For Beginners: How to Become An Anime Voice Actor?

Anime is one of the most competitive voice acting mediums in the industry. Behind every memorable anime character is an unsung hero - the voice actor, who brings life into their roles. In this guide, we'll explore the world of voice acting and offer tips for beginners looking to break into the anime voice acting industry with no experience.

Part 1. Voice Acting and Anime Voice Acting Introduction

Before getting to know how to be a voice actor for anime, let's get a general idea of the industry first.

Voice acting is the art of providing voiceovers for characters in various forms of media, including animations, video games, commercials, and films.

As a branch of voice acting, Anime voice acting specifically refers to providing voices for characters in Japanese animation. It requires skilled performers who can convey emotions, personality, and depth solely through their voice. This may sound a bit overstated, but voice actors do must interpret scripts, match lip movements, and bring characters to life with authenticity and versatility.

Many voice actors have specialized training or experience in acting and vocal techniques. Successful anime voice actors often have a strong understanding of Japanese culture and language nuances to accurately portray characters.

Part 2. Five Essential Skills for Animation Voice Over Jobs

To become a voice actor for anime with no experience, you can focus on developing the following skills:

• Voice Control

Practice modulating your voice. Try to broaden your vocal range. By practising different pitches, tones, and timbres, your will be able to produce both high and low tones, which enables you to portray a wide variety of characters. Try acting voices like SpongeBob, Elsa from "Frozen", Woody from "Toy Story", Pikachu from "Pokémon" as practice.

• Acting Skills

To convey emotions and tell compelling stories through voices alone, strong acting abilities are crucial. Unlike screen actors, voice actors can only "act" through their voices. So mastering the ability of imbuing your voice with appropriate emotions, whether it's lively joy, intense anger, or deep sorrow, is essential for crafting characters and scenarios.

• Reading and Pronunciation

A basic but very important skill. Clear pronunciation, fluid reading, appropriate pauses make your voiceovers professional and effectively convey the character's dialogue.

• Technical Skills

Learn basic recording and editing skills if you plan to record auditions from home. Knowing how to use recording equipment like microphones ensures clear voice capture. Proficiency in audio recording and audio editing software enables you to create polished, professional voice-over samples, which also helps you build a good portfolio.

• Understanding Anime Culture

Part 3. Websites to Find Anime Voice Acting Jobs with No Experience

Sites to Find No-Experience Anime Voice-Over Jobs

Finding no-experience animation voice-over jobs can be challenging but here are some voice acting websites to try:

1. Fiverr

A multifunctional platform with a large user base. It is like a large collection of "talent-talent demanders". Popular for freelance services, including voice acting. As a anime voice actor, you can set up your VO services and charges, showcase your work and talent.

2. Upwork

Another widely known freelancer platform besides Fiverr. On Upwork, clients post job listings, and freelancers submit proposals outlining their qualifications and pricing. So you'll have the freedom to apply for any animation voice over jobs you like.

3. Voices.com

A leading marketplace for voice-over talent where actors can showcase their demos. It caters to a wide range of voice-over projects, including commercials, audiobooks, and e-learning. Voices.com allows voice actors to submit auditions directly to clients posting projects.

4. Voice123

Similar to Voices.com, but focuses more on professional voice-over work for commercials, animation, and video games. Voice123 uses a SmartCast system, matching voice actors with relevant projects based on their profile and allowing them to submit auditions by invitation only.

5. Behind The Voice Actors (BTVA)

A platform where voice actors can connect with industry professionals, and audition for various voice-over roles, including anime. BTVA primarily serves as a database for voice actors to showcase their work and credits, making it useful for networking within the industry. It provides information about voice actors, characters, and productions, but it's more of a resource than a platform for finding casting calls directly.

6. Casting Call Club (CCC)

It offers opportunities for both experienced and beginner voice actors to audition for anime roles. CCC is a community-driven platform where voice actors can find auditions and casting calls posted by creators and casting directors. Compared to BTVA, it’s more interactive and offers a direct way for voice actors to apply for roles in anime projects.

7. ACX

Short for Audiobook Creation Exchange. As the name implies, it offers a platform for authors and publishers to find narrators for their books and for narrators to audition for audiobook projects. While ACX primarily focuses on audiobook creation, it still can be used as a platform for you to accumulate animation voice-over experience.

