Ever looked at a movie poster and thought, "Wait, I know those names"? If you watched the 2022 Netflix anime Bubble, you probably had that exact moment. The cast of Bubble 2022 film is basically a "who’s who" of the anime industry. It’s like the creators looked at a list of the most popular voice actors in Japan and said, "Yes, all of them, please."
Honestly, the animation by WIT Studio is gorgeous, but the voices are what actually ground the story. You’ve got people from Attack on Titan, Death Note, and Bungo Stray Dogs all packed into a ruined, bubble-filled Tokyo. It’s wild.
Who Voices Hibiki and Uta?
The main guy, Hibiki, is voiced by Jun Shison. Now, Shison isn’t your typical career voice actor; he’s actually a very famous live-action actor in Japan. You might have seen him in The Way of the Househusband or High & Low. His take on Hibiki is interesting because he plays him as someone who is deeply sensitive to sound. A lot of fans actually wonder if Hibiki is written to be on the autism spectrum because of how he uses those massive headphones to cope with noise. Shison gives him that quiet, standoffish vibe that eventually melts away.
Then there’s Uta.
The voice behind Uta is Riria, and this was actually her debut acting role. Usually, that’s a risky move for a big-budget film. But Riria is a singer who blew up on TikTok, and since Uta is basically a bubble-turned-human who communicates through a specific melody, it worked. She even sang the ending theme, "See You Again."
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In the English dub, these two are voiced by Zach Aguilar (who you’ll know as Tanjiro from Demon Slayer) and Emi Lo. Aguilar is a pro at playing "determined but vulnerable" protagonists, so he fits the parkour-obsessed Hibiki perfectly.
The Supporting Legends
This is where the cast of Bubble 2022 film gets really heavy-hitting.
- Mamoru Miyano as Shin: If you’ve watched Death Note (Light Yagami) or Steins;Gate (Okabe), you know this man’s voice instantly. In Bubble, he plays Shin, the mentor figure who lost a leg to the gravity anomalies. He’s the heart of the group.
- Yuki Kaji as Kai: Kaji is the voice of Eren Yeager. Enough said. Here, he plays the leader of the Blue Blazes team. He’s much less "scream-y" than Eren, but he still has that natural leadership energy.
- Alice Hirose as Makoto: She’s the scientist living on the ship with the parkour kids. She’s like the older sister of the group. Like Jun Shison, Hirose is primarily a live-action actress, but she handles the voice work effortlessly.
It’s kind of funny. You have the director of Attack on Titan (Tetsuro Araki) bringing along his favorite actors—Kaji and Miyano—to voice characters in a movie that feels completely different from Titans. Instead of gore, you get bubbles and parkour.
Why the Cast Matters for the Vibe
The movie is essentially a retelling of The Little Mermaid. Because the script was written by Gen Urobuchi (the guy who wrote the famously dark Madoka Magica), people expected it to be devastating. While it is bittersweet, the voice performances keep it from feeling too bleak.
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The chemistry between Shison and Riria is what carries the middle of the film. Since Uta doesn't speak much at first, Riria has to do a lot of "vocal acting" through hums and reactions. It's subtle stuff.
The Rival Teams
You can't have a parkour movie without rivals. The "Undertakers" and other teams have some familiar voices too. Marina Inoue, who played Armin in Attack on Titan, voices the Undertaker Leader. It’s a total 180 from her role as Armin—much more aggressive and intimidating.
Tasuku Hatanaka (Denki Ninja Leader) and Sayaka Senbongi (Usagi) also fill out the world. It’s a dense cast. Even the smaller roles are filled by industry veterans like Shin-ichiro Miki, who you might recognize as Roy Mustang from the original Fullmetal Alchemist or James from Pokémon in Japanese.
Real Talk: Did the Cast Save the Movie?
Some critics felt the plot was a bit thin. "Pretty but empty" was a common complaint. But if you're a fan of these specific actors, the cast of Bubble 2022 film makes it worth the 100-minute runtime. Hearing Mamoru Miyano and Yuki Kaji play off each other is always a treat, regardless of the script.
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If you’re planning to watch it, here’s a tip: try the Japanese audio first. The English dub is great—Zach Aguilar is a legend for a reason—but there’s something about the original Japanese cast that fits the "ethereal" vibe WIT Studio was going for. Plus, Riria’s singing is the literal plot of the movie. It’s hard to separate her voice from the character.
What to do next
If you loved the performances in Bubble, you should definitely check out these other projects by the same crew:
- Attack on Titan: For more Yuki Kaji and Marina Inoue (and director Tetsuro Araki).
- Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: Another WIT Studio production with a similar "walled-off city" feel and many of the same voice talents.
- The Way of the Househusband: To see Jun Shison (Hibiki) in a live-action role that is the polar opposite of his character in Bubble.
Watching the cast in other roles really highlights how much range they actually have.