Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Description
Jonathan Taylor Thomas is an American actor and voice artist who has performed in the English-language dub of at least one anime film. He is best known for his childhood role as Randy Taylor on the long-running sitcom Home Improvement and for providing the voice of young Simba in Disney's The Lion King.
Thomas's work in the specific medium of anime includes the role of Shoukichi in the 1994 Studio Ghibli film Pom Poko. This film, directed by Isao Takahata, tells the story of a community of shape-shifting tanuki, or raccoon dogs, using their magical abilities to fight against urban development that threatens their forest home. In the English dub of Pom Poko, which was produced by Disney and released in 2005, Thomas voices Shoukichi. The character is depicted as a young, clever, and reliable tanuki who is one of the key figures offering different strategies to combat the human encroachment on their territory. This role represents his primary contribution to English-dubbed Japanese animation.
Aside from Pom Poko, Thomas's broader voice acting career is primarily associated with American animation. The vast majority of his other notable voice credits are for English-language productions, including the iconic role of young Simba in The Lion King, the title character in The Adventures of Pinocchio, and roles in The Tangerine Bear. While he has maintained a career as an actor and director in live-action television and film, his involvement with anime remains limited to the single role of Shoukichi in Pom Poko.
Thomas's work in the specific medium of anime includes the role of Shoukichi in the 1994 Studio Ghibli film Pom Poko. This film, directed by Isao Takahata, tells the story of a community of shape-shifting tanuki, or raccoon dogs, using their magical abilities to fight against urban development that threatens their forest home. In the English dub of Pom Poko, which was produced by Disney and released in 2005, Thomas voices Shoukichi. The character is depicted as a young, clever, and reliable tanuki who is one of the key figures offering different strategies to combat the human encroachment on their territory. This role represents his primary contribution to English-dubbed Japanese animation.
Aside from Pom Poko, Thomas's broader voice acting career is primarily associated with American animation. The vast majority of his other notable voice credits are for English-language productions, including the iconic role of young Simba in The Lion King, the title character in The Adventures of Pinocchio, and roles in The Tangerine Bear. While he has maintained a career as an actor and director in live-action television and film, his involvement with anime remains limited to the single role of Shoukichi in Pom Poko.