Shikamaru Nara, the genius strategist of Team 10 in the Naruto franchise, is voiced by Shōtarō Morikubo in the Japanese version and Tom Gibis in the English dub. Both actors became closely associated with Shikamaru’s laid-back personality, sharp intelligence, and emotional character growth throughout Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden, and Boruto. (behindthevoiceactors.com)
JAPANESE VOICE ACTOR (SHŌTARŌ MORIKUBO)
Date of Birth
February 25, 1974
About Shōtarō
Shōtarō Morikubo is a veteran Japanese voice actor, singer, and narrator known for energetic performances across anime and video games. His portrayal of Shikamaru Nara balanced sarcasm, intelligence, and emotional depth, especially during some of the most dramatic arcs in Naruto: Shippuden.
Morikubo is also recognized for major roles in long-running anime franchises, music projects, and game adaptations. His relaxed vocal style made him a perfect fit for Shikamaru’s famously “troublesome” personality.
Hometown
Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
Career Highlights
- Shikamaru Nara — Naruto
- Yosuke Hanamura — Persona 4
- Okita Sōgo — Gintama
- Makishima Yusuke — Yowamushi Pedal
- Whis — Dragon Ball Super (after episode recasting)
- Bartolomeo — One Piece
Full Current Filmography
The following list reflects documented major credits from publicly available sources and may not be exhaustive.
Anime
- Naruto — Shikamaru Nara
- Naruto: Shippuden — Shikamaru Nara
- Boruto: Naruto Next Generations — Shikamaru Nara
- Dragon Ball Super — Whis
- Gintama — Okita Sōgo
- Yowamushi Pedal — Makishima Yusuke
- One Piece — Bartolomeo
- Major — Toshiya Satō
Films
- The Last: Naruto the Movie — Shikamaru Nara
- Boruto: Naruto the Movie — Shikamaru Nara
- Naruto Shippuden films — Shikamaru Nara
Video Games
- Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm series — Shikamaru Nara
- Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker — Shikamaru Nara
- Persona 4 games — Yosuke Hanamura
Critical Reception
Fans frequently praise Morikubo’s performance for capturing Shikamaru’s intelligence and emotional restraint. His work during the Asuma storyline in Naruto: Shippuden is often cited as one of the strongest emotional performances in the series.
Our Sources
Behind The Voice Actors – Shikamaru Nara (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Naruto/Shikamaru-Nara/)
Shōtarō Morikubo Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotaro_Morikubo)
Meet The Voice Actors – Shikamaru Nara (https://meetthevoiceactors.com/video-games/naruto-ultimate-ninja-storm/shikamaru-nara/)
Narutopedia – Shikamaru Nara (https://naruto.fandom.com/wiki/Shikamaru_Nara)
Social Media
Official Website: https://vims.co.jp/talent_profile_detail.php?id=20
ENGLISH VOICE ACTOR (TOM GIBIS)
Date of Birth
Not publicly documented.
About Tom
Tom Gibis is the English voice actor best known for portraying Shikamaru Nara throughout the Naruto franchise. His performance became closely tied to Shikamaru’s calm demeanor, dry humor, and tactical brilliance across Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden, films, games, and later Boruto appearances.
Gibis’ relaxed and natural delivery helped make Shikamaru one of the most recognizable and relatable characters in the English dub. His emotional performances during key story arcs, particularly involving Asuma Sarutobi, are frequently praised by longtime fans.
Hometown
Not publicly documented.
Career Highlights
- Shikamaru Nara — Naruto
- Shikamaru Nara — Naruto: Shippuden
- Shikamaru Nara — Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
- Additional anime and dubbing work in various television productions
Full Current Filmography
The following list reflects documented credits from reputable public sources and may not be exhaustive.
Anime
- Naruto — Shikamaru Nara
- Naruto: Shippuden — Shikamaru Nara
- Boruto: Naruto Next Generations — Shikamaru Nara
Films
- The Last: Naruto the Movie — Shikamaru Nara
- Boruto: Naruto the Movie — Shikamaru Nara
- Naruto Shippuden films — Shikamaru Nara
Video Games
- Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm series — Shikamaru Nara
- Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker — Shikamaru Nara
- Jump Force — Shikamaru Nara
Critical Reception
Tom Gibis’ portrayal of Shikamaru is often praised for perfectly matching the character’s laid-back but highly intelligent personality. Fans especially appreciate how naturally he delivers Shikamaru’s sarcastic dialogue while still conveying emotional depth during serious story moments.
Our Sources
Behind The Voice Actors – Shikamaru Nara (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Naruto/Shikamaru-Nara/)
Tom Gibis at Behind The Voice Actors (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Tom-Gibis/)
Meet The Voice Actors – Shikamaru Nara (https://meetthevoiceactors.com/video-games/naruto-ultimate-ninja-storm/shikamaru-nara/)
Narutopedia – Shikamaru Nara (https://naruto.fandom.com/wiki/Shikamaru_Nara)
Social Media
No verified official public social media accounts were found from reliable public sources.
