Dabi, later revealed to be Toya Todoroki, is voiced by Hiro Shimono in the original Japanese version of My Hero Academia. In the English dub, the character is voiced by Ernesto Jason Liebrecht (commonly credited as Jason Liebrecht). Their performances helped establish Dabi as one of the most iconic villains in the franchise.
JAPANESE VOICE ACTOR (Hiro Shimono)
Date of Birth
Hiro Shimono (下野 紘)
- April 21, 1980
About Hiro
Hiro Shimono is a Japanese voice actor and singer affiliated with I’m Enterprise. While he is often known for portraying energetic and comedic characters, his performance as Dabi showcases a darker and more restrained side of his acting range.
As Dabi, Shimono delivers a calm, unsettling performance that gradually reveals the character’s rage, trauma, and obsession with exposing hero society’s flaws. His portrayal became especially acclaimed during the later arcs that explored the Todoroki family’s tragic history.
Hometown
Tokyo, Japan
Career Highlights
Some of Hiro Shimono’s most notable roles include:
- Dabi / Toya Todoroki — My Hero Academia
- Zenitsu Agatsuma — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
- Connie Springer — Attack on Titan
- Keima Katsuragi — The World God Only Knows
- Nacht Faust — Black Clover
- Syo Kurusu — Uta no Prince-sama
- Rex — Xenoblade Chronicles 2
- Hanzo Urushihara (Lucifer) — The Devil Is a Part-Timer!
Full Current Filmography
The following list reflects major documented credits from reputable sources and is not intended to be a complete record of Shimono’s career.
Television Anime
- My Hero Academia — Dabi / Toya Todoroki
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — Zenitsu Agatsuma
- Attack on Titan — Connie Springer
- The World God Only Knows — Keima Katsuragi
- The Devil Is a Part-Timer! — Hanzo Urushihara / Lucifer
- Black Clover — Nacht Faust
- Karneval — Nai
- Log Horizon — Sojiro Seta
- Tokyo Ravens — Tenma Momoe
- Ace of Diamond — Norifumi Kawakami
Anime Films
- My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising — Dabi
- Demon Slayer film projects — Zenitsu Agatsuma
- Numerous franchise films connected to his television anime roles.
Video Games
- My Hero One’s Justice — Dabi
- My Hero One’s Justice 2 — Dabi
- My Hero Ultra Rumble — Dabi
- My Hero Academia: All’s Justice — Dabi
- Xenoblade Chronicles 2 — Rex
Critical Reception
Shimono’s portrayal of Dabi has received widespread praise for its subtlety and emotional intensity. Fans frequently highlight how his performance evolved alongside the character, transitioning from a mysterious villain to a deeply tragic figure whose actions are driven by years of resentment and suffering. His work during the Paranormal Liberation War and Final War arcs is often cited among the strongest villain performances in the series.
Our Sources
- Behind The Voice Actors – Dabi / Toya Todoroki (My Hero Academia) (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/My-Hero-Academia/Dabi-Toya-Todoroki/)
- Behind The Voice Actors – Dabi Voices (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/My-Hero-Academia/Dabi/)
- Hiro Shimono Biography (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiro_Shimono)
- My Hero Academia Cast List (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Hero_Academia_(TV_series))
ENGLISH VOICE ACTOR (Jason Liebrecht)
Date of Birth
Jason Liebrecht (Ernesto Jason Liebrecht)
- February 13, 1977
About Jason
Jason Liebrecht is an American voice actor, ADR director, and scriptwriter whose career spans anime, video games, and animation. Known for his distinctive voice and ability to portray both heroes and villains, he has become one of the most respected performers in English-language anime dubbing.
As Dabi in My Hero Academia, Liebrecht delivers a cold, detached performance that perfectly captures the villain’s cynicism and emotional scars. His portrayal emphasizes Dabi’s quiet menace, making the character’s explosive outbursts and later revelations even more impactful. Many fans consider his work as Dabi among the standout villain performances in the English dub.
Hometown
Jason Liebrecht was born in Houston, Texas, United States.
Career Highlights
Some of Jason Liebrecht’s most notable roles include:
- Dabi / Toya Todoroki — My Hero Academia
- Zeke Yeager — Attack on Titan
- Rob Lucci — One Piece
- Yato — Noragami
- Hei — Darker than Black
- Syaoran — Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle
- Champa — Dragon Ball Super
- Kyo Sohma — Fruits Basket (2001 adaptation)
These roles have showcased his ability to portray charismatic protagonists, antiheroes, and complex antagonists across multiple genres.
Full Current Filmography
The following list reflects major documented credits from reputable industry databases and may not be exhaustive.
Television Anime
- My Hero Academia — Dabi / Toya Todoroki
- Attack on Titan — Zeke Yeager
- One Piece — Rob Lucci
- Noragami — Yato
- Darker than Black — Hei
- Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle — Syaoran
- Dragon Ball Super — Champa
- Fruits Basket (2001) — Kyo Sohma
- Blood Blockade Battlefront — Zapp Renfro
- Case Closed (Detective Conan) — Kaito Kid (Funimation dub)
Anime Films
- My Hero Academia: Two Heroes — Dabi
- My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising — Dabi
- My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission — Dabi
- My Hero Academia: You’re Next — Dabi
- One Piece Film productions — Rob Lucci
- Dragon Ball Super: Broly — Champa
- Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero — Champa
Video Games
- My Hero One’s Justice — Dabi
- My Hero One’s Justice 2 — Dabi
- My Hero Ultra Rumble — Dabi
- One Piece game adaptations — Rob Lucci
- Dragon Ball game adaptations — Champa
- Numerous anime and action-game projects across multiple franchises
Critical Reception
Jason Liebrecht’s portrayal of Dabi has been widely praised for its restraint and authenticity. Rather than portraying the character as a stereotypical loud villain, Liebrecht leans into Dabi’s emotional exhaustion, bitterness, and simmering rage. This approach became especially effective during the Paranormal Liberation War and Final War storylines, where the character’s tragic past as Toya Todoroki takes center stage.
Fans and critics alike often cite Liebrecht’s ability to balance menace with vulnerability as a key reason Dabi became one of the most memorable villains in My Hero Academia.
Outside the franchise, his performances as Zeke Yeager, Yato, Hei, and Rob Lucci have further cemented his reputation as one of anime dubbing’s most versatile actors.
Our Sources
- Behind The Voice Actors – Dabi / Toya Todoroki (My Hero Academia) (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/My-Hero-Academia/Dabi-Toya-Todoroki/)
- Behind The Voice Actors – Jason Liebrecht Profile (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Jason-Liebrecht/)
- Anime News Network Encyclopedia – Jason Liebrecht (https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php)
- IMDb – Jason Liebrecht (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1259355/)
Social Media
- X (Twitter): https://x.com/JasonLiebrecht
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonliebrecht
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1259355/
