Finding the right voice for a character who spends half his time screaming about missing "golden balls" and the other half moping in a cursed, depressed state is... well, it's a lot. If you've been keeping up with the chaos that is Dandadan, you know Ken "Okarun" Takakura isn't your standard shonen lead. He's a mess. A lovable, alien-obsessed, socially anxious mess.
When the anime first dropped, the big question wasn't just about the animation quality—Science SARU usually knocks that out of the park—it was about whether the Okarun Dandadan English VA could actually pull off that weird tonal whiplash.
Honestly? Most people were skeptical. But A.J. Beckles didn't just show up; he basically lived in a recording booth for months, screaming his lungs out to make it work.
The Man Behind the Occult Obsession
So, who is he? A.J. Beckles (full name Ahkeem Jamal Beckles) is the voice bringing Okarun to life in the English dub. If the name sounds familiar, you've probably heard him as Takemichi in Tokyo Revengers.
There’s a funny bit of irony here. In the Japanese version, Okarun is voiced by Natsuki Hanae—the guy who plays Tanjiro in Demon Slayer. Beckles has actually made a career out of being the English counterpart to Hanae's roles. He voiced Shiki Tademaru in Kemono Jihen, which was also a Hanae role in Japan.
Basically, if Hanae voices a weirdly emotional teenager in Tokyo, Beckles is probably the guy doing it in Los Angeles.
Beckles is a huge fan of the source material. He actually emailed the casting director at Bang Zoom! before auditions even went out. He knew the manga, he loved the weirdness, and he practically begged for a chance to read for it. That kind of energy shows. You can’t fake the specific brand of "nerd panic" that Okarun displays in every other scene.
Why the Okarun Voice is a Technical Nightmare
Think about Okarun’s two forms. You have the "Normal" Okarun—high-pitched, stuttering, and incredibly soft-spoken. Then you have "Turbo" Okarun. That version is gravelly, depressed, and sounds like he’s been smoking three packs a day since the Edo period.
Beckles has mentioned in interviews that they usually record in batches of three episodes. The director, Alex von David, gives him the choice: do you want to start with the normal voice or the Turbo voice?
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Most VAs would save the raspy, throat-shredding voice for last so they don't blow their vocal chords. Beckles? He usually dives into the Turbo voice first. He says it’s more fun.
That Viral "Goodbye" Scene
If you're on TikTok or X, you’ve seen the edit. The one where Okarun and Momo (voiced by the brilliant Abby Trott) say goodbye to each other outside her house. It’s awkward. It’s painful. It’s peak high school romance.
Beckles actually struggled with that scene. Hard.
He told GamesRadar+ that he almost had to walk out of the booth because he couldn't get the inflection right. It was just one word—"Goodbye"—but it had to carry the weight of a guy who has never had a friend, let alone a girl he likes. He only nailed it after hearing Abby Trott’s take first. Chemistry in dubbing is weird because they aren't usually in the room together, but their performances here feel like they're practically finishing each other's sentences.
The "Race-Swap" Controversy Nobody Wants to Talk About
You can't really talk about the Okarun Dandadan English VA without mentioning the social media firestorm that happened late in 2024.
It started when a fan created "race-swapped" art of Okarun, reimagining the character as Black. Beckles, who is Black himself, shared the art and even used it as his profile picture for a bit.
The internet did what the internet does. A vocal group of fans (and some people claiming to represent Japanese sentiment) lost their minds. They argued it was "erasure" of a Japanese character. Beckles eventually deleted the post and changed his profile picture, likely due to pressure from his agency or the production side.
It was a messy moment that highlighted a weird divide in the fandom. On one hand, you have a voice actor connecting with a character on a personal level; on the other, you have the rigid boundaries of "official" character design. Whether you agree with the art or not, it showed how much Beckles cares about the role. He doesn't just see Okarun as a paycheck.
How the Dub Holds Up in 2026
We're now well into the lifecycle of the show, with Season 2 (the Evil Eye arc) having already made its mark. The dub has consistently been ranked as one of the best "modern" translations.
Why? Because they aren't afraid to be weird.
The script adaptation by Alex von David doesn't try to "sanitize" the dialogue. When Okarun is talking about his "kintama," they don't use overly clinical terms. They keep the crass, frantic energy of the manga.
Cast Dynamics to Watch For
While Beckles is the anchor, the chemistry with the rest of the cast is what makes the dub "discoverable" for casual fans.
- Abby Trott (Momo): She brings a "mean girl with a heart of gold" vibe that perfectly offsets Beckles' stuttering.
- Aleks Le (Jiji): When Jiji enters the fray in Season 2, the energy shifts. Aleks Le plays the "golden retriever" energy against Beckles' "anxious cat" energy perfectly.
- Barbara Goodson (Turbo Granny): If you grew up with Power Rangers, you'll recognize the voice of Rita Repulsa. She brings that same chaotic, raspy energy here.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're just getting into the series or you've only watched the sub, here is how to get the most out of the English version:
- Watch the "First Encounter" theatrical cut: If you can find it on streaming, the theatrical version of the first three episodes has a slightly different mix that makes the supernatural elements sound incredible on headphones.
- Pay attention to the background "efforts": Voice acting isn't just dialogue. Listen to the small gasps, the weird throat noises Okarun makes when he's scared, and the way Beckles shifts his breathing between forms. It's a masterclass in physical voice acting.
- Check out the interviews: Search for the Kawacon 2025 or Anime NYC panels. Beckles and Trott have a great rapport in real life, and it explains why their "awkward" chemistry on screen feels so authentic.
The Okarun Dandadan English VA situation is a rare case where the English performance actually rivals the Japanese original. It isn't just a translation; it's a reinterpretation that understands the lonely, geeky heart of Ken Takakura.
Whether he’s fighting a Flatwoods monster or trying to find the courage to hold Momo's hand, A.J. Beckles makes sure you feel every single bit of Okarun's social agony. That's not just "voice acting"—that's understanding the character.
Next Steps: You can start by watching Episode 1 of the dub on Crunchyroll or Netflix to hear the transition between Okarun's "Loser" and "Turbo" voices for yourself. If you’ve already finished Season 1, look for the "Evil Eye" arc in Season 2 to see how the character's voice deepens as Okarun gains more confidence.