Lisa Jai Yamanaka is a Canadian actress. She is known as the voice of Wanda Li in The Magic School Bus and Yoko in Timothy Goes to School. Yamanaka is also known for her work on Babar and Resident Evil 2. She is also credited as Lisa Boynton and Lisa Jai.
Yamanaka was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where she stayed until 2008 until she moved to Los Angeles, California before moving back to Toronto in 2011. She attended Central Commerce Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Ontario.Yamanaka was awarded the Unsung Hero Award by the City of Toronto 2012 for her advocacy work in diversity in the mainstream media.She debuted her first theatre production in the city of Watts, California as Isela Sanchez in Lynn Manning's 'The Unrequited: A tale between two Worlds' with Cornerstone Theater and Watts Village Theater.She has also become an advocate for disabled actors, having developed rheumatoid arthritis.[1] As of 2018, Yamanaka focuses her time on theatre, independent films, and advocacy. She is also a published poet and spoken-word artist, having performed at the inaugural event Poetic Fashion. She has also performed spoken word in Los Angeles, New York, and Swaziland.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Isabelle (voice) | |||
| 1992 | This Is My Life | Shawn | ||
| 1994 | Mirabelle and Me | Gwendolyn (voice) | Television film | |
| 1995 | Nilus the Sandman: The First Day | Girl | Television film | |
| 1996 | Balance of Power | Jasmine Matsumoto | ||
| 2010 | Creed | Asia | ||
| 2013 | Sisters | Crystal | Short film | |
| 2014 | data-sort-value="Window, The" | The Window | News Anchor | |
| 2014 | Lost Angels | Louise | ||
| 2014 | Runaway Dream | Linn | Short film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | My Secret Identity | Megan | Episode: "You've Got a Friend" | ||
| 1989–1991 | Babar | Flora (1989–1990), Isabelle (1991) (voice) | 65 episodes | ||
| 1989 | T. and T. | Kim | Episode: "Family Honour" | ||
| 1990 | Little Rosey | Nonny, Tater (voice) | |||
| data-sort-value="Raccoons, The" | The Raccoons | Patty (voice) | Episode: "Endless Summer!" | ||
| 1991 | Rupert | Additional Voices (voice) | 13 episodes | ||
| 1993 | Tales from the Cryptkeeper | Becky (voice) | Episode: "Nature" | ||
| 1994–1996 | data-sort-value="Busy World of Richard Scarry, The" | The Busy World of Richard Scarry | Bridget Murphy & additional Voices (voice) | 31 episodes | |
| 1994 | Monster Force | Additional Voices (voice) | 13 episodes | ||
| 1994–1997 | data-sort-value="Magic School Bus, The" | The Magic School Bus | Wanda Li (voice) | 52 episodes | |
| 1995 | Squawk Box | Various | |||
| 1995 | data-sort-value="Neverending Story, The" | The Neverending Story | The Childlike Empress, Junior Rockbiter (voice) | 13 episodes[2] | |
| 1995 | Mr. Dressup | Herself (guest) | 1 episode[3] | ||
| 1996–1998 | Stickin' Around | Ashley (voice) | |||
| 1999–2002 | Tweenies | Fizz (voice) | US version | ||
| 2000 | Twice in a Lifetime | Georgia | Episode: "Pride and Prejudice" | ||
| 2000–2001 | Timothy Goes to School | Yoko (voice) | 26 episodes | ||
| 2001–2002 | Medabots | Erika Amazake (voice) | |||
| 2001–2003 | George Shrinks | Ellen / Ronnie Ribnod / Winifred | 5 episodes | ||
| 2010–2012 | Pillars of Freedom | Spirit (voice) | 26 episodes | ||
| 2013 | Trail Mix | Holly | Episode: "The Trail Mix Crew" | ||
| 2013 | Apartment Manager | Lisa | Episode: "Unit 4" | ||
| 2017 | data-sort-value="Magic School Bus Rides Again, The" | The Magic School Bus Rides Again | Mrs. Li, William Li, Caller (voice) | Episode: "The Magnetic Mambo" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Resident Evil 2 | Sherry Birkin | ||
| 2000 | Dino Crisis 2 | Paula Morton |