You might not know his face, but if you’ve watched a single episode of One Piece or any movie starring Johnny Depp in Japan, you know his voice. Hiroaki Hirata is basically the backbone of the Japanese voice acting industry. He doesn’t just "do voices." He inhabits them.
Most people recognize him as Sanji, the love-struck, cigarette-smoking chef of the Straw Hat Pirates. But looking at the massive list of Hiroaki Hirata movies and tv shows, you start to realize he’s been the secret sauce in almost every major franchise for three decades. He's the guy who can jump from a grit-and-glory pirate to a futuristic detective without breaking a sweat.
The Man Behind the Most Famous Pirate in Anime
Hirata’s career didn't start with anime. Honestly, he was a stage actor first. He spent 27 years with the Subaru Theatre Company, which is where he picked up that "lived-in" quality his voice has. It’s not cartoony. It’s human.
When One Piece first started back in 1999, Hirata actually auditioned for the role of Zoro. Imagine that. The production team didn't think he fit the stoic swordsman, but a producer saw something special and kept him around for Sanji.
Twenty-five years later, he’s still at it. He’s gone on record saying he doesn’t really relate to Sanji’s "meromero" (lovesick) moments, but he plays them perfectly because he views the character as a whole entity. To Hirata, Sanji isn't just a flirt; he's a chef, a fighter, and a protector. If you take one part away, the whole thing collapses.
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Key Anime Roles Beyond the Grand Line
While Sanji is the heavy hitter, Hirata’s filmography is a literal "who’s who" of top-tier anime:
- Tiger & Bunny: He plays Kotetsu T. Kaburagi (Wild Tiger). This role actually won him the Best Actor award at the 6th Seiyu Awards. He plays the "washed-up but trying his best" hero with so much heart it's hard not to root for him.
- Space Brothers (Uchuu Kyoudai): As Mutta Nanba, he captures the anxiety and ambition of a man trying to catch up to his younger brother’s success. It’s easily one of his most grounded, relatable performances.
- Sword Art Online: He’s Klein. The loyal, slightly goofy friend we all wish we had in a death game.
- Saiyuki: He voices Sha Gojyo. If you like the "cool older brother" archetype with a bit of a mean streak, this is the one.
The Official Japanese Johnny Depp
Here is a fun fact for your next trivia night: Hiroaki Hirata is the official Japanese dub voice for Johnny Depp.
When Jack Sparrow stumbles across the screen in the Japanese version of Pirates of the Caribbean, that’s Hirata. He has dubbed nearly every major Depp role, from Edward Scissorhands to Fantastic Beasts (where he voiced Gellert Grindelwald).
It goes beyond just Depp, though. He’s the go-to guy for Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Ewan McGregor. There’s a specific texture to his voice—a mix of gravel and smooth silk—that fits these Hollywood leading men perfectly. He once mentioned in an interview that his manager just asked him one day if he wanted to try dubbing western movies, and he’s been a staple in the booth ever since.
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Video Games and Hidden Gems
If you're a gamer, you’ve probably heard him screaming "Scum!" as Vergil in the Devil May Cry series. The developers specifically chose him because they felt his voice had the right "weight" for the legendary Dark Slayer.
He’s also:
- Lindow Amamiya in God Eater.
- Rackam in Granblue Fantasy.
- Beryl Gardinant in the 2025 hit From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman.
What Most People Get Wrong About Voice Acting
A lot of fans think voice actors just show up and read lines. Hirata has debunked this many times. He talks about "making the person three-dimensional." For him, the energy required for high-intensity scenes—the shouting, the emotional breakdowns—is physically exhausting. He’s joked about seeing a script full of Sanji screaming and wishing he could just skip those parts because of the strain on his throat.
But he doesn't skip them. He delivers.
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That’s why he’s survived in an industry that usually chews people up and spits them out. He isn't just a voice; he’s an actor who happens to use his voice as his primary tool. Whether he's playing a narrator in Mashle: Magic and Muscles or a cynical detective in B: The Beginning, he brings a layer of reality that's rare.
Why You Should Care in 2026
With the recent 2025 releases like Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective and his ongoing work in the final sagas of One Piece, Hirata isn't slowing down. He even appeared at Tokyo Comic Con 2025 to present Johnny Depp with a custom gift from Eiichiro Oda. It was a "full circle" moment—the voice of the world’s most famous anime pirate meeting the face of the world’s most famous movie pirate.
If you want to truly appreciate the range of Hiroaki Hirata movies and tv shows, start with After the Rain. He plays a middle-aged manager of a family restaurant who is the object of a high school girl’s affection. It sounds creepy on paper, but Hirata plays it with such awkward, gentle grace that it becomes a masterclass in nuanced acting.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch in Sub and Dub: If you usually watch anime in English, go back and watch the Japanese version of Tiger & Bunny or One Piece. You’ll hear a completely different level of emotional timing.
- Explore the "Western" Dubs: Look for the Japanese dubs of Pirates of the Caribbean. Even if you don't speak Japanese, hearing how he matches Johnny Depp’s erratic energy is a trip.
- Follow Hirata Production: He founded his own talent agency, Hirata Production Japan, in 2012. Following their updates is the best way to see his upcoming 2026 and 2027 projects.
- Check out Space Brothers: If you want to see his range beyond "cool guy" roles, Space Brothers is the definitive proof of his talent.