Atsuko Tanaka
Voice ActorAtsuko Tanaka was a Japanese voice actress renowned for playing Motoko Kusanagi in Ghost in the Shell, who also lent her voice to Slan in the 1997 Berserk anime and its Millennium Falcon film.
Berserk Role
Tanaka voiced Slan, one of the God Hand, in the original 1997 Berserk television series and carried the part into the Millennium Falcon Hen Seima Senki no Shō film. The role placed her among the earliest Japanese cast members to give voice to the series' central antagonists.
Career and Notable Roles
Affiliated with Mausu Promotion for most of her career, Tanaka became one of anime's most recognizable voices, playing the cyborg operative Kusanagi across the long-running Ghost in the Shell franchise. She also gave voice to Konan in Naruto, Lisa Lisa in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Bayonetta in her namesake game series, and Hanami in Jujutsu Kaisen, continuing to work up through a role in Genshin Impact before her death in August 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Atsuko Tanaka?
Tanaka died in August 2024, having remained active in the industry up to a role in Genshin Impact shortly before her death. Her career had spanned from 1980 to 2024.
Who did Atsuko Tanaka voice?
Tanaka is best known for voicing the cyborg operative Motoko Kusanagi across the long-running Ghost in the Shell franchise. It became the role most associated with her name in anime.
Who voices Bayonetta in Japanese?
Atsuko Tanaka voiced the title character in the Bayonetta game series. The role added to a resume built primarily on anime but extending into major video games.
Who does Atsuko Tanaka voice in Berserk?
Tanaka voiced Slan, one of the God Hand, in the original 1997 Berserk TV series and carried the role into the Millennium Falcon Hen Seima Senki no Sho film. It placed her among the earliest Japanese cast members to voice the series' central antagonists.
What other anime characters did Atsuko Tanaka voice?
Affiliated with Mausu Promotion for most of her career, Tanaka voiced Konan in Naruto, Lisa Lisa in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and Hanami in Jujutsu Kaisen. That range showed her versatility well beyond her signature Ghost in the Shell role.
Sources & Information
This content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the Berserk anime series, manga, and official materials. Berserk was created by Kentaro Miura, published by Hakusensha, and animated by OLM. All rights to Berserk and its characters belong to their respective owners. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byKentaro Miura
- Published byHakusensha
- Animated byOLM
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 OLM and Hakusensha.
- Game pages: official box art, credited to the game's respective publishers.
- Manga chapter pages: volume covers, credited to Hakusensha and Kentaro Miura.
- 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.
- Exceptions: Limited exceptions to the practices described above may apply to individual entries. Where an exception applies, it is noted on the entry itself alongside the applicable attribution. Rights holders may contact us regarding any attribution and it will be reviewed promptly.
Official resources:
Help Us Keep This Wiki Accurate
Daddy Jim Anime maintains this encyclopedia. If you spot an error, a translation issue, or something that doesn't look right, let us know.
