Ever watch a show and just feel the vocal cords straining through the screen? That’s the vibe with the solo leveling voice actors. When Jinwoo screams—and he screams a lot—it doesn't sound like some guy in a booth in Tokyo or LA just collecting a paycheck. It sounds like someone is actually tearing their way out of a stone dungeon.
Most people jumped into the anime because they loved the manhwa. They wanted to see the shadows rise. But honestly? The voice acting is what grounded the whole thing. It turned a power fantasy into something that felt strangely personal. We’re talking about a cast that had to bridge the gap between a "weakest hunter of all mankind" and a literal god. That’s a massive range to cover.
If you've been scouring the internet to figure out why Taito Ban sounds so familiar or who the guy voicing Igris actually is, you're in the right spot. We're going deep into the cast of both the Japanese and English dubs, because both sets of actors brought something wildly different to the table.
The Man, The Myth: Taito Ban as Sung Jinwoo
Taito Ban is the heart of the Japanese production. Period.
Before this, you might have heard him in Oshi no Ko or The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, but those roles didn't exactly require him to sound like he was being mauled by a giant snake for twelve minutes straight. For the solo leveling voice actors team in Japan, Ban was a gamble that paid off.
During the recording of the infamous "Double Dungeon" episodes, Ban reportedly pushed himself so hard he actually coughed up blood. That isn't some marketing myth cooked up to sell Blu-rays; it’s a testament to the physical toll of voicing a character who evolves from a literal "E-Rank" weakling to a cold, calculated shadow monarch. You can hear the evolution. In the first few episodes, his voice is high-pitched, shaky, and full of breathy hesitation. By the time he’s fighting Igris, his register drops. It becomes melodic but dangerous.
It’s a masterclass in vocal transformation. Ban didn't just change his tone; he changed the way he breathed between lines.
Aleks Le and the English Perspective
Over on the English dub side, Aleks Le took the reins. Aleks is a bit of a legend in the voice acting community, not just for his talent, but for his sheer chaotic energy on social media. He knows the fans. He knows the memes.
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But when the mic is on? Total professional.
Aleks faced a weird challenge. English dubs often get flak for being "over-the-top," but he played Jinwoo with a certain "done with this world" grit that matched the manhwa’s later chapters perfectly. He’s gone on record saying that he wanted to avoid the typical "shonen protagonist" tropes. He didn't want Jinwoo to sound like he was having fun. He wanted him to sound like a man who had died and come back with a very specific, very dark mission.
The Supporting Cast: More Than Just Background Noise
You can’t have a world-class anime with just one good lead. The supporting solo leveling voice actors are what make the world of hunters feel lived-in.
Take Reina Ueda as Cha Hae-in. She’s one of the most sought-after voices in Japan right now. Her job was tough because Hae-in is a character defined by her senses—specifically her sense of smell and her discomfort around other hunters. Ueda plays her with a soft, almost ethereal quality that contrasts sharply with the violence of the S-rank raids.
Then there’s the veteran presence. Genta Nakamura voicing Yoo Jinho is the comedic relief we desperately needed. His performance provides the "human" element. Without Jinho’s earnest, slightly annoying loyalty, Jinwoo would just be a boring, OP shadow guy. Nakamura plays the "rich kid trying his best" vibe without making the character feel like a caricature.
The Voices of the Hunters Guild
- Banjo Ginga as Go Gunhee: You need a voice that commands respect. Ginga is a legend. When he speaks, you believe he’s the chairman of the Hunters Association. It’s a weight that only a veteran seiyuu can bring.
- Daisuke Hirakawa as Choi Jong-in: Known as "The Ultimate Soldier," Choi needs to sound calculated. Hirakawa (who you might know as Enmu from Demon Slayer) brings a slick, almost too-perfect tone to the character.
- Hiroki Touchi as Baek Yoonho: The beast-transformation guy. His voice is gravelly. It’s wild. It sounds like a man who is constantly holding back a tiger inside his chest.
