Maxwell Powers Explained

Maxwell Powers
Birth Date:27 December 1983
Birth Place:Oakland, California, U.S.
Occupation:Voice actor
Years Active:2005–present

Maxwell Powers (born December 27, 1983) is a Japanese voice actor. Known for his work in Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion, Pokémon, and . Powers is also known for his live action work as the host of the NHK Educational TV program VocabRider (2016–present)[1] and as a host for NHK World-Japan's Catch Japan.[2] Most recently, Powers was a presenter at the 2020 Paralympic Games closing ceremony.[3]

Early life

Powers began studying Japanese from the age of 15, and was awarded the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's scholarship to attend a Japanese university in 2003. He began his professional career as a translator working in manga and anime. In 2006, Powers was hired to supervise a narrator for a recording and was requested by the director to replace the original narrator. After finishing the recording, the director encouraged Powers to pursue a career in narration and voice acting.[4] [5]

Career

Powers was cast in NHK Educational TV’s radio program Kiso Eigo as a host from 2007 until 2014.[6]

In 2016, he was cast as the lead in NHK Educational TV’s television series, radio show, and smartphone application VocabRider.[7] Co-starring Wakana Aoi, Minami Hamabe, Hiyori Sakurada, Powers was responsible for providing explanations of the English language in Japanese.[1] He has additionally worked as a reporter for NHK World's Catch Japan.[8]

As a voice actor, he is primarily known for his work in Japanese anime and video games. Powers has played Suzuki in the television series, video game, and movie version of Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (2016)[9] and is the announcer in the movie (2017). Powers currently voices the recurring character Rotom Drone in the television series Pokémon,[10] [11] Sergeant Verde Buster Gundam in SD Gundam Heroes(2021),[12] and Genbu in the Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion anime series Shinkalion(2018), Shinkalion Z(2021) and Shinkalion the Movie(2019).[13] [14]

He also voices the characters of Ultraman Max and Ultraman Mebius in the live action movie Ultraman Ultra Galaxy Fight The Absolute Conspiracy(2020),[15] and the transformation system voice in the television series Ultraman Trigger New Generation Tiga(2021).[16]

Powers has also worked as an MC for various MMA tournaments from 2009 including World Victory Road's Sengoku Raiden Championship (SRC)[17] and for Aniplex Online Fest.[18] Recently he presented at the 2020 Paralympic Games closing ceremony.

In 2021, Powers joined the cast of the Amazon Prime Video on-demand series The Benza in the recurring role of Max.[19]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2009 - 2010Gojinimuchuu (五時に夢中)Self[20]
2016–PresentVocabRiderVobabRider MaxRegular
2018–PresentWashoku World ChallengeHost/Announcer[21]
2019–PresentCatch JapanHostRegular
2021–PresentThe BenzaMaxRecurring
List of voice acting performances in television shows
Year <-- --> Title Role <-- --> Notes <-- --> Source
Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress Suzuki  
Yo-kai Watch Announcer Yo-kai   [22]
Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion Genbu  
Tomica Kizuna Mode Combine Earth Granner System Voice   [23]
Pokémon Rotom Drone  
Devices Voice  
SD Gundam Heroes Sergeant Verde Buster Gundam  

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011Salvage Mice (サルベージマイス)Mob BossVoice over[24]
2013The Liar and His Lover (film) (彼女は嘘を愛しすぎてる)Master of Ceremonies[25]
2017Let's Go Jets! (チア団！)AnnouncerVoice over[26]
2018Over Drive (オーバードライブ)Race Announcer[27]
2021Masquerade NightMaster of Ceremonies[28]

