Kirk Thornton
Voice ActorKirk Thornton is an American actor, voice director, and screenwriter who has spent his career on English-language versions of Japanese animation. In the English dub of Naruto, the Studio Pierrot series, he voices several characters, most notably the swordsman Kisame Hoshigaki.
Naruto Role
Thornton takes on several parts across the English dub of Naruto. He voices Kisame Hoshigaki, the shark-like swordsman of the Akatsuki, along with the toad sage Fukasaku, the one-tailed beast Shukaku, and the bridge builder Tazuna. Handling both menacing villains and older mentor figures let him show the range that made him a fixture of anime localization.
Career and Notable Roles
Away from Naruto, Thornton has spent decades voicing and directing English adaptations of Japanese series and games. His long list of credits includes Shinji Hirako in Bleach and Saix in the Kingdom Hearts games, and he has frequently served as an ADR director and English scriptwriter, shaping how imported shows are rewritten for Western audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does Kirk Thornton voice?
In the English dub of Naruto, Kirk Thornton voices Kisame Hoshigaki, the shark-like swordsman of the Akatsuki, along with the toad sage Fukasaku, the one-tailed beast Shukaku, and the bridge builder Tazuna. Outside Naruto, he is known for Shinji Hirako in Bleach and Saix in the Kingdom Hearts video games.
What other Naruto characters does Kirk Thornton voice besides Kisame?
Beyond Kisame Hoshigaki, Kirk Thornton lends his voice to smaller Naruto parts including the toad sage Fukasaku, the one-tailed beast Shukaku, and the bridge builder Tazuna, showing the range he brings to both villains and side characters.
What is Kirk Thornton known for besides voice acting?
Beyond performing, Kirk Thornton has worked for decades as a voice director and English scriptwriter for adaptations of Japanese series and games. He has frequently served as an ADR director, shaping how imported shows are rewritten for Western audiences.
What other anime has Kirk Thornton voiced in?
Outside Naruto, Kirk Thornton is known for voicing Shinji Hirako in Bleach. He has also voiced Saix in the Kingdom Hearts video game series, part of a career in English-language Japanese animation dating back to 1979.
When did Kirk Thornton start his career?
Kirk Thornton has worked in English-language adaptations of Japanese animation since 1979. Over that career he has voiced characters like Kisame Hoshigaki in Naruto while also directing and scripting English dubs.
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Sources & Information
This content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the Naruto anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byMasashi Kishimoto
- 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 Toho.
- Game pages: official box art for the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm games, credited to Bandai Namco.
- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto.
- 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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