Fukuyama Jun - 20 years of voice acting

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:55

He is from Japan, and his profession is unique in its kind, because he is a voice actor. Jun Fukuyama voices animation and game characters, performs on radio and television, and also participates in radio shows. But most of all, his work on films for which he has received awards is striking.

Seiyuu profession

First, a little about seiyuu. In Japan, unlike other countries, specially trained people are hired to dub animation stories, while theater and film actors all over the world do it. This specificity is caused by the development of the anime industry, where people are constantly needed to voice new ongoing.

In the Land of the Rising Sun, seiyuu is a sought-after and respected profession. “People from the street” are not hired for this position. There are special courses where people are taught to properly handle their voice: change according to the age and gender of the character. It is difficult to get into such courses because of the high competition, but it is even more difficult to get a "job in the speci alty", because for many characters they are looking for unique voices of their kind.

Characters speak in his voice

And nowa little about the actor. Fukuyama-san was born on November 26, 1978 in Hiroshima Prefecture (Fukuyama City). Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Osaka Prefecture, in the city of Takatsuki. In the same place, Jun Fukuyama is studying to become a seiyu at the agency Oa nidzyuku Osaka-so (青二塾大阪校).

Debuted as a seiyuu right after graduating in 1997, the public learned about the new anime voice from the animation "Dark Elves C/Hero Stories". In 2000, he took part in the voice acting of the then popular anime "Invincible King TRI-ZENON". Akira Kamui spoke in his voice.

At the same time, he tries his hand as a singer and radio announcer. In 2006, he voiced the well-known even today anime Code Geass. The character assigned to Jun Fukuyama is Lelouch himself, the protagonist of the anime.

After receiving an award in 2009, he is taken to release his solo album "31 Romantic Worlds". In 2015, he was honored to receive an individual poster. It may seem like a silly little thing, but basically seiyuu in Japan, like the "grey eminences". They just do their job, and only a few manage to get recognition.

In 2016, during the celebration of his 38th birthday, he was announced as the best singer. Fukuyama begins recording his first solo single. It was released in 2017 under the title "Keep the Present".

Currently with AXL-ONE agency (since 2011) and his record company PONY CANYON (since 2016) is the 10th biggest music seller in the world.

Personality

A viewer only needs to hear Jun Fukuyama to fall in love. His voice is deep and soft, well suited for voicing a teenager's complex mood or philosophical musings.

He wears glasses and loves smoothies. From the national cuisine, he likes fried whale, and moves around the city mainly by bicycle. In an interview, Fukuyama said that he loves his job because he is interested in the very spirit of rivalry, as well as the voice acting of the characters. He seems to be living their life, and this appeals to him very much.

Filmography

February 17, 2017 marks exactly 20 years since Jun Fukuyama works as a voice actor. During this time, he managed to take part in the creation of:

• 268 anime.
• 57 OVA.
• 58 movies.
• 140 CD-drams
• 106 games.

Also dubbed Japanese films, dubbed short videos created from photos, hosted a radio show and created singles.

One could even say that Jun Fukuyama had a hand in every fifth product of the Japanese audiovisual industry. Films with his voice acting should be noted more carefully. As for animated works, it is worth mentioning:

• Mobile Warrior Gundam (Earth Light and Moon Shell)
• "Bleach: Memories of Nobody"
• "Bleach: Rise of Diamond Dust"
• Prince of Tennis.
• "Alice in the Land of Hearts".
• "Blue Exorcist".
• Blood: The Last Dark.
• "Naruto's Last Movie"
• "CodeGeass"

Regarding dubbing, he took an active part in the voice acting:

• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
• "Senior Music School".
• Vampire Baby.
• "Perfect tenant".
• Crazy in Alabama.
• "The Shocking 13 Days" and more

Awards

Fukuyama Jun (photo presented in the article) looks younger than his real age. His antics sometimes seem boyish, infantile and stupid. But behind all this ostentatious youth, remarkable work and a cruel will to win are hidden. The work of seiyuu is evaluated not only by the amount of voiced material, but also by special awards. So, in 2006, Fukuyama-san was nominated for an award from Bunkahoso (Cultural Broadcasting) for the quality of sound. In 2007, he received an award for voicing Lelouch ("Code Geass"). He was awarded the title of "Best Male Voice Actor of the Year".

Won the Overseas Fans Award in 2009, when it was just established. It is worth noting that according to the magazine "New Voice", Fukuyama annually takes an honorable fourth place in the list of popularity of male voice actors.

Seiyuu are in demand in Japan, but their fate mainly depends on how the anime or movie is perceived by the audience. Apparently, Fukuyama Jun was lucky in this regard.