Kite, Ging Freecss’s student and the Hunter who inspired Gon to become a Hunter, is voiced by Shūichi Ikeda in the 2011 Hunter × Hunter anime adaptation. In the English dub, Kite is voiced by Christopher Corey Smith. In the original 1999 anime adaptation, Kite was voiced by Yūji Kishi.

Kite is one of the most important characters in Hunter × Hunter, serving as Gon’s mentor during the Chimera Ant Arc and acting as the crucial connection between Gon and Ging. Shūichi Ikeda’s performance gives Kite a calm authority and quiet strength that perfectly fits the character’s role as a veteran Hunter.

Japanese Voice Actor (Shūichi Ikeda)

Date of Birth

Shūichi Ikeda (池田 秀一)

  • December 2, 1949

About Shūichi

Shūichi Ikeda is one of Japan’s most legendary voice actors, with a career spanning more than five decades. He is perhaps best known as the voice of Char Aznable in the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, a role that made him one of the most recognizable performers in anime history.

As Kite, Ikeda brings maturity, discipline, and wisdom to the character. His measured delivery helps establish Kite as a seasoned Hunter capable of guiding Gon through the dangers of the Chimera Ant threat while maintaining the character’s underlying compassion.

Hometown

Tokyo, Japan

Career Highlights

Some of Shūichi Ikeda’s most notable roles include:

  • Kite — Hunter × Hunter (2011)
  • Char Aznable — Mobile Suit Gundam
  • Shanks — One Piece
  • Milo — Saint Seiya
  • Akai Shuichi — Detective Conan
  • Ratcliffe — Black Butler
  • Sōsuke Aizen’s father and other roles across major anime franchises

Full Current Filmography

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

Television Anime

  • Hunter × Hunter (2011) — Kite
  • Mobile Suit Gundam — Char Aznable
  • One Piece — Red-Haired Shanks
  • Detective Conan — Shuichi Akai
  • Saint Seiya — Milo
  • Black Butler — Ratcliffe
  • Galaxy Express 999 — Various Roles
  • Legend of the Galactic Heroes — Ulrich Kesler

Anime Films

  • Hunter × Hunter: Phantom Rouge — Kite
  • Hunter × Hunter: The Last Mission — Kite
  • Numerous Gundam theatrical productions as Char Aznable
  • Multiple Detective Conan films as Shuichi Akai

Video Games

  • Hunter × Hunter: Nen × Impact — Kite
  • Mobile Suit Gundam game series — Char Aznable
  • One Piece game adaptations — Shanks
  • Numerous anime and multimedia franchise titles

Critical Reception

Shūichi Ikeda’s portrayal of Kite is highly regarded among Hunter × Hunter fans. His veteran presence gives the character immediate credibility, making it believable that Ging would entrust him with important responsibilities. Many viewers point to Kite’s scenes during the Chimera Ant Arc as some of the most emotionally impactful moments in the series, with Ikeda’s performance helping to elevate the character’s significance.

Our Sources

Social Media

No verified official social media accounts for Shūichi Ikeda could be confirmed through the sources reviewed.

English Voice Actor (Christopher Corey Smith)

Date of Birth

Christopher Corey Smith

  • July 17, 1968

About Christopher

Christopher Corey Smith is an American voice actor, writer, producer, and musician whose career spans anime, animation, video games, and commercial voice-over work. Known for his deep, commanding voice and versatile range, he has portrayed heroes, villains, military leaders, and larger-than-life characters across numerous franchises.

As Kite in the English dub of Hunter × Hunter (2011), Smith delivers a calm, authoritative performance that perfectly suits the experienced Hunter. His portrayal emphasizes Kite’s role as a mentor and protector, helping establish the character as a guiding influence in Gon’s life. During the Chimera Ant Arc, Smith’s measured delivery brings weight and emotional resonance to some of the series’ most pivotal moments.

Hometown

Christopher Corey Smith was born in Los Angeles, California, United States.

Career Highlights

Some of Christopher Corey Smith’s most notable roles include:

  • Kite — Hunter × Hunter
  • Kittan Bachika — Gurren Lagann
  • Spandam — One Piece
  • Mastumoto’s father and supporting roles — Bleach
  • Moltar — Final Fantasy XV: Kingsglaive
  • The Joker — various DC animated and game projects
  • Moloch — X-Men ’97
  • Numerous roles across Marvel, DC, anime, and AAA video game franchises

Full Current Filmography

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

Television Anime

  • Hunter × Hunter (2011) — Kite
  • Gurren Lagann — Kittan Bachika
  • One Piece — Spandam
  • Bleach — Various Characters
  • Naruto franchise — Supporting Roles
  • JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure franchise projects — Additional Voices
  • The Seven Deadly Sins — Supporting Roles
  • Various Netflix and Crunchyroll anime productions

Animation

  • X-Men ’97 — Moloch
  • DC animated productions — The Joker and additional characters
  • Marvel animated projects — Supporting Roles
  • Various animated television series and streaming productions

Anime Films

  • Hunter × Hunter: Phantom Rouge — Kite
  • Hunter × Hunter: The Last Mission — Kite
  • Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV — Moltar
  • Additional theatrical anime and animated film appearances

Video Games

  • Hunter × Hunter: Nen × Impact — Kite
  • Final Fantasy franchise projects
  • World of Warcraft — Multiple Characters
  • Star Wars games — Various Roles
  • Call of Duty franchise projects
  • Numerous AAA and anime-based game titles

Critical Reception

Christopher Corey Smith’s portrayal of Kite is highly regarded among English-dub viewers for its maturity and emotional restraint. Fans often praise his ability to make Kite feel like a seasoned professional Hunter without sacrificing the compassion that defines the character.

His performance during the Chimera Ant Arc is particularly celebrated, as it helps convey Kite’s importance to Gon and the profound impact of the events that follow. Many viewers consider Smith’s work essential to the emotional effectiveness of one of Hunter × Hunter‘s most acclaimed story arcs.

Beyond Hunter × Hunter, Smith has earned recognition for his extensive contributions to animation and gaming, becoming one of the industry’s most dependable and versatile performers.

Our Sources

Social Media

Published by Limarc Ambalina

Limarc Ambalina is the founder of Japan Bound, a website covering all things Japan — from travel and culture to anime, manga, and pop culture. He is also the Director of Content at ISNation and the former VP of Editorial at HackerNoon. Based in Japan, he has been writing about Japanese life and entertainment since 2019, growing the site to over 2.4 million views.

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