Max Mittelman

Max Mittelman’s Rise From Los Angeles to Anime Icon

Maxwell Braden Mittelman grew up in Los Angeles, California, surrounded by an entertainment industry that practically ran through the city’s air. Graduating from the University of Southern California with a Theatre degree – after initially enrolling to study science with ambitions of becoming a doctor – he found that performing was the path that made the most sense. His earliest work in English-dubbed anime and western animation quietly built a foundation that would soon carry him into some of the most recognized roles in voice acting.

Saitama and the One-Punch Man Phenomenon

Landing the role of Saitama in One-Punch Man became the moment that changed everything. The character’s entire identity rests on a razor-thin edge – a hero so powerful that every fight ends in a single punch, which makes boredom, not battle, his defining trait. Playing that level of deliberate emotional flatness without losing audience engagement is a precise challenge, and Mittelman’s delivery made Saitama one of the most talked-about English dub performances of his generation. He carried the role across the original series, its sequel seasons, and OVAs.

Persona 5 and Ryuji Sakamoto

Gamers know Mittelman’s voice immediately through Ryuji Sakamoto in Persona 5. The Phantom Thieves’ loud, impulsive, and fiercely loyal muscle brought energy to every scene, and Mittelman’s performance matched the character’s chaotic warmth beat for beat. Ryuji earned him a dedicated fanbase within the RPG community that followed the role through the expanded Persona 5 Royal, the animation series, and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight.

Emotional Range Across Anime and Games

The quieter side of Mittelman’s catalog is equally strong. Kousei Arima in Your Lie in April demanded a completely different register – a piano prodigy cracked open by grief – and his portrayal resonated deeply with the anime’s dedicated audience. Further credits span Meruem in Hunter x Hunter, Atsushi Nakajima in Bungo Stray Dogs, Ritsu Kageyama in Mob Psycho 100, Red XIII in Final Fantasy VII Remake, Arataki Itto in Genshin Impact, and Lex Luthor in My Adventures with Superman. He co-founded Sassy Chap Games alongside Ray Chase and Robbie Daymond, developing the 2025 indie dating sim Date Everything! – proving his ambitions extend well past the recording booth.