You probably know the voice. It’s that cool, slightly detached, yet intensely authoritative tone coming from behind a mask. Or maybe it’s the high-pitched, manic energy of a singing plane. If you’ve spent any time watching anime or playing video games over the last two decades, you’ve definitely heard Dave Wittenberg. But here’s the thing: most people only know him for one "big" role.
Honestly, focusing only on his most famous ninja character is doing the guy a massive disservice.
Dave Wittenberg has a career that spans across massive Hollywood films, obscure cult-classic anime, and some of the highest-selling video games in history. He isn't just a voice actor; he's a scriptwriter and a chameleon. Born in South Africa and eventually settling into the heart of the LA voice-over scene, he’s become a staple of the industry.
The Roles Everyone Knows (And a Few You Forgot)
Let’s get the big one out of the way. When people search for dave wittenberg movies and tv shows, they are usually looking for Kakashi Hatake.
He’s been the voice of the Copy Ninja since Naruto first hit Western airwaves in the mid-2000s. It’s a career-defining role. He’s voiced Kakashi in the original series, Naruto: Shippuden, Boruto, and every single movie in between. But the sheer volume of his other work is staggering.
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Take Disney’s Planes, for example. He wasn't just a background voice; he provided the singing voice for Franz. It’s a complete 180 from the stoic shinobi of the Leaf Village. Then you’ve got his work in Gravity Falls as the Time Baby. Yeah, that giant, terrifying infant that rules the future? That’s Dave.
Anime That Built His Legacy
Wittenberg’s anime filmography reads like a "Best of" list for the 2000s.
- Digimon Tamers: He played Henry Wong, a role that required a lot of emotional nuance for a "kids' show."
- Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: He voiced Saito, the expert sniper. This is a role he’s reprised as recently as the SAC_2045 series on Netflix.
- Code Geass: He brought Gino Weinberg to life, a character who returns in the 2024 series Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture.
- The Twelve Kingdoms: He played Enki, showing off his ability to handle more serious, philosophical fantasy.
It's funny how he can jump from the absurdist comedy of Parco Folgore in Zatch Bell!—where he literally sang about "Hey Hey Let's Dance All Day"—to the gritty, dark world of Vampire Princess Miyu. The range is actually kind of wild when you sit down and listen to them back-to-back.
Dave Wittenberg Movies and TV Shows: The Hidden Credits
While he’s a titan in the anime world, Wittenberg has also done a ton of work in "mainstream" Western animation and live-action. Have you ever watched Family Guy and heard a random background character that sounded oddly familiar? Good chance it was him. He’s worked on Ben 10 (voicing Upchuck), Chowder, and The Super Hero Squad Show.
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One of his more "underrated" contributions is his work as a scriptwriter. He didn't just voice characters in Digimon; he helped write the English scripts. That’s a huge part of why those early dubs felt so distinct. He knows how to adapt Japanese dialogue for an American ear without losing the soul of the original.
The Video Game Powerhouse
If you’re a gamer, you’ve probably controlled a Wittenberg-voiced character.
He’s Leon Belmont in Castlevania: Lament of Innocence. He’s the fan-favorite (and absolutely terrifying) Kefka Palazzo in the Dissidia Final Fantasy series. He even voiced Teddie in the original Persona 4 (though he was later replaced by Sam Riegel for the Golden version and sequels).
Basically, if a game has a character who is either incredibly suave or completely unhinged, Dave is on the shortlist.
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Why He Still Matters in 2026
You might notice that Dave doesn't show up in every new seasonal anime anymore. There was a bit of a shift where he mentioned being primarily available for remote recording. This changed his presence in the industry slightly, moving him toward more curated roles and big-budget reprisals.
But even in 2026, he remains the definitive voice for his legacy characters. You can't have a Naruto project without him. Fans simply won't accept anyone else as Kakashi. His voice carries a specific kind of nostalgia for the "Toonami Generation," but his technical skill keeps him relevant for new productions like the recent Code Geass expansions.
What to Watch (and Listen To) Next
If you want to appreciate the full scope of his talent beyond the mask of Kakashi, here is how you should spend your weekend:
- Watch Zatch Bell! (English Dub): Specifically the episodes featuring Parco Folgore. It is the peak of comedic voice acting and shows a side of him you won't see in Naruto.
- Play Final Fantasy NT: Listen to his performance as Kefka. It’s a masterclass in voicing a villain who is both whimsical and genuinely disturbing.
- Check out Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045: To see how his voice has matured. His Saito is more refined and grizzled here, fitting the older, more experienced version of the character.
- Listen for him in Narrations: He’s done a ton of work for the Travel Channel and Food Network. It’s a fun game to try and spot his "narrator voice" while watching a documentary about street food.
The reality is that Dave Wittenberg has shaped the childhoods of millions of people without most of them ever knowing his name. He’s one of those rare talents who can disappear into a role so completely that you forget there’s a guy in a booth in Los Angeles making those sounds.
If you're looking for more info on his latest projects, keep an eye on the credits for high-end union dubs and major gaming franchises—he tends to pop up where the quality is highest.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the 2024 release of Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture to hear him reprise Gino Weinberg.
- If you're attending Anime Las Vegas or similar conventions, look for his panel schedules; he often shares behind-the-scenes stories about the early days of anime dubbing.
- Listen to his script-writing work by revisiting the Digimon Tamers English dub to see how he balanced humor and drama in the dialogue.