Joel McDonald explained

Joel McDonald
Years Active:2009-present
Spouse:Marie Charlson[1]
Children:2

Joel McDonald is an American voice actor, voice director, and scriptwriter who worked on English versions of anime series at Funimation.

Biography

Since McDonald was 7, he had a love for acting. He acted in plays at school and church, participating in community theater, secondary school theater and in speech competitions. Later, he acquired a BFA in Acting and Directing from Sam Houston State College. From that point onwards, McDonald took up acting professionally, taking parts in a national kids' theater tour, landing different roles in a couple dozen stage shows.

In 2006, after years of stage work in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, McDonald became involved in voice acting and also got into ADR directing and adaptive scriptwriting.[2]

Career

McDonald has provided voices for a number of English language versions of Japanese anime films and television shows, and video games. He is best known as the voice of Takumi Fujiwara from the Initial D series, Meow from Space Dandy, and Minato Sahashi from the Sekirei series, as well as the ADR director for the Funimation One Piece dub, in addition to Sgt Frog, Deadman Wonderland, Space Dandy and Initial D.[3]

In the 2010s, McDonald has been cast in more lead/major roles, such as Akane from Divine Gate, Mikage from the Kamisama Kiss series, Bartholomew Kuma from One Piece, Zeref from Fairy Tail, Brief from Panty and Stocking, Hien from Chaos Dragon, Koki Mimura from Assassination Classroom, Azusa Hanai from Big Windup, Toshimitsu Kubo from the Baka and Test series, Hayato Ike from the second season of Shakugan no Shana onwards, Jacuzzi Splot from Baccano, Motoharu Kaido from Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero, Ikta Solok from Alderamin on the Sky, and Dilandau Albatou from the Funimation redub of The Vision of Escaflowne.

On February 15, 2018, he has resigned from Funimation as a director.[4]

Personal life

On March 18, 2016, Joel announced the birth of his son, Beck Austin McDonald.[5] He is married to fellow voice actress Marie Charlson in 2014. His second son, Finn McDonald, was born on June 15, 2018.[6]

Filmography

Anime

Notes! class="unsortable"
Source[7]
2009Big Windup!Azusa Hanai
2009Baccano!Jacuzzi Splot[8]
2009Nabari no OuYoite[9]
2009Sgt. FrogSaburo Mutsumi[10]
2010One PieceBartholomew Kuma, Megalo, PacifistasFunimation dub, ADR Director[11]
2010SekireiMinato Sahashialso season 2[12]
2010Initial DTakumi FujiwaraFunimation dub, ADR Director[13]
2010Linebarrels of IronHideaki Yajima[14]
Rin: Daughters of MnemosyneMaryEp. 3[15]
Urey Rockbell[16]
2012Darker Than BlackHotel Manager1 episode, credited under "EXTRAS"[17]
2012Shakugan no ShanaHayato Ikeseason 2-3[18]
2012Panty & Stocking with GarterbeltBrief[19]
2012Black ButlerRonald Knoxseason 2[20]
2012Polandseason 2 onwards[21]
2012Okami-san and Her Seven CompanionsRyoshi Morino[22]
Shangri-LaMedusa[23]
Deadman WonderlandADR Director
2013Aesthetica of a Rogue HeroMotoharu Kaido[24]
2013Baka and TestToshimitsu KuboADR Director, also season 2 and OVA[25]
2013Future DiaryOuji Kosaka[26]
2013We Without WingsTakashi Haneda[27]
Last Exile: Fam, the Silver WingFritz[28]
Guilty CrownDaryl Yan[29]
Tenchi Muyo! War on GeminarAlan[30]
ADR Director[31]
Good Luck Girl!IbukiADR Director[32]
2014–2019Fairy TailZeref Dragneel, AliosStand-In with Justin Briner[33]
2014Space DandyMeowADR Director[34]
2014Attack on TitanMilieus Zermuskyalso [35]
2014Red Data GirlManatsu Soda
Date A LiveADR Director[36]
Robotics;NotesADR Director[37]
Laughing Under the CloudsRakuchō TakedaADR Director[38]
2015Assassination ClassroomKoki MimuraADR Director, also Koro-sensei Q![39]
2015Kamisama KissMikagealso season 2[40]
2015Sky Wizards AcademyKanata Age[41]
Ninja Slayer From AnimationDisturbedEp. 8[42]
Yona of the DawnJaeha[43]
201691 Days Arturo TroncoEp. 3[44]
2016Alderamin on the SkyIkta Solok[45]
2016All Out!!Sunao Ōsaka[46]
2016Chaos DragonHien[47]
Dimension WBlueEps. 4-5[48]
2016Divine GateAkane[49]
2016DriftersAllister[50]
Handa-kunTakashi IshidaEps. 1-2[51]
2016Joker GameJitsuiADR Director[52]
Lord Marksman and VanadisTigrevurmud Vorn[53]
2016Maria the Virgin WitchGilbert
2016Cheval[54]
Prince of Stride: AlternativeAsuma Mayuzumi[55]
No-RinKaoru Hanazono[56]
The Seven Deadly SinsADR Script[57]
2016TricksterKanda
2016The Vision of EscaflowneDilandau AlbatouFunimation dub, also movie[58] [59]
2016Yuri!!! on IcePhichit Chulanont[60] [61]
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. Reita Toritsuka [62]
–present My Hero Academia Yuga Aoyama [63]
BeurreEp. 4[64]
Chain Chronicle: The Light of HaecceitasMelchior
2017NanbakaDaisen Rokuriki[65]
Takayuki Konparu [66]
The Royal TutorErnst Rosenberg
Code Geass: Akito the Exiled Ashley Ashra [67]
The Ancient Magus' BrideOberon[68]
Black CloverAbraEp. 13
Alfil Ep. 11 [69]
2018 Hakyu Hoshin Engi Kokutenko [70]
2019 Fire Force Tojo Ep. 11 [71]
2023MF GhostNarratordub
2024That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3Bernie[72]

Film

Notes! class="unsortable"
Source
2010Initial D: Third StageTakumi Fujiwara
Fafner in the Azure: Heaven and Earth Misao Kurusu [73]
2012Alte
2013Shakugan no Shana: The MovieHayato Ike
2017MohkinADR Director [74] [75]
2017Ronald Knox
Genocidal Organ Leland [76]
Zeref
2017Initial D: Legend 1 - AwakeningTakumi Fujiwara
2018Initial D: Legend 2 - Dream
2018Initial D: Legend 3 - Racer

Video games

Notes! class="unsortable"
Source
2012Borderlands 2Capt Flynt, Jim, Tector Hodunk
2013Deputy Albert Lee
2014SmiteMercury
2014Tales of Xillia 2ChronosEnglish Dub[77]
2018Dragon Ball LegendsZahhaEnglish Dub[78]
2019Borderlands 3Burger Bot, Fanatic Male 1, Bandit 3, Nilly, Bandit Walla[79]
2020My Hero One's Justice 2Yuga AoyamaEnglish Dub

Notes and References

  1. News: Joel McDonald & Marie Charlson's gift list on MyRegistry.com. May 26, 2017. en.
  2. Web site: Joel McDonald Information. FanCons.com. June 6, 2018.
  3. Web site: Bio Joel McDonald A-Kon 28. www.a-kon.com. December 8, 2016. December 22, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161222131041/http://www.a-kon.com/Guests/Bio-Joel-McDonald. dead.
  4. McDonald . Joel . AtYes2Ats . 963862356655857664 . February 14, 2018 . The time has come to say goodbye to all my Funi friends... F-U-N ... 'n wish me luck! I-M ... really gonna miss you guys! A-T-I-O-N! (Thanks for 11 years and a great last day!) . en . January 4, 2021.
  5. News: Funimation ADR Director, Voice Actor Joel McDonald Welcomes Baby Boy. Anime News Network. December 8, 2016.
  6. McDonald . Joel . AtYes2Ats . 1007523292100681728 . June 15, 2018 .
    1. Finntroducing the newest member of the fam. Born at 1:19am on June 15th, 2018. 8 lbs 10 oz. 21" long. https://t.co/ISlL4PZQ4z
    . en . January 4, 2021.
  7. Web site: Joel McDonald Biography @ AnimeCons.com. AnimeCons.com. en. July 14, 2017.
  8. Web site: Joel McDonald Interview AAAPodcast. www.aaapodcast.com. January 20, 2013 . December 8, 2016.
  9. Funimation . FUNimation . 2723041478 . July 19, 2009 . Nabari No Ou: Miharu-Brina Palencia, Yoite-Joel McDonald, Tobari-Eric Vale, Koichi-Chris Burnett, Yukimi-Rob McCollum & Raimei-Kate Oxley . fi . January 4, 2021.
  10. Web site: Funimation Announces Red Data Girl Dub Cast. March 22, 2014.
  11. Web site: Joel McDonald is Bartholomew Kuma in FUNimation's 'One Piece'. onepiecepodcast. December 9, 2014. The One Piece Podcast. December 8, 2016. January 7, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160107215821/http://onepiecepodcast.com/2014/12/09/joel-mcdonald-is-bartholomew-kuma-in-funimations-one-piece/. dead.
  12. News: Sekirei DVD. Anime News Network. November 29, 2016.
  13. News: Initial D: First Stage DVD Part 1. Anime News Network. November 29, 2016.
  14. Web site: Joel McDonald on UpcomingCons.com. www.upcomingcons.com. December 8, 2016.
  15. Web site: Mary. Behind The Voice Actors. July 14, 2017. (w/green checkmark)
  16. Closing credits. Backs in the Distance. Funimation. List of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood episodes#Episodes list. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. 22. 2010.
