How much is your opinion of a character based on their seiyuu/VA?

[populuxe]

Do you find it a lot easier to like a character because you like their VA or seiyuu? Or dislike them for the same reason?

[Yoda47]

None at all, unless they do a really horrid job.

[Chuplayer]

Um... none?

[The Great Bear]

While I am going to say that my opinion can be heavily influenced by who is voicing the character, my answer is not going to be exactly what you might expect.

The thing is that both in Japan and here, there is a lot of stereotyping of voices, so that once a character opens his/her mouth, I already get an inkling of whether the character is supposed to be one that I should like or dislike. To that extent, the seiyuu/VA can influence my opinion of a character, but not because of who they are, but what type of voice they have and what that's supposed to signal to the audience (whether the character is meant to be a hero, villain, comic relief, etc.).

So, I'm not going to like or dislike a character because they are being voiced by a favorite or disliked actor, but because the kind of voice that is being used already carries implications of whether the character is supposed to attract the sympathy or antipathy of the audience.

[Mazinkaizer]

Humm, kinda tricky question :sd: i would surly love to watch shows (especially old school ones) that has my favorite seiyuu like: Akira Kamiya, Tohro Furaya, Kei Tomiyama...etc.

Of course, remakes/sequels that feature the original cast back for their characters are always my favorite :)

However, that doesn't always work, i mean i decided to go against my "No Yaoi" policy and watch Gravitation for it's impressive cast and i stopped watching it after 2 Eps :D

[animejim]

If I really dislike the quality of the voice it can affect it but bar far the biggest quality is the personality of the character.

I don't remember ever liking a character because of the voice only. I would say that even character design (how it's drawn) affects it more then the voice.

[Suwako Moriya]

There is no denying the seiyuu/VA will have an effect on my opinion of the character. After all a character's voice is a huge part of who he or she is. Or in the case of characters that can't speak the lack of a voice. Plus if the voice is extremely annoying and grating it can be a problem. Like wise if the voice is pleasant to listen to it can help.

However I'm not the type to automatically like or hate a character just based on finding out who the seiyuu or VA is. I'd have to actually hear the character in action before I can truly decide how I feel about the voice and how much it really effects my view on the character.

Still in the long run the voice is just one part of the character. While it's going to have an effect it won't be the only thing taken into consideration. There's character design, actual dialog, role in story, etc to look at as well. However often times it just comes down to I just simply feel that way and the reasons may be a mystery even to me.

[Puppet Master]

In the past I would have said no but if I really dislike a VA the character will immediately become one I can't stand.

[EmperorBrandon]

I think a decent part of whether I like a character or not depends on their voice. I kind of wonder, how could it not? (one of the things that really defines the character IMO).

One of the reasons I like Sae in Magic User's Club so much was because of Misty Daniels's unique voice complementing the character excellently.

[Collectonian]

None...I never pay attention to who the seiyuu of a character is at all. Don't know any of their names, or anything. Only time I would say it would ruin my opinion is if the seiyuu does such a bad job that I don't like the show. Otherwise, nope.

[super rats]

I assume the question is asking about the actor outside of the performance.

Even though I'd like to think it doesn't, I'm sure to some degree it does have an impact sometimes. Certain people have certain ways of talking, a cadence or tone, that appeals to me so when I hear the sound I wouldn't be surprised if it plays a part in how much/quickly I warm to a character. I don't know if you'd consider that part of the performance though.

I also agree with the typecasting thing.

[MKVarana]

Only for characters voiced by Yui Horie. Her characters are always my favorites in any series she's in. If I had to define it for myself, I'd say that my favorite characters are the ones that I look forward to seeing the most, and since I absolutely love Yui's voicework more than anyone elses, I always eagerly look forward to seeing/hearing her characters the most.

[Damo]

I'd say on the whole, no, but there can be times where I get over exposed to the same VA in a lead role and that can put me off the show, not the character they play. Naming no names as I always like their performances.

[christianlf]

The acting is, of course, a critical component of what makes a character a character, and a seiyuu plays a rather big part in the creation of the character, but...I don't base my liking of characters on who's voicing them. I base it on how effective the character is portrayed and fits into the story. Obviously, a horrid acting job will ruin a character, but while there are seiyuu whose performances I've come to value over time, I can't really say it would influence me to like a character any more than I would have if I was unaware of who was voicing them.

[Relwarc]

Hmm, well, I like certain dubbing studios. Like Bang Zoom! or Ocean. I can usually trust them to put out solid work. I am primarily a dub watcher so a good English track is important to me. It doesn't really affect my opinion of characters (unless the voice is grating or inappropriate) insofar as it affects whether or not I rent vs purchase a show. For instance, had I known how terrible the dub for Crest of the Stars was coupled with its lack of rewatch value for me, I would've rented it for sure instead of buying the collection outright.

[something]

Easier to like, yes, only insofar as I consider voice to be one of the multiple facets of a character that needs to be evaluated to decide if you like them or not.

So by default, if I like the voice then the character's overall value rises. For example, Shihou Matsuri from sola is super mega awesome, and being voiced by Noto Mamiko (who is putting on one of her best performances yet, at that!), just elevates it that much higher.

I see some people are saying "voice doesn't matter, just personality", but honestly I feel that the actor's delivery is a fundamental piece of how that personality is fleshed out and developed. I can't really see how they're separate.

[Fencedude]

I think sometimes.

For example, I can virtually guarantee that if it weren't for the absolutely AMAZING voice work by Mamiko Noto, I would not like Matsuru from Sola nearly as much as I do. Especially in the first few episodes.

Most of the time, I think its more of a case of the voice simply needing to fit the character, than some specific person voicing them.

...but god DAMN I love Mamiko Noto's voice.

