Neil Kaplan
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Actor
USA
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Biography:
It is said that in anime, a voice actor is successful when the fans discuss and debate whether or not their performance is as good - or better- than the original language V.A. If that is true, then the legions of fans around the globe who do exactly that about Neil Kaplan's performance as the iconic anime villain, Madara Uchiha in the global hit series "NARUTO: SHIPPÛDEN" tell us a lot.
That being said, Neil Kaplan is nevertheless possibly best known around the world for having provided the voice for quintessential hero; Optimus Prime on 2001's "TRANSFORMERS: ROBOTS IN DISGUISE".
On the opposite end of the spectrum of good and evil lies Neil's award winning portrayal of galactic Emperor Zarkon, on Dreamworks Animation's spectacular "VOLTRON: LEGENDARY DEFENDER".
Also on Netflix, he can be heard as the heroic Henry Graves in the short film "Suits" as a part season one of David Fincher's Emmy winning animated anthology series "LOVE, DEATH, AND ROBOTS" he also can be heard in the Oscar nominated, holiday classic, "KLAUS", as Dr. Agon in "DRAGON QUEST: YOUR STORY", as Albus Dumbledore and the leader of G.I. Joe Extreme, on "ROBOT CHICKEN", as well as a wide variety of roles on "THE WACKY RACES", "PENN ZERO: PART TIME HERO", "BUNNICULA", "ASK THE STORYBOTS", "HIGGLYTOWN HEROES" are among his other voice work in animation.
Tens of millions of video game players & fans around the world know Neil for his captivating work in Blizzard's massive hits "STARCRAFT II" and "HEROES OF THE STORM" as roguish anti-hero, Tychus Findlay, as well as Lord of the Forest, Cenarius in "WORLD OF WARCRAFT". Then of course, there's Space dragon Aurelian Sol, is adored by "LEAGUE OF LEGENDS" fans around the globe. Meanwhile, at the center of the epic story of "DESTINY 2" is the primary antagonist, Dominus Ghaul, a character most players have a difficult time forgetting. Recently he was honored to have voiced Professor Severus Snape in "HARRY POTTER: MAGIC AWAKENED". Additionally, millions of global video game players have heard his work in the massively popular franchises "SKYLANDERS", "GEARS OF WAR", "FALLOUT", "BIOSHOCK", "THE LAST OF US", "GUILD WARS", "RED DEAD REDEMPTION", "FINAL FANTASY", "ELDER SCROLLS", "DIABLO", and many more.
"STAR WARS" fans heard Neil on numerous episodes of the Disney+ critically acclaimed series, "STAR WARS: VISIONS" as the Narrator for "THE NINTH JEDI", the Imperial Inquisitor in "T0B1", and other characters littered throughout season one. Previously he voiced a galaxy of alien creatures, humans, and droids such as Skadge, Governor Adlehard, Boss Ganne, Darth Bandonand Bendak Starkiller in the video games "OLD REPUBLIC", "UPRISING", "BATTLEGROUNDS", and "KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC".
Anime fans loved Neil as Hawkmon (as well as ALL of his digi-volutions) and a variety of others on "DIGIMON", as Dozle Zabi in "MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM", as Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Tetsuzaemon Iba, Dordoni, Robert Acutrone and others on the legendary series, "BLEACH" as well as its follow up, "THOUSAND YEAR BLOOD WAR". Conversely, anime fans across the English speaking world continue to love to hate him as Madara Uchiha, 'Serious' Tobi, and The Masked Man on "NARUTO: SHIPPÛDEN". Among his diverse anime credits is the recent box office hit, "PROMARE" in which he played the enforcer, Vulcan Haestus. There's also cult favorite "ATTACK ON TITAN" featuring him as General Theo Magath, he was Capricorn El Cid on the gorgeous "SAINT SAIYA: THE LOST CANVAS", Robson Zuccoli on "LUPIN III". Other anime titles include, "ONE PIECE", "CODE GEASS", "GREAT PRETENDER", "LEVIUS", the feature films "ERNEST & CELESTINE: A TRIP TO GIBBERITIA", "MARS EXPRESS", and more. He was also featured prominently on a trio of Marvel Anime series, as Tony Stark's primary nemesis on "IRON MAN", a council elder on "BLADE", and Magneto on "MARVEL DISK WARS: THE AVENGERS".
