Araken Saldanha was a distinguished Brazilian actor and voice actor, born on August 1, 1928, in Lapa, Paraná, and passed away on July 9, 2020, in São Paulo. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of dubbing in Brazil. His career began in the 1950s at TV Tupi, where he worked as an actor in teleteatros and radio novels before transitioning to voice acting in the following decades.

Saldanha became a highly recognizable voice in Brazilian popular culture, particularly for his work dubbing anime and animated series from the 1990s onward. Among his most iconic roles was the Master Ancião in the legendary series Os Cavaleiros do Zodíaco (Saint Seiya), a character he voiced in multiple productions, including the classic TV series, the Hades Chapter OVAs, and the Netflix remake. He also voiced the character Cassius in the same franchise. His repertoire extended to other notable anime, including Hailah, the Emperor of Earth, in Shurato, the Six-Star Dragon in Dragon Ball GT, and he was the first voice of Balrog in Street Fighter II Victory. Outside of anime, he was well-known as the voice of Dr. Zoidberg in the American series Futurama and as Space Ghost.

In addition to these well-known roles, Saldanha contributed his voice to a wide array of films and series, often for the Brazilian dubbing market. His filmography includes the role of Kumbhakarna in the Indo-Japanese co-production Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama. He voiced the title character Ali Babá in Alibaba to Yonjubiki no Tozoku (Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves). He also played Duque, a Baleia (Duque the Whale), in the 1975 anime film Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid. Other credits include roles in works such as Ghost in the Shell, Lensman, and Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture.

Throughout his long career, Saldanha frequently collaborated with the BKS dubbing studio in São Paulo, which was responsible for many of the anime and film dubs in which he participated. He also worked alongside other prominent voice actors of his generation, such as Francisco Brêtas, who was a close friend and colleague on projects like Os Cavaleiros do Zodíaco.

Araken Saldanha's legacy is defined by his prolific output and the memorable characters he brought to life for Brazilian audiences. His work as the Master Ancião, in particular, cemented his place in the hearts of fans and stands as a significant achievement in the history of Brazilian dubbing.