Justin Ryan Cook (born April 4, 1982) is an American voice actor, line producer, ADR director, audio engineer, and producer renowned for his contributions to English-language dubs of anime series, particularly through his long association with Funimation Entertainment (now part of Crunchyroll).^[1][2] Cook began his career at Funimation as an ADR engineer before transitioning into voice acting, landing his first role as Dende in Dragon Ball Z after training under Christopher Sabat.^[3] At just 19 years old, he voiced the lead character Yusuke Urameshi in the English dub of Yu Yu Hakusho (2002–2006), a role that propelled him to prominence in the anime dubbing community and remains one of his most iconic performances.^[4] Over his career, spanning more than two decades, Cook has amassed 177 credited roles across 134 titles, including standout portrayals such as Raditz and Super Buu in the Dragon Ball franchise, Hatsuharu Sohma in Fruits Basket, and Eijiro Kirishima (Red Riot) in My Hero Academia.^[4][1] In addition to acting, Cook has held key production roles at Funimation since 2006, serving as Director of Production and founder of OkraTron 5000, contributing to major projects like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Attack on Titan, and Dragon Ball Super as a line producer, ADR director, and voice director.^[1] Born in Austin, Texas, he grew up in Texas and Colorado; he is the cousin of fellow voice actor Aaron Dismuke and has collaborated closely with industry peers like Jerry Jewell.^[5][4] His multifaceted work has helped shape the landscape of Western anime localization, earning him recognition as a pivotal figure in the medium.^[2]

Early life

Upbringing and family

Justin Cook was born on April 4, 1982, in Austin, Texas.^[1] He spent his early years in various locations across the United States, including Austin in Texas, Fort Smith in Arkansas, and Glenwood Springs in Colorado.^[5][4] Cook's family played a notable role in his personal background, with his cousin Aaron Dismuke also pursuing a career as a voice actor.^[4] This familial connection later contributed to Dismuke's entry into the industry, as Cook helped introduce him to opportunities at Funimation. As a child, Cook was initially a late talker, with his mother spending over a year encouraging him to speak; once he began, he became notably talkative, a trait that aligned with his future profession.^[6] His upbringing in diverse settings exposed Cook to varied environments during his formative years, laying a foundation for his adaptability in the entertainment field.^[5]

Entry into voice acting

Cook entered the anime dubbing industry at the age of 19 around 2001, initially joining Funimation Productions in a technical capacity as an ADR engineer responsible for recording sessions.^[1][7] In this role, he supported audio production for projects such as Dragon Ball Z, learning the dubbing process under the guidance of voice director Christopher Sabat.^[8] His first voice acting role came as Dende in Dragon Ball Z.^[7] His transition to on-microphone voice work continued organically within Funimation through internal talent scouting. While engineering sessions for the English dub of YuYu Hakusho, Cook was encouraged by Sabat to audition and was unexpectedly cast by producer Barry Watson as the protagonist Yusuke Urameshi, allowing him to balance both technical and acting duties on the project.^[7][4] This significant early lead role further advanced his career in voice acting.^[7]

Professional career

Beginnings at Funimation

Justin Cook joined Funimation in the early 2000s, beginning his professional tenure as an ADR engineer in the burgeoning anime dubbing scene.^[3] Trained by veteran voice director Chris Sabat for approximately 1.5 years, Cook handled technical aspects of recording sessions while observing the voice acting process, which sparked his interest in performing.^[3] At Sabat's encouragement, he auditioned for roles, marking his transition from behind-the-scenes work to on-microphone contributions.^[3] His debut voice role came in Dragon Ball Z, where he provided the voice for Dende, the Namekian character, during the production of episodes in the early 2000s.^[3] Cook later took on the role of Raditz in the Saiyan Saga episodes dubbed around 2001, stepping in after the original actor's unavailability for flashback scenes, which expanded his involvement in the franchise.^[3] These initial projects allowed him to balance engineering duties with acting, building foundational experience in Funimation's collaborative environment.^[1] Cook's responsibilities grew with the 2002–2005 dub of YuYu Hakusho, where he served as both ADR director and lead voice actor for Yusuke Urameshi, handling additional characters like Chu and Kuro Momotaro across the series.^[3] At just 19 years old during production, this marked a significant early directorial effort, produced under Barry Watson, who cast him in the protagonist role.^[4] Through these endeavors, Cook forged key professional relationships, including mentoring emerging talent like Colleen Clinkenbeard, whom he appointed as ADR director on projects such as Kiddy Grade and provided her first acting and directing opportunities.^[9][10] His cousin, Aaron Dismuke, pursued a parallel career at Funimation as a child voice actor, further embedding Cook within the company's tight-knit network.^[4]

