Why David From Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Sounds So Familiar
On September 13th, 2022 Netflix released "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners," an anime series that takes place in the same universe as CD Projekt Red's game "Cyberpunk 2077." Anime is a perfect medium for "Cyberpunk: Edgerunners." With the bright colors, bold aesthetics, and a society that is heavily influenced by body modifications, the anime series easily captures the vibe of its source material without compromising its integrity. Not having to worry about making the setting look realistic or risking a live-action adaptation, the stylistic anime not only works, but it keeps in theme with the universe effortlessly.
In addition to some genuinely stunning animation, the Netflix show includes some equally amazing voice acting. Lucy, for example, is voiced by Emi Lo, a popular actor who has played characters in anime like "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba." One of the most instantly recognizable voices, however, is the gifted actor behind David. His name is Zach Aguilar and he's brought the English dub version of some of the kindest and most memorable characters of the modern anime era to life.
Remeber Colt from Hunter x Hunter?
Zach Aguilar's role on the popular "Hunter x Hunter" series stands out among the plethora of characters he's lent his voice to due to his non-human appearance. Colt was once a human named Kurt, but after he was taken and eaten by the Chimera Ant queen while trying to save his sister, he became reborn as one of the queen's most loyal foot soldiers who plays a vital role in the Chimera Ant network.
Although Colt has a very non-human appearance — complete with wings, claws, and an ant-like exoskeleton — his face still resembles that of a human, and he also maintains many of Kurt's traits even after his rebirth. His love and devotion for his queen is authentic and unwavering, and this is likely a reflection of who Kurt was when he was a human. As is typical of Aguilar's performances, he manages to work all of these unique traits into one complex and singular character.
Aguilar also lent his voice to One Punch Man's Genos
Based on a manga series created by One, "One Punch Man" is a superhero anime through and through. Following the story of Saitama, a superhero who becomes so powerful he can defeat any enemy with just one punch, the anime explores what happens to such a person when they've grown bored. Unable to be challenged by a single soul, Saitama struggles to keep his head in the superhero game because there is no one to rival him.
Aguilar voices Genos, the cyborg disciple of Saitama. Known under the Hero Association as Demon Cyborg, Genos is a perfect example of the range that Aguilar can deliver in his performances. Where Tanjiro from "Demon Slayer" (more on him in a minute) is very loving, open, and often cracking jokes to lighten the mood, nothing is a joke to Genos, who focuses almost entirely on growing stronger. Genos' intensity often acts as a stark contrast to Saitama, who doesn't really seem to take anything seriously. Determined to learn what makes Saitama, his master, so strong, Genos studies him closely in his pursuit to become more powerful.
The Seven Deadly Sins features Aguilar as a unique take on Arthur Pendragon
"The Seven Deadly Sins" is based on a manga written and illustrated by Nakaba Suzuki and follows a band of knights (the Seven Deadly Sins) who are disbanded after being wrongfully accused of attempting a coup. One of the central characters in this fantastical tale is Arthur Pendragon, voiced by Zach Aguilar.
As the wielder of Excaliber, the King of Camelot, and the rightful King of Chaos, Aguilar's portrayal of Arthur Pendragon falls in line in many ways with what fans familiar with the character may expect. At the same time, Arthur feels like a fresh take on the role and adds another layer of diversity to Aguilar's credits. Unique in the face of characters like Tanjiro and Genos, Arthur stands out for his role as a young ruler who hasn't quite figured out what he's doing yet. As he grows older, though, Camelot's fall, mixed with the influence of Chaos, has molded him into something else entirely. Crueler and unforgiving, he almost seems like a completely different person jaded by his experiences.
Aguilar starred in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure as Koichi Hirose
"JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" might be a standout for Zach Aguilar due to the overwhelming number of memes this anime has produced. While the series is extremely popular and has loads of fans worldwide, the number of people who know about it purely due to the cultural impact it has is also massive. Telling the story of JoJo as he attempts to stop his stepbrother, Dio, from taking control of his family's fortune, the anime spans a wide range of genres from action to supernatural to comedy.
Like many of the characters that Aguilar takes up, Koichi Hirose goes through quite the length of character development. Starting off as a nervous student, Koichi eventually grows more powerful and sure of himself, especially once he becomes a Stand user. Koichi is notably very peaceful, though. Friendly and kind, he rarely seeks to harm his opponents. He even manages to save Yukako and Giorno Giovanna just by refusing the use the strength required to kill them.
Aguilar voiced Tanjiro Kamado in the Demon Slayer anime
Perhaps one of the most recognizable voices in Zach Aguilar's long repertoire of acting is Tanjiro Kamado of "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba." Tanjiro is the main protagonist of the extremely popular anime series and he resonates well with fans due to his unique characterization. "Demon Slayer" comes out of the gate swinging, with young Tanjiro's family being slaughtered by the King of Demons. The only other survivor is his sister, who turns into a demon herself as a consequence of the attack. Severely traumatized and determined to find a way to cure his sister, Tanjiro undergoes training to become a demon slayer.
This is a popular anime genre, to be sure. A young, severely traumatized person is forced to face their demons (in this case, literally) by coping with their trauma and learning to fight back. Tanjiro stands out as this type of protagonist because, despite his trauma, Tanjiro has never allowed it to destroy his kind heart or charitable acts. Understandably, most characters in similar situations to Tanjiro would become jaded, vengeful, and angry, but not him. Even while fighting demons, he approaches them peacefully first and gives them every chance to change. He's even gone out of his way to make sure their deaths are peaceful. Due to his pure nature, "Demon Slayer" fans have put Tanjiro on a pedestal.