Nobuyuki Hiyama

Hiyama is best known as Hiei in YuYu Hakusho, a role that showcases the forceful, hot-blooded delivery style that has defined much of his career. In Gurren Lagann, he plays Viral, the Beastman general who shifts between rival and ally to the human heroes, and the quieter Old Coco. That range across heroic and understated characters reflects the breadth of his voice work.

Hiyama's battle-cry-heavy, forceful delivery style has made him a go-to choice for heroic mecha leads throughout his career. That hot-blooded quality is on full display as Viral in Gurren Lagann, a role that lets him swing between antagonist and ally across much of the series. He also voiced the quieter, more mysterious Old Coco in the same show, a contrast to his usual register.

Nobuyuki Hiyama is a Japanese voice actor and radio personality, born in 1967 and active in the industry since 1989. He is affiliated with Arts Vision and is known for a forceful, hot-blooded delivery style suited to heroic mecha leads. In Gurren Lagann, he voices both Viral and Old Coco.

Hiyama voiced Link in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, one of his notable roles outside Japanese anime. That casting reflects the same energetic, heroic delivery style he brought to characters like Viral in Gurren Lagann. He has also worked as a radio personality throughout his career.

Hiyama played two separate lead roles in the Brave Series of mecha anime: Maito Senpuuji in Might Gaine and Gai Shishioh in GaoGaiGar. Those heroic lead performances helped define the hot-blooded delivery style he later brought to Viral in Gurren Lagann. He has been active in the industry since 1989 and is affiliated with Arts Vision.