Who does Chuck Huber voice?
Chuck Huber is an American voice actor, ADR director and script writer who has had a prolific career in anime and video games. He got his start in acting by performing in plays and musicals in high school and college before moving to New York to pursue acting full-time. His voice acting career began in the late 1990s when he was cast in some minor roles in anime shows recorded at ADV Films in Houston, Texas. Over the past 20+ years, Huber has gone on to voice hundreds of characters and direct translation/adaptation for many popular anime series and games. Some of his most well-known roles have been in long-running franchises like Dragon Ball, Fullmetal Alchemist and Bleach.
In an interview, Huber said that he fell into voice acting almost accidentally but enjoyed the creative freedom it gave him compared to on-camera acting (https://blogs.lanecc.edu/intro2mediaarts/2019/11/14/chuck-huber-interview/). Though primarily known for his anime roles, he continues to pursue stage acting and creative projects in addition to voice work. Huber brings a theatrical background to voice acting that many say allows him to inhabit characters fully and deliver very emotional, enthusiastic performances.
Dragon Ball Franchise
Chuck Huber is well known for voicing many characters in the Dragon Ball franchise including Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, and the Dragon Ball movies and specials. According to Dragon Ball Wiki, some of the notable Dragon Ball characters he has voiced include Android 17, Hercule Satan, Garlic Jr., Dr. Wheelo, Kibito Kai, Elder Kai, General Rilldo, and Pikkon.
In Dragon Ball Z, Chuck Huber voiced Android 17 during the Android Saga as one of the main villains alongside Android 18. He also voiced Hercule Satan, who became a major recurring character. Huber gave Hercule his bombastic personality and arrogant blustering voice that the character became known for. In Dragon Ball GT, Chuck Huber continued voicing Android 17 as well as General Rilldo, a major antagonist.
For the Dragon Ball movies and specials, Chuck Huber lent his voice to notable villains like Hatchiyack in The Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans and Dr. Wheelo in The World’s Strongest. He also voiced Pikkon in the movie Fusion Reborn and the filler character Kibito Kai in Dragon Ball Z. Overall, Chuck Huber’s voice acting has been a staple of the Dragon Ball anime franchise over the years.
Yu Yu Hakusho
One of Chuck Huber’s most well-known roles is as the voice of Hiei in the anime series Yu Yu Hakusho. Hiei is one of the main characters in the show, a fire demon who possesses the Jagan Eye and has mastery of the sword. Yu Yu Hakusho aired from 1992 to 1995 for 112 episodes and remains a popular shonen anime (Wikipedia). Huber’s voice acting brings to life the brooding, aloof nature of Hiei, capturing the character’s dark intensity and hidden caring side. Hiei goes through significant character development over the course of the series, and Huber’s performance evolves along with the character. Fans consider Huber’s Hiei voice acting a standout part of the English dub that helps define the appeal of this classic anime.
Fullmetal Alchemist
One of Huber’s most well-known roles is as Frank Archer in Fullmetal Alchemist (His Name Is Unknown – IMDb). Frank Archer is a member of the Amestrian State Military and one of the main antagonists of the series. Huber brings an arrogant and unhinged energy to the character that makes him memorable. Archer has an obsessive hatred for the Elric brothers and will stop at nothing to take them down. Huber’s sinister yet over-the-top performance helps make Archer an effective villain that fans love to hate.
Bleach
In the popular anime series Bleach, Chuck Huber is well known for voicing the main antagonist Sosuke Aizen. Aizen is the former captain of Squad 5 who secretly orchestrated many of the events throughout the series for his own nefarious goals.
Chuck Huber’s chilling yet composed voice was perfect for bringing the calculating and manipulative Aizen to life. Though Aizen maintains a kind facade for much of the anime, Huber’s performance helped showcase the underlying sinister nature of the character that is later revealed. Fans praised how Huber was able to capture both the false warmth but also the malevolence lurking beneath the surface.
According to fan discussions on forums, Huber was an ideal choice to voice the complex and layered villain. His vocal range allowed him to convey the different aspects of Aizen’s personality from his early benign captain persona to the megalomaniacal antagonist he becomes. Overall, Huber’s vocal talents were essential in making Aizen one of the most memorable and chilling villains in the Bleach universe.
One Piece
One of Huber’s most well-known roles is as Buggy the Clown in the popular anime series One Piece [1]. Buggy is a pirate captain and one of the major antagonists in the East Blue Saga. With his red nose, face paint, pirate attire and menacing laugh, Buggy makes for an iconic villain that Huber voices perfectly. Though Buggy starts out as an enemy to Luffy and the Straw Hat pirates, he later becomes a reluctant ally and proves to be a fan-favorite character. Huber’s excellent voice work captures all of Buggy’s emotions from anger to sadness to evil glee.
In addition to Buggy, Huber also voices another character in One Piece – Mohji the Beast Tamer [2]. Mohji is the first mate of the Buggy Pirates and often fights alongside his pet lion Richie. With his unique animal taming abilities and weird hairstyle, Mohji makes for a memorable minor antagonist. Huber is able to portray Mohji’s eccentric personality through his voice work.
Overall, Huber’s voice acting talents really bring Buggy and Mohji to life in One Piece. His portrayal of these outrageous pirate characters contributes greatly to their hilarity and popularity.
Fairty Tail
In the popular anime series Fairy Tail, Chuck Huber voices the character Hades, who is the second Guild Master of the Fairy Tail guild and the founder of the Grimoire Heart dark guild (Animenewsnetwork, 2014). Hades left Fairy Tail to pursue the keys to unleashing Zeref’s seal. He serves as the main antagonist of the Tenrou Island arc.
As the voice of Hades, Chuck Huber brings an air of darkness and power to the character. His deep, ominous voice fits the menacing nature of Hades. Huber is able to capture both the wise, composed side of Hades as the former Fairy Tail master, as well as the ruthlessness and determination he displays as the founder of Grimoire Heart.
My Hero Academia
Chuck Huber voices the character Present Mic in the anime series My Hero Academia (Behind the Voice Actors). Present Mic, whose real name is Hizashi Yamada, is a Pro Hero who teaches English and serves as an announcer at U.A. High School. He has a loud, booming voice that he can amplify and direct as powerful sound waves to disable opponents. His energetic personality makes him well-suited for hyping up spectators as an announcer during the U.A. Sports Festival.
In addition to Present Mic, Chuck Huber has voiced minor characters in My Hero Academia such as Oboro Shirakumo. He brings an exaggerated, over-the-top vocal style to Present Mic that matches the character’s boisterous personality. Huber’s portrayal stands out as one of the most memorable voices in the English dub cast.
Other Notable Roles
In addition to his main roles, Huber has voiced many other notable characters in popular anime and video games over his prolific career. Some other major roles include:
- Android 17 in Dragon Ball Z Kai and various Dragon Ball games (Wikipedia)
- Hiei in Yu Yu Hakusho (TVTropes)
- Riku in Kingdom Hearts (MN2S)
- Shou Tucker in Fullmetal Alchemist (Wikipedia)
- Byakuya Kuchiki in Bleach (TVTropes)
- Usopp and Eneru in One Piece (MN2S)
Huber’s extensive voice work has allowed him to bring many iconic characters to life across various popular franchises.
Conclusion
In summary, Chuck Huber has had a prolific and acclaimed voice acting career spanning over 25 years. He is best known for voicing major characters in classic anime series such as Hiei in Yu Yu Hakusho, Android 17 in Dragon Ball Z, Frank Archer in Fullmetal Alchemist, Shinsui Kyōraku in Bleach, and Hattori Zenzou in Gintama. His voice has brought these iconic characters to life and made them memorable for generations of anime fans around the world.
Throughout his career, Chuck Huber has voiced hundreds of characters across a diverse range of anime and video game titles. He has worked with major studios like Funimation, Bandai, and Sentai Filmworks. His versatility as a voice actor enables him to play a wide variety of roles. He is admired for his ability to capture the personality and emotional depth of each character.
In addition to voice acting, Chuck Huber has directed English dubs for various anime series. He has helped shape the way many anime titles have been adapted for Western audiences. His contributions as an ADR director and script adaptor have enhanced the viewing experience for fans outside Japan.
With his outstanding body of work and lasting impact on anime fandom, Chuck Huber has solidified his place as one of the most talented and respected English voice actors of his generation.
