Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin and the primary antagonist of much of the Naruto series, is voiced by Kujira in the original Japanese version and Steve Blum in the English dub. Their distinctive performances helped make Orochimaru one of anime’s most recognizable villains, known for his eerie calmness, obsession with immortality, and unsettling charisma.


JAPANESE VOICE ACTOR (KUJIRA)

Date of Birth

April 1, 1960.

About Kujira

Kujira (くじら), born Wakako Matsumoto, is a veteran Japanese voice actress represented by 81 Produce. Known for her deep, distinctive voice and remarkable versatility, she has built a career portraying everything from comedic characters to intimidating villains. Among her most famous roles are Orochimaru in Naruto, Otose in Gintama, and Hitogami in Mushoku Tensei.

Her portrayal of Orochimaru is considered one of the defining performances of the Naruto franchise. By combining a calm delivery with an unsettling edge, Kujira created a character whose presence remains memorable decades after his debut.

Hometown

Tokyo, Japan.

Career Highlights

Some of Kujira’s most notable roles include:

  • OrochimaruNaruto
  • OtoseGintama
  • Hitogami (Human God)Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
  • Sakura OgamiDanganronpa
  • UrsulaKingdom Hearts series (Japanese version)
  • EllaSonic X
  • RokumeBEASTARS

Full Current Filmography

The following list reflects documented major credits from publicly available sources and may not be exhaustive.

Television Anime

  • NarutoOrochimaru
  • Naruto ShippudenOrochimaru
  • Boruto: Naruto Next GenerationsOrochimaru
  • GintamaOtose
  • Mushoku Tensei: Jobless ReincarnationHitogami
  • BEASTARSRokume
  • Danganronpa: The AnimationSakura Ogami
  • Sonic XElla

Anime Films

  • Cowboy Bebop: The MovieLady
  • Multiple Naruto theatrical films — Orochimaru

Video Games

  • Naruto Ultimate Ninja series — Orochimaru
  • Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm ConnectionsOrochimaru
  • Kingdom Hearts series — Ursula
  • Danganronpa series — Sakura Ogami

Critical Reception

Kujira’s performance as Orochimaru is frequently praised for its uniqueness. Her deep, almost serpentine vocal delivery gives the character an unsettling presence that perfectly matches his role as a manipulative and dangerous antagonist. Many fans consider her interpretation inseparable from the character’s identity.

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ENGLISH VOICE ACTOR (STEVE BLUM)

Date of Birth

April 29, 1960. (en.wikipedia.org)

About Steve

Steve Blum is an American voice actor widely regarded as one of the most influential performers in animation, anime dubbing, and video games. Known for his distinctive deep voice, Blum has voiced hundreds of characters across multiple entertainment mediums and holds a Guinness World Record for the most video game voice acting credits by a performer.

In Naruto and Naruto Shippuden, Blum provides the English voice of Orochimaru, delivering a chilling performance that perfectly captures the character’s intelligence, cruelty, and obsession with forbidden jutsu. His interpretation became one of the most recognizable villain performances in English anime dubbing. (behindthevoiceactors.com)

Hometown

Santa Monica, California, United States. (en.wikipedia.org)

Career Highlights

Some of Steve Blum’s most famous roles include:

  • OrochimaruNaruto
  • Spike SpiegelCowboy Bebop
  • Wolverine — Marvel Animation and Video Games
  • Zeb OrreliosStar Wars Rebels
  • AmonThe Legend of Korra
  • StarscreamTransformers Prime
  • TomToonami
  • Sub-ZeroMortal Kombat franchise
  • GruntMass Effect series (en.wikipedia.org)

Full Current Filmography

The following list reflects documented major credits from publicly available sources and may not be exhaustive.

Anime Series

  • NarutoOrochimaru
  • Naruto ShippudenOrochimaru
  • Boruto: Naruto Next GenerationsOrochimaru
  • Cowboy BebopSpike Spiegel
  • Digimon FusionDorbickmon
  • The Big ORoger Smith
  • Blue ExorcistShiro Fujimoto
  • Durarara!!Shiki Haruya
  • Marvel Anime: WolverineLogan / Wolverine
  • The Seven Deadly SinsFraudrin

Western Animation

  • Star Wars RebelsZeb Orrelios
  • The Legend of KorraAmon
  • Transformers PrimeStarscream
  • Ben 10 — Various Roles
  • Young Justice — Various Roles
  • Generator Rex — Various Roles

Video Games

  • Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm series — Orochimaru
  • Mortal Kombat XSub-Zero
  • Mortal Kombat 11Sub-Zero
  • Mass Effect series — Grunt
  • Call of Duty franchise — Various Roles
  • Star Wars: The Old Republic — Various Characters
  • God of War series — Various Roles
  • Final Fantasy VII Remake — Supporting Roles
  • Marvel’s Midnight SunsWolverine

Critical Reception

Steve Blum’s portrayal of Orochimaru is frequently cited among the best English-dub villain performances in anime. Fans praise his ability to make the character sound simultaneously calm, intelligent, and deeply unsettling. His performance helped establish Orochimaru as one of the most memorable antagonists in the English-language version of Naruto and remains a fan favorite years after the series concluded. (behindthevoiceactors.com)

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