Ernie Hudson has built a prolific career in film and television since the 1970s, and voice acting has become a significant and cherished part of his later work. While widely recognized for his live-action role as Winston Zeddemore in the Ghostbusters franchise, Hudson has also brought his distinctive, authoritative baritone to numerous animated series, films, and video games, particularly in the genres of action, science fiction, and superheroes.

In the realm of anime and animated adaptations of Japanese properties, one of Hudson's notable roles is in the 2009 live-action film Dragonball: Evolution. While this is not an animated work, it is a direct adaptation of the popular Dragon Ball anime and manga series. In this film, Hudson portrays Sifu Norris, a character who serves as the film's version of Master Mutaito, the revered teacher of Master Roshi. This role connects him to one of the most famous anime franchises in history.

Beyond this live-action role, Hudson’s voice acting portfolio includes several prominent animated series with significant ties to Japanese anime aesthetics or direct adaptations of comic book properties that have strong anime followings. He is known to animation audiences for his role as Agent Bill Fowler in the Transformers: Prime animated series, which aired in the early 2010s. This series, produced by Hasbro, is part of the long-running Transformers franchise, which originated in Japan and has a massive global anime-influenced fanbase. Hudson also voiced the character of Atticus, a talking Corgi, in the critically acclaimed animated series Infinity Train, a show known for its anime-inspired storytelling and visual style.

Hudson has been a frequent contributor to the world of DC Comics animation, another area where American and Japanese animation styles often intersect. His voice work in this universe includes roles in Batman: The Animated Series, one of the most celebrated animated series of all time which has influenced countless anime productions, as well as the more recent film Batman: Bad Blood. He also voiced characters in the 1990s Superman: The Animated Series and the 2017 iteration of Spider-Man.

A recurring theme in Hudson's voice career is his deep connection to his character Winston Zeddemore. He has expressed a strong desire to continue voicing the character in animated projects, stating that he would be heartbroken if anyone else were to take on the role in the future. He has reprised the part in multiple video games, including Ghostbusters: The Video Game and Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, further cementing his vocal association with the character. He has also voiced new characters in established franchises, such as Marlon in Angry Birds Mystery Island and Combat Carl in the upcoming Toy Story 5, demonstrating his continued enthusiasm for animation work.

When discussing his voice acting career, Hudson has described animation as the dessert of his professional life, a fun and different kind of exploration compared to live-action film and theater. He has spoken about choosing roles that are unusual and enjoyable, prioritizing creative fulfillment over pursuing every possible job. His voice work spans from major network cartoons to direct-to-video films and video games, showcasing a versatile performer who has successfully transitioned his on-screen presence into a respected voice acting career, with notable ties to the worlds of anime and Japanese-inspired animation.