Toru Ohira
Encyclopedia
is a male Japanese narrator
and voice actor
from the Tokyo
Metropolitan area. He is a representative of Ōhira Production.
One of his most known roles is the dub voice of Darth Vader
in Star Wars
. He is also known for his many narration roles, most notably in the Super Sentai
series.
After graduating from Tokyo Metropolitan University Jōnan Senior High School (in which he was also the supervisor of the school's volleyball
team), he went on to graduate from the Meiji University
Department of Political Science and Economics. In 1954, he joined the Nippon Broadcasting System
, in which he became an announcer and producer. In 1955, with the opening of the Tokyo Broadcasting System
, he enlisted in its theatrical company. He left the company in 1958 to become a voice artist.
His breakthrough performance was the dubbing voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars series. He reprised this role for Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
and a crossover appearance in Soulcalibur IV
- notable because the game was originally in Japanese, meaning that Ōhira was Vader's "original" voice in the game, unlike with the films. In addition, he is usually cast in either astringent villain roles or gag characters, such as Pete in Disney cartoons.
He is a close friend of Kyosen Ōhashi
, and the mentor of Shirō Yasutomi.
Narrator
A narrator is, within any story , the fictional or non-fictional, personal or impersonal entity who tells the story to the audience. When the narrator is also a character within the story, he or she is sometimes known as the viewpoint character. The narrator is one of three entities responsible for...
and voice actor
Seiyu
Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...
from the Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
Metropolitan area. He is a representative of Ōhira Production.
One of his most known roles is the dub voice of Darth Vader
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
in Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
. He is also known for his many narration roles, most notably in the Super Sentai
Super Sentai
The is the name given to the long-running Japanese superhero team genre of shows produced by Toei Co., Ltd., Toei Agency and Bandai, and aired by TV Asahi...
series.
Overview
He was a very influential figure in the dubbing industry during the Sousei period.After graduating from Tokyo Metropolitan University Jōnan Senior High School (in which he was also the supervisor of the school's volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
team), he went on to graduate from the Meiji University
Meiji University
is a private university in Tokyo and Kawasaki, founded in 1881 by three lawyers of the Meiji era, Kishimoto Tatsuo, Miyagi Kōzō, and Yashiro Misao. It is one of the largest and most prestigious Japanese universities in Tokyo, Japan....
Department of Political Science and Economics. In 1954, he joined the Nippon Broadcasting System
Nippon Broadcasting System
, or JOLF, is a Japanese radio station in Tokyo. Together with Nippon Cultural Broadcasting it is a flagship station of the National Radio Network...
, in which he became an announcer and producer. In 1955, with the opening of the Tokyo Broadcasting System
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
, he enlisted in its theatrical company. He left the company in 1958 to become a voice artist.
His breakthrough performance was the dubbing voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars series. He reprised this role for Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is a 2005 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It is the sixth and final film released in the Star Wars saga and the third in terms of the series' internal chronology....
and a crossover appearance in Soulcalibur IV
Soulcalibur IV
is the fourth installment in Namco's Soul series of fighting games. The game was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on July 29, 2008, in North America, on July 31, 2008, in Japan, Europe, and Australia, and on August 1, 2008, in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.The game is notable for...
- notable because the game was originally in Japanese, meaning that Ōhira was Vader's "original" voice in the game, unlike with the films. In addition, he is usually cast in either astringent villain roles or gag characters, such as Pete in Disney cartoons.
He is a close friend of Kyosen Ōhashi
Kyosen Ohashi
is a TV host and writer. He also served briefly as a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet of Japan. His real name is Ōhashi Katsumi .Born in Sumida, Tokyo, he grew up in Chiba prefecture and dropped out of the Waseda University...
, and the mentor of Shirō Yasutomi.
Television animation
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(Hakushon Daimaō) - One PieceOne Pieceis a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since August 4, 1997; the individual chapters are being published in tankōbon volumes by Shueisha, with the first released on December 24, 1997, and the 64th volume released as...
(Gaimon) - Osomatsu-kunOsomatsu-kunis a manga series by Fujio Akatsuka which ran in Shōnen Sunday from 1962 to 1969. It has been adapted into two different anime series of the same name, the first in 1966, produced by Studio Zero, and the second in 1988, produced by Pierrot and aired across Japan on Fuji Television and the anime...
