Pierre Taki
Description
Pierre Taki is the stage name of Masanori Taki, a Japanese actor and musician born on April 8, 1967, in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. He is widely known as the frontman of the influential Japanese synthpop band Denki Groove, a group he formed with Takkyu Ishino. While his primary career has been in music and live-action film and television, he has also occasionally worked in voice acting for anime and video games.
Taki's approach to accepting roles is guided by a "fun factor," preferring projects that present an enjoyable challenge or experience. This philosophy has led to a diverse acting career spanning several decades, during which he has collaborated with acclaimed directors such as Takashi Miike, Hirokazu Koreeda, and Takeshi Kitano. He himself notes that a significant turning point in his career was working with director Kazuya Shiraishi, who cast him against type in a darker, villainous role that revealed new aspects of his acting ability.
In the realm of voice acting, Taki is notably recognized for his role as The Gladiator in the 2021 Netflix anime series Super Crooks. Produced by Studio Bones, the series features a prominent Japanese voice cast, with Taki providing the voice for the character known as The Gladiator. Another of his voice acting credits from earlier in his career includes a role in the 2008 television series Hakaba Kitarou, where he voiced the character Trump Omoi. Beyond animation, his distinctive voice has also been featured in video games. Taki has openly discussed his experience with voice acting, recalling that he auditioned for the Japanese dub role of Olaf in the film Frozen, though he was ultimately not cast in the part.
Throughout his career, Taki's work has earned him critical recognition, including the Best Supporting Actor award from the Hochi Film Award and a nomination for the Japan Academy Film Prize, both for his performance in the 2013 film The Devil's Path.
Taki's approach to accepting roles is guided by a "fun factor," preferring projects that present an enjoyable challenge or experience. This philosophy has led to a diverse acting career spanning several decades, during which he has collaborated with acclaimed directors such as Takashi Miike, Hirokazu Koreeda, and Takeshi Kitano. He himself notes that a significant turning point in his career was working with director Kazuya Shiraishi, who cast him against type in a darker, villainous role that revealed new aspects of his acting ability.
In the realm of voice acting, Taki is notably recognized for his role as The Gladiator in the 2021 Netflix anime series Super Crooks. Produced by Studio Bones, the series features a prominent Japanese voice cast, with Taki providing the voice for the character known as The Gladiator. Another of his voice acting credits from earlier in his career includes a role in the 2008 television series Hakaba Kitarou, where he voiced the character Trump Omoi. Beyond animation, his distinctive voice has also been featured in video games. Taki has openly discussed his experience with voice acting, recalling that he auditioned for the Japanese dub role of Olaf in the film Frozen, though he was ultimately not cast in the part.
Throughout his career, Taki's work has earned him critical recognition, including the Best Supporting Actor award from the Hochi Film Award and a nomination for the Japan Academy Film Prize, both for his performance in the 2013 film The Devil's Path.
All Characters
- JapaneseAnime overview: Super Crooks