This article was inevitable. Since I'm such a huge fan of anime, it only makes sense that I also write about the people who voice the characters I love. This article spotlights my favorite voice actor, Ian Sinclair.
Ian was born on March 2 in Dallas, Texas, and currently works for Funimation, the biggest anime dubbing company at the moment, and Okratron 5000. He studied theater at Texas Christian University, aspiring to become the best actor he could, and did theater for six years. While Ian was in college, he was invited by a friend who worked at Funimation to watch him record. The director, Chris Sabat at the time, asked Ian if he wanted to say a line, to which he enthusiastically responded yes. Later, the same character that he voiced for had to say that exact same line again, so Ian was called back, thus beginning the start of his career as a voice actor.
Ian's voiced at least 140 roles in various anime series, appearing as Sousuke Yamazaki in "Free: Eternal Summer," Toriko in "Toriko," Daikoku in "Noragami," Worick Arcangelo in "Gangsta" (my favorite role by him), The Reaper in "Assassination Classrooom," Romano in "Hetalia," Bardroy in "Black Butler," Brook in "One Piece," and Dandy in "Space Dandy" to name a few. What's interesting about him is that he's part of a generation of voice actors that are also huge anime fans, which translates well into the characters he voices. Every performance he gives is entertaining and captivating; I've been surprised more than once by how much I've enjoyed his performances. I definitely enjoy the comedic roles he has (I'm usually laughing until I'm in tears), but I also love his more serious roles for how much emotion flows from his characters.
As much as I like Ian as an actor, though, it was really Ian as a person that made him stand out to me. Watching panels of him either getting excited over certain characters he's voiced, nerding out over comics and video games with fans and interviewers, and even just being silly in random videos and doing random character voices for fans- all of those really made him appreciate him as a great human being as well as an actor.
I never tire of hearing Ian in whatever anime I'm watching, and I hope that doesn't stop anytime soon. To Ian, thanks for making many anime junkies like me smile with your performances; never stop doing what you do. And, of course, "stay dandy, baby."
