As Western anime fans vigorously debate about sub versus dub, Japan has already fully embraced the art of dubbing, and has been for many years. Many popular anime voice actors are also prolific film dub actors, so there are bound to be overlaps between long-running anime series and a major film franchise like the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which tends to hire the best voice actors for their film dub projects.
With the MCU entering its multiverse phase and animated series like What If gaining traction, one has to wonder if there will be any chance of a crossover with a popular anime -- especially one that features almost every voice actor from the dubbed version of the MCU; namely, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. If such a crossover should ever happen, let’s take a look at which characters in the MCU could be given the JoJo treatment.
Tony Stark/Iron Man and Esidisi from JoJo Part 2: Battle Tendency
If one seriously thinks about it, there are some similarities between Tony Stark, the absolute pillar of modern technology, and a 2,000-year-old Pillar Man. Both are flamboyant, overly confident and love to gloat at their enemies. However, most importantly, both are voiced by veteran voice actor Keiji Fujiwara (who, sadly, passed away in 2020).
Their similarities mostly stop there, as Iron Man wears a full suit of armor while Esidisi doesn't tend to wear much clothing at all. One is a major heroic character who sacrifices his life to save the world while the other cries like a giant baby when he’s about to lose a fight. Nonetheless, it would be immensely fun to imagine Tony Stark ever crying like that at the end of a fight.
Steve Rogers/Captain America and Bruno Bucciarati from JoJo Part 5: Golden Wind
Here are two characters that actually do have a lot in common, even though one is a war hero and the other is a gangster. Not only do both have a very strong sense of right and wrong and never waver on their ideals, but both are also great leaders for their respective groups who eventually end up on the run from people they once trusted.
It's therefore no surprise that they're both voiced by Yuichi Nakamura. This voice actor is often behind a lot of powerful heroes in anime, from Hawks in My Hero Academia to Gojo in Jujutsu Kaisen, so the crossover opportunity does not stop with JoJo. It should impress Steve to see Bruno having a will so strong that it can keep him fighting not only all day, but even several days after his death.
Bruce Banner/Hulk and Cioccolata from JoJo Part 5: Golden Wind
It's quite a coincidence that both characters have a peculiar relationship with the color green; one turns into a green giant that can smash dozens with a swing of his fist, while the other uses toxic green mold to kill thousands in the blink of an eye. Compared to Hulk, Cioccolata doesn’t get much time to shine in JoJo except as the recipient of one of the longest beatings in the entire JoJo series, which shows how despicable he is as a character. He might therefore take comfort in knowing that Hulk is usually the one that delivers beatings in the MCU.
However, their stark differences showcase how versatile voice actor Atsushi Miyauchi can be; he can perfectly portray the sadistic and underhanded Ciocolata as well as the mild-mannered Bruce Banner, in addition to the brutish Hulk. Incidentally, he does most of his work in foreign film dubbing, and he not only regularly acts as the voice for Mark Ruffalo but also for Christian Bale and Tom Hardy.
Given that Avdol can manipulate fire while Thor can control Thunder, they should have a lot to talk about. While Avdol likes to present as a serious and responsible individual, his emotions often lead to some problems for him, just like Thor. The fact that they're pretty friendly individuals doesn’t hurt either. Avdol’s iconic “Yes, I am” somehow wouldn’t sound too strange coming from Thor.
It's perhaps appropriate to mention that the voice actor for both characters, Kenta Miyake, also voices All Might in My Hero Academia, so he's definitely the ideal candidate to voice the God of Thunder. The righteousness in his voice naturally shines through the characters he portrays, but there is also a playful quality that all these characters share.
Peter Parker/Spiderman and Pannacotta Fugo from JoJo Part 5: Golden Wind
Fugo is one of the more interesting characters in JoJo Part 5 with his complex background and personality. He is overall a good person, but his temper can often hurt everyone around him, which is reflected in his Stand Purple Haze. It seems that something similar is happening with Peter Parker in the upcoming No Way Home, where his actions somehow crack open the multiverse and put everyone around him in danger.
Both young men are voiced by Junya Enoki, whose youthful and energetic tone is suitable for all kinds of shonen characters, including Yuji Itadori from Jujutsu Kaisen. Enoki is especially apt at portraying scenes with emotional gravitas, including the “I don’t feel so good” scene from Infinity War, which can sound just as touching as its English version.
