It is a bizarre premise. A middle-aged man who is a "super designer"—mostly of toilets—gets sucked into a commode and gains the power to save the world, but at the cost of becoming incredibly ugly. That was the original To Be Hero. Now, we have To Be Hero X, a project that feels less like a sequel and more like a high-octane visual assault on our senses, backed by a production committee that clearly has money to burn and a specific vision for what "prestige" animation looks like in the mid-2020s.
When people talk about this show, they usually point at the mind-melting animation first. It’s a mix of 2D and 3D that shouldn't work, yet it does. But the real engine under the hood? The To Be Hero X voice actors.
Honestly, the casting here is aggressive. It’s not just "good." It’s a collection of industry titans and rising stars designed to make sure that even if you hate the art style, you can't stop listening.
The Heavy Hitters Behind the Mic
Voice acting isn't just about reading lines. It's about texture. In To Be Hero X, the protagonist X is voiced by Natsuki Hanae. You know him. He’s the guy who gave Tanjiro Kamado his soul in Demon Slayer. But if you're expecting a carbon copy of a shonen hero, you're going to be surprised.
Hanae is doing something different here. He’s leaning into a more cynical, layered performance that fits the "Hero Rank No. 1" persona. It's less about the screaming and more about the weight of being at the top.
Then you have Mamoru Miyano.
Miyano is a legend. Light Yagami? That was him. Okabe Rintarou? Him too. In To Be Hero X, he brings that signature theatricality. He has this weird ability to make a character sound arrogant and vulnerable at the exact same time. It’s a specific kind of magic that very few seiyuu can pull off without sounding like they’re trying too hard.
- Natsuki Hanae as X: The anchor of the show.
- Mamoru Miyano as Lo: Bringing the flair and the drama.
- Kensho Ono as Lucky: A performance that balances the high-stakes action with a bit of grounding.
It's a stacked lineup. Truly. If you look at the credits, it feels like a "Who's Who" of the Japanese voice acting world.岛崎信长 (Nobunaga Shimazaki) and Kouki Uchiyama are also in the mix. When you put this many A-listers in one room, you aren't just making a show. You're making a statement.
Why the Casting Matters for Global Success
The show is a co-production, effectively bridging the gap between Chinese animation (donghua) and Japanese aesthetics. This is where things get tricky. Historically, donghua has struggled to break into the massive Japanese and Western markets because of the language barrier and different stylistic choices in voice direction.
By hiring the To Be Hero X voice actors from the top tier of the Japanese industry, the producers basically bought themselves an audience. Fans of Natsuki Hanae will watch a show just because his name is on the poster. That is the power of the seiyuu culture.
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It's a smart business move.
But it’s also a creative necessity. The world of To Be Hero X is dense. It’s about people's beliefs manifesting as superpowers. If the voice acting feels flat, the whole concept of "belief" falls apart. You need actors who can sell the absurdity with absolute conviction.
Kouki Uchiyama, for example, is the master of the "cool, detached, yet secretly intense" character. His presence gives the show a sense of modern "cool" that balances out some of the more over-the-top elements. He's the salt in the caramel. Without that grounded performance, the show might just feel like a series of loud noises and bright lights.
The Nuance of the Japanese Dub
Kensho Ono is another fascinating addition. Most people recognize him as the voice of Giorno Giovanna or Kuroko. He has a very "clean" voice—sharp, precise, and professional. In To Be Hero X, he’s playing Lucky. The chemistry between him and the rest of the cast is where the show actually breathes.
You can have the best animation in the world, but if the dialogue feels like it was recorded in separate vacuums, the viewer can feel it.
There's a specific rhythm to Japanese voice acting that involves a lot of "reacting" rather than just "acting." The gasps, the sighs, the sharp intakes of breath. The To Be Hero X voice actors are veterans of this style. They know how to fill the silence.
The Technical Hurdle: Synchronizing Sound and Vision
Let’s talk about the 3D elements. To Be Hero X uses a lot of high-fidelity CGI. Sometimes, CGI characters can look "floaty" or disconnected from their voices. It’s the Uncanny Valley of sound.
The actors had to work with a visual style that is constantly shifting. One minute it looks like a traditional anime, the next it looks like a high-budget video game cinematic. This requires a level of versatility that younger, less experienced actors might struggle with.