8. iMyFone VoxBox

VoxBox is a multi-functional AI voice generator, which allows users to generate or clone any voice including anime voices. You can use these voices to create voiceovers for your videos and narration for audio books.

So if you think the cost of learning voice acting on your own is too high, try VoxBox.

Listen to a demo of Japanese anime AI voice

0:00/0:02

Part 4. How to Build An Animation Voice Acting Portfolio?

A portfolio serves as a vital tool and cornerstone for you to enter the world of animation voice acting. Despite lacking professional experience, a portfolio allows you to exhibit abilities of bringing characters to life.

A good animation voice acting portfolio should include:

• A professionally recorded demo reel.

• Clips that demonstrates your ability to smoothly transition between different pitches and tones.

• Different anime roles description clips prove that you have the versatility to voice diverse characters.

• Clips that can highlight your ability to express emotions and your potential to bring anime scripts to life.

Part 5. How to Network for Voice Acting Work

• In addition to improving your inner skills, don't forget that connecting and building relationships with the voice-acting industry is also a key to progress and create more opportunities for you to get into anime voice acting career.

• We live in a digital age, try to make good use of it. You can join various voice over communities or groups on the Internet. Thousands of opportunities are in there, whether it's getting experience or auditions.

• In the process of finding voice auditions and creating portfolio, you’ll also reach out to producers or fellow voice actors. Networking with these people not only gives you access to people who are willing to share know-how, but also because voice actors often recommend other talented people in situations where they're not quite right for the job.

• The connection is mutual. When you're not a good fit for a voice job, referring someone else for it is a great way to strengthen your network and brings you a potential anime voice-over job in the future.

• Attending Anime VO workshops and other anime events is a good way to start meeting other Anime VO artists to build a network of support and referrals.

Part 6. Challenge of Animation Voice Acting

• Time Costs

If you decide to make animation voice acting a part of your life, time is a significant factor. From getting coaching and studio setup to auditioning and job prospecting, all require time investment.

Apart from this, you’ll also need to spend time learning about anime and Japanese culture. It may take you longer than you thought to get your first anime voice job. But remember, patience is key, as success may not come immediately.

• Financial Costs

The monetary cost depends largely on your career ambitions. If you want to make dubbing a full-time job, then high-quality equipment and a well-equipped home studio will inevitably require a high monetary cost.

• Emotional Costs

Some may overlook the emotional cost. You may spend hours or even a day perfecting your voice acting work, alone. Even if you have a great passion for this job, it's easy to feel lonely spending long time alone inside the recording booth. That’s why it’s important to balance your job-time and relaxing-time. Always remember to take a break and have some fun with your friends or voiceover community.

Part 7. FAQs about Voice Actor for Anime

1. How much do anime voice actors make?

The income of anime voice actors varies widely based on factors like experience and role size. Beginners may earn $5 to $50 per hour, while seasoned actors could make hundreds per hour or more. Besides, some voice actors may negotiate additional compensation through residuals or royalties for their work on successful series.

This article about the salary of anime voice actors in 2024 May be helpful for you.

2. Where to get anime voice acting scripts?

Anime scripts for voice acting can be found on websites like Animanga. Besides, online forums and communities dedicated to anime may have script-sharing sections where members upload scripts for others to use. Screenplay databases like IMSDb.com may also have anime voice acting lines.

3. Where to find anime voice acting auditions?

Animated voice over auditions can be found on various online platforms, such as Casting Call Club, Behind The Voice Actors, or even social media like Twitter or Facebook. Additionally, some anime production companies may announce auditions on their official websites or through talent agencies. Remember to keep an eye on these platforms.

Conclusion

‍Having a good voice does not guarantee success in voice acting. A thriving career requires ambition, great talent and business acumen. Despite the challenges, the benefits of voice-over job are numerous: flexible working hours, the comfort of working from home, and the freedom to dress casually.

But for many, passion for the animation voice over job is enough to outweigh the pressures of this competitive industry. Working in anime voice acting means growing up, being exposed to different perspectives, and endless opportunities to learn.