Development as director and producer

Cook's transition from voice acting to directing and producing began in the mid-2000s, as he took on ADR director responsibilities for Funimation projects, leveraging his engineering experience to guide dubbing sessions. For instance, he served as ADR director, engineer, and line producer for the English dub of Kiddy Grade in 2004, marking an early step in his creative leadership within the studio.^[1] This role built on his foundational work as an ADR engineer starting in 2000, allowing him to influence casting and performance while contributing to Funimation's growing catalog of dubbed anime.^[11] By the late 2000s, Cook had advanced to line producer positions on high-profile series, overseeing production logistics, budgets, and coordination for English dubs. He acted as producer for Funimation's adaptation of One Piece, including its early episodes and specials released around 2007, helping manage the expansive series' dubbing efforts amid the studio's expansion into longer-running titles.^[12] His involvement extended to other major properties, supporting Funimation's output during a period of increased licensing and distribution deals. In parallel, Cook collaborated with Okratron 5000, a production studio founded by Christopher Sabat in 2004, where he contributed as a line producer and director for independent dubbing projects outside Funimation's core slate.^[2] This partnership facilitated specialized audio work, enhancing his managerial scope in the 2010s. Cook's production credits continued to bolster Funimation's growth, notably as producer for the 2018 film Dragon Ball Super: Broly, which exemplified the studio's push into theatrical releases and high-budget dubs.^[1] Following Funimation's 2022 merger with Crunchyroll, Cook continued his production work, including as producer for Dragon Ball Daima in 2024.^[13]

Voice acting roles

Anime dubbing

Justin Cook began his anime dubbing career in the early 2000s, quickly establishing himself as a prominent voice actor in English-language adaptations produced primarily by Funimation. His work spans a wide array of series, often portraying dynamic and resilient male protagonists or antagonists in action-oriented narratives.^[1] One of Cook's signature roles is Yusuke Urameshi, the hot-headed spirit detective in YuYu Hakusho (dubbed 2002-2005), which served as a breakthrough performance that significantly boosted his visibility in the industry and contributed to the series' enduring popularity among Western audiences.^[14][4] In the Dragon Ball franchise, Cook voiced the Saiyan warrior Raditz in Dragon Ball Z (2001), marking his entry into one of anime's most iconic sagas, and later took on roles such as the Namekian Dende (from his teenage years onward) across Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Z Kai, Dragon Ball Daima (2024–present), and films like Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (2013).^[15][1] Cook has also lent his voice to Eijiro Kirishima, known as Red Riot, the enthusiastic and hardened hero-in-training in My Hero Academia (2016-present), capturing the character's boisterous determination across multiple seasons and movies.^[4][1] Among his other notable anime dubbing credits are Hatsuharu Sohma, the conflicted zodiac member in Fruits Basket (2001, 2019), Bellamy and Eustass Kid, recurring pirates in One Piece (2007-present), and Yashamaru, a loyal ninja in Basilisk (2005).^[1][4] Cook's roles frequently feature tough, energetic male characters—such as street-tough fighters, steadfast allies, or fierce rivals—reflecting his versatile baritone delivery suited to high-stakes shonen genres, with credits in over 90 anime series and films.^[4][1]

Video games

Justin Cook has contributed voice work to over 25 English-localized video games, predominantly adaptations of anime series where he frequently reprises characters from their animated counterparts to ensure vocal consistency across media.^[4] His roles often emphasize dynamic, action-oriented performances suited to interactive gameplay, blending dialogue delivery with sound effects and combat cues. Cook's most extensive involvement is with the Dragon Ball video game series, beginning with Raditz in Dragon Ball Z: Budokai (2003), a role he continued in numerous sequels and spin-offs such as the Budokai Tenkaichi trilogy (2005–2007), Raging Blast series (2009–2010), Xenoverse (2015–2016), FighterZ (2018), Kakarot (2020), and Sparking! ZERO (2024). He also voices Super Buu and Cell Jr. across multiple entries in these franchises, contributing to the immersive retelling of key story arcs through voiced cutscenes and battles.^[16] In YuYu Hakusho: Dark Tournament (2004), Cook reprised his anime role as the protagonist Yusuke Urameshi, delivering energetic lines during tournament fights, while also voicing the minor character Kuro Momotaro.^[17] More recently, Cook has incorporated motion capture into his performances for titles like My Hero Academia: One's Justice (2018) and One's Justice 2 (2020), where he voices Eijiro Kirishima / Red Riot, aligning his physical and vocal portrayal with the game's fighting mechanics.

