Jeff Manning, also known as Jeffrey Manning, is an American voice actor and narrator who has built a career in Japan spanning several decades. Born in Utah on April 23, 1956, he is a graduate of Brigham Young University. He first visited Japan as a missionary and later returned in 1983 to work in studio dubbing, eventually becoming a permanent resident. He is now based in Japan and is represented by the talent agency Triple Sun Talent. Manning is known for his fluent Japanese and versatile vocal talents, which have allowed him to work extensively in both English and Japanese language media.

Manning's voice work in anime is varied, encompassing roles in films, television series, and original video animations. A notable early film role was providing the English voice for Chang Changku, also known as Cyborg 006, in the 1980 film Cyborg 009 Gekijō Ban: Chō Ginga Densetsu (Cyborg 009: The Legend of the Super Galaxy). In the 2015 animated film Gamba, which was released internationally as Air Bound, he voiced the characters Bobo and Chuichi in the international English dub produced in Tokyo. His television anime credits include roles in the English dub of the educational series Little Charo, where he voiced the characters Mage and Yoshio in the 2012 Tōhoku-hen arc. He has also appeared in the original Japanese dubs of several prominent series, such as providing guest voices in Case Closed, Ghost Hunt, and Sword Art Online II. In the Free! franchise, he voiced the character Albert Volandel in the original Japanese version of several installments, including Free! Dive to the Future, the film Free! Road to the World - the Dream, and Free! The Final Stroke.

Beyond anime, Manning is highly recognized for his extensive work in video games, often providing narration and character voices. One of his most iconic roles is as the Announcer and the voice of Master Hand in the original 1999 Nintendo 64 game Super Smash Bros. He has also been the announcer for other fighting games, including Soulcalibur and Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars. He is known for voicing Lion Rafale in the Virtua Fighter series, a role he played across multiple installments including Virtua Fighter 4, Virtua Fighter 5, and Virtua Quest. His other notable video game credits include Max in Shining Force Neo, Rodolfo in Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean, and various roles in games like the Shenmue series and Ys III: Wanderers from Ys.

While Manning has collaborated with various studios and actors over his long career in Japan, a recurring aspect of his professional life has been his work as a narrator and announcer. This is evident not only in his many video game credits but also in his live-action work, most famously as the voice of kitchen reporter Shinichiro Ohta in the North American English dub of the cult classic cooking show Iron Chef. He has also been a familiar voice in Japanese television commercials, including a long-running role as the voice of the Aflac Duck for the insurance company Aflac.

Manning's notable achievements lie in his sustained and multifaceted career as a foreign voice actor in Japan. Establishing a permanent career in the Japanese entertainment industry is a significant accomplishment, and his fluency in the language and ability to work across anime, video games, commercials, and educational programming demonstrate his versatility. His voice has become nostalgic for many fans who grew up playing the video games and watching the shows to which he contributed. His role as the iconic announcer and Master Hand in Super Smash Bros. remains a landmark performance in video game history.