  17. Web site: Darker than Black - Kuro no Keiyakusha: Gaiden (OAV) - Anime News Network . 2022-09-19 . www.animenewsnetwork.com.
  18. Web site: Shakugan no Shana Cast Announcement - Funimation – Blog!. www.funimation.com. December 8, 2016.
  19. News: FUNimation Entertainment's Anime Expo Panty and Stocking Events Announced. Anime News Network. November 29, 2016.
  20. News: Exclusive: Black Butler: Book of the Atlantic Anime Film's English Video Highlights Ronald Knox. Anime News Network. June 5, 2017. en.
  21. Web site: Joel McDonald Anime Central. May 13, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140513014822/http://www.acen.org/content/joel-mcdonald-0. May 13, 2014. bot: unknown. December 8, 2016.
  22. Web site: Okami-San and Her Seven Companions Cast Announcement. Rojas. Justin. January 26, 2012.
  23. Web site: Funimation Announces Shangri-la English Dub Cast. Anime News Network. April 12, 2012.
  24. Web site: Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero English Cast Announcement - Funimation – Blog!. www.funimation.com. December 8, 2016.
  25. Web site: 91.8 The Fan » Blog Archive » Kana's Korner – Interview with Joel McDonald. 918thefan.com. December 8, 2016.
  26. Web site: Future Diary English Cast Announcement - Funimation – Blog!. www.funimation.com. December 8, 2016.
  27. Web site: WE WITHOUT WINGS. www.starburstmagazine.com. December 8, 2016.
  28. Web site: Funimation Reveals Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing's English Cast, Trailer. February 15, 2013.
  29. Web site: Full English Cast and Dub Trailer for Guilty Crown. Lee. Michelle. May 20, 2013. funimation.com. November 13, 2015.
  30. Web site: VIDEO: An Early Look at "Tenchi Muyo War On Geminar" English Dub. Green. Scott. January 19, 2013. crunchyroll.com.
  31. Web site: English Cast Announcement for Sankarea. Funimation. July 22, 2013.
  32. Web site: English Cast Announcement for Good Luck Girl!. Lee. Michelle. September 10, 2013. Funimation Blog.
  33. Web site: Voice Actor Joel McDonald Celebrates The Birth of His Son. March 17, 2016. Anime Herald. December 8, 2016.
  34. News: Space Dandy: Season 1 [Limited Edition] BD+DVD]. Anime News Network. November 29, 2016.
  35. News: Armin Voice Actor Named in Latest "Attack on Titan" English Dub Cast Announcement. Crunchyroll. June 5, 2017. en.
  36. Web site: Funimation Unveils Date A Live's English Dub Cast, Trailer. April 2, 2014. Anime News Network. October 2, 2014.
  37. Web site: Funimation Unveils Robotics;Notes' English Dub Cast. November 23, 2013.
  38. Funimation . FUNimation . 533675601572671488 . November 15, 2014 . Did you recognize Colleen Clinkenbeard as Kiiko, Eric Vale as Sosei, and Joel McDonald as Takeda? #BroadcastDub #LaughinUnderTheClouds . en . January 4, 2021.
  39. Web site: Assassination Classroom Cast Announcement - Funimation – Blog!. www.funimation.com. December 8, 2016.
  40. News: Kamisama Kiss Shojo Anime's Trailer Previews English Dub. Anime News Network. November 29, 2016.
  41. Web site: English Cast Announcement & Sneak Peek – Sky Wizards Academy! - Funimation – Blog!. www.funimation.com. December 8, 2016.
