Who Voices Byleth in Smash? A Deep Dive into the Silent Professor’s Vocal Talents
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Byleth, the enigmatic professor from Fire Emblem: Three Houses, made a splash when they joined the roster of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a downloadable fighter. While Byleth is known for their relative silence in their original game, they do have distinct voices in Smash, offering unique vocalizations for attacks and taunts. So, who brings the silent professor to life in the world of Smash? The answer is twofold: Zach Aguilar voices the male Byleth, and Jeannie Tirado voices the female Byleth in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Byleth’s Voice Actors: More Than Just a Few Grunts
It’s easy to dismiss the voice acting for a character like Byleth in Smash, since the role primarily consists of short phrases, yells, and effort sounds. However, these vocalizations are crucial in defining the character’s presence and making them feel authentic. Let’s take a closer look at the talents behind Byleth’s voice:
Zach Aguilar: The Voice of the Male Professor
Zach Aguilar is a prolific voice actor with a wide range of credits in anime, video games, and animation. Some of his most notable roles include:
- Tanjiro Kamado in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: This is arguably Aguilar’s most recognizable role, showcasing his ability to portray a character with both strength and vulnerability.
- Genos in One-Punch Man: Aguilar’s performance as the stoic cyborg adds depth to this fan-favorite character.
- Koichi Hirose in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Aguilar brings a sense of youthful energy and determination to Koichi.
His experience across diverse roles makes him a perfect fit to provide the voice for Male Byleth, who has a similar quiet strength.
Jeannie Tirado: The Voice of the Female Professor
Jeannie Tirado is another incredibly talented voice actor with an impressive resume. Her prominent roles include:
- Android 21 in Dragon Ball FighterZ: This role demonstrates Tirado’s range, as she portrays both the innocent and the more sinister aspects of the character.
- Kujou Sara in Genshin Impact: As a powerful and loyal general, Tirado’s performance embodies Kujou Sara’s unwavering dedication.
- Rose in Street Fighter V: Tirado brings a confident and enigmatic presence to this returning character.
Her varied experience in voicing strong and expressive characters makes her a great fit for the role of Female Byleth, which allows her to display similar strength and nuance.
Why the Voice Change in Fire Emblem?
The article you provided mentions a voice change in Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Fire Emblem Heroes. This change stems from allegations of abuse against the previous voice actor, Chris Niosi. Nintendo made the decision to remove Niosi’s voice work and replace it with Zach Aguilar to ensure a positive and respectful environment. This decision highlights the importance of ethical considerations in the entertainment industry.
It’s important to distinguish that Niosi was never a voice actor for Byleth in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Nintendo employed the talents of Zach Aguilar and Jeannie Tirado from the very beginning for Byleth’s inclusion in Smash.
FAQs About Byleth’s Voice in Smash and Beyond
Here are some frequently asked questions about Byleth’s voices, shedding light on related aspects of the character and their portrayal:
1. Why is Byleth so quiet in Fire Emblem: Three Houses?
Byleth’s relative silence is a design choice intended to allow players to project themselves onto the character. It is also believed that not fully voicing Byleth was a cost-saving measure. This “silent protagonist” approach is common in Japanese RPGs and aims to increase player immersion.
2. Does Byleth ever speak in Fire Emblem: Three Houses?
Byleth does have limited dialogue choices, but they are primarily unvoiced. Key cutscenes and story moments feature Byleth’s responses as text on the screen. Some vocal grunts and battle noises are present, but the character generally avoids speaking full sentences.
3. Why do Male Byleth and Female Byleth have different voice actors?
Male and Female Byleth have different voice actors in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate to reflect the nuances in their character designs and ensure distinct personalities for each version of the character, enhancing player choice and representation.
4. How old is Byleth?
Byleth is around 21 years old at the start of Fire Emblem: Three Houses and approximately 26 years old after the time skip.
5. Is Byleth canonically nonbinary?
While some have interpreted Byleth as a nonbinary character, particularly due to the “form” selection instead of a strict gender selection, the game clearly describes Byleth as either male or female in the player’s roster. So, no Byleth is not Canonically Nonbinary.
6. Who else does Zach Aguilar voice in video games?
Besides his role as Male Byleth, Zach Aguilar has lent his voice to numerous other games, including Genshin Impact, Code Vein, and more. He is known for his versatility and ability to bring a wide range of characters to life.
7. What other characters has Jeannie Tirado voiced?
Jeannie Tirado’s voice acting work spans across multiple well-known games, such as Final Fantasy VII Remake, Fire Emblem Heroes, and many others. Her ability to convey emotion and strength has made her a sought-after voice actress in the industry.
8. Why does Byleth’s hair turn green?
Byleth’s hair turns green as a result of fusing with Sothis, a powerful deity in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. This fusion grants Byleth new powers and abilities, symbolized by the change in hair color.
9. Is Byleth stillborn?
According to the lore in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Byleth was indeed stillborn. Sitri, Byleth’s mother, sacrificed her crest stone to give Byleth life, which is why Byleth has no heartbeat at birth.
10. What are Byleth’s strengths and weaknesses in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?
Byleth’s strengths in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate include their long-range attacks and powerful smash attacks. Their weaknesses include low mobility, exploitable recovery, and slow attacks.
11. Who is Byleth’s father?
Byleth’s father is Jeralt Eisner, a famed mercenary captain in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. He plays a significant role in the game’s story and is a close companion to Byleth.
12. What is Byleth’s weakness?
Weaknesses Low mobility. Exploitable recovery. One of the worst disadvantages. Slow attacks.
13. What is Byleth known for in Fire Emblem?
Byleth is known for their strategic abilities and the Divine Pulse, a power that can stop and rewind time to a limited extent. Byleth’s ability to connect with students makes them a great teacher.
14. Are Zach Aguilar and Jeannie Tirado also voice actors for the Fire Emblem series?
Yes, both Zach Aguilar and Jeannie Tirado have worked on the Fire Emblem series. Zach Aguilar replaced Chris Niosi in voicing the male Byleth and Jeannie Tirado voiced the female Byleth.
15. Is it possible for games to teach learning?
Absolutely! The field of game-based learning is rapidly growing, and research consistently shows the potential of games to engage learners, promote critical thinking, and enhance knowledge retention. Organizations like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org are dedicated to studying and promoting the use of games in education. For example, games can simulate complex systems and scenarios, allowing learners to experiment and develop problem-solving skills in a safe and engaging environment. Whether it’s through strategy games, simulations, or narrative-driven experiences, the power of games in education is undeniable.
In conclusion, Zach Aguilar and Jeannie Tirado