10 Marvel and DC Stars in Studio Ghibli Movies
- Studio Ghibli’s English dubs feature top-tier performances.
- Here are the top 10 actors from the Marvel and DC franchise to work for Studio Ghibli.
- From Tom Holland to Robert Pattinson, these actors brought life to Studio Ghibli’s memorable characters.
Fans usually look down on English dubs when watching anime as they believe the original Japanese dub portrays the story’s vision more clearly. However, one cannot deny the top-notch quality of English dub when it comes to Studio Ghibli movies.
Some of the best A-list actors give their voices to these roles and showcase their vocal capabilities. Coincidentally, many share a common link with other prominent cinematic universes. Here are the top 10 Marvel and DC stars to lend their voice in Studio Ghibli movies.
Tom Holland
Before starting his journey as the Spider-man, Tom Holland starred in Arrietty. Here, he played the role of Sho, changed to Shawn for the British English dub. Tom Holland’s natural boyish voice suited his character, earning praise from fans who even preferred the British version more than the American version.
His portrayal gave a new meaning to the sick boy who one day finds himself face-to-face with a tiny girl. Years later, we would go on to accept this young voice actor as the friendly neighborhood Spider-man.
Christian Bale
Christian Bale is one such artist who voluntarily offered to be a part of any Ghibli movie after watching and being smitten with Spirited Away. He thought he would get a small role, but he grabbed Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle.
Recently, he also played the role of Shoichi Maki, the father of the male protagonist Mahito from The Boy and the Heron. He did an excellent job in both roles, cementing himself as a seasoned voice actor.
Robert Pattinson
Robert Pattinson presented the performance of a lifetime with his role as the Heron in The Boy and the Heron. In a conversation with David Ehrlich of Indiewire, Rodney Uhler from GKIDS claims Pattinson was
giddy with excitement
when he was offered the role. His efforts indeed showed as he pulled off a gritty and nasally voice perfect for a character as enigmatic as the Heron.
Florence Pugh
Florence Pugh also joins the cast of The Boy and the Heron, where she plays the old and young version of Kiriko. She is so brilliant in her role that her voice is almost unrecognizable from her natural tone.
Florence would have to master both an emotional and a comic style, which she achieved wonderfully.
Cate Blanchett
We hear Cate Blanchett as the sea goddess Granmamare and Ponyo’s mother from the Ghibli movie Ponyo. Her role was indeed brief, but her voice left a lasting impact on those who heard it. She depicted the ethereal aspect of her part very well, revealing what truly can be the voice of a goddess.
Matt Damon
Matt Damon received a small but important part as Koichi, the father of Sosuke, the male lead, in Ponyo. He exudes a natural charm in his character and delivers a nice performance that captures the essence of an experienced ship captain. The way he displayed an urgency in his voice made Koichi’s situation more believable.
Mark Hamill
Mark Hamill is famous for a lot of things. He has voiced Joker, acted as Trickster, and the legendary Jedi master Luke Skywalker from Star Wars. However, many might not know that he portrayed the suave yet downright villainous antagonist, Muska from Laputa: Castle in the Sky.
Mark Hamill’s ability to blend in with any character shines in his portrayal of the corrupt government official.
Michael Keaton
Michael Keaton is no stranger to voice acting as he has voiced Chick Hicks from Cars, Jack Crowley from The Simpsons, etc. He is also one of the very few to appear in both the Marvel and DC universe. But his portrayal of Porco Rosso from Porco Rosso is vastly different from his usual depictions, as here we see him much more subdued.
It is as if he could feel the hatred and guilt that Porco Rosso had within him for being a soldier.
Hailee Steinfeld
Hailee’s portrayal of Anna from When Marnie Was There was just perfect. She captured the low self-esteemed little girl exceptionally well with her raw emotions. We also see how talented Hailee is as a voice actor when she joins the cast of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse as Gwen Stacy or Spider-Woman.
Kirsten Dunst
Despite portraying the character of a mere 13-year-old, Kirsten impresses as Kiki from Kiki’s Delivery Service. She surprisingly does not feel out of place as her natural tone and vocal antics give her depiction a youthful charm.
Her addition to the cast might seem odd, but the results did not disappoint.
Studio Ghibli, Marvel, and DC ventures are so iconic and legendary that it is no wonder all the famous actors would want to be a part of it. Hopefully, we will also see more such collaborations in the future.
