Most people know the name Matthew Mercer because of Critical Role. They see the long hair, the vest, and the legendary Dungeon Master status, and they assume he's just "the D&D guy." But if you’re an anime fan, you’ve been hearing his voice for decades—likely without even realizing it. Honestly, his career in dubbing is a masterclass in range that goes way beyond just rolling natural 20s.
From the cold, calculated efficiency of the Survey Corps to the flamboyant "Ora Ora" energy of the Joestars, Mercer has occupied a space in the industry that few can match. He didn't just stumble into these roles. He fought for them. He grew up in the 90s anime scene, attending conventions when the community was still a niche pocket of "weirdos." For him, landing these parts wasn't just a career move; it was a total full-circle moment for a kid who used to watch VHS fansubs.
The Roles That Defined an Era
When you look at Matt Mercer anime roles, you have to start with the big three. These aren't just background characters; they are the literal faces of their respective franchises.
Levi Ackerman: The Humanity’s Strongest
Levi is a weird character to voice. He’s stoic, sure, but he isn't boring. If you play him too flat, he loses that simmering intensity. Mercer brings a specific kind of "exhausted authority" to Levi. You can hear the weight of every dead soldier in his voice. Interestingly, Matt once shared that his audition for Levi involved so much screaming in his thin-walled apartment that he had to go apologize to his neighbors. He had to explain that he wasn't actually murdering anyone—it was just "work stuff."
Jotaro Kujo: The Legacy of the Joestars
Taking over Jotaro for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders was a massive risk. The Japanese VA, Daisuke Ono, is iconic. How do you translate that specific "Yare Yare Daze" energy into English without sounding like a dork? Mercer managed it by leaning into the Eastwood-esque western vibe that Hirohiko Araki originally intended for the character. It’s deep, it’s gravelly, and it’s unapologetically cool.
Trafalgar Law: The Surgeon of Death
In One Piece, Law is the ultimate foil to Luffy’s chaotic sunshine energy. Mercer’s portrayal of Law is perhaps his most "cool-headed" role. He gives Law a dry, cynical edge that makes his eventual alliance with the Straw Hats even funnier. Whether it’s the movies like Stampede or the Dressrosa arc, that low-register baritone is unmistakable.
Why His Style Actually Works
A lot of voice actors have "one voice." You hear them and go, "Oh, that’s that guy." Mercer has a signature tone, yeah, but his acting is what actually carries the weight. He doesn’t just "do a voice"; he builds a persona.
Take Kiritsugu Emiya from Fate/Zero. That’s a dark, depressing role. Kiritsugu is a man who has broken his own heart a thousand times to save the world. Mercer plays him with a hollowed-out resonance. Compare that to Leorio in Hunter x Hunter. Leorio is loud, brash, and wears his heart on his sleeve. It’s hard to believe the same guy who voiced the "Magus Killer" is also the guy shouting about medical school and hitting Ging Freecss in the face.
The range is basically:
- The Stoic Killers: Levi Ackerman, Kiritsugu Emiya, Hit (Dragon Ball Super).
- The Emotional Anchors: Leorio Paladiknight, Yamato (Naruto Shippuden).
- The Suave/Eccentric: Aikuro Mikisugi (Kill la Kill), Sinbad (Magi).
The Misconception of the "Matt Mercer Effect"
There’s this weird thing in the community where people think Mercer is "too big" for anime now. Since Critical Role became a multi-million dollar media empire, there’s a rumor that he doesn't do dubs anymore.
That’s just wrong.
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In 2024 and 2025, he was still active, notably reprising his role as Kagaya Ubuyashiki in Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle. He hasn't left the booth; he’s just more selective. The truth is, voice acting in anime pays significantly less than video games or lead roles in original animation. Many actors "graduate" out of anime because the grind is brutal. But Mercer stays because he’s a genuine fan. He’s been on record saying that anime is where his heart is.
Behind the Mic: Technical Nuance
Most people don't realize that Matt often directs too. His understanding of "lip-flap" synchronization is legendary among ADR directors. When you’re dubbing a show from Japanese to English, the sentence structure is totally different. You have to fit English words into a mouth that was animated for Japanese syllables.
Mercer is known for being able to rewrite lines on the fly to make them sound more natural while still hitting those timing marks. It’s a technical skill that separates the "okay" voice actors from the "greats." If you watch his work as Tsuzuki in Descendants of Darkness (way back in the day) versus his modern work, you can see the evolution of his breath control. He’s learned how to use the "micro-moments" between lines to add character depth.
Surprising Roles You Probably Missed
Everyone knows the big ones, but Matt’s filmography is a mile long. Here are a few "hidden gems" where he really shines:
- Prince Demande (Sailor Moon): He brought a creepy, obsessed villainy to this role in the Viz dub that actually made the character threatening.
- Seijiro Kikuoka (Sword Art Online): He plays the government bureaucrat with just enough mystery to keep you guessing if he's a good guy or a snake.
- Silver Fullbuster (Fairy Tail): A short-lived but incredibly emotional role that showed off his ability to play "cool dad" with a dark secret.
The Verdict on His Legacy
Matthew Mercer isn't just a "flavor of the month" actor. He’s someone who bridged the gap between the old-school "Bang Zoom!" era of dubbing and the modern, high-gloss era of streaming giants like Crunchyroll.
He treats anime with a level of respect that it didn't always get in the early 2000s. Back then, dubbing was often seen as a "lesser" form of acting. Mercer, along with peers like Laura Bailey and Travis Willingham, helped prove that you could give a performance in a cartoon that was just as nuanced as anything on a live-action stage.
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If you want to truly appreciate what he does, go back and watch the "Hero" episode of Attack on Titan. Listen to Levi’s internal monologue before he takes on the Beast Titan. It’s not just shouting. It’s the sound of a man who has accepted his own death. That’s not "just a voice." That’s acting.
Next Steps for the Fans
If you've only ever seen him as a DM, your next move is to check out the Fate/Zero dub. It’s widely considered one of the best English dubs ever made, largely due to Mercer’s performance as Kiritsugu. After that, look up his work as Kanji Tatsumi in Persona 4: The Animation (where he took over for Troy Baker). Seeing how he handles the "tough guy with a hidden soft side" trope is the best way to understand why he's still at the top of the game in 2026.