Ever get that weird feeling where you’re watching a show and you swear you’ve heard that guy scream before? Like, that specific, throat-shredding "I'm gonna be an Exorcist!" cry? If you’re a fan of Rin Okumura, you’re hearing Bryce Papenbrook. Honestly, he’s everywhere. But it’s not just him. The cast of Blue Exorcist is basically a "Who's Who" of the voice acting world, both in Japan and the US.
Whether you’re catching up on the Shimane Illuminati Saga or diving into the newest 2024-2025 arcs like Beyond the Snow Saga and The Blue Night Saga, the voices have become legendary. These actors have stuck with these characters for over a decade. That’s rare in anime. Usually, schedules mess things up or studios change. But for the most part, the True Cross Academy crew has stayed intact, which is why the chemistry feels so lived-in.
The Okumura Brothers: Rin and Yukio
Let’s talk about the heart of the show. Rin is the impulsive, blue-flamed son of Satan who just wants to cook food and punch things. Yukio is the straight-laced, glasses-wearing genius who is secretly falling apart under the pressure.
Rin Okumura
In the Japanese version, Nobuhiko Okamoto brings this incredible, raspy energy to Rin. You might know him as Bakugo from My Hero Academia. He’s got that "angry but sweet" thing down to a science.
Then you have Bryce Papenbrook in the English dub. Bryce has basically cornered the market on shonen protagonists (Eren from Attack on Titan, Kirito from SAO). He’s mentioned in interviews that Rin is actually the character closest to his real speaking voice. He doesn't have to "find" the voice as much as he does for someone like Inosuke from Demon Slayer. For Rin, he just lets his own personality leak through.
Yukio Okumura
Jun Fukuyama voices Yukio in Japanese. He’s a legend. He can go from the flamboyant Lelouch in Code Geass to the cold, calculated Yukio effortlessly.
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On the English side, we have Johnny Yong Bosch. If you grew up in the 90s, he was the Black Ranger in Power Rangers. Since then, he’s become the voice of Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach) and Vash the Stampede. Johnny brings a subtle maturity to Yukio that makes the character’s internal struggle feel real. He and Bryce actually train in martial arts together in real life, which probably helps that "brotherly rivalry" vibe.
The Exwires: Friends or Foes?
The supporting cast of Blue Exorcist is where the flavor really is. You’ve got a mix of Kyoto royalty, shy gardeners, and a guy who might be a traitor.
- Shiemi Moriyama: Voiced by the prolific Kana Hanazawa (Japanese) and Christine Marie Cabanos (English). Christine’s voice is pure sweetness, which fits Shiemi’s "human cinnamon roll" energy perfectly.
- Ryuji "Bon" Suguro: Kazuya Nakai handles the Japanese role (yes, that’s Zoro from One Piece). Kyle Hebert does the English dub. Bon’s got that loud-mouthed Kyoto accent that Kyle nails by making him sound perpetually annoyed but deeply loyal.
- Izumo Kamiki: Eri Kitamura (Japanese) and Kira Buckland (English). Kira is amazing at that "I’m better than you" tone that hides a ton of trauma.
- Renzo Shima: This is a fan favorite. Koji Yusa voices him in Japanese, and Brian Beacock does the English dub. Shima is the comic relief until he... isn't. Brian plays him with this laid-back, "I’m just here for the girls" vibe that makes his later plot twists hit way harder.
- Konekomaru Miwa: Yuki Kaji (Japanese) and Mona Marshall (English). Mona is a veteran who has been voicing young male characters forever (like Izzy from Digimon).
The Order and the Demons
You can't talk about this cast without mentioning the weirdos in charge.
Mephisto Pheles
Hiroshi Kamiya (Japanese) and Sam Riegel (English). Mephisto is a circus-themed demon who runs the school. Sam Riegel—who you probably know from Critical Role—brings a theatrical, trickster energy that makes you never quite trust what Mephisto is saying. He’s playful but dangerous.
Shura Kirigakure
Rina Sato (Japanese) and Wendee Lee (English). Wendee is basically royalty in the dubbing world. She’s been Faye Valentine, Haruhi Suzumiya, and now the hard-drinking, sword-wielding Shura. She gives Shura that "cool big sister" energy that balances out the kids' immaturity.
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Shiro Fujimoto
This one had a sad change. The original Japanese voice actor, Keiji Fujiwara, passed away in 2020. He was iconic. Since the Kyoto Saga, Hiroaki Hirata has taken over the role. In English, Kirk Thornton has stayed the course, giving Shiro that gruff, loving fatherly tone.
New Faces in the Recent Sagas
As we’ve moved into the Shimane Illuminati and Beyond the Snow arcs (2024-2026), we’ve met some heavy hitters.
Lewin Light, also known as "Lightning," is voiced by Tomokazu Seki in Japanese and Sean Chiplock in English. Lightning is a mess of a human being but a genius exorcist. Sean Chiplock brings a fast-talking, chaotic energy that matches the character's erratic behavior.
Then there’s Lucifer, the King of Light. Voiced by Koki Uchiyama (Japanese) and Griffin Puatu (English). Lucifer is the opposite of Rin—calm, frail-looking, but terrifyingly powerful. Griffin plays him with a soft, eerie coldness that sets him apart from the more "shouting" demons like Amaimon.
Why the English Dub Matters Here
Usually, "subs vs. dubs" is a war zone. But with the cast of Blue Exorcist, the English version is genuinely held in high regard. A big reason for this is consistency. Aniplex and Crunchyroll have done a decent job keeping the same actors for over a decade.
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When a show takes a seven-year break between seasons (like it did between Season 1 and Kyoto Saga, and then again before Illuminati Saga), you expect voices to change. It's tough to get people back. But seeing Bryce, Johnny, and Sam Riegel return every single time feels like a homecoming for the fans. It maintains the "soul" of the characters.
Behind the Mic: Small Details
Voice acting isn't just reading lines. For example:
- Bryce Papenbrook has mentioned that voicing Rin requires a lot of "vocal fry"—that scratchy sound you hear when Rin is yelling. It’s hard on the throat!
- Johnny Yong Bosch often talks about how Yukio's character growth (or descent into darkness) changed how he approached the voice, making it flatter and more robotic as the character gets more depressed.
- The Japanese cast often records together in a room (when possible), while the US cast usually records solo in a booth. This makes the US cast’s ability to sound like they are actually talking to each other even more impressive.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the cast of Blue Exorcist and want to dive deeper into the world of the people behind the characters, here's what you should do next:
- Follow the "Social" Scene: Many of the English cast members, especially Bryce Papenbrook and Johnny Yong Bosch, are very active on the convention circuit. They often do panels together where they talk about the specific challenges of the later manga arcs.
- Check Out "Critical Role": If you love Sam Riegel as Mephisto, you should see him in his natural habitat on Critical Role. It shows off his improvisational skills which definitely bleed into his performance as the demon king.
- Listen to the Japanese "Seiyuu" Radio: If you speak some Japanese or find translated clips, Nobuhiko Okamoto (Rin) often hosts radio segments where he talks about the series. His "demon voice" is actually quite different from his normal, very polite speaking voice.
- Rewatch the Movie: If you haven't seen the Blue Exorcist movie, do it. It features some guest stars like Todd Haberkorn that you won't hear in the main series, and the production value for the voices is top-tier.
The story of the Okumura twins is far from over. As the anime enters its final massive arcs, these actors are the ones who make us care if the world ends or if two brothers finally make peace. Keep an eye on the credits of the 2026 releases—you might just hear a new voice that becomes your next favorite character.