Kirk Thornton
Voice ActorKirk Thornton is an American actor and director whose career centers on English dubs of Japanese anime, where he has voiced a wide range of Bleach characters.
Bleach Role
Thornton voices an unusually large roster of Bleach characters in the English dub, most prominently Rōjūrō "Rose" Ōtoribashi, the guitar-wielding lieutenant turned captain of the Third Division, and Jūshirō Ukitake in the series' later continuity. His other credits include Zennosuke Kurumadani, Gyōkaku Kumoi, Eikichirō Saidō, Hiyosu, Tōba, and the zanpakutō spirit Gegetsuburi, among others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does Kirk Thornton voice?
In Bleach's English dub, Thornton voices an unusually large roster of characters, most prominently Rōjūrō 'Rose' Ōtoribashi, the guitar-wielding lieutenant turned captain of the Third Division, and Jūshirō Ukitake in the series' later continuity.
What other Bleach characters has Kirk Thornton voiced?
Beyond Rose and Ukitake, Thornton's other Bleach credits include Zennosuke Kurumadani, Gyōkaku Kumoi, Eikichirō Saidō, Hiyosu, Tōba, and the zanpakutō spirit Gegetsuburi.
Is Kirk Thornton only a voice actor?
No, Thornton has spent decades directing and writing for English-language adaptations of Japanese animation in addition to his voice work, building a career centered on shepherding anime for Western audiences.
What nationality is Kirk Thornton?
Thornton is an American actor and director whose career centers on English dubs of Japanese anime.
When did Kirk Thornton begin his career?
Thornton has been active in the industry since 1979, a career now spanning more than four decades. Alongside his voice roles, that time has included extensive directing and writing credits for English-language adaptations of Japanese animation.
Sources & Information
This content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the Bleach anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byTite Kubo
- Published byShueisha
- Animated byStudio Pierrot
All rights belong to their respective owners.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Anime, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Studio Pierrot and the production committee.
- Game pages: official box art for the Bleach console and mobile games, credited to Bandai Namco and other publishers.
- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Tite Kubo.
- Licensed imagery: Photographs of real people, including creators, voice actors and production staff, are used under licence from the rights holder or the applicable stock provider, or under the terms of a public licence permitting editorial use. Each such image is reproduced in its licensed form and remains the property of its owner.
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Official resources:
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