(1988 series) (Dekaban) - Science Ninja Team GatchamanScience Ninja Team Gatchamanis a 5-member superhero team that is composed of the main characters in several Japanese anime created by Tatsuo Yoshida and originally produced in Japan by Tatsunoko Productions and later adapted into several English-language versions...
(Doctor Kozaburo Nambu) - Steal Napoleon's Dictionary! (Hēkā)
- Dashu Kappei (Seiichiro)
Theater animation
- Cyborg 009Cyborg 009is a manga created by Shotaro Ishinomori. It was serialized in many different magazines, including Monthly Shōnen King, Weekly Shōnen Magazine, Shōnen Big Comic, COM, Shōjo Comic, Weekly Shōnen Sunday, Monthly Shōnen Jump and Monthly Comic Nora in Japan...
: Legend of the Super Galaxy (Zoa) - DoraemonDoraemonis a Japanese manga series created by Fujiko F. Fujio which later became an anime series and an Asian franchise...
: Nobita's Wannyan Space-Time Legend (President) - DoraemonDoraemonis a Japanese manga series created by Fujiko F. Fujio which later became an anime series and an Asian franchise...
: Nobita's Winged Braves (Cyclid) - Be Forever YamatoBe Forever Yamatois the third theatrical film based on the classic anime series Space Battleship Yamato . The film is unique for switching from monaural VistaVision to Quadraphonic CinemaScope when the Yamato enters the Double Galaxy.-Plot:The Black Nebula Empire, last seen in Yamato: The New Voyage, lands a...
(Führer Skulldard) - Mystery of MamoMystery of MamoThe Secret of Mamo, or The Mystery of Mamo, is the most common English name for the 1978 first animated feature film based on the Lupin III character created by Monkey Punch, originally released in Japan as simply and now known there as in order to differentiate it from the four others that...
(Stuckey)
Video games
- Castlevania: Curse of DarknessCastlevania: Curse of DarknessCastlevania: Curse of Darkness, known in Japan as , is a console video game developed by Konami for the Xbox and PlayStation 2. Despite that it was released for Xbox and PlayStation 2, Japan was only able to see a PlayStation 2 release. However, An Xbox version was released in Asia under the...
(Saint Germain) - Kingdom HeartsKingdom Heartsis an action role-playing game developed and published by Square in 2002 for the PlayStation 2 video game console. The first game in the Kingdom Hearts series, it is the result of a collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company. The game combines characters and settings from Disney...
(Mayor of Halloween Town) - Kingdom Hearts IIKingdom Hearts IIis an action role-playing game developed by Square Enix and published by Buena Vista Games and Square Enix in 2005 for the Sony PlayStation 2 video game console...
(Pete, Mayor of Halloween Town) - Kingdom Hearts Birth by SleepKingdom Hearts Birth by Sleepis an action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix and Disney for the PlayStation Portable, serving as the sixth installment in the Kingdom Hearts series. The game was released on UMD in Japan on January 9, 2010, in North America on September 7, 2010 and in Europe on September...
(Pete) - Sakura Taisen 3 ~Pari wa Moeteiru ka?~Sakura Warsis a Japanese media franchise created by Ouji Hiroi, and is developed and owned by Sega and licensed by Red Entertainment and Sega. The franchise centers on a series of dramatic fantasy and science-fantasy tactical role-playing adventure video games, which consist of tactical wargame and dating sim...
(Duke Calmar) - Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of HeroesTatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of HeroesTatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars is a crossover fighting game developed by Eighting and published by Capcom for the Wii video game console. It is the seventh Capcom-designed installment in the Vs. video game series consisting of Marvel vs. Capcom and Capcom vs. SNK...
(Hakushon Daimaō) - Soulcalibur IVSoulcalibur IVis the fourth installment in Namco's Soul series of fighting games. The game was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on July 29, 2008, in North America, on July 31, 2008, in Japan, Europe, and Australia, and on August 1, 2008, in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.The game is notable for...
(Darth Vader) - Space Channel 5: Part 2Space Channel 5: Part 2Space Channel 5: Part 2 is the sequel to the rhythm action game Space Channel 5, developed by United Game Artists and published by Sega. It was released on the Dreamcast and the PlayStation 2...
