Maxwell Powers
Born (1983-12-27) December 27, 1983
OccupationVoice actor
Years active2005–present
Websitewww.maxpowervoice.com

Maxwell Powers (born December 27, 1983) is an American voice actor in Japan. Known for his work in Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion, Pokémon, and Ultraman Trigger: New Generation Tiga. 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 Kuroko's Basketball The Movie: Last Game (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

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2009 - 2010 Gojinimuchuu (五時に夢中) Self [20]
2016–Present VocabRider VobabRider Max Regular [1]
2018–Present Washoku World Challenge Host/Announcer [21]
2019–Present Catch Japan Host Regular [2]
2021–Present The Benza Max Recurring
List of voice acting performances in television shows
YearTitleRoleNotesSource
2016Kabaneri of the Iron FortressSuzuki [9]
2016Yo-kai WatchAnnouncer Yo-kai [22]
2018Shinkansen Henkei Robo ShinkalionGenbu [13]
2020Tomica Kizuna Mode Combine Earth GrannerSystem Voice [23]
2021PokémonRotom Drone [10]
2021Ultraman Trigger: New Generation TigaDevices Voice [16]
2021SD Gundam HeroesSergeant Verde Buster Gundam [12]

Film

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

Video games

List of voice acting performances in video games
YearTitleRoleNotesSource
2008Space Invaders Get EvenVarious Characters [29]
2015Time Crisis 5Wild Fang 
2016The King of Fighters XIVSystem Voice 
2016Mystery Chronicles: One Way HeroicsKeyton 
2018KotodamanGenbu [30]
2019Last CloudiaVarious Characters 
2022The King of Fighters XVSystem Voice 
2022Azure Striker Gunvolt 3Asimov (English version) [31]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "ボキャブライダー on TV". NHK (in Japanese). Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Catch Japan April 2019". JIBTV. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. "【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". Oricon News (in Japanese). September 5, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  4. "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!". Nikkon Sugoi Hito (in Japanese). May 12, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  5. "マックスウェル・パワーズの紹介" [Introducing Maxwell Powers]. TVLIFE (in Japanese). Japan: One Publishing. March 1, 2007.
  6. "基礎英語1". Gogakuru (in Japanese). Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  7. "「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". Mainichi Shinbun (in Japanese). Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  8. "CATCH JAPAN". JibTV (in Japanese). Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  9. 1 2 "Kabaneri". Kabaneri (in Japanese). Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  10. 1 2 "ポケットモンスター[超電磁ハイパークラスバトル!]". TV Osaka (in Japanese). Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  11. "Maxwell Powers: 'You have to be competent, yet invisible'". The Japan Times. October 11, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  12. 1 2 "『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!". Gundam Info (in Japanese). Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  13. 1 2 "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". Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  14. "『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】". Animedia (in Japanese). August 24, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  15. "Ultra Galaxy Fight: The Absolute Conspiracy". Ultraman Ultra Galaxy Fight The Absolute Conspiracy Homepage (in Japanese). Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  16. 1 2 "ウルトラマントリガーNEW GENERATION TIGA「平和を守る力」". TV Osaka (in Japanese). Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  17. "COMING-OUT PARTY VS. PREDICTABLE CORONATION". Sherdog. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  18. "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". Panora (in Japanese). July 4, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  19. "Maxwell Powers". Tokyo Cowboys. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  20. "黒船特派員レポート". 五時に夢中. Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  21. "WASHOKU in Europe The 6th Washoku World Challenge". Washoku World Challenge. October 18, 2018. Jib TV.
  22. "Ep. 119". Yo-kai Watch. May 6, 2016. TV TOKYO.
  23. "Ep. 1". Earth Granner. April 5, 2020. TV Tokyo.
  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. "J.Maxwell Powers". mobygames. Moby Games. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  30. "【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". appbank. App Bank. December 8, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  31. "Maxwell Powers (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
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