Video games

List of voice acting performances in video games
Year <-- --> Title Role <-- --> Notes <-- --> Source
Space Invaders Get Even Various Characters   [29]
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 System Voice
Time Crisis 5 Wild Fang  
The King of Fighters XIV System Voice  
Mystery Chronicles: One Way Heroics Keyton  
Kotodaman Genbu   [30]
Last Cloudia Various Characters  
The King of Fighters XV System Voice  
Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 Asimov (English version)   [31]
Dwight Méndez (Japanese version; English dialogue)  
2024INAZUMA ELEVEN: Victory RoadDonny Summerfield (English version)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ボキャブライダー on TV. 2021-09-15. NHK. ja.
  2. Web site: Catch Japan April 2019. 2021-09-15. JIBTV. en-US.
  3. Web site: 【パラ閉会式】司会進行は声優マックスウェル・パワーズ イベント司会などで活躍. 2021-09-15. Oricon News. September 5, 2021 . ja.
  4. Web site: 独学日本語からバイリンガルプロとしてマルチに活躍するスゴい人！. 2021-09-15. Nikkon Sugoi Hito. May 12, 2015 . ja.
  5. 2007-03-01 . マックスウェル・パワーズの紹介 . Introducing Maxwell Powers . ja . TVLIFE . Japan . One Publishing .
  6. Web site: 基礎英語１. 2021-09-15. Gogakuru. ja.
  7. Web site: 「毎日５分」でテンポよく ＮＨＫＥテレでミニ語学番組制作 高柳光治さん. 2021-09-15. Mainichi Shinbun. ja.
  8. Web site: CATCH JAPAN. 2021-09-15. JibTV. ja.
  9. Web site: Kabaneri. 2021-09-15. Kabaneri. ja.
  10. Web site: ポケットモンスター［超電磁ハイパークラスバトル！］. 2021-09-15. TV Osaka. ja.
  11. Web site: Maxwell Powers: 'You have to be competent, yet invisible'. 2022-01-31. The Japan Times. October 11, 2021 . en-US.
  12. Web site: 『SDガンダムワールド ヒーローズ』キービジュアル＆CMが到着！「放送直前スペシャル」の配信・放送も決定！. 2021-09-15. Gundam Info. ja.
  13. Web site: 劇場版「シンカリオン」ALFA-Xの運転士"謎の少年"お披露目、舞台は北海道. 2021-09-15. Natalie. ja.
  14. Web site: 『エヴァンゲリオン』とコラボした巨大怪物体の名前は！？『シンカリオン』の裏話満載のトークショーが開催！【レポート】. 2021-09-15. Animedia. August 24, 2018 . ja.
  15. Web site: Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Absolute Conspiracy. 2021-09-15. Ultraman Ultra Galaxy Fight The Absolute Conspiracy Homepage. ja.
  16. Web site: ウルトラマントリガーNEW GENERATION TIGA「平和を守る力」. 2021-09-15. TV Osaka. ja.
  17. Web site: COMING-OUT PARTY VS. PREDICTABLE CORONATION. 2021-09-15. Sherdog. en-US.
  18. Web site: Aniplex Online Fest 2021にVTuber藤間桜がMCとして出演 裏側映像も後日放送. 2021-09-15. Panora. July 4, 2021 . ja.
  19. Web site: Maxwell Powers. 2022-01-31. Tokyo Cowboys. en-US.
  20. Web site: 黒船特派員レポート . 五時に夢中. https://web.archive.org/web/20120918173735/http://www.mxtv.co.jp/goji/kurofune.php?show_date=20100924&show_keyword=%E3%83%9E%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B9 . September 21, 2021. September 18, 2012 .
  21. WASHOKU in Europe The 6th Washoku World Challenge . Washoku World Challenge . Jib TV . 18 October 2018.
  22. Ep. 119 . Yo-kai Watch . TV TOKYO . 6 May 2016.
  23. Ep. 1 . Earth Granner . TV Tokyo . 5 April 2020.
  24. Tasaki, Ryuta (director) . October 22, 2011 . Salvage Mice . Motion picture . Japan .
  25. Norihiro Koizumi (director) . December 14, 2013 . カノジョは嘘を愛しすぎてる . The Liar and His Lover . Motion picture . Japan .
  26. Kawai, Hayato (director) . March 11, 2017 . Let's Go Jets! . Motion picture . Japan .
  27. Hasumi, Aichiro (director) . June 1, 2019 . Over Drive . Motion picture . Japan.
  28. Suzuki, Masayuki (director) . September 17, 2021 . Masquerade Night . Motion picture . Japan.
  29. Web site: J.Maxwell Powers . Moby Games . mobygames. September 14, 2021.
  30. Web site: 【コトダマン】シンカリオンコラボ開催中! ログインするだけで★5「Ｅ５はやぶさ」が手に入るチャンス . App Bank . appbank. December 8, 2018 . September 14, 2021.
  31. Web site: Maxwell Powers (visual voices guide) . Behind The Voice Actors . 19 September 2023. . A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information..

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