Why the Voice Acting Matters for the Solo Leveling Brand
Let’s be real for a second. Solo Leveling is a "power fantasy."
In the wrong hands, that becomes repetitive. You watch a guy get stronger, he kills a boss, he gets a new item. Wash, rinse, repeat. The reason the anime broke through the noise is the emotional stakes. When the solo leveling voice actors deliver their lines during the "system" prompts, there's a chilling, mechanical precision to it.
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The "System" itself is voiced by Saori Hayami in some versions and a more synthesized tone in others. That contrast between the human emotion of Jinwoo and the cold, unyielding voice of the System creates a tension that visuals alone can't achieve.
It’s about the "Arise."
When Jinwoo finally utters that iconic command—Okiro in Japanese—it had to be perfect. If that line flopped, the whole show flopped. Taito Ban spent hours practicing the cadence of that single word. It’s not a shout. It’s a command. It’s the sound of a ruler claiming what belongs to him.
Comparing the Global Casts
The show was dubbed into dozens of languages, and interestingly, the "vibe" changes depending on where you watch it.
In the French dub, Jinwoo sounds remarkably more philosophical. In the German version, the military structure of the hunters feels much more rigid and official. This is the beauty of a global cast. The solo leveling voice actors across the world had to interpret a Korean manhwa through a Japanese lens and then translate that for their local audiences.
Most fans are split between the Japanese sub and the English dub. Honestly? You’re winning either way.
Misconceptions About the Cast
A lot of people think that the voices in the Solo Leveling: Arise game are different from the anime. While there was some overlap during early development, the anime cast has largely become the "definitive" voices for these characters. There was also a rumor that the production changed actors midway through season one due to scheduling. Not true. The core team stayed consistent, which is why the character growth feels so seamless.
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Technical Mastery in the Recording Booth
Voice acting isn't just talking. It’s a physical performance.
For the battle scenes, the solo leveling voice actors often have to record "efforts." These are the grunts, gasps, and screams of pain that occur during a fight. Because Solo Leveling features long, drawn-out combat sequences, the actors had to sustain high energy for hours.
The sound director, Ryō Tanaka, specifically pushed for a "realistic" rather than "theatrical" sound. He wanted the audience to hear the spit in the actor's mouth, the crack in the voice when a character is terrified. That’s why the Double Dungeon episodes felt so claustrophobic. You weren't just watching Jinwoo be scared; you were hearing the physiological response of a human being in a life-or-death situation.
What’s Next for the Cast?
With Season 2 (Arise from the Shadow) confirmed and the story moving into the "Jeju Island" arc, the demands on the solo leveling voice actors are only going to increase.
We’re going to see more S-rank hunters. We’re going to see more complex shadows with their own personalities (looking at you, Beru). The casting for Beru is one of the most anticipated reveals in the community, as that character requires a mix of monstrous screeches and sophisticated, loyal dialogue.
If you’re a fan, keep an eye on the credits. Many of the minor hunters we saw in Season 1 are voiced by up-and-coming actors who are using this show as their breakout role.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you want to support the incredible work these actors do, here is what you can actually do:
- Check out their other work: Follow Taito Ban or Aleks Le on their official channels. Many voice actors have YouTube channels where they talk about the "behind the scenes" of their recording sessions.
- Watch both versions: If you’ve only seen the sub, try the dub, and vice versa. It’s like watching a different show. You’ll notice nuances in the dialogue that you missed the first time.
- Support official releases: Streaming on official platforms ensures that the metrics go back to the production committee, which helps fund the high-quality voice talent for future seasons.
- Attend conventions: If you’re lucky enough to live near a major city, these actors often do panels. Hearing them talk about the "Arise" line in person is a core memory for any fan.
The voices are the soul of the series. While the animation by A-1 Pictures is stunning, it's the voices that make you lean in close to your screen, waiting for the next "System" notification to pop up. Keep listening closely—the best is yet to come.