Helen McCarthy is a British writer, editor, and voice actor known for her foundational work in English-language anime journalism and fandom. Born in the United Kingdom on February 27, 1951, she has been active in the field since the early 1980s, initially as a writer and later branching into voice work and documentary appearances. Her voice acting credits include the role of Akumako in the Manga UK dub of the original video animation K.O. Beast, which was released in 1992. She is also recognized for appearing as herself in the 2004 documentary Otaku Unite!, which explores the history of anime fandom. While her on-screen and voice roles are limited, her broader influence on the industry is significant. In 1992, she founded the magazine Anime UK, which helped launch the careers of several notable writers and helped build a framework for Western anime criticism. She is the author of multiple authoritative books on Japanese animation and manga, including the first book-length English-language history of anime, and has received several accolades for her work, including the Osamu Tezuka Award in 1994, the International Manga and Anime Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2006, and a Harvey Award in 2010 for her book The Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga.