Ever wonder why Kusuo Saiki sounds so perpetually exhausted? It’s basically because he is. Between a guy who has a literal "butt-chin" for a face and a chuunibyou who thinks he’s fighting a secret evil organization, the poor psychic can’t catch a break. But the real magic isn't just in the animation or the ridiculous green glasses. It’s the legendary cast of psychic kusuo that makes the show work. Without this specific group of voice actors, the lightning-fast banter would just be noise.
The Man, The Myth: Hiroshi Kamiya as Saiki Kusuo
Honestly, if you’ve watched any anime in the last decade, you’ve heard Hiroshi Kamiya. He’s the voice behind Levi Ackerman in Attack on Titan and Trafalgar Law in One Piece. But as Saiki, he does something totally different. He has to deliver 90% of his lines through internal monologue.
It’s a tough gig. He’s talking to the audience without moving the character's mouth, and he has to maintain this perfect, deadpan "I’m surrounded by idiots" energy. In the Japanese version, his speed is legendary. If you think the subtitles move fast, try being the guy who has to record them.
Switching Gears for the Dub
When Netflix picked up the series, things got a bit messy with the English cast. In the original Funimation dub of Season 1, Jerry Jewell (who you might know as Kyo Sohma from Fruits Basket) took the lead. Fans generally loved his sarcastic, dry delivery. It felt natural.
Then Reawakened happened.
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Netflix shifted the production, and Kyle McCarley took over the role. This caused a bit of a stir in the community. Both did a great job, but the "voice" of Saiki is something people get weirdly protective over. It’s understandable when the character's entire personality is built on his vocal tone since he doesn't use facial expressions.
The Idiots Who Make It Possible
You can’t talk about the cast of psychic kusuo without mentioning Daisuke Ono. He plays Riki Nendou. If you know Ono from his role as the ultra-suave Sebastian in Black Butler or the stoic Jotaro Kujo in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, his Nendou voice will give you whiplash.
It’s deep, it’s gravelly, and it sounds like there isn't a single thought behind those eyes. Which is accurate. Saiki literally can’t read Nendou’s mind because the guy is just that dumb. Ono has stated in interviews how much fun it is to just "let go" and play someone so blissfully unaware.
The Jet-Black Wings
Then there’s Nobunaga Shimazaki as Shun Kaidou.
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Kaidou is the heart of the show's cringe-comedy. Shimazaki has to flip between a "cool" dark hero voice and a high-pitched, squeaky mess whenever Kaidou gets scared—which is every five minutes.
- Japanese VA: Nobunaga Shimazaki
- English VA (S1): Micah Solusod
- English VA (Reawakened): Shalako Lontsi
Shimazaki is a powerhouse in the industry, also voicing characters like Mahito in Jujutsu Kaisen and Yuno in Black Clover. Hearing him transition from a cold-blooded curse to a boy who thinks his bandages seal a dark power is a masterclass in range.
The Perfect Girl and the Rest of PK Academy
Ai Kayano voices Kokomi Teruhashi, the girl who literally glows. Kayano has a very specific "angelic" quality to her voice, which is perfect for a character who thinks she’s God's gift to the world. But the best parts are the "Offu!" sounds and the internal vanity.
The rest of the roster is equally stacked:
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- Satoshi Hino as the over-the-top Kineshi Hairo.
- Maaya Uchida as the "normal" (but not really) Chisato Mera.
- Natsuki Hanae as Reita Toritsuka (the pervy medium).
Interestingly, the live-action movie cast Kento Yamazaki as Saiki. Yamazaki is basically the king of live-action adaptations in Japan. While the movie is a bit more slapstick than the anime, he nailed the "resting Saiki face" perfectly.
Why the Voice Direction Matters
This isn't a slow-paced drama. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. is a gag manga adaptation. The timing has to be frame-perfect. If a punchline lands a half-second late, the joke dies.
The cast of psychic kusuo had to record at a breakneck pace. Often, the actors were in the booth together, which is why the chemistry feels so chaotic. You can hear them feeding off each other's energy. When Nendou says "Oi, Aibo!" (Hey, partner!), the immediate, weary sigh from Kamiya's Saiki feels genuine.
What to Watch Next
If you've finished the series and you're craving more of this specific brand of humor, check out the Reawakened episodes on Netflix. They bring back the original Japanese cast and wrap up some of the manga chapters that didn't make it into the first two seasons.
If you're a dub watcher, be prepared for the voice shift in the later seasons. It’s jarring at first, but the writing stays sharp. You can also look up "Dear Girl: Stories," a long-running radio show hosted by Hiroshi Kamiya and Daisuke Ono. Seeing Saiki and Nendou's voice actors just hanging out in real life is a trip.
To get the most out of the experience, try watching an episode in both Japanese and English. It’s wild to see how different translators handle Saiki’s lightning-fast internal monologue while keeping the jokes localized.