Anime Is Changing the World, And One of My Hero Academia's Stars Knows How
My Hero Academiais more than just another anime series; it has changed lives, and no one knows this to be true more than AyaneSakura, one of the series' voice actors. Ayane Sakura has lent her voice to many different characters over the years, including Gabi Braun in Attack on Titan, Aira in DAN DA DAN, and, of course, Ochaco Uraraka in My Hero Academia.
In a recent radio interview that was also featured on the Anime Corner website, Ayane opened up about how the public's views of voice acting and anime have changed drastically over the past few years. She explains how, as celebrities and other people in society have begun to gradually speak up about their adoration for anime, her profession as a voice actor has become more respected and recognized.
Working as an Anime Voice Actor Was Not Always Well-Respected
Ayane Sakura Explained That Even a Few Years Ago, Most People Did Not Appreciate Anime Like They Do Now
Surprisingly, enjoying anime was viewed as a niche hobby even just a few years ago. Hit series like Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, and My Hero Academia were not yet in the public eye, and Ayane explains that being an anime voice actor was not as appreciated then as it is today. In the interview, she reflected on her past school days and how, during that time, publicly watching anime or working on it got her "called 'Akiba-kei' and made fun of" and "teased." She even stated that her relatives were doubtful that an anime industry career would be successful, since it was much less popular at that time.
“To be honest, when I was a student, if you heard ‘anime,’ you would be called ‘Akiba-kei’ and made fun of, and even if you told your relatives that you were (seriously) aiming to be a voice actor, you would be teased. It was a time when it wasn’t very accepted. But now, there are more celebrities who openly declare that they like anime, and I have the sense of ‘Ah, we’ve finally reached this era.’“ - Ayane Sakura, Anime Corner
As anime's popularity exploded, Ayana Sakura made great strides in her voice acting career and enjoyed many incredible roles in major series. Now, almost everyone at least knows what anime is, and even if they do not watch it personally, most people respect it as an art form now. Events like the Crunchyroll Anime Awards exist now, celebrities like Megan Thee Stallion publicly cosplay and drop anime references in their own work, and overall, anime is one of the most exciting interests to have at this time in history, whether you live in Japan or elsewhere in the world.
Female Anime Voice Actors Are Also Finally Receiving the Recognition They Deserve
388% More Women Were Featured in the Voice Actor Directory 2025 Female Edition Than 20 Years Ago
According to the Voice Actor Directory 2025 Female Edition, published in the March 2025 edition of Seiyuu Grand Prix magazine, female anime voice actors are also becoming more recognized, which is a major positive development for the industry. On this list alone, which brings attention to the industry's most skilled voice actors, 388% more women appear when compared to twenty years ago, marking a massive shift. It is wonderful that female voice actors like Ayane Sakura are finally receiving the recognition and acclaim they deserve, because creating great anime would not be possible without their talents.
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Overall, Ayane's inspiring story proves that never giving up on your dreams is important, as well as revealing that the anime industry is moving in the right direction, as anime becomes more loved than ever as the years pass. 2025 is a fantastic time to be an anime fan, with so many thrilling upcoming releases on the way, like the Demon Slayer Infinity Castle movie trilogy, JOJODAY fan event in Japan, and eighth and final season of My Hero Academia, one of the biggest series Ayane works on. Anime certainly changed Ayane Sakura's life, and she has reciprocated that gift by changing so many fans' lives for the better through the phenomenal anime series she has helped make a reality.
Source: Anime Corner
- Movie(s)
- My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (2018), My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2019), My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (2021)
- First Film
- My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (2018)
- Cast
- Daiki Yamashita, Kenta Miyake, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Ayane Sakura, Yûki Kaji, Aoi Yuki, Kaito Ishikawa, Toshiki Masuda, Marina Inoue, Yoshimasa Hosoya
- TV Show(s)
- My Hero Academia
- Video Game(s)
- My Hero Academia: Battle for All, My Hero One's Justice, My Hero One's Justice 2
- Character(s)
- Izuku Midoriya, All Might, Katsuki Bakugo, Ochaco Uraraka, Shoto Todoroki, Tsuyu Asui, Tenya Iida, Eijiro Kirishima, Momo Yaoyorozu, Fumikage Tokoyami
