why are anime voices so high

by Dr. Stuart Jacobs 9 min read
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Answer by William Flanagan, longtime manga and anime translator: The high-pitched tones of some of the characters are there to serve the story. They are there to emphasize the childlike qualities and innocence (or, in some cases, contrast the innocent sound with evil intent) of the characters.Jul 9, 2015

Full Answer

Why do Japanese characters in anime have high pitched voices?

The high-pitched tones of some of the characters are there to serve the story. They are there to emphasize the childlike qualities and innocence (or, in some cases, contrast the innocent sound with evil intent) of the characters. No, most Japanese people in real life do not have high, squeaky voices.

Why are voice actors/actresses for anime so popular?

Voice actors and actresses for anime (seiyuu in Japanese) are often hired specifically because their vocal range fits a character the anime director has in mind or an already established manga character (as a lot of animes are adaptations of manga).

Do most Japanese people in real life have high-Squeeky voices?

No, most Japanese people in real life do not have high-squeeky voices. Again, this is simply to serve the story, and not to represent real life accurately. certain points of intonation are realistic. Example, when asking a question intonation generally rises. But anime usually overdoes things, especially the otaku anime that is popular overseas

Do you think that anime overdoes things?

But anime usually overdoes things, especially the otaku anime that is popular overseas If you watch a realistic anime like boku dake ga inai machi, that is quite normal and fairly representative of real japanese. Also note that Japanese voice acting is frequently waaaay-overdone and sounds awful a lot of the time.

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Why do anime voices sound the same?

0:1021:44Why do Anime Dubs Use the "Same 12 Voice Actors?" - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMany say it does it's the idea that dubs can't be taken seriously because licensors use the sameMoreMany say it does it's the idea that dubs can't be taken seriously because licensors use the same arbitrary number of voice actors for all their projects.

Are anime voices edited?

First the scripts have to be finalized, then the audio recorded, then edited. Then an animation supervisor has to go through the recording and map out which frames get which mouth sound -- a tedious process at best. Only then, after all that is done, can the actual work of animation begin.

Why are anime characters so loud?

It is often used in the following scenarios: In anger: When a character reacts to a situation with rage, much like in real life, shouting can be expected to follow. In fear or surprise: Again similarly to real life, when taken by surprise, people often exclaim loudly almost reflexively.

How do animes choose voices?

Often the cast will be selected from each actor's pre-existing reputation and work. Since many times the show itself is not yet complete and nobody really knows what direction the roles take, the studio will opt to cast someone that sounds very similar to the Japanese actor -- it's the safe thing to do, after all.

Is voice acting hard?

Many beginning young actors think they can worm their way into show business through voice-over work. But lending your voice to a cartoon or a goofy commercial can be more difficult than landing a speaking part on a TV series.

What does CV mean in anime?

The term character voice (abbreviated CV) has been commonly used since the 1980s by such Japanese anime magazines as Animec and Newtype to describe a voice actor associated with a particular anime or game character.

Who screams the most in anime?

Sakura Haruno - 'Naruto' It's hard to blame her - if you were stuck working with someone who was just as likely to antagonize an ostrich or eat 60 bowls of ramen in one shot as he is to do anything useful, you'd yell at him too.

Who is the most annoying anime character?

The 10 Most Disliked Anime Characters Of All Time1 Orihime Inoue Stole Ichigo From Rukia (Bleach)2 Shinji Ikari Can't Handle His Burdens (Neon Genesis Evangelion) ... 3 Sugou Nobuyuki/Oberon Is A Sleazy Fairy King (Sword Art Online) ... 4 Akito Sohma Verbally & Emotionally Abuses Her Family (Fruits Basket) ... More items...•

Why do girls voice male in anime?

Employing a female seiyuu allows the character a high-pitched, youthful, cute sound, and the series can go on for decades without any need to replace the voice (whereas if a young male had been cast, his voice might break and become too low for the character).

Can a foreigner become a voice actor in Japan?

Being a Japanese national is not a necessity in voice acting. But having skills are. If you don't speak fluent, accent-less Japanese, your roles must be limited to non-local characters with accents. On the other hand, as long as you speak fluent, accent-less Japanese, you can fake foreign accents.

How much does it cost to make a anime?

Like other entertainment ventures, any anime production has to ensure that its budget matches its expected earnings. According to Masamune Sakaki , a CG creator in the anime industry, an average 13-episode anime season costs around 250 million yen (or $2 million).

How much do voice actors make anime?

(REMINDER: anime was a $24 billion industry in 2020 alone). According to Sara Secora, who has worked with Funimation, voice actors currently receive $35-75 an hour to dub anime. Lots of people outside the VO industry are arguing that they believe $35 to $75 an hour to dub anime is an incredible rate.

What if my friends talked like anime?

if my friends talked like anime i would slap them silly. certain points of intonation are realistic. Example, when asking a question intonation generally rises. But anime usually overdoes things, especially the otaku anime that is popular overseas. If you watch a realistic anime like boku dake ga inai machi, that is quite normal ...

Why do seiyuu ham it up?

When they do speak for a long time (usually some dramatic monologue) the seiyuu tend to really ham it up, or rather, they're supposed to do that, because not only does it add emotional weight to the words, but it also prevents them from sounding monotonous. If you want to hear realistic. Continue Reading. Not at all.

What is the ending particle in anime?

So in anime, women characters use the sentence-ending particle "wa" more often than in daily life. Young-tough characters will use an exaggerated speaking style using "nee" for every "nai" they say. Intelligent characters use words that even intelligent people in real life don't say, and rich people are completely overblown.

Do Japanese pronounce "t"?

They pronounce every word clearly and try not to drop sounds. To use an English example, many people "swallow" the "t" sound at the end of words (for example, "Don't," becomes, "Don'," but voice actors always pronounce the "t" distinctly. The Japanese do the same).

Is it bad to learn Japanese from anime?

If you're trying to learn Japanese from anime, it isn't too bad a venue since the diction they use will make their words more clear and distinct than non-actors. You can also pick up on the rhythm of Japanese sentences, and a lot of vocabulary words you learn watching anime are very helpful to you in real life.

Do Japanese people have high squeeky voices?

They are there to emphasize the child-like qualities and innocence (or, in some cases, contrast the innocent sound with evil intent) of the characters. No, most Japanese people in real life do not have high-squeeky voices. Again, this is simply to serve the story, and not to represent real life accurately. Sponsored by FinanceBuzz.

Is the dialog in Japanese intended for study?

However you should always realize that the dialog is not originally intended for you to study to. It is there to serve a story, and not to demonstrate Japanese for you. So take the voice actors' turns of phrase with great skepticism as you learn from them.

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