  42. Closing credits. Apocalypse Inside Tainted Soil. Funimation. Ninja Slayer#Episode list. Ninja Slayer From Animation. Ninja Slayer. 8. 2015.
  43. McDonald . Joel . AtYes2Ats . 585592275876638720 . April 7, 2015 . It's true; I play Jeaha in #YonaOfTheDawn. Don't blame @CliffordChapin for accidentally casting me as an adult. He's new at this. . en . January 4, 2021.
  44. News: Fall 2016 SimulDub™ English Cast Announcements – For The Love of Dubs - Funimation - Blog!. October 18, 2016. Funimation - Blog!. June 5, 2017. en-US.
  45. Web site: Funimation Reveals 'Alderamin on the Sky' Anime Dub Cast. December 5, 2016. The Fandom Post. December 8, 2016.
  46. News: Fall 2016 SimulDub™ English Cast Announcements – For The Love of Dubs - Funimation - Blog!. October 18, 2016. Funimation - Blog!. July 14, 2017. en-US.
  47. Web site: Chaos Dragon – English Cast Announcement - Funimation – Blog!. www.funimation.com. December 8, 2016.
  48. Closing credits. The Mystery Hidden in Lake Yasogami. Funimation. Dimension W#Anime. Dimension W. Dimension W. 4. 2016.
  49. News: Joel McDonald, Chris Burnett, Alexis Tipton Star in Divine Gate Anime's English Dub. November 29, 2016. Anime News Network.
  50. News: Drifters SimulDub (English Dub) Cast Announcement - Funimation - Blog!. November 3, 2016. Funimation - Blog!. June 5, 2017. en-US.
  51. Closing credits. Handa-kun and a Girl's Friendship. Funimation. Barakamon#Handa-kun_Episode list. Handa-kun. Barakamon. 1. 2016.
  52. News: Fall 2016 SimulDub™ English Cast Announcements – For The Love of Dubs - Funimation - Blog!. October 18, 2016. Funimation - Blog!. July 14, 2017. en-US.
  53. Web site: Funimation Reveals Lord Marksman and Vanadis Cast for February DVD/BD. November 18, 2015. Anime News Network.
  54. Web site: Fall 2016 Announcement – Monster Hunter Stories Ride On. Funimation. October 28, 2016.
  55. Glass . Caitlin . Caitlin Glass . caitlinsvoice . 699627049032417281 . February 16, 2016 . Joining the cast of #princeofstridealternative today @AtYes2Ats as Asuma and #garretstorms as Shizuma Mayuzumi https://t.co/KHZJ2KfhZG . en . January 4, 2021.
  56. Web site: No-Rin English Cast Announcement. Moore. Lauren. December 11, 2015. Funimation. January 10, 2017.
  57. McDonald . Joel . AtYes2Ats . 662288503707795456 . November 5, 2015 . Happy to announce that I got to write a few episodes of #SevenDeadlySins. Check it out on Netflix! Like, seriously, call in sick to work. . en . January 4, 2021.
  58. News: Funimation's Escaflowne Dub Casts Eric Vale, Jole McDonald. Anime News Network. November 29, 2016.
  59. Web site: Joel McDonald Plays Dilandau In Funimation's Escaflowne Dub. March 28, 2016. Anime Herald. December 8, 2016.
  60. Sakata . Ayu . Ayu Sakata . sakevisual . 800786619049607168 . November 21, 2016 . And Joel McDonald who voices Phichit voices another romance option. Just something to think about. >_> https://t.co/dyyajY4fLM . en . January 4, 2021.
  61. Web site: Sonny Strait - New Episode of Yuri on Ice is up! Such... Facebook. www.facebook.com. December 11, 2016.
  62. Web site: Summer 2016 Broadcast Dub English Cast Announcements - Funimation – Blog!. www.funimation.com. December 8, 2016.
  63. Web site: My Hero Academia Cast Announcement. April 27, 2016.
  64. Web site: Official Winter 2017 SimulDub Lineup. April 4, 2017. Funimation - Blog!.
  65. News: Official Winter 2017 SimulDub Lineup - Funimation - Blog!. January 3, 2017. Funimation - Blog!. July 14, 2017. en-US.
  66. News: English Cast Announcements - Spring SimulDub 2017 - Funimation - Blog!. April 25, 2017. Funimation - Blog!. May 12, 2017. en-US.
  67. News: Code Geass: Akito the Exiled English Cast Recap - Funimation - Blog!. March 25, 2017. Funimation - Blog!. July 14, 2017. en-US.
  68. Web site: FunimationNow Fall 2017 SimulDubs & English Casts. Funimation. www.funimation.com. May 23, 2019.
  69. Glass . Caitlin . Caitlin Glass . caitlinsvoice . 946445423400701952 . December 28, 2017 . Y'all. Y'ALL. Ep 11 of #GaroVanishingLine is wild. Buncha Funi actors lettin' loose their carefully corralled southern accents makes for a heckuva good time! Hear @marchimark as Natalia and @AtYes2Ats as Alfil https://t.co/yciwMtaUpI . en . January 4, 2021.
  70. Web site: HAKYU HOSHIN ENGI ENGLISH CAST & CREW. www.funimation.com. March 10, 2018.
  71. Phillips . Kyle . Kyle Meredith Phillips Jr. . KylePhillipsFUN . 1175151878159687680 . September 20, 2019 .
    1. FireForce #SimulDub ep 11 is live! Got some new voices, too! Joining @AaronRobertsYes in the 7th is @TheDaftPlunk voicing Konro, and @Meg_McClain_VO and @JenAlyx voicing Hikage and Hinata (respectively). @AtYes2Ats is Tojo and @MisterMassey is Flail! https://t.co/WfmKspPEO0 https://t.co/wmQLem00RN
    . en . January 4, 2021.
  72. Web site: Sisk . Austin . August 16, 2024 . With the dub release of episode 65 of #ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime, it is with great pleasure that I get to share the casting of Team Lightspeed! Masayuki - @MicahSolusod Jinrai - @Seitz_Unseen Bernie - @AtYes2Ats Jiwu - @ItsXanthor Excited to see their story unfold! . August 17, 2024 . Twitter.
  73. Web site: Behind The Voice Actors - Voice Of Misao Kurusu. Behind The Voice Actors. June 5, 2017.
  74. Web site: 'One Piece Film Gold' Complete English Voice Cast. January 11, 2017. onepiecepodcast.com. January 11, 2017. November 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201111174642/http://www.onepiecepodcast.com/2017/01/11/english-voice-cast-one-piece-film-gold/. dead.
  75. . Funimation. 2017. Closing credits, Cast. film.
  76. Web site: Funimation to Release Genocidal Organ Film on Home Video With English Dub. Anime News Network. August 12, 2017.
  77. McDonald . Joel . AtYes2Ats . 502506731641896960 . August 21, 2014 . Between Chronos in #TalesofXillia2 and Mercury in #Smite, I voice a fair number of gods. But, you know, typecasting. . en . January 4, 2021.
  78. McDonald . Joel . AtYes2Ats . 987849944173305856 . April 21, 2018 . So I'm in #DragonBallLegends if any of y'all were on the fence about getting into the whole 'Dragon Ball' thing. . en . January 4, 2021.
  79. Web site: Joel McDonald (visual voices guide) . 2022-09-19 . Behind The Voice Actors . en-US.