Brilio.net - Sad news comes from the world of Japanese animation (anime). Voice actor Noriko Ohara, known for playing the character Nobita in the popular series Doraemon, has died.
He breathed his last breath on July 12, 2024 at the age of 88 years. However, the news of Noriko Ohara's death was only officially announced by the 81 Produce agency via its official website on Tuesday (23/07).
"Our actor Noriko Ohara (real name: Noriko Tobe) passed away at the age of 88 on July 12 2024, after suffering from illness for a long time despite receiving medical treatment," wrote 81 Produce in its statement, quoted from Anime Corner.
The passing of Noriko Ohara certainly left Doraemon fans around the world with deep sorrow. More than just a voice actor, Ohara has brought Nobita's character to life and made him an unforgettable part of the Doraemon story .
Remembering the figure of Noriko Ohara, here brilio.net will review interesting facts summarized from various sources, Wednesday (24/7).
1. His debut as an anime voice actor.
Noriko Ohara voices Nobita
81produce.co.jp
Born in Tokyo on October 2, 1935, Noriko Ohara began her career in 1955. Her first role as a voice actress was in the anime "Umeboshi Denka" in 1962. This anime was produced in the early era of Japanese television animation, a year before the debut of "Astro Boy" in 1963 which is considered the first TV anime.
2. Has the unique ability to imitate a boy's voice.
Despite being a woman, Ohara has an extraordinary talent for imitating boys' voices. This ability makes him suitable to play Nobita and makes his character feel very natural and convincing.
3. Debut as Nobita's voice actor.
Noriko Ohara is the second voice actor for Nobita after Yoshiko Ohta who played the glasses boy in the 1973-1979 edition of the series. Ohta, who was the first voice of Nobita, died on October 29 2021 at the age of 89 years.
Noriko Ohara voiced Nobita in the Doraemon series and films from 1979 to 2005. For 26 years, Noriko Ohara performed Nobita's voice with great soul, making him one of the most iconic voice actors in anime history.
4. Became Nobita's voice actor at a young age.
Noriko Ohara voices Nobita
X/@CartoonEmpire_
When he debuted as Nobita's voice actor, Ohara was already 44 years old. This is quite a unique start in the Japanese seiyuu (anime voice actor) industry, considering that many seiyuu begin their careers at a much younger age, often in their early 20s or even teenagers. But Ohara proves that talent knows no age limits.
5. Voice actor in other anime.
Apart from Nobita, Ohara also voiced many other characters throughout his career. Including Conan from "Future Boy Conan", Doronjo from "Yatterman", Peter from "Heidi, Girl of the Alps", Oyuki from "URUSEI YATSURA", to Claudia LaSalle from "Choujikuu Yousai Macross".
6. Award as Seiyu.
Her talent as a voice actress led Noriko Ohara to receive her first Seiyu award in 2007. After that, in 2013, she won another award, namely the Synergy Award, thanks to her role which was able to increase the overall appeal of voice acting work.
7. Leave a lasting legacy.
Even though he has passed away, Ohara's voice as Nobita will always be remembered by millions of Doraemon fans. His role not only shaped Nobita's character, but also influenced the anime voice acting industry as a whole. In fact, Noriko Ohara can be said to be an early pioneer in the field who paved the way for many other aspiring voice actors.