Goku Black, the primary antagonist of the “Future Trunks Saga” in Dragon Ball Super, is voiced by Masako Nozawa in the original Japanese version and Sean Schemmel in the English dub. Because Goku Black possesses Goku’s body, he shares the same voice actors as Goku across anime, movies, and video games.
Japanese Voice Actor: Masako Nozawa
Date of Birth
October 25, 1936.
About Masako
Masako Nozawa is one of the most influential voice actresses in anime history and the longtime voice of the Son family throughout the Dragon Ball franchise. Since the original Dragon Ball anime debuted in 1986, she has voiced Son Goku, Son Gohan, Son Goten, Bardock, and later Goku Black.
In Dragon Ball Super, Nozawa faced the unique challenge of portraying a villain who physically looks and sounds like Goku but possesses an entirely different personality. Her performance gives Goku Black a colder, more sinister tone while preserving the familiar voice that fans associate with Goku. This contrast became one of the defining elements of the Future Trunks Saga.
Hometown
Arakawa, Tokyo, Japan.
Career Highlights
Some of Masako Nozawa’s most notable roles include:
- Goku Black — Dragon Ball Super
- Son Goku — Dragon Ball franchise
- Son Gohan — Dragon Ball franchise
- Son Goten — Dragon Ball franchise
- Bardock — Dragon Ball franchise
- Kitarō — GeGeGe no Kitarō
- Tetsurō Hoshino — Galaxy Express 999
- Guilmon — Digimon Tamers
Full Current Filmography
The following list highlights major documented roles and may not be exhaustive.
Dragon Ball Franchise
Television Anime
1986–1989
- Dragon Ball — Son Goku
1989–1996
- Dragon Ball Z — Son Goku, Son Gohan, Son Goten
1996–1997
- Dragon Ball GT — Son Goku
2009–2015
- Dragon Ball Kai — Son Goku, Son Gohan, Son Goten
2015–2018
- Dragon Ball Super — Son Goku, Goku Black, Son Gohan, Son Goten
Other Major Anime
1968–Present
- GeGeGe no Kitarō — Kitarō
1978
- Galaxy Express 999 — Tetsurō Hoshino
2001
- Digimon Tamers — Guilmon
Critical Reception
Masako Nozawa’s portrayal of Goku Black received widespread praise because she managed to make the character feel distinctly different from Goku despite using the same voice. Fans and critics frequently highlighted the subtle menace, arrogance, and cruelty she infused into Goku Black’s dialogue, helping create one of the franchise’s most memorable villains.
Our Sources
- Behind The Voice Actors – Goku Black (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Dragon-Ball/Goku-Black/)
- Masako Nozawa Biography (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masako_Nozawa)
- Goku Character Voice Actor Information (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goku)
- Zamasu / Goku Black Voice Actor Information (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamasu)
English Voice Actor: Sean Schemmel
Sean Schemmel
‘Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero’ film premiere, Los Angeles, California, USA – 10 Aug 2022
Date of Birth
November 21, 1968. (Wikipedia)
About Sean
Sean Schemmel is an American voice actor, ADR director, and scriptwriter best known as the English voice of Son Goku in the Dragon Ball franchise. Since Funimation’s English dub of Dragon Ball Z in 1999, Schemmel has become one of the most recognizable voices in anime, portraying Goku across television series, films, video games, and specials.
In Dragon Ball Super, Schemmel also voices Goku Black, a villain who possesses Goku’s body but is actually the rogue Supreme Kai apprentice Zamasu. Rather than simply reusing his Goku voice, Schemmel altered his performance to create a colder, more sinister version of the character while maintaining the familiar sound of Goku’s body. His portrayal helped make Goku Black one of the most memorable antagonists in modern Dragon Ball. (behindthevoiceactors.com)
Hometown
Waterloo, Iowa, United States. (Wikipedia)
Career Highlights
Some of Sean Schemmel’s most notable roles include:
- Goku Black — Dragon Ball Super
- Son Goku — Dragon Ball franchise
- King Kai — Dragon Ball franchise
- Bardock (selected productions) — Dragon Ball franchise
- Lucario — Pokémon
- Strong the Budo — Kinnikuman Nisei / Ultimate Muscle
- Goku Jr. — Dragon Ball GT
- Black Doom (selected games) — Shadow the Hedgehog
Full Current Filmography
The following list highlights major documented credits and may not be exhaustive.
Dragon Ball Franchise
Television Anime
1999–2003
- Dragon Ball Z — Son Goku, King Kai
2005
- Dragon Ball GT — Son Goku
2009–2015
- Dragon Ball Z Kai — Son Goku, King Kai
2015–2018
- Dragon Ball Super — Son Goku, Goku Black, King Kai
2024
- Dragon Ball Daima — Son Goku
Anime Films
2013
- Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods — Son Goku
2015
- Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ — Son Goku
2018
- Dragon Ball Super: Broly — Son Goku
2022
- Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero — Son Goku
Video Games
Dragon Ball Games
- Dragon Ball FighterZ — Goku, Goku Black
- Dragon Ball Xenoverse — Goku
- Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 — Goku, Goku Black
- Dragon Ball Legends — Goku, Goku Black
- Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot — Goku
- Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO — Goku, Goku Black
Other Notable Roles
Pokémon Franchise
- Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew — Lucario
- Various Pokémon productions — Lucario
Ultimate Muscle
- Ultimate Muscle — Strong the Budo
Critical Reception
Sean Schemmel’s portrayal of Goku Black received widespread praise from fans and critics for transforming a familiar heroic voice into a genuinely threatening villain. Rather than making drastic changes, Schemmel relied on subtle differences in tone, pacing, and delivery to distinguish Goku Black from Goku.
Fans frequently cite Goku Black’s speeches, battles against Future Trunks and Vegeta, and interactions with Zamasu as highlights of Schemmel’s performance. Many consider Goku Black one of the strongest villain portrayals in the history of the English Dragon Ball dub.
Our Sources
- Behind The Voice Actors – Goku Black (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Dragon-Ball/Goku-Black/)
- Behind The Voice Actors – Sean Schemmel (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Sean-Schemmel/)
- Sean Schemmel Biography (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Schemmel)
- Dragon Ball Wiki – Goku Black (https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Goku_Black)
- IMDb Profile – Sean Schemmel (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0770640/)
Social Media
- X (Twitter): https://x.com/SeanSchemmel
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sean_schemmel
- Official Website: https://www.seanschemmel.com/
