It is popular knowledge that Studio Ghibli films have always been praised for their excellent voice acting. Both the original Japanese and English dubs have actors who bring characters to life with their performance.   These films have a hidden treasure of Hollywood celebrities lending their iconic voices to them.  Here are some of the top names you might not have known were part of these films:

        Did you know that a Hollywood star  brought the character of Jiro Horikoshi  to life  in The Wind Rises?   The 2013  film  tells the tale of a real Japanese inventor who played a large role in WWII.  This popular actor  is Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  He has been in movies like  Inception, Knives Out, and  10 Things I Hate About You.  He used his amazing voice acting skills to play the role of engineer Jiro Horikoshi.  But, he was not the only Hollywood star in the movie.

      Another main character, Kiro Honjo, was voiced by John Krasinski.

      What if you had to guess who voiced the character of Porco who was a pilot turned into a pig in WWI in Porco Rosso?  Michael Keaton is the person who brought this character to life.  This is a fun fact for those who are a fan of  Keaton's movies. The film  is underrated.  But it deserves to be watched due to the interesting plot and the fact that Keaton does an excellent job with the role of  Porco.   Keaton has been featured in a variety of films.  Some of them include Batman, The Founder and Spider-Man: Homecoming.

        Dakota and Elle Fanning, the real-life sisters, voiced the characters of Satsuki and Mei in My Neighbor Totoro.  The film follows two sisters as they befriend a magical  forest spirit.    This is a heartwarming film that had moments of sadness and joy.  The sisters  did an excellent job of portraying the characters that they played, as they had to portray the dynamics of their real life relationship on screen.

        We all know that Hailee Steinfeld is a person of many talents and that she is an actor.    She also played a role in the film  When Marnie Was There.    This film  deals with deep topics such as grief and illness.  It was a moving film and her voice acting helped the film come to life.  Hailee  Steinfeld is truly an excellent voice actor.

        Mark Hamill, who is best known for his role as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, has two roles in Studio Ghibli films.  He voiced Characters in Castle In The Sky and Nausicaä of The Valley Of The Wind.  These roles were good fits for him, as his portrayal of the Joker in Batman proved his skills as a voice actor for villainous roles.

        In a strange twist, one of the most beloved characters in Howl's Moving Castle is Calcifer, the fire demon.   Billy Crystal voiced this character.  Calvin is a fan favorite and Crystal's voice brought this character to life.  Crystal's work on film is impressive and he has lent his voice to many characters. Crystal is known for his roles in Monsters Inc. and Luca.

        Noah Cyrus, who is known for her music, had a role in Ponyo.   Ponyo is about a goldfish princess who befriends a five-year-old boy.  Noah Cyrus did an excellent job of portraying this character.  Interestingly, Cyrus was an excellent choice for Ponyo she was only nine years old when she voiced the character and had to capture all the emotions and personality traits of what was a five-year-old character.

        The Secret World of Arriety is one of the most magical films made by Studio Ghibli.  The character of Sho, the main human character, was voiced by Tom Holland.  Holland is most well-known for being Spider-Man in the Marvel Universe.  Sho and Arriety form a friendship in the film.  The bond between them is filled with joy and sadness.

       When you think of the grey heron in The Boy and the Heron, you might not think that it was voiced by a celebrity.  This film was released in 2023 and Robert Pattinson voiced the grey heron.  He did an excellent job and his excitement for the role was apparent in his audition.

       The number one spot is Christian Bale who voiced Howl Pendragon in Howl's Moving Castle.  Some of his most notable performances are in The Dark Knight and American Psycho.  Christian Bale lent his voice to Howl Pendragon.  He did an excellent job and this is one of his most memorable roles.

Movie Magic: The Hollywood Stars Who Voiced Your Beloved Ghibli Characters

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