[Lego]

Do you find it a lot easier to like a character because you like their VA or seiyuu? Or dislike them for the same reason?

I've disliked certain characters because of their voice work, sure. But it isn't my sole factor in liking or disliking a character. It may be the fact that "pushes it over the edge" though. I tend to go more for the personality then start from there. But it does help if your ears don't bleed when listening to the character talk.

[PhilipReuben]

I am getting quite sick of Takehito Koyasu, and now find myself more likely to dislike a character played by him (albeit marginally so). He's in far too many shows.

On the other hand, he plays one of my favourite anime characters (Touga in Utena).

[evilarrex]

Tricky question. I may be drawn to watch an anime because of a talented seiyyu or voice actor. I am keen to listen to their performance. I may not neccessarily like their character.
Eg, I love Kotono's work and while I love Juri (Utena), Shouko (Angelic Layer) I dont neccessarily like Excel (Excel Saga) or Usagi (SM)

[bctaris]

I see some people are saying "voice doesn't matter, just personality", but honestly I feel that the actor's delivery is a fundamental piece of how that personality is fleshed out and developed. I can't really see how they're separate.

Yeah, I agree. Mostly. The writing is also half the personality, and the director has some influence as well. But yes, the actual delivery is the most fundamental piece of the puzzle, as most importantly, it is the one the audience can judge most readily.

To the larger point--like a couple others have said, there are shows here and there I'm wary of watching, not so much because I dislike the actor involved and worry he or she will spoil the character for me before I even know who the character is, but because that actor may be too typecast, or over-cast in my experience and I worry the character will not be able to differentiate itself enough to be as meaningful as it may or may not supposed to be in the story. If that run-on sentence makes sense.

And to the core of what I think Mike is asking, there have been titles where I've been far more intrigued in a character because of its actor and/or their performance than maybe the original creators of the character may have anticipated an audience member being. Which then subtly changes my opinion of the overall show beyond, again, what the creators may have anticipated. Mostly it's for a better opinion of the show, and very rarely for the negative.

[Lego]

I agree. You could have the best VA's in the world but if I don't like the character, I could care less. Thats what I was trying to get at in my comments. Still though you'd have to be kidding yourself if you didn't list the VA or the vocals as one of your factors in liking a show or character.

[Crystallized]

Not really. If I really love the voice, I'll like the character a little more, but mostly because I'm waiting for them to talk again.

I can actually only think of one character that I would feel fairly neutral about if not for their voice. (That would be Minagi Tohno from Air. I can't stand her voice.)

[Nork22]

Really depends. If the character is written as a stupid dumbass, then no VA/seiyuu is going to save that character from me liking him/her.

Of course if I like the character, then depending on who's voicing him/her, will either make them memorable or just another anime character that I'll forget as I start a new anime.

Yeah and just to repeat disarm/something and Fence, Mamiko Noto as Matsuri Shiho is godly awesome. :D :D

[Suwako Moriya]

Yeah and just to repeat disarm/something and Fence, Mamiko Noto as Matsuri Shiho is godly awesome. :D :D

I'll have to fourth this myself. Since the voice Mamiko Noto uses for Matsuri Shiho is definitely a factor in the "love" power of the character. Granted the fact Matsuri is pretty and I like her personality kind of helps as well.

[Garasharp K7]

None...I never pay attention to who the seiyuu of a character is at all. Don't know any of their names, or anything.

I'm pretty much the same. I'm usually unfamiliar with who's who when watching a show for the first time, so my opinions of the characters are based on a number of factors - appearance, personality, etc - not just the voice.
If anything, my opinions on VAs or seiyuu are based on various characters they've played. I loved Houko Kuwashima's Yurika in Nadesico, (Jennifer Earhart was great as well) and Brett Weaver kicks all kinds of arse as Nabeshin. :)
"Yeah, I just had a fight again." You can't beat lines like that. :D

[treatment]

Yeah and just to repeat disarm/something and Fence, Mamiko Noto as Matsuri Shiho is godly awesome. :D :D

I'll have to fourth this myself. Since the voice Mamiko Noto uses for Matsuri Shiho is definitely a factor in the "love" power of the character. Granted the fact Matsuri is pretty and I like her personality kind of helps as well.

Mamiko Noto is quite a hottie these days with her long hair, and she is one of the very few seiyuus that can and will look good if/when they dress up as their character. In the sola case, Matsuri and Mamiko are just perfectly one and the same. Can't really separate them in my head.

Beret, short skirt and high-stockings and all. :> :cool:

[DanielJr]

It's the other way around for me. Usually a character performance makes me notice the voice actor.

[jecca-neko]

I might be more interested in a particular anime because a certain seiyuu is in it but it doesn't make me like the character more or less.

[Shsway]

I might pay a bit more attention to the performance of a favorite voice actor (which could end up being a bad thing for them anyway, given my tendency to always view things as a balanced critic), but my overall opinion on a character is based on just that - the performance. I'll admit that it's difficult for me to dislike characters played by Kawakami Tomoko, for one, but she's sort of outside the normal way that I view a show. In the end, a name doesn't guarantee a memorable performance, but I sometimes count it (as others have mentioned), as one of many things that may push me to check out a show.

It really depends. There are terribly scripted characters in anime that surpass the writing by virtue of the way the actor portrays them. Some characters should be cooler than they are, by virtue of artistic and story design, but sometimes the performance is lifeless, forced or inappropriate, based on my initial expectations (the visual).

[Mark]

It's all about liking or disliking the character- the voice just adds to the quality of it, good or bad.
For example, I really didn't like the japanese voice actress for Tsubasa in Kare/Kano. I still like the character and was moved by her storyline, but I was always wishing someone else did it. On the English side, it was Lisa Ortiz and then I liked the character even more.