Ayumu Murase is everywhere. Seriously. If you’ve watched more than three anime series in the last decade, you have almost certainly heard his voice. But here’s the thing—you might not have known it was him. Known for a vocal range that defies the typical boundaries of biology, Murase has built a career out of being a chameleon. He’s the guy who can play a high-energy volleyball protagonist one minute and a terrifyingly cold villain the next, all while sounding perfectly natural in both.
He's kinda legendary for his "genderless" vocal ability.
It’s not just a party trick. It’s a craft he’s honed since his debut in Persona 4: The Animation back in 2011. Since then, the list of Ayumu Murase movies and tv shows has grown into a massive archive of some of the most influential media in Japanese pop culture.
The Haikyu!! Effect and Shoyo Hinata
When people talk about Ayumu Murase, they usually start with Haikyu!!. It’s the elephant in the room. Or rather, the "Little Giant" in the room. As Shoyo Hinata, Murase didn’t just voice a character; he defined an era of sports anime.
The energy he brought to Hinata was infectious. You could hear the literal strain in his voice during those high-intensity spikes. It’s a role that required him to stay at a high pitch for hours on end, yet he never made it feel grating. Fans who followed the series all the way to the 2024 film Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle saw a performance that had matured alongside the character. He wasn't just screaming anymore; he was conveying the nuance of a player who had learned to think, not just jump.
Crossing Borders: The English Connection
Something a lot of casual fans miss is that Murase was actually born in Los Angeles. He moved to Japan when he was young, but those early years left him with a level of English proficiency that is extremely rare in the seiyuu world.
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Take a look at Devilman Crybaby.
In his role as Ryo Asuka, Murase delivers lines in English that don't feel like the typical "Engrish" phonetics you see in most anime. It’s fluid. It adds a layer of realism to the character’s international, detached background. This bilingual edge has made him a go-to for characters who need to sound worldly or sophisticated.
Honestly, it’s one of the reasons he’s so hard to pin down. One day he’s the bubbly Iruma Suzuki in Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, and the next, he’s speaking cold, calculated English in a dark thriller.
Pushing Boundaries in 2026 and Beyond
As we move through 2026, Murase isn't slowing down. In fact, he's taking on roles that lean into his ability to play the "new generation." One of the most talked-about projects right now is the Ronin Warriors (Yoroiden Samurai Troopers) sequel. He’s voicing Musashi Hojo, part of a fresh lineup of armored heroes.
It's a big deal.
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The original series is a cult classic from the 80s, and bringing it back 40 years later requires a cast that can bridge the gap between nostalgia and modern appeal. Murase is the perfect anchor for that. He's also popping up in the April 2026 premiere of Kujima Utaeba Ie Hororo, where he plays the titular Kujima. It's a weird, quirky role that fits his eccentric range perfectly.
A Quick Look at Major Roles
- Haikyu!!: Shoyo Hinata (The Career-Maker)
- Black Clover: Luck Voltia (The Battle-Crazed Spark)
- Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun: Iruma Suzuki
- Genshin Impact: Venti (Yes, that's him too)
- Ranking of Kings: Kage
- Ragna Crimson: Crimson
- Ronin Warriors (2026): Musashi Hojo
The "Female Role" Misconception
Because Murase has such a high natural register, there's a recurring trend where people assume he only voices young boys or "trap" characters. That is a massive underselling of his talent.
He has actually voiced female characters—and done it so well that people didn't realize a man was behind the mic. In Soaring Sky! Precure, he made history as Cure Wing, the first main male Cure in the franchise's history. It was a massive cultural moment in Japan. He managed to keep the "Cure" aesthetic while still giving the character a distinct, masculine-leaning identity that fit the show's evolution.
Then you have roles like Rui Ninomiya in Gatchaman Crowds. Rui is a character who often presents as female, and Murase’s performance is so seamless it's almost eerie. He doesn't just "do a voice." He changes the entire texture of his throat.
Why He Left the Big Agency
In 2023, Murase made a power move. He left VIMS, a major talent agency, and started his own: Aster Nine.
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In the Japanese voice acting industry, this is a huge risk. Most actors stay with the big firms for the job security. But Murase wanted more control over his brand and the types of projects he was taking. Since going independent, we’ve seen him lean even harder into "experimental" roles. He’s doing more than just anime; he’s doing live-action dubbing for Hollywood hits and getting involved in multimedia projects like Paradox Live where he plays Yeon Hajun.
How to Follow His Work Now
If you want to catch the best of Ayumu Murase movies and tv shows, you have to look beyond the "Top 10" lists.
- Watch the "Oddball" Shows: Check out Sarazanmai or Migi & Dali. These are shows where the plot is weird and the characters are weirder. Murase thrives here because he can use the "cracks" in his voice to show emotion that feels raw and unpolished.
- Listen for the Range: Watch a clip of Luck Voltia from Black Clover and then immediately watch a clip of him as Venti in Genshin Impact. The difference in "weight" he puts behind his words is a masterclass in vocal acting.
- Keep an Eye on 2026 Reboots: With the Ronin Warriors sequel and the Classroom of the Elite Season 4 additions, he is cementing himself as the voice of the "new" old-school.
Basically, the guy is a workaholic. He has over 90 major credits, and he's only in his mid-30s. Whether he’s playing a bird-boy in Precure or a cursed spirit, he brings a specific type of "human-ness" to roles that could easily be caricatures.
If you're looking for a specific starting point for his 2026 work, prioritize the Ronin Warriors revival. It’s the best showcase of how he’s evolved from the "scrappy kid" voice of the 2010s into a leading man who can carry a legacy franchise.