
    • Outschool
    • The Voice Shop
    • Voices Carey
    • Anime Artist Academy

Build Your Network
 Knowing people in the industry can open doors. Colleen notes that many aspiring dubbers are anime fans who dive into the community—hitting up conventions, joining workshops with pros, or even making fan dubs for practice. Others start on the tech side, like sound engineering, and work their way in. Anime conventions (think Anime NYC, Sakura-Con, or Anime Expo) are goldmines for meeting voice actors and company reps.

Gear You’ll Need

To land auditions, you’ll need a demo reel—and that means setting up a basic recording space. You don’t need to splurge right away. Here’s the starter kit:

  • A decent microphone
  • Recording software
  • Headphones
  • A computer

Colleen suggests getting advice from a pro to avoid costly mistakes early on. As you grow, you can upgrade to a full home studio. “It’s pricey,” she admits, “but being able to record yourself is a game-changer for auditions.” Her studio? A bedroom closet that does the trick.

How to Audition for Anime Dubbing

An agent can make auditioning smoother, but you can start on your own too. Here’s how:

  1. Make a Demo Reel
     Use scripts from voice acting classes or pick dialogue from anime you love. Show off your range—create characters and adapt to the script’s vibe. Order your clips like this:
    • Big Names: Lead with any pro work tied to recognizable titles.
    • Your Best Stuff: Highlight your talent here.
    • Unique Flair: Prove you’ve got variety.
  2. Hunt for Jobs
     Open casting calls for anime are everywhere—each gig builds your reel. To ace an audition:
    • Study the script and its deeper meaning.
    • Research the project—watch episodes, learn the creator’s style.
    • Record a practice run to check your delivery.
    • Skip coffee or alcohol; stick to water or tea.
    • Practice breathing exercises for a strong performance.
  3. Land an Agent
     A good agent finds gigs for you. To snag one:
    • Research reps using sites like Voice Over Resource Guide or Backstage.
    • Ask your network for intros.
    • Write a short, standout cover letter about why you love anime dubbing.
  4. Follow Submission Rules
     Check if agencies are accepting demos and what they want. Peek at their clients to see how you can stand out.

How Much Do Anime Voice Actors Earn?

ZipRecruiter says U.S. voice actors average around $100,000 a year, but it ranges from $11,000 to $160,000 depending on location and experience. You’ll likely get paid hourly, and union status matters. Nonunion rates can be $35–$125 an hour, while SAG-AFTRA members earn at least $95 per hour (rising to $103 by July 2025), with residuals on top.

Famous Anime Voice Actors

Here are some big names killing it in dubbing:

  • Laura Bailey: Star of “Dragon Ball Z” and “The Last of Us: Part II.”
  • Johnny Yong Bosch: The voice of Kaneda in “Akira.”
  • Colleen Clinkenbeard: Luffy in “One Piece” and more.
  • Wendee Lee: A legend from “Sailor Moon” to “Naruto.”

Christopher Sabat: Dragon Ball Z’s go-to guy.
Colleen says their secret? Talent, sure—but also being easy to work with and mastering dubbing’s technical side.

North American Anime Companies

Curious where the magic happens? Check out these key players:

  • AnimEigo: Pioneers in North Carolina with “Bubblegum Crisis.”
  • Aniplex of America: Santa Monica’s hub for “Demon Slayer.”
  • Crunchyroll: Streaming giant with 13 million subscribers.
  • Sentai Filmworks: Houston-based, dubbing “Lupin the 3rd.”

VIZ Media: San Francisco’s manga and anime titan.