His voice was heard for years on the classic television series "MIGHTY MORPHIN' POWER RANGERS", as well as most of the franchise's first ten seasons. Neil was featured for the entire season voicing fan-favorite villain, Diabolico on "POWER RANGERS: LIGHTSPEED RESCUE". And on "POWER RANGERS: TIME FORCE" he was Vernon Wells' loyal henchman, Gluto.
Additionally, he was the voice of CNNN on Chuck Lorre's "DISJOINTED" airing on Netflix. And audiobook enthusiasts know him as the narrator for several books including the popular YA series, "I AM NUMBER FOUR". Neil is very proud of a recent audiobook, a wonderful departure from his norm, the non-fiction, "WRITING TOOLS".
And lest we forget, he was once the voice of Funshine Bear. That's right, Neil Kaplan was even a CARE BEAR.
Anime Convention Guest Appearances
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2025
- AnimeVerse Tennessee 2025 - August 30-31, 2025 in Chattanooga, TN, USA
- AnimeVerse Kansas City 2025 - June 28-29, 2025 in Kansas City, MO, USA
- Lvl Up Expo 2025 - April 25-27, 2025 in Las Vegas, NV, USA
- Armageddon Expo Christchurch 2025 - April 5-6, 2025 in Christchurch, New Zealand 2024
- Anime Town Pensacola 2024 - November 16-17, 2024 in Pensacola, FL, USA
- UwU Con 2024 - November 1-3, 2024 in Scottsdale, AZ, USA
- Anime Mundo 2024 - October 11-13, 2024 in El Paso, TX, USA
- Sugoi Pop Con 2024 - June 22-23, 2024 in Fishkill, NY, USA
- Anime Las Vegas 2024 - March 23-24, 2024 in Las Vegas, NV, USA
- Little Rock Anime Fest 2024 - February 3-4, 2024 in Little Rock, AR, USA
- Anime Washington 2024 - January 27-28, 2024 in Tacoma, WA, USA 2023
- Planet Anime Kansas City 2023 - October 20-22, 2023 in Kansas City, MO, USA
- Anime Expo 2023 - July 1-4, 2023 in Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Anime Arizona 2023 - May 5-7, 2023 in Mesa, AZ, USA
- Anime Las Vegas 2023 - April 22-23, 2023 in Las Vegas, NV, USA
- SacAnime Spring 2023 - April 7-9, 2023 in Roseville, CA, USA
- Pensacon 2023 - February 24-26, 2023 in Pensacola, FL, USA
- Anime Town Greenville 2023 - January 28-29, 2023 in Greenville, SC, USA 2022
- Super Anime Fest 2022 - December 10-11, 2022 in Wichita Falls, TX, USA
- Anime Pasadena 2022 - November 19-20, 2022 in Pasadena, CA, USA
- Anime Texas 2022 - October 28-30, 2022 in The Woodlands, TX, USA
- Otaku Tattoo Expo 2022 - October 7-9, 2022 in Allen, TX, USA
- Anime Oklahoma 2022 - September 9-11, 2022 in Midwest City, OK, USA
- Bold Matsuri 2022 - July 9-10, 2022 in Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Anime Riverside 2022 - June 4-5, 2022 in Riverside, CA, USA
- Anime Onsen 2022 - May 27-29, 2022 in Colorado Springs, CO, USA
- All-Con 2022 - March 10-13, 2022 in Dallas, TX, USA 2021
- Anime Pasadena 2021 - December 11-12, 2021 in Pasadena, CA, USA
- WeebCon 2021 - August 13-15, 2021 in Dallas, TX, USA 2020
Anime Detour 2020 - April 3-5, 2020 in Minneapolis, MN, USAConvention CancelledOmni Fandom Expo 2020 - March 20-22, 2020 in Kissimmee, FL, USAConvention Postponed- London Anime & Gaming Con 2020 - February 14-16, 2020 in London 2019