Live-action appearances

Justin Cook's live-action appearances are sparse, reflecting his primary focus on voice acting and production work in anime dubbing. He has primarily appeared on camera in behind-the-scenes documentaries and promotional materials related to Funimation projects. In the 2008 documentary Adventures in Voice Acting, Cook is interviewed alongside other voice actors, sharing insights into his career transition from ADR engineering to performing roles such as Yusuke Urameshi in Yu Yu Hakusho.^[18] Cook has also made on-camera appearances at industry events and premieres. For instance, he attended the 2014 red carpet premiere for Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, where he was interviewed about his contributions to the franchise's English dub.^[19] Additionally, Cook features in fan-recorded behind-the-scenes videos, such as a 2014 tour of Funimation studios where he discusses production processes while appearing on-site.^[20] These appearances, often limited to panel discussions and Q&A sessions at conventions like Anime Expo and MomoCon, total fewer than ten documented instances and underscore his role as a voice industry figure rather than an on-screen performer.^[21]

Production work

ADR direction

Cook began his career as an ADR director in the early 2000s with Funimation's English dub of Yu Yu Hakusho, overseeing the voice performances for the 112-episode series aired originally from 1992 to 1995.^[15] At just 19 years old during production, he handled the direction for the main series as well as the 1993 feature film Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie.^[1] This debut project marked his transition from ADR engineering to directing, where he guided actors to capture the energetic and emotional tone of the original Japanese audio.^[3] Throughout the 2000s, Cook expanded his directing credits to include notable anime dubs such as Fruits Basket (2001) and Kiddy Grade (2002–2003), focusing on ensemble casts and character-driven narratives.^[1] His work extended to later projects like the 2012 film Mass Effect: Paragon Lost and Strike Witches: The Movie, as well as the 2018 OVA adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho.^[1] In total, Cook has directed ADR sessions for at least a dozen anime titles, often combining his roles as director and line producer to ensure cohesive dubbing quality at Funimation.^[22] Cook's directing approach emphasizes collaboration with voice actors to achieve authentic performances, drawing from his engineering background to maintain technical precision during sessions.^[3] He has described the role as rewarding for helping actors explore character motivations, such as the charisma and depth needed for protagonists like Yusuke Urameshi, whom he also voiced in the series he directed.^[3] This hands-on coaching contributed to Funimation's reputation for natural and engaging English adaptations that respect the source material's nuances.

Producing credits

Cook has amassed hundreds of producing credits since joining Funimation in the early 2000s, serving primarily as a line producer and producer on English dubs of anime series and films through Funimation and later Okratron 5000.^[23] In these capacities, he managed logistical aspects of dubbing production, including budgeting, scheduling recording sessions, and assembling voice acting and engineering teams to facilitate timely releases amid Funimation's high-volume output of simul-dubs and legacy titles.^[24][25] His work emphasized operational efficiency, enabling the studio to handle dozens of ongoing projects annually while maintaining quality standards in the competitive anime localization market.^[25] Representative credits highlight his contributions to major franchises. As producer for the Funimation English dub of Dragon Ball Z Kai (2009–2011), Cook contributed to the remastered series' adaptation.^[1] He held similar line producer duties for Dragon Ball Super (2017–2019), supporting the series' dubbing amid its expansive narrative and rapid episode releases.^[1] Cook's producing scope extended to feature films, where he served as producer for high-profile English dubs. For Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (2013), he managed the theatrical release's localization, ensuring synchronization with the original Japanese version's pacing and effects. Likewise, as producer on Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018), he facilitated the dub's production for its wide theatrical rollout, contributing to its commercial success in North American markets. More recently, Cook served as producer for the English dubs of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022) and Dragon Ball Daima (2024–2025).^[1] At Okratron 5000, an independent studio founded by veteran Funimation alumni, Cook has applied his expertise to a range of dubbing projects, handling budgeting, timelines, and team coordination for clients beyond major licensors. This involvement underscores his versatility in smaller-scale productions while leveraging efficiencies honed at Funimation. In several instances, his producing roles overlapped with ADR directing on the same titles, blending executive oversight with creative input.^[26]