Seiyuu (voice actors) ?

[Sukotto]

I have a question about voice actresses/actors.

I find on the Anime Network for the first American Anime Awards,
that they will have present the "Babes of Anime". That is,
voice actresses for the dub versions that will be at the awards.
(I'm assuming)

This makes me wonder,
are voice actors/actresses in Japan really famous and their likeness
well known like other actress/actors?


Besides never using the word "babes" regularly,
it just seems strange to me that the voice actors/actresses would
be famous. Personally I don't want to know what they look like.
It would ruin my impression of the character.

 

[MeAndroo]

Sometimes voice actors will attempt use their voiceover work in the anime/CM/whatever industry to make a jump into a singing/modeling/acting career. It's my belief, though, that the voice actors and actresses behind anime are far more popular in other countries than they are in Japan.

 

[epigene]

This makes me wonder,
are voice actors/actresses in Japan really famous and their likeness
well known like other actress/actors?

The short answer is no. Although the status of voice actors has improved immensely with the growth of the Japanese manga/anime industry in the past decades and some female (and male) voice actors have become iconic figures among anime and video game fans, they are not as famous as the actors in TV and film. If you'd ask me, I can identify only a couple of the famous voice actors featured in anime today.

Some veteran voice actors have gained recognition for their association with anime classics such as Doraemon, Sazae-san, etc. But, they are more exceptions than the rule.