dethorats:

seiyuuaday:

Kazuya Nakai

His voice was MADE to play tough guys.  There’s just something about the quality of his voice that fits punks and bad-asses and other ne’er do wells so well.  Like Nobuyuki Hiyama, he can play really calm and cool but then go right to high intensity.  Maybe not to the same extent as Hiyama, who is LINK, but he can play all ranges of the “Bad-ass.”

He’s also capable of some really funny performances, but what separates him from other comedic actors is he’s almost always the straight man.  But he is a GREAT straight man.  With such a tough sounding voice, you’d be surprised at how flabbergasted and comedically infuriated he can sound bouncing off a wacky character.  And oftentimes it’s just as funny if not funnier.

For the longest time I knew him primarily for playing Mugen in Samurai Champloo, and that performance was on the darker, slightly more deranged side.  Deranged might not be the right word, but Mugen’s a little nuts.  So it was really great seeing him play Zoro as One Piece who is great because not only is he the bad-ass, but he’s capable of being laugh out loud hilarious.  And like I said before, sometimes being the perfect straight man can bring out the most laughs.  Kappei Yamaguchi, who plays Usopp, does a good job of that too.

Did you know he played PIERRE in One Piece?  Because I didn’t, and that is the best.  I like that apparently they like to cast the bad-ass Straw Hats as the goofy animals.  First Sanji as Carue, now Zoro as Pierre.  Fantastico.

Need a guy to sound EXTREMELY BAD-ASS?  Nakai is your man.

Doumeki from xxxHolic is another example of him as the perfect straight man.  He really nailed this role.  And for a more Zoro-esque role again, I ADORED him as Bon in Blue Exorcist.  And he’s been branching out lately.  I honestly didn’t even know that it was him until I saw the cast list; he’s doing Retro-kun in Chihayafuru!  I can hear it now, since I know to listen for him, but it’s a very different take on his usual work and totally comedic!

Oh, I’m glad I waited to reblog this, because I love your addition.  Zoro will always be my favorite role for him, but I love Doumeki so.  (Bon as well.)  Also, was both surprised and entertained to run into his work on Go-Onger (which was ridiculous, but also entertaining)  I love this man.  I love this man’s voice. ❤