Hanae and Miyano are perfect for this because they’ve worked across every medium—games, stage plays, singing, and anime. They understand how to project their voices to match a character that might be moving in a way that doesn't perfectly mimic human anatomy.
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It's difficult. Honestly, it's exhausting work.
A Quick Look at the Main Cast List
- X: Natsuki Hanae (The protagonist, currently Rank 1 in the hero world).
- Lo: Mamoru Miyano (The flashier, high-energy rival/counterpart).
- Lucky: Kensho Ono (A key player in the tournament arcs).
- E-Soul: Nobunaga Shimazaki (Bringing that sharp, antagonistic energy).
The depth here is incredible. Even the minor characters are voiced by people who could easily headline their own series.
The "Hero" Concept and Vocal Identity
The show deals with the idea that heroes get their power from how much people believe in them. It’s a meta-commentary on celebrity culture.
Isn't that exactly what voice acting is?
We believe in these characters because of the voices attached to them. When Natsuki Hanae speaks, we "believe" in X. The producers are using the real-world "belief" we have in these famous actors to fuel the fictional power of the characters they play. It’s a brilliant, if perhaps unintentional, bit of symmetry.
If the show had gone with unknown actors, would we care as much about the ranking system? Probably not. We care because we recognize the voices. We have a pre-existing emotional connection to these sounds.
The Misconceptions About Modern Voice Casting
A lot of people think you just hire the biggest names to get the most clicks. While that’s partially true, it’s not the whole story.
If you put a high-pitched, energetic actor in a role that requires deep, gravelly stoicism, the fans will revolt. The To Be Hero X voice actors were chosen because their "natural" vocal range matches the thematic goals of the show.
Mamoru Miyano isn't just there because he's famous; he's there because he's one of the few people who can make a character sound like a flamboyant superstar without becoming a caricature. It's a fine line.
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Also, we need to acknowledge the directing. Sound director Shoji Hata is a veteran. He’s worked on One Punch Man and Fairy Tail. He knows how to handle big personalities. You can't just let Miyano and Hanae go wild; you have to rein them in so they fit the world of the show.
What This Means for the Future of the Franchise
To Be Hero X is a massive departure from the crude humor of the first series. It’s trying to be a "serious" action epic. The voice cast is the bridge that helps fans make that transition.
Without this specific group of actors, the shift in tone might have been too jarring. But when you hear familiar, high-quality voices, you're more willing to go along for the ride. You trust the production because the voices sound like "prestige" television.
It’s about brand management.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you are following the series or looking to get into it, here is how you should approach the experience:
- Listen for the "Texture": Don't just follow the subtitles. Listen to the way Natsuki Hanae changes his pitch when X is in "Hero mode" versus when he is being more introspective. The nuance is in the breathwork.
- Watch the Credits: This show is a collaborative effort between Haoliners and Japanese studios. Pay attention to how the voice acting interacts with the music—often composed by people who have worked with these actors before.
- Check Out the Prequel (With Caution): If you want to see where this all started, watch the original To Be Hero. Just be prepared—it’s a completely different vibe. It’s vulgar, weird, and low-budget. Seeing the jump from that to To Be Hero X will make you appreciate the voice cast even more.
- Follow the Seiyuu Events: Usually, with a cast this big, there are live events and radio shows (radio animelo) where the actors discuss their roles. These offer incredible insight into how they interpreted the "Belief" system of the show.
The voice acting industry is changing. We are seeing more international collaborations than ever before. To Be Hero X is the gold standard for how to do this right. They didn't just translate the script; they translated the soul of the characters by using the best vocal talent available in the world.
The result is something that feels uniquely global. It’s Chinese imagination powered by Japanese vocal performance, and it’s a powerhouse.
Keep an eye on the seasonal rankings. With this cast, To Be Hero X isn't just competing for views; it's competing for awards. If you haven't started listening yet, you're missing out on some of the best performances of the year.
To get the most out of the series, watch it in the original Japanese dub first. Even if you usually prefer subs or different languages, this specific cast was chosen to match the high-octane energy of the animation. The "Belief" system in the show relies on the conviction in the actors' voices. Compare the performances of Hanae and Miyano during the high-stakes battles to see how two different "hero" archetypes are vocally constructed. Following the official To Be Hero X social media accounts is also a great way to catch behind-the-scenes clips of the recording sessions, which are rare for a production of this scale.