Meruem, the Chimera Ant King and central antagonist of the Chimera Ant Arc, is voiced by Kōki Uchiyama in the original Japanese version of Hunter × Hunter (2011). In the English dub, Meruem is voiced by Max Mittelman. Their performances helped transform Meruem from a seemingly ruthless conqueror into one of the most complex and celebrated characters in anime history.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest anime antagonists ever written, Meruem’s journey from tyrannical ruler to a character capable of profound empathy is a major reason the Chimera Ant Arc remains so highly acclaimed.

Japanese Voice Actor (Kōki Uchiyama)

Date of Birth

Kōki Uchiyama (内山 昂輝)

  • August 16, 1990

About Kōki

Kōki Uchiyama is a Japanese voice actor affiliated with the Himawari Theatre Group. He began acting as a child and later became one of Japan’s most respected voice performers, known for portraying intelligent, reserved, and emotionally layered characters.

As Meruem, Uchiyama delivers one of the most acclaimed performances of his career. He expertly portrays the King’s evolution from an arrogant and merciless ruler into a thoughtful individual who begins questioning the meaning of strength, humanity, and existence itself. His scenes with Komugi are frequently cited among the finest examples of voice acting in anime.

Hometown

Saitama Prefecture, Japan.

Career Highlights

Some of Kōki Uchiyama’s most notable roles include:

  • Meruem — Hunter × Hunter
  • Tomura Shigaraki — My Hero Academia
  • Kei Tsukishima — Haikyuu!!
  • Toge Inumaki — Jujutsu Kaisen
  • Rin Itoshi — Blue Lock
  • Roxas — Kingdom Hearts
  • Ventus — Kingdom Hearts
  • Yū Otosaka — Charlotte
  • Rei Suwa — Buddy Daddies

Full Current Filmography

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

Television Anime

  • Hunter × Hunter — Meruem
  • My Hero Academia — Tomura Shigaraki
  • Haikyuu!! — Kei Tsukishima
  • Jujutsu Kaisen — Toge Inumaki
  • Blue Lock — Rin Itoshi
  • Charlotte — Yū Otosaka
  • Buddy Daddies — Rei Suwa
  • Soul Eater — Soul Eater Evans
  • Shiki — Natsuno Yūki
  • Infinite Stratos — Ichika Orimura

Anime Films

  • Hunter × Hunter: The Last Mission — Meruem
  • Hotarubi no Mori e — Gin
  • Multiple Kingdom Hearts animated and cinematic projects featuring Roxas and Ventus

Video Games

  • Kingdom Hearts series — Roxas, Ventus
  • Hunter × Hunter franchise games — Meruem
  • Various anime and multimedia franchise titles

Critical Reception

Kōki Uchiyama’s portrayal of Meruem is frequently ranked among the greatest villain performances in anime. Fans and critics alike praise his ability to gradually shift the character’s tone from cold superiority to introspective humanity without ever losing Meruem’s commanding presence. The emotional climax of Meruem’s storyline, particularly his final scenes with Komugi, is often cited as one of the most powerful moments in anime history.

Our Sources

English Voice Actor (Max Mittelman)

Date of Birth

Max Mittelman

  • September 5, 1990

About Max

Max Mittelman is an American voice actor known for his work in anime, video games, animation, and interactive media. Since entering the industry, he has become one of the most recognizable voices in modern dubbing, celebrated for his ability to portray both energetic heroes and emotionally complex antagonists.

As Meruem in the English dub of Hunter × Hunter (2011), Mittelman delivers one of the most acclaimed performances of his career. His portrayal captures the Chimera Ant King’s extraordinary character development, beginning with cold arrogance and evolving into profound introspection and humanity. The gradual transformation in his vocal performance mirrors Meruem’s growth throughout the Chimera Ant Arc and is frequently praised by fans of the series.

Hometown

Max Mittelman was born in Los Angeles, California, United States.

Career Highlights

Some of Max Mittelman’s most notable roles include:

  • Meruem — Hunter × Hunter
  • Ryuji Sakamoto — Persona 5
  • Saitama — One-Punch Man
  • Atsushi Nakajima — Bungo Stray Dogs
  • Arataki Itto — Genshin Impact
  • Red XIII (Nanaki) — Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
  • King — The Seven Deadly Sins
  • Plagg — Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir
  • Harry Osborn — Marvel’s Spider-Man
  • N — Pokémon Masters EX

Full Current Filmography

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

Television Anime

  • Hunter × Hunter (2011) — Meruem
  • One-Punch Man — Saitama
  • Bungo Stray Dogs — Atsushi Nakajima
  • The Seven Deadly Sins — King
  • Blue Exorcist — Rin Okumura (selected projects)
  • Magi: Adventure of Sinbad — Sinbad
  • Dragon Ball Super — Additional Characters
  • JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure franchise projects — Supporting Roles
  • Boruto: Naruto Next Generations — Additional Characters

Animation

  • Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir — Plagg
  • Transformers: Combiner Wars — Menasor
  • Various animated television and streaming productions

Video Games

  • Persona 5 — Ryuji Sakamoto
  • Genshin Impact — Arataki Itto
  • Final Fantasy VII Rebirth — Red XIII
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man — Harry Osborn
  • Pokémon Masters EX — N
  • Fire Emblem Heroes — Multiple Characters
  • League of Legends — Various Roles
  • Numerous AAA and anime-based game franchises

Critical Reception

Max Mittelman’s portrayal of Meruem is widely regarded as one of the standout performances in the Hunter × Hunter English dub. Fans frequently praise the subtle progression in his voice work as Meruem evolves from a ruthless conqueror into a character capable of empathy, love, and self-reflection.

Particularly acclaimed are his scenes with Komugi, where Mittelman balances the King’s immense power with increasing vulnerability and emotional depth. Many viewers consider his performance during the latter half of the Chimera Ant Arc among the strongest villain-to-humanity transformations ever portrayed in an English anime dub.

Outside of Hunter × Hunter, Mittelman has earned widespread acclaim for iconic performances such as Ryuji Sakamoto, Saitama, Arataki Itto, and King, making him one of the most respected voice actors of his generation.

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.

InstagramLinkedIn

Leave a Reply