What’s your seiyuu style?
Who doesn’t have a favourite seiyuu (voice actor) or character? Many otome fans have 3…or 4…or more. Apart from the obvious appeal of a character’s design and actions within a plot, a character’s voice makes a huge difference to how players perceive him. Is his voice low and gruff? High and nasal? A voice makes a huge difference – both voice quality (the sound of the voice) and tone (the feeling an actor puts into each line).
So, what kind of character voices are your favourite? I have to admit, my knees go weak for a deep voice, whether it’s smooth or rough. Other types I can grow to love, like a quieter, more modulated voice.
But all these adjectives don’t mean squat if we’re thinking of different things, do they? Let’s use the magic of the Internetz and listen to some samples!
High:
I know several seiyuu who often do what I consider high voices. Some examples are Hoshi Souichirou (Harutoki’s Eisen/Atsumori) and most of Ishida Akira’s voices.
Fukuyama Jun as the twins in Alice
Miyano Mamoru in Bakumatsu Renka 2
Ishida Akira in Arabian’s Lost
Medium:
I categorize voices as medium when they’re either consistently in the middle range, or they’re mostly even with highs and lows throughout the role. The choice of moderation 
Kamiya Hiroshi in Dear My Sun!
Taniyama Kishou in Bakumatsu Renka 2
Low:
For whatever reason, I love deep voices in my characters. They often go with older characters (probably partly why I love ‘em!). Some examples:
Itou Kentarou in Dear My Sun! (and here he’s one of the sons! But it’s the ‘cool’ son 
Midorikawa Hikaru in Arabian’s Lost
Suwabe Junichi in Bakumatsu Renka 2
So many different types of voices!
As an otome game fan, you’ll probably recognize at least one of these clips pretty easily. But seiyuu are versatile, and often change their voices or delivery so much for a certain role that you might never guess who it’s by. I remember when I first realized that LizVaan in Harutoki 3 was Ishida Akira, I was SHOCKED. He totally changed his voice!
Here are a couple other pairs of roles with the same seiyuu:
Sugita Tomokazu: Usually I can recognize his voice immediately, but he does change it quite a bit between these two roles:
Heart no Kuni no Alice
and
VitaminX
Part of the change can be personality rather than voice, and sometimes it’s a combination, like Yoshino Hiroyuki’s transition from Bakumatsu Renka 2 to VitaminX (yeah, he sounds pretty much like that for the whole game 
).
To finish off, I’ll post one of my favourite characters – Konokage-sensei in VitaminX. I love his whole persona – he’s very tall and imposing with a shaved head (he’s often mistaken for a yakuza), but he also really likes flowers and comes from a family well-known for ikebana or kadou (花道). And his voice is perfect for the role.
素敵! Is it getting hot in here?
Do you have a certain type of voice that predisposes you to like a character more? Is there a certain seiyuu that you love no matter how they change their voice?
Oh, and sorry for the kind of limited selection of games – D3 had a bunch of clips available so I mostly used theirs. Tried to get some Neoromance ones, but theirs are all Flash (boo!)
5 Responses to “What’s your seiyuu style?”
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Diabolik Lover
Renai Banchou 2
Atelier Elkrone
Juuzaengi
Brothers Conflict
Shinigami to Shoujo
You have good taste, Lija! For me voices are also one of my favorite attributes in men, and I can’t resist a deep, sexy rumble either. You actually listed one of my favorite seiyuu already!
Junichi Suwabe // Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto
I found most of the otome sites were in flash as well, so this is from a show in which he’s voicing part of a Kabuki play. I didn’t first hear him in a game, but rather as Greed from the anime Full Metal Alchemist. Guri is my favorite character and aside from him being dead sexy I found his voice was just… fgkdlj. Totally fell in love with him back then. Junichi has a very particular affect, I suppose, that no one else can copy. My number one position probably goes to him, or else tied with Koyasu.
Ryoutarou Okiayu // TokiMemo GS Typing
Again, I didn’t initially realize he voiced characters in games since I began liking him as Shigure from Fruits Basket. Then I played GS and I KNEW Madoka (such a cute accent!) sounded familiar, so I looked him up. Even now he surprises me, as I just found out he did Akuram as well. I never expected that! I mean, talk about changing his voice – he normally does such cheery and happy-go-lucky characters, but as you mentioned personality can really end up giving someone a different tonality entirely. I suppose that’s the mark of a talented voice actor.
Takehito Koyasu // Angelique
Of course I adore the king of deep voices! He’s insanely popular, so I’m certainly not the only one that thinks he’s wonderful. Reiichi from TokiMemo. *MELT* Frick, I love Reiichi. His confession always makes me go ultra dokidoki. I used Olivie for the link since he just sounds so much “lighter” than usual, as him. And because Olivie is colorfully incredible. XD
Hideo Ishikawa // Himehibi
His voice is so dreamy and strong. Let’s see, he’s Hiroto in La Corda, Shinobu in Himehibi, Tsubaki from Yo-Jin-Bo, and one of my personal favorites, Auron from FFX. Definitely not an otome game, but still! Ah yes, another role he’s famous for is Itachi in Naruto, but that anime has worn me out recently. Or more specifically the “fans” have.
Juurouta Kosugi // Tokimemo GS
Oh man, what hasn’t he been in? Lol, I didn’t care for Amanohashi much in GS (though in one CG I covered up his awful mustache and the man actually looked fine) but his voice really did it for me. A better looking alternative would be Muneshige from Yo-Jin-Bo. Anime-wise I’ve heard him in stuff like Rayearth (Zelgado) and Utena (Akio – yum).
I think characters with higher voices can be attractive as well, it all depends on how their overall image/”feel” comes off in the end when everything is pulled together. By the way, you also sold me on Konokage. I already thought he was gorgeous from screens (okay – bald guys? I LOVE THEM – I don’t know why, just the one thing that gets me 99% of the time) but wow. He sounds great. Also you mentioned Miyake Kenta in the last post and I really like his sound so far; don’t think I’ve heard him in anything but Ayashi no Miya as of yet.
Anyway, sorry to write you a book! It was fun listening to your faves. I wish I could’ve got more clips myself but I had to resort to good ol’ youtube for the most part. And – I’m glad you have those gel things. XD Definitely give them a shot! I hate that too, about how every shoe brand seems to have a different fit and measuring system. It would certainly make it easier on the customer to just stick to one method…
Haha, you got another of my faves, Hideo Ishikawa ~sigh~ Je l’aimes, je l’aimes.
And yes, even though I have a bias for deep voices lots of higher voices can make me melt as well – like Atsumori, or Seki Toshihiko as Yoshitsune/Kurou in Harutoki 3. I guess in the end, it comes down to a combo of voice and character.
Cool find on the Suwabe clip! I first saw him in Reijou Tantei, but he’s done a few otome games since then. Juurouta I haven’t seen much in games other than Yo-jin-bou, but I loved him there.
Next time I go out in high heels I’ll stick the gel things in, and see how they do. Maybe sometime during this weekend!
Errr…The Seki of Harutoki is Tomokazu, not Toshihiko ^^;
If we talk about style, for me it’s the deep one. And Midorikawa and Okiayu top this category XD Make me melt~ Lately I’m getting into Inoue too…
Itou-sama is my absolute favourite seiyuu so I’m biased with him in whatever role he does…But I loved him the most in a scene of Houkago <33 But it’s spoilerish so I won’t say which one
Seki Tomokazu is my second, not for his voice, but for his versatility and skills, he always manages to surprise me…
Hohoho… Koyasu-samaaaa~
No seriously, I think I’m only a Koyaso Takehito fangirl because he voices the most awesome characters, not only in games but in anime too… Il-Palazzo-sama, bwahaha… I absolutely fell for him when he voiced Neuro…. that was just too awesome. He’s also just too funny as Olivie.. haha. Certainly he is THE voice. How can one person do so many different and especially weird characters… just too awesome! :3
Anyways, to me Hoshi Souichirou sound rather nasal than high… his voice disturbs me alot.
Mhhn.. in general I like.. I don’t know, it’s not a particular voice type I like, rather the way a Seiyuu uses his voice in certain roles… I loves Midorikawa Hikaru to death as Adell in Disgaea 2 but I didn’t care much for him in Tokimeki GS or other games…
Same with Ishida Akira, didn’t care much for him in TMGS, Shining Wind and other games/anime but loved him as Yasuaki in Harukanaru or Shin in Nana…
I think I like medium voices who sound a little naughty… but I also like deep, gentle voices.. and high, submissive voices.. lol. It really depends on the character, only Koyasu is my true nosebleed material. :3
Haha, I always say the wrong name if I’m not careful. D’oh!