The Seiyuu Thread
(http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/7527/seiyuu.jpg)
Seiyuu Database (http://www.usagi.org/~doi/seiyuu/) | Seiyuu Gallery (http://hashihime.atspace.com/Hashi_seiyuus.html) | Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seiyuu)
A seiyū (声優?) is a Japanese voice actor that works in radio, television, or movies. Seiyū perform voice-overs for non-Japanese movies, provide narration, and also work as anime and video game character actors. The term "seiyū" is conventionally used among English-speaking fans to denote the Japanese actor and "vocal actor" or "voice actor" when referring to a character actor in a series translated into English. Magazines focusing specifically on seiyū are published in Japan, with Voice Animage being the most well known and longest running.
Japan currently produces 60% of the animated series in the world. Because the animation industry in Japan is so important, seiyū are able to achieve fame on a national level and to have full time careers performing voice-overs. Seiyū are able to take greater charge of their careers than character actors can in other countries. Japan also has institutions to support the career path, with around one hundred and thirty seiyū schools and troupes of vocal actors that work for a broadcast company or talent agency.
Seiyū frequently branch into music, and many have also branched into live action film and television acting. They may attract their own appreciator who will watch shows in order to hear that actor or actress. Popular seiyū, especially female seiyū such as Kikuko Inoue, Megumi Hayashibara, Aya Hirano, Aya Hisakawa and Kugimiya Rie, often have devoted international fanclubs.
Minori Chihara - Seiyuu Grand Prix No.03 (March 2009)
(http://img156.imagevenue.com/loc968/th_88245_13_122_968lo.jpg) (http://img156.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88245_13_122_968lo.jpg)(http://img221.imagevenue.com/loc92/th_88258_14_122_92lo.jpg) (http://img221.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88258_14_122_92lo.jpg)(http://img229.imagevenue.com/loc492/th_88262_15_122_492lo.jpg) (http://img229.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88262_15_122_492lo.jpg)(http://img250.imagevenue.com/loc225/th_88267_16_122_225lo.jpg) (http://img250.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88267_16_122_225lo.jpg)
Yui Horie - Seiyuu Grand Prix No.03 (March 2009)
(http://img225.imagevenue.com/loc196/th_88215_09_122_196lo.jpg) (http://img225.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88215_09_122_196lo.jpg)(http://img215.imagevenue.com/loc138/th_88222_10_122_138lo.jpg) (http://img215.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88222_10_122_138lo.jpg)(http://img246.imagevenue.com/loc395/th_88226_11_122_395lo.jpg) (http://img246.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88226_11_122_395lo.jpg)(http://img263.imagevenue.com/loc53/th_88243_12_122_53lo.jpg) (http://img263.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88243_12_122_53lo.jpg)
Ryoko Shintani - Seiyuu Grand Prix No.03 (March 2009)
(http://img121.imagevenue.com/loc426/th_88273_21_122_426lo.jpg) (http://img121.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88273_21_122_426lo.jpg)(http://img233.imagevenue.com/loc488/th_88278_22_122_488lo.jpg) (http://img233.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88278_22_122_488lo.jpg)(http://img162.imagevenue.com/loc702/th_88283_23_122_702lo.jpg) (http://img162.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88283_23_122_702lo.jpg)
Ai Nonoka - Seiyuu Grand Prix No.03 (March 2009)
(http://img149.imagevenue.com/loc755/th_88296_24_122_755lo.jpg) (http://img149.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88296_24_122_755lo.jpg)(http://img268.imagevenue.com/loc39/th_88310_25_122_39lo.jpg) (http://img268.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88310_25_122_39lo.jpg)(http://img120.imagevenue.com/loc822/th_88324_26_122_822lo.jpg) (http://img120.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88324_26_122_822lo.jpg)
Kanae Oki - Seiyuu Grand Prix No.03 (March 2009)
(http://img178.imagevenue.com/loc204/th_88337_27_122_204lo.jpg) (http://img178.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88337_27_122_204lo.jpg)(http://img220.imagevenue.com/loc425/th_88357_28_122_425lo.jpg) (http://img220.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88357_28_122_425lo.jpg)
Eri Kitamura - Seiyuu Grand Prix No.03 (March 2009)
(http://img127.imagevenue.com/loc1159/th_88363_44_122_1159lo.jpg) (http://img127.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88363_44_122_1159lo.jpg)(http://img148.imagevenue.com/loc124/th_88376_45_122_124lo.jpg) (http://img148.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88376_45_122_124lo.jpg)(http://img245.imagevenue.com/loc100/th_88389_46_122_100lo.jpg) (http://img245.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88389_46_122_100lo.jpg)
Haruka Tomatsu - Seiyuu Grand Prix No.03 (March 2009)
(http://img256.imagevenue.com/loc497/th_88399_49_122_497lo.jpg) (http://img256.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88399_49_122_497lo.jpg)(http://img205.imagevenue.com/loc573/th_88404_50-51_122_573lo.jpg) (http://img205.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=88404_50-51_122_573lo.jpg)