Studio Ghiblifilms have always been known for their stellar, high-quality voice acting, with each actor perfectly fitting the role of their given character. In both the original Japanese versions and the English dubbed versions,the films' voice actors do a fantastic job of captivating watchers with their immersive voice actingwork that brings the characters to life.
A little known fact, particularly about the English dubbed versions of Studio Ghibli films, is that manyHollywood A-List actors and other personalities have offered their iconic voicesto characters in the franchise. From Christian Bale to Noah Cyrus, so many big names have been featured in the credits of Studio Ghibli films, and these are ten of the coolest by far that some viewers might not even have known about.
The 2013 filmThe Wind Riseswas based on a true story about Japanese aviation engineer, Jiro Horikoshi. The film outlines the gifted creator’s life and various inventions, including the World War II fighter plane. American actor,Joseph Gordon-Levitt brought the acclaimed creator to lifein the English version of the film.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s most popular films includeInception,Knives Out,and10 Things I Hate About You,among others. He was an amazing choice for Jiro, and his years of voice acting work helped him portray the character perfectly. Gordon-Levitt was actually not the only celebrity appearance in the movie either;John Krasinski voiced Kiro Honjo, Jiro’s close friend.
Porco Rossofeaturesone of the most creative premises of any Studio Ghibli film, telling the story of a pilot who was confusingly transformed into a pig during World War I. The titular main character,Porco, was voiced by Michael Keaton, who pulled off an amazing performance, capturing the emotional nuance of the character.
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The film itself is quite underrated, but it certainly deserves a watch, not only because of the intriguingly unique plot, but because of how Keaton brings Porco to life with only his voice. Keaton has appeared in films such asthe 1989 version ofBatman, The Founder,andSpider-Man: Homecoming.This wide range of films proves his versatility and ability to portray seemingly any character.
Hollywood sister duo,Dakota and Elle Fanning, actually portrayed a fictional pair of sistersin the award-winning Studio Ghibli film,My Neighbor Totoro.Dakota plays Satsuki, the older of the two, and Elle plays the younger sister, Mei.My Neighbor Totorois one of Studio Ghibli’sgreatest films, following the sisters as they meet the adorable creatures that lurk around their new home, most notably, Totoro himself.
The film is a heart-rending one, and amidst the cuter scenes of playful animal-like spirits, there are arguments between the sisters as they confront the reality of their mother’s hospitalization that caused them to move to their new house in the first place. The movie would not be the same without Dakota and Elle’s voice acting, and since they are already sisters in real life,their performance as Mei and Satsuki feels even more believable and authentic.
Hailee Steinfeld is extremely multitalented, working as an actress, musician, model, and voice actress. One of her most emotionally provoking performances was Anna Sasaki inWhen Marnie Was There,which isa touching story that delves into topics like disability, illness, and grief.
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Steinfeld is certainly no stranger to voice acting and actually already has an accomplished career in the field, including incredible roles likeSpider-Gwen inSpider-Man: Into the Spider-VerseandSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verseand Vi inArcane.Steinfeld’s voice acting made the already moving story ofWhen Marnie Was Thereeven more so, and her character, Anna’s, interactions with Marnie are some of the best, most tear-jerking moments of the film.
Mark Hamill, best known for hisStar Warsfame as Luke Skywalker, is also an extraordinary voice actor. Hamill was not just featured in one Studio Ghibli film, he actually acted astwo different characters: Colonel MuskainCastle in the Skyand Mayor of Pejite inNausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.
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These were not Hamill’s first voice acting gigs, as he started voice acting in the early 70s and played countless different characters in shows and movies.His most famous voice acting role is his rendition of the JokerinBatman: The Animated Series.Hamill proved himself to be very skilled at acting as antagonistic, villainous characters, and both of these Ghibli roles fit that description, making them excellent uses of his talents.
One of the most unforgettably adorable Studio Ghibli characters is, without a doubt, Calcifer fromHowl’s Moving Castle.The charismatic ball of fire is not just Howl’s sidekick, he isa pivotal character in the film with many wise life lessons to share with characters like Howl and Sophie,which helps them on their journeys.
American actor and comedian Billy Crystal helped turn Calcifier into the cultural icon he is today by adding his vibrant personality and humor to the role. He has alsovoiced other characters, like Mike Wazowski inMonsters Inc.and a Villager inLuca,and it seems that every character he lends his voice to becomes beloved by fans, which is a testament to his skill.
Noah Cyrus may be well-known for her music career, but she has also had some noteworthy acting roles too. She appeared inAmerican Horror Stories,as well asher most recognizable role as Ponyo in Studio Ghibli’s 2009 film of the same name.Ponyo is a goldfish princess who lives in the ocean but forms a surprising friendship with a human boy named Sosuke.
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The film is filled with magic, whimsy, and even somedarker scenes and nerve-wracking danger when Ponyoattempts to leave her ocean village and live on the land with her new friend, Sosuke, instead. Noah Cyrus did a beautiful job playing the role of Ponyo, transforming herself into the five-year-old goldfish princess with ease. It is truly astounding how great of a job the actress did at capturing Ponyo’s emotions and personality, sinceshe was only nine years old herself at the time of the film’s English dubbed version recording.
The Secret World of Arriettyis one of the most magical, fantastical Ghibli films ever, but there is another surprise fans may not realize about the film:the main character, Sho (changed to Shawn in the English dubbed version), was voiced by Tom Holland.Tom Holland is a very famous actor, most notably known for his role as Spider-Man in the Marvel franchise.
Sho and the tiny girl, Arrietty, form an unlikely friendship, filled with joy and warmth, but also sad moments, such as Sho’s illness he struggles with throughout the film and the danger Arrietty and her family are in due to their very small size. Holland’s voice acting is exceptional, not onlymaking his character feel human and relatable,but helping the relationship between Sho and Arrietty feel like a realistic friendship.
One of the most unexpected celebrity appearances in a Studio Ghibli film is Robert Pattinson’s role in the recently released 2023 film,The Boy and The Heron.An IGN articlespeaks about Pattinson’s excitement when auditioning for this dream role of the Grey Heron. TheTwilightandBatmanactor was so enthusiastic about the opportunity thathe practiced getting into character before he was even cast and filmed voice recordings of potential lines.
Pattinson’s stellar performance and eagerness won him the well-deserved role of the Grey Heron, who accompanies the film’s main character, Mahito, as he comes to terms with the tragic loss of his mother in a hospital fire.Pattinson masterfully shifts from sorrowful scenes to humorous oneswith his voice acting, proving that he was definitely the right choice to play the Grey Heron.
Christian Bale is one of the bestStudio Ghiblicelebrity cameos, becauseno one else could have played Howl Pendragon as well as he did.His soothing, melodic voice and the emotion he poured into his lines are a large part of why fans resonate with Howl’s character so much, because Bale definitely delivered a performance that was unforgettable.
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Known for films likeThe Dark KnightandAmerican Psycho,Bale has quite an impressive filmography, andHowl’s Moving Castleis one of the movieswhere his talent shines the most.Howl is a complicated, multifaceted character, but Bale’s voice acting work beautifully represents every aspect of Howl and his emotional journey throughout the movie.
