Let’s be real for a second. Most people who watched Akame ga Kill! back in the day weren't just there for the flashy Imperial Arms or the "anyone can die" stakes. They were there because the characters felt like actual people you’d want to grab a drink with—right before they got brutally murdered. But if you look at the cast of Akame ga Kill, you’ll realize the show’s legacy is built on a specific group of voice actors who, at the time, were either rising stars or legends taking a dark turn.
It’s been over a decade since the anime finished its run, yet the impact of these performances still sticks. Why? Because the casting wasn't just about finding people who could yell "Incursio!" at the top of their lungs. It was about finding voices that could flip from lighthearted comedy to "I’m about to lose my mind" in three seconds flat.
The Night Raid Crew: More Than Just Assassins
The core heart of the show is Night Raid. You’ve got Tatsumi, the protagonist who basically walks into a horror movie thinking it's a shonen adventure. In the Japanese sub, he’s voiced by Soma Saito. Saito is everywhere now, but back then, his portrayal of Tatsumi’s naive-to-hardened evolution was a massive standout. On the English side, Corey Hartzog took the reins. Hartzog’s Tatsumi sounds exactly like a kid who is trying way too hard to be a hero while internally screaming.
Then there’s Akame herself.
Sora Amamiya voiced her in Japanese, and honestly, it’s one of her most underrated roles. People know her as the chaotic, screaming goddess Aqua from Konosuba now, but her Akame is the polar opposite: cold, precise, and hauntingly quiet. It’s a masterclass in subtlety. When Akame finally breaks her composure, you feel it because Amamiya played her so stoically for so long. Molly Searcy handled the English dub, bringing a similar "don't mess with me" energy that kept the character grounded.
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Night Raid's Supporting Killers
- Leone: Voiced by Yu Asakawa (JP) and Allison Keith (EN). They both nailed that "big sister who will also break your ribs" vibe.
- Mine: Yukari Tamura (JP) and Christina Kelly (EN). They had the tough job of making a classic tsundere actually likable, which is harder than it looks.
- Lubbock: This is a fun one. Yoshitsugu Matsuoka—the guy who voices Kirito in Sword Art Online and Inosuke in Demon Slayer—brought his chaotic energy to the green-haired pervert with a heart of gold. Tyler Galindo did the English voice.
The Jaegers and the "Justice" Problem
You can't talk about the cast of Akame ga Kill without mentioning the villains. Or "antagonists," if you want to be morally grey about it. The Jaegers weren't just cardboard cutouts.
Esdeath is the elephant in the room. Satomi Akesaka (JP) and Christine Auten (EN) had to voice a woman who is simultaneously terrifying, genocidal, and weirdly domestic. Akesaka’s performance is legendary for that chilling "General" tone. It’s the kind of voice that makes you want to salute and run away at the same time.
And who could forget Seryu Ubiquitous?
If you hated her, the voice actors did their jobs. Kana Hanazawa is usually known for voicing sweet, soft characters (like Angel from Angel Beats!). Seeing her go full-blown psychotic as Seryu was a shock to the system for Japanese fans. It showed incredible range. In the English dub, Kira Vincent-Davis delivered a performance so unhinged that it’s still talked about in "most hated anime characters" threads today.
Why the Casting Worked (and Why It Still Hurts)
What most people get wrong about this show is thinking the deaths were just for shock value. The reason they hurt is that the cast sold the camaraderie. When Bulat (voiced by the powerhouse Katsuyuki Konishi in Japanese and David Wald in English) goes out, it’s not just the animation—it’s the raw emotion in the voices. Wald’s deep, mentor-like tones made you feel like you were losing a real older brother.
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The show also leaned heavily into its "Teigu" mechanics, but the actors treated the weapons like extensions of the characters' souls. Whether it’s Ayaka Ohashi playing the fragile but deadly Kurome or Yoshimasa Hosoya giving Wave that "regular guy in a crazy world" feel, the performances remained consistent.
The Empire's Darkest Corners
The sheer malice of Prime Minister Honest was brought to life by Koji Ishii and Marty Fleck. They made the character sound greasy. You can almost hear the corruption in their vocal cords. It creates a perfect contrast to the youthful, often desperate voices of the Night Raid members.
Looking Back at the Legacy
Honestly, the cast of Akame ga Kill was a "Who's Who" of talent that only got bigger after the show ended.
Think about it.
You have the future voice of Inosuke, the future voice of Aqua, and veterans from Evangelion and Fullmetal Alchemist all in one booth. The production didn't cut corners. They knew that in a story where characters disappear every three episodes, the audience needs to fall in love with them fast.
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If you’re revisiting the series, pay attention to the silence. The show is famous for its gore, but some of the best acting happens in the quiet moments before a raid. It's in the way Shelley Calene-Black (Najenda) sighs after losing another comrade, or how Soma Saito's voice cracks when Tatsumi realizes the world isn't fair.
What to Do Next
If you want to appreciate these actors beyond the blood and guts of the Empire, here is how you can actually dive deeper:
- Compare the "Switch": Watch an episode of Konosuba and then an episode of Akame ga Kill. Hearing Sora Amamiya go from the high-pitched screaming of Aqua to the low, hushed tones of Akame is a trip. It’ll give you a whole new respect for vocal range.
- Check the Discography: Many of these actors are also singers. Sora Amamiya actually performed the first opening theme, "Skyreach." It’s a banger that captures the show’s "keep fighting even if it’s hopeless" energy perfectly.
- The Manga Route: If the anime's ending left a bad taste in your mouth (we know, it deviated a lot), read the manga while imagining these specific voices. The "voice-acting" in your head makes the original ending—which is arguably much better—land even harder.
The Empire might have fallen, but the work of this cast keeps the show alive on streaming platforms and in "must-watch" lists for a reason. They didn't just read lines; they gave a voice to the doomed.
Next Steps: You might want to look into the Akame ga Kill! Zero prequel manga to see Akame’s backstory, or track down the "Akame ga Kill! Theater" shorts for some much-needed comedic relief featuring the same voice cast.