Zamasu, the rogue Supreme Kai apprentice and one of the main antagonists of Dragon Ball Super, is voiced by Shin-ichiro Miki in the original Japanese version and James Marsters in the English dub. Miki portrays Zamasu, Future Zamasu, and Fusion Zamasu in Japanese media, while Marsters voices the character in the English dub and multiple video game appearances.

Japanese Voice Actor: Shin-ichiro Miki

Date of Birth

March 18, 1968.

About Shin-ichiro

Shin-ichiro Miki is a veteran Japanese voice actor affiliated with 81 Produce. Known for his smooth vocal delivery and charismatic performances, Miki has built one of the most impressive careers in anime voice acting. He is especially recognized for voicing characters who combine intelligence, confidence, and complexity.

In Dragon Ball Super, Miki voices Zamasu, the Kai apprentice whose obsession with justice ultimately drives him toward villainy. His performance captures the character’s calm demeanor, philosophical arrogance, and growing descent into fanaticism. Many fans credit Miki’s portrayal with helping make Zamasu one of the franchise’s most memorable modern antagonists.

Hometown

Tokyo, Japan.

Career Highlights

Some of Shin-ichiro Miki’s most notable roles include:

  • Zamasu — Dragon Ball Super
  • Kisuke Urahara — Bleach
  • Roy Mustang — Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
  • James (Kojiro) — Pokémon
  • Lockon Stratos — Mobile Suit Gundam 00
  • Takumi Fujiwara — Initial D
  • Deishū Kaiki — Monogatari Series
  • Tatsuma Sakamoto — Gintama
  • Akira Yuki — Virtua Fighter

Full Current Filmography

The following list highlights major documented anime roles and may not be exhaustive.

Television Anime

1997

  • Pokémon — James (Kojiro)

2008

  • Mobile Suit Gundam 00 — Lockon Stratos

2009

  • Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood — Roy Mustang

2011

  • Bleach — Kisuke Urahara

2015

  • Monogatari Series: Second Season — Deishū Kaiki

2015–2018

  • Dragon Ball Super — Zamasu, Future Zamasu, Fusion Zamasu

2022

  • Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War — Kisuke Urahara

Video Games

Dragon Ball Games

  • Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 — Zamasu
  • Dragon Ball FighterZ — Zamasu
  • Dragon Ball Legends — Zamasu
  • Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO — Zamasu

Critical Reception

Shin-ichiro Miki’s portrayal of Zamasu received widespread praise for blending sophistication with menace. Fans often highlight how his calm, almost serene delivery makes Zamasu’s increasingly extreme beliefs even more unsettling. His performance helped establish Zamasu as one of the most psychologically interesting villains in Dragon Ball history.

Our Sources

English Voice Actor: James Marsters

James Marsters
‘Casa Grande’ TV Series premiere, Los Angeles, California, USA – 01 May 2023.Mandatory Credit: Photo by CraSH/Shutterstock (13893295bm)

Date of Birth

August 20, 1962. (Wikipedia)

About James

James Marsters is an American actor, voice actor, musician, and author best known for portraying Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Beyond live-action television, he has built a successful voice acting career in animation, video games, and anime dubbing.

In Dragon Ball Super, Marsters voices Zamasu, the Kai apprentice whose obsession with divine justice leads him down a path of destruction. Interestingly, Marsters had previously appeared in the live-action film Dragonball Evolution as King Piccolo before later joining the anime franchise as Zamasu. His performance captures the character’s intelligence, arrogance, righteousness, and eventual descent into fanaticism.

Hometown

Greenville, California, United States. (Wikipedia)

Career Highlights

Some of James Marsters’ most notable roles include:

  • Zamasu — Dragon Ball Super
  • Lord Piccolo — Dragonball Evolution
  • Spike — Buffy the Vampire Slayer
  • Spike — Angel
  • Lex Luthor — Superman: Doomsday
  • Mister Fantastic — The Super Hero Squad Show
  • Brainiac — Smallville (voice and live-action appearances)
  • Captain Argyll — Caprica

Full Current Filmography

The following list highlights major documented credits and may not be exhaustive.

Anime Series

2017–2018

  • Dragon Ball Super — Zamasu, Future Zamasu, Fusion Zamasu

Animated Films

2007

  • Superman: Doomsday — Lex Luthor

2009

  • Hulk Versus — Additional Voices

Television

1997–2003

  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer — Spike

1999–2004

  • Angel — Spike

2009

  • Smallville — Brainiac

2010

  • Caprica — Barnabas Greeley

Video Games

Dragon Ball Games

  • Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 — Zamasu
  • Dragon Ball FighterZ — Zamasu
  • Dragon Ball Legends — Zamasu
  • Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO — Zamasu

Audiobook Narration

Marsters is also widely acclaimed for narrating The Dresden Files audiobook series by Jim Butcher, a role frequently praised by audiobook listeners.

Critical Reception

James Marsters’ portrayal of Zamasu was praised for emphasizing the character’s intellectual superiority and unwavering belief in his own righteousness. Rather than portraying Zamasu as a traditional loud anime villain, Marsters delivered a calm and composed performance that gradually evolved into fanaticism and madness.

Many fans noted that his theatrical background and experience playing morally complex characters helped make Zamasu one of the most compelling antagonists in the English dub of Dragon Ball Super. His performance during Fusion Zamasu’s climactic scenes remains particularly well regarded among viewers.

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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