- Bak-Anime 2019 - February 2-3, 2019 in Bakersfield, CA, USA
- SacAnime 2019 - January 4-6, 2019 in Sacramento, CA, USA 2018
- Comic Con Okinawa 2018 - October 14, 2018 in Okinawa, Japan
- Snake River Fandom Con 2018 - September 27-29, 2018 in Pocatello, ID, USA
- AVCon 2018 - July 20-22, 2018 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Anime Pasadena 2018 - May 26, 2018 in Pasadena, CA, USA 2016
- All-Con Dallas 2016 - March 17-20, 2016 in Dallas, TX, USA 2015
- ShadoCon 2015 - November 6-8, 2015 in Palm Harbor, FL, USA
- All-Con Dallas 2015 - March 12-15, 2015 in Addison, TX, USA 2014
- Fandomfest 2014 - August 1-3, 2014 in Louisville, KY, USA
- Supanova Pop Culture Expo - Melbourne 2014 - April 11-13, 2014 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Supanova Pop Culture Expo - Gold Coast 2014 - April 4-6, 2014 in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia 2013
- Auto Assembly 2013 - August 9-11, 2013 in Birmingham
- Clarksville/Ft. Campbell Anime and Comic Kon 2013 - March 2-3, 2013 in Oak Grove, KY, USA
- Animation On Display 2013 - February 16-17, 2013 in San Francisco, CA, USA 2012
- All-Con Dallas 2012 - March 16-18, 2012 in Addison, TX, USA
- Animation On Display 2012 - February 18-19, 2012 in San Francisco, CA, USA 2011
- AM2 2011 - July 1-3, 2011 in Anaheim, CA, USA
- Supanova Pop Culture Expo - Perth 2011 - June 24-26, 2011 in Claremont, Western Australia, Australia
- Supanova Pop Culture Expo - Sydney 2011 - June 17-19, 2011 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- All-Con 2011 - March 18-20, 2011 in Addison, TX, USA
- Animation On Display 2011 - February 19-20, 2011 in San Francisco, CA, USA 2010
- Middle Tennessee Anime Convention 2010 - April 30 - May 2, 2010 in Nashville, TN, USA
- MegaCon 2010 - March 12-14, 2010 in Orlando, FL, USA 2009
- Dragon*Con 2009 - September 4-7, 2009 in Atlanta, GA, USA 2008
- Sac-Anime 2008 - August 29-31, 2008 in Sacramento, CA, USA
- MegaCon 2008 - March 7-9, 2008 in Orlando, FL, USA
- Animation On Display 2008 - February 16-17, 2008 in San Francisco, CA, USA 2007
- Armageddon Pulp Expo Auckland 2007 - October 20-22, 2007 in Auckland, New Zealand
- Armageddon Expo Australia 2007 - October 13-14, 2007 in Melbourne, Australia
- Anime Vegas 2007 - September 1-3, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV, USA
- Middle Tennessee Anime Convention 2007 - April 13-15, 2007 in Franklin, TN, USA
- All-Con 2007 - March 16-18, 2007 in Addison, TX, USA 2006
- Phoenix Anime Festival 2006 - December 1-3, 2006 in Phoenix, AZ, USA
- Sac-Anime 2006 - July 15, 2006 in Sacramento, CA, USA 2003
- Cybercon Expo 2003 - November 1, 2003 in Mt. Laurel, NJ, USA 2002
- BotCon Europe 2002 - November 3, 2002 in Cheshunt 2001
- RM Transcon 2001 - November 16-17, 2001 in College Station, TX, USA
68 confirmed guest appearances
View Neil Kaplan on FanCons.com for 52 additional guest appearances