(President Peace) - White Knight Chronicles (Gamarone)
Dubbing roles
- Productions for the Walt Disney CompanyThe Walt Disney CompanyThe Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
(Black Pete) - Secret SquirrelSecret SquirrelSecret Squirrel is a cartoon created by Hanna-Barbera. Secret Squirrel was one of two co-stars of The Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show, which debuted in 1965. He was given his own show in 1966, but was reunited with Atom Ant for one more season in 1967...
(Yellow Pinkie) - Master of the Flying GuillotineMaster of the Flying GuillotineMaster of the Flying Guillotine is a 1976 Hong Kong wuxia film starring Jimmy Wang, who also wrote and directed the film. It is a sequel to Wang's 1971 film One Armed Boxer, and thus the film is also known as One-Armed Boxer 2 and The One Armed Boxer vs...
(Fung Sheng Wu Chi) - Adventures in Dinosaur CityAdventures in Dinosaur CityAdventures in Dinosaur City is a 1992 television film directed by Brett Thompson. The story revolves around three teenagers who are transported into their favorite TV show, "Dino Saurs".-Plot:...
(Big) - Adventures of SupermanAdventures of Superman (TV series)Adventures of Superman is an American television series based on comic book characters and concepts created in 1938 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The show is the first television series to feature Superman and began filming in 1951 in California...
(Clark Kent, Superman) - Superman (Jor-ElJor-ElJor-El is a fictional character, an extraterrestrial in the . He was created by the writer Jerry Siegel and the artist Joe Shuster, and he first appeared in a newspaper comic strip in 1939 as Superman's biological father....
) - Star WarsStar WarsStar Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
series (Darth VaderDarth VaderDarth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
)/(Boss Nass) - Mission: ImpossibleMission: ImpossibleMission: Impossible is an American television series which was created and initially produced by Bruce Geller. It chronicled the missions of a team of secret American government agents known as the Impossible Missions Force . The leader of the team was Jim Phelps, played by Peter Graves, except in...
(The Voice on Tape) - The Nightmare Before ChristmasThe Nightmare Before ChristmasThe Nightmare Before Christmas, often promoted as Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, is a 1993 stop motion musical fantasy film directed by Henry Selick and produced/co-written by Tim Burton. It tells the story of Jack Skellington, a being from "Halloween Town" who opens a portal to...
(Mayor) - Fantasia 2000Fantasia 2000Fantasia 2000 is a 1999 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It was the 38th feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and a sequel to 1940's Fantasia...
(Quincy JonesQuincy JonesQuincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
) - The French ConnectionThe French Connection (film)This article is about the 1971 film. For the British fashion label, see French Connection .The French Connection is a 1971 American crime film directed by William Friedkin. The film was adapted and fictionalized by Ernest Tidyman from the non-fiction book by Robin Moore...
(Alain Charnier) - French Connection IIFrench Connection IIFrench Connection II is a 1975 crime drama film starring Gene Hackman and directed by John Frankenheimer. It is a fictional sequel to the initially true story of the 1971 Academy Award winning picture The French Connection...
(Alain Charnier) - Project AProject AProject A is a 1983 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film written and directed by Jackie Chan, and starring Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao....
(Governor-general) - Monsters, Inc.Monsters, Inc.Monsters, Inc. is a 2001 American computer-animated film and the fourth feature-length film produced by Pixar Animation Studios. It was directed by Pete Docter, co-directed by Lee Unkrich and David Silverman, and written by Jill Culton, Peter Docter, Ralph Eggleston, Dan Gerson, Jeff Pidgeon, Rhett...
(Henry J. Waternoose) - Cats & DogsCats & DogsCats & Dogs is a 2001 American-Australian action-comedy film directed by Lawrence Guterman. The screenplay by John Requa and Glenn Ficarra centers on the relationships between cats and dogs. It was shot in Victoria and Vancouver. The film was released on July 4, 2001 by Warner Bros...
(Presiding Judge Dog) - Telly SavalasTelly SavalasAristotelis "Telly" Savalas was an American film and television actor and singer, whose career spanned four decades. Best known for playing the title role in the 1970s crime drama Kojak, Savalas was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Birdman of Alcatraz...
(TV AsahiTV Asahi, also known as EX and , is a Japanese television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company writes its name in lower-case letters, tv asahi, in its logo and public-image materials. The company also owns All-Nippon News Network....
)- Battle of the BulgeBattle of the Bulge (film)Battle of the Bulge is a widescreen war film produced in Spain that was released in 1965. It was directed by Ken Annakin. It starred Henry Fonda, Robert Shaw, Telly Savalas, Robert Ryan, Dana Andrews and Charles Bronson...
- Kelly's HeroesKelly's HeroesKelly's Heroes is an offbeat 1970 comedy/war film about a group of World War II soldiers who go AWOL to rob a bank behind enemy lines. Directed by Brian G...
- Capricorn OneCapricorn OneCapricorn One is a 1977 science fiction thriller movie about a Mars landing hoax. It was written and directed by Peter Hyams and produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment. It stars James Brolin, Sam Waterston and O. J...
- Battle of the Bulge
- The FlintstonesThe FlintstonesThe Flintstones is an animated, prime-time American television sitcom that screened from September 30, 1960 to April 1, 1966, on ABC. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, The Flintstones was about a working class Stone Age man's life with his family and his next-door neighbor and best friend. It...
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)
Tokusatsu
- SpectremanSpectremanis the name and title superhero of a tokusatsu sci-fi TV series. Produced by P Productions and created by producer Souji Ushio, this series aired on Fuji TV from January 2, 1971 to March 25, 1972 with a total of 63 episodes , not counting the pre-series pilot episode...
(Chief Kurata) - Ninja Buttai Gekko (Narrator)
- Ambassador MagmaAmbassador Magmais the title and protagonist of a manga and tokusatsu TV series created by Osamu Tezuka. The TV series, produced by P Productions, aired on Fuji TV from July 4, 1966 to September 25, 1967, with a total of 52 episodes. It is the first color tokusatsu TV series in Japan, beating Ultraman to the...
(Goa) (body and voice) - Spider-Man (Narrator)
- Super SentaiSuper SentaiThe is the name given to the long-running Japanese superhero team genre of shows produced by Toei Co., Ltd., Toei Agency and Bandai, and aired by TV Asahi...
Series- Himitsu Sentai Gorenger (Narrator)
- JAKQ Dengeki TaiJAKQ Dengeki Taiis the second Super Sentai series. It aired from April 9, 1977 to December 24, 1977. Created by Shotaro Ishinomori, It was not as popular as its predecessor Gorenger, only running for 35 episodes. The title given to this series for international distribution by Toei is The Jackers.-As a Super...
(Narrator) - Battle Fever JBattle Fever Jis a Japanese TV series, being the third entry of the Super Sentai series franchise. It was co-produced by Toei Company and TV Asahi and aired on TV Asahi on February 3, 1979 - January 26, 1980 with a total of 52 episodes...
(Narrator) - Denshi Sentai Denziman (Narrator)
- Taiyo Sentai Sun Vulcan (Narrator)
- Dai Sentai Goggle Five (Narrator)
- Kagaku Sentai DynamanKagaku Sentai Dynamanis the seventh installment of Toei Company's Super Sentai series. It aired on TV Asahi from February 5, 1983, to January 28, 1984, with a total of 51 episodes...
(Narrator) - Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger (Narrator)
- Chōriki Sentai Ohranger (Bacchus Rage)
- Metal Hero Series
- Uchuu Keiji ShaiderUchuu Keiji Shaideris the third part of the Metal Hero Series, the last of the Space Sheriff Trilogy. It aired on TV Asahi from March 2, 1984 to March 1, 1985. Its action footage was used for Season 2 of VR Troopers...
(Narrator) - 3 Space Sheriff Special Crossover (Narrator)
- Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion (Narrator)
- Jikuu Senshi SpielbanJikuu Senshi Spielbanis a Japanese tokusatsu television series, part of the Metal Hero Series created by Toei Co. Ltd. from April 7, 1986 to March 9, 1987. Spielban's action footage was used for the battle scenes in VR Troopers....
(Narrator) - Sekai Ninja Sen JiraiyaSekai Ninja Sen Jiraiyais a Japanese television series that aired on TV Asahi and its affiliates from January 25, 1988 to January 23, 1989, lasting 50 episodes. It was the seventh installment in Toei's Metal Hero Series franchise of live-action superhero shows...
(Narrator) - Kidou Keiji JibanKidou Keiji Jibanis a Japanese tokusatsu television series; part of the Metal Hero Series produced by Toei, aired by TV Asahi in Japan from January 30, 1989 to January 29, 1990 with 52 episodes and a feature movie aired on July 17, 1989....
(Narrator)
- Uchuu Keiji Shaider
External links
- Toru Ohira at Ohira Production (Japanese)