If you've been playing some of the biggest video games of the past few years. The odds are very good that you've heard the voice of Nolan North. He's been the voice of Desmond in Assassin's Creed, Nathan Drake in Uncharted, and the Prince in the Prince of Persia reboot. If you threw a rock into the Giant Bomb database, you'd have a 70% chance of hitting a game he's voiced in. When it comes to comics, he's voiced characters from Deadpool to Hal Jordan when animated. I could go into his movie/TV credits, but you get the point. He's a popular guy.
When I got curious if he's ever voiced a character for anime. I saw his credits were slim. Only one listing, but it's a big one. He isn't taking his first steps into anime as some random filler character or short term villain. He's taking on the part of the grand puppet master of the entire Naruto series, Madara Uchiha. While he's already voiced Madara in the game Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 that was released late last year, but that was never a guaranty he'd take the role on for the English dub of the anime.
I don't believe that Madara really drops the Tobi persona until he hears of Itachi's death, and the air date of those episodes have yet to be announced. You can get sample of what that could sound like in this clip from Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 2:
-Kristoffer Remmell (FoxxFireArt) is a freelance graphic artist, writer, and over all mystery geek.- Follow for news updates: @ animevice / @ FoxxFireArt
Meh. Madara wears a mask so it's not like he has to worry about lip sync but even with that freedom I think his delivery was pretty mediocre in those clips. His voice is straight enough though.
@sickVisionz:
Well, I think you need to cut him some slack since it's a video game. The whole pacing is dictated by someone pressing the X Button and there is no music in the background to accentuate the drama of the scenes. Also, this was most likely his first real time working on the character. Most voice actors seem to get better the more they do a character.
Must be pretty nice for him not having to worry about matching lip movements for this dialog.
I'm just surprised that he has taken on such a large role for his first steps into anime. After the initial appearance, there are few arcs that don't involve him in some way.
@eldiax:
Yeah, I love it.
@MrXD:
Nolan North is voicing the main antagonist in the entire Naruto series.
Nolan North is awesome.
@InfiniteGeass:
Well, he's credited in the actual anime as the voice of Madara. Not just the game voice. Remember that these episodes are recorded well before they ever actually air.
Does this guy ever stop working or does he live in a booth? O_o I really want to know Mr. North's story on how he got into voice acting.
How much work does this guy get? This much.
Wow! I didn't notice when I was playing it.
@gerhabio:
Yeah, it's sort of one of those things that you don't really notice unless someone tell you. No w that I know it's Nolan North. I can hear it easily.
@daroki:
That's FREAKIN' awesome!!
Yeah this guy and Michael McConnohie sure do get around.
oh my gosh!!
People need to give other names more credit, like Jennifer Hale and Richard Epcar to mention two of my favorites.
@Lance_McCloud: Don't forget Johnny Yong Bosch, though he was more than a voice actor.
I'm looking forward to someone giving North better direction for this role. I think he's got a good concept for the voice, but the video game director isn't nearly as good as the one for the series. Also, interested in seeing North take on some anime dub roles now.