A.J. Beckles

A.J. Beckles and the Making of a Voice Actor

Worcester, Massachusetts gave voice acting one of its more distinctive young talents in Ahkeem Jamal “A.J.” Beckles. Training began at seventeen, followed by a stint in the Visual and Performing Arts program at Worcester State University. His first credited role came as Koji Kabuto in the English dub of Mazinkaiser vs. Great General of Darkness, a modest start that took years to pay off before the bigger anime work arrived. Los Angeles eventually became his base, with studios like Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Studiopolis, and Iyuno regularly bringing him in for dubbing work.

Tokyo Revengers and the Breakthrough Role

Everything shifted with Tokyo Revengers. Cast as protagonist Takemichi Hanagaki, Beckles carried a role demanding both comic timing and genuine emotional weight across the series and its film continuations. Around the same period, Kemono Jihen gave him Shiki Tademaru, another lead role that helped establish him as more than a background player in the dubbing world.

Okarun, Bungo Stray Dogs, and Widening Range

Dandadan brought one of his most recognized characters yet in Ken “Okarun” Takakura, a part that mixes awkward comedy with sudden intensity. Bungo Stray Dogs added Michizou Tachihara starting with its fourth season, while Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War handed him two very different assignments in Kaname Tosen and Gremmy Thoumeaux. Digimon Adventure: cast him as Matt Ishida, and Orient gave him the lead in Musashi.

Disney, Games, and Recent Work

Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King brought Beckles into theatrical animation as Azibo, following earlier work voicing Kalim Al-Asim in Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation. Video games have kept him busy too, with parts in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Honkai: Star Rail, Genshin Impact, and Street Fighter 6. The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish added Antony Wells to his television resume, and Black Torch, premiering in mid-2026, casts him as Jiro Azuma.