Zach Aguilar

Zach Aguilar’s Rise Through the Ranks of English Anime Dubbing

A broken body became the unlikely origin of one of English dubbing’s most recognizable voices. At nine years old, Zach Aguilar suffered a serious accident caused by medication-induced osteoporosis, shattering multiple bones and forcing a long, isolated recovery. During those months, anime – particularly Naruto – became his anchor, and watching the voice cast in convention panels planted the idea that this could become a career. That pivot from on-camera commercials to voice work, made while still in elementary school, would eventually reshape what English-dubbed anime sounds like for an entire generation.

The Anime Expo Breakthrough and Early Credits

At 16, Aguilar entered the Magi 2 Voice Acting Open Auditions at Anime Expo, hosted by Bang Zoom! Entertainment and Aniplex of America. He won – one of the youngest contestants ever to do so – and the victory opened direct doors at Bang Zoom! Studios. His first major role came quickly: Genos in One Punch Man, a cold and precise cyborg whose clipped, intense delivery demanded emotional control far beyond a typical newcomer. The performance earned him a Breakthrough Voice Actor of the Year nomination from Behind The Voice Actors in 2016, and the industry took notice.

Demon Slayer, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and Award-Winning Work

The role that defined Aguilar’s public profile came with Tanjiro Kamado in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – a character requiring warmth, grief, and raw determination within the same scene. He has returned to Tanjiro across every major theatrical entry in the franchise, including Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle in 2025. His performance as David Martinez in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners brought a different register entirely: street-hardened, desperate, and ultimately tragic. That role won Best Voice Artist Performance (English) at the 7th Crunchyroll Anime Awards, making Aguilar the first Generation Z voice actor to claim the honor.

Video Game Roles and Cross-Platform Reach

Aguilar’s game credits run deep and span wildly different tones. As Byleth Eisner in Fire Emblem: Three Houses – and later in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – he handled a character who starts nearly silent and gradually earns emotional weight. Aether in Genshin Impact remains one of the most-heard roles in live-service gaming globally. His work extends to NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…, Persona 5 Strikers, and Soul Hackers 2, each requiring a different register and pace. Studio partnerships across Bang Zoom!, Funimation, VIZ Media, and VSI Los Angeles have kept him active across virtually every major dubbing pipeline in North America.