How to Become an Anime Voice Actor (and What It Pays)

In English, most anime voice acting is dubbing: you re-voice a show first made in Japanese, matching mouth movements that are already animated. You get there like any voice actor: train as an actor, learn to record well, make an animation demo, then audition through agents, dubbing studios and casting sites. This guide draws on what our voice-over expert told us about animation, plus SAG-AFTRA's own dubbing rules.

What does an anime voice actor actually do?

There are two very different jobs hiding under one search. Original animation, such as a US cartoon, is usually voiced first and animated to the actors' performances. Anime dubbing works the other way round: the show already exists in Japanese, the picture is locked, and your English line has to fit the timing and the mouth shapes on screen.

That makes dubbing a technical skill as well as an acting one: you play the emotion of the scene while landing each line inside a window of a second or two.

How does anime dubbing work in the booth?

A dubbing session usually runs line by line. The episode script has been translated and adapted so the English fits the "lip flap" (the animated mouth movement). You watch the clip, often hear the original line or cue beeps, then record your line to picture until the director and engineer have a take that sits in sync.

Our voice-over expert, actor and voice-over teacher David H. Lawrence XVII, stands for ADR and TV animation sessions. His studio etiquette: let the engineer look after you, never touch the microphone, and know that "give me an ABC" means three takes in a row.

What training do anime voice actors need?

Acting training first. David's view is that voice work is acting with a microphone instead of a camera, so decide to become an actor. He listens for authenticity, authority and agility: being yourself, owning the read and making strong choices fast.

He builds character voices from real people he knew growing up rather than from other cartoons. Add improv for speed, and practise reading dialogue aloud against video so timing becomes second nature. See voice acting tips.

Do you need a demo for anime work?

Yes, and it's a specific one. David says animation and video game demos run about a minute to a minute and a half, packed with as many short, fast clips as possible so a listener hears your range in seconds. It is also one of the five demo types he says you should never produce yourself: animation and games need a producer who can cast the copy to your voice and cut it to a professional standard.

Don't rush it: a demo made before your skills are ready won't compete. See our voice over demo guide.

Where are anime dubs cast?

English dubs are made by dubbing and post-production studios hired by the show's distributor, and those studios run the casting. As one example, Bang Zoom! Studios in Burbank, California, lists voice casting, localisation and ADR stages among its services on its own site. Studios don't all work the same way, so check each studio's site for how, or whether, it accepts submissions.

Beyond that, the routes are the usual voice-over ones. David says big animation and TV jobs often go only to agents, while plenty of other work is found on casting sites and through your own contacts. See how to get a voice over agent and where voice actors find work.

How do you audition for anime and animation roles?

David's animation audition rules are practical. Don't leave gaps for the other characters' lines: the listener only wants to hear you. For a shout, back away from the microphone rather than doing a stage shout. Slate as yourself, friendly and brief, then snap into the character. Never add music or sound effects.

If you're asked to read a child, go for it: many famous children's voices are performed by adults. And don't assume the roles all go to big names. David booked a villain on an animated Marvel series, and every big name started small.

Can you voice anime from home?

Auditions, almost always. Bookings, sometimes. David says home recordings must be good rather than pristine, but a laptop's built-in microphone isn't good enough. Some studios connect to home booths with tools such as Source-Connect or ipDTL, which he suggests installing only when a client asks. See our microphone and home booth guide.

Is anime dubbing union work?

Some of it is. As of November 2026, SAG-AFTRA's dubbing agreements page lists a Dubbing Agreement for performers dubbing English soundtracks of pictures first produced in another language, working "to picture" in sync with the dialogue, plus a Spanish language version. It notes that looping and ADR are covered by the Basic Codified Agreement instead. The union also has a Netflix Dubbing agreement covering English and Spanish dubs of foreign productions, live action and animation.

Plenty of dub work is non-union too. David's advice is to make union membership a goal, because union work usually pays better. He adds that union sessions have safety rules for vocally stressful work such as screams, and that you should ask for a break before you need one.

How much do anime voice actors make?

There is no single published anime rate, so be wary of articles that quote one. Pay depends on the agreement (if any), the studio, the role and the number of episodes.

On union jobs, SAG-AFTRA sets minimums. Its Netflix Dubbing summary, for example, says all rates quoted are minimums that performers can negotiate above, and that the producer pays an additional 50% of the performer's initial compensation alongside the session fee. Non-union dub rates are set by each studio and aren't published. For the union voice rates we have checked, see how much voice actors make.

General information only. Union agreements change, so check the current terms with SAG-AFTRA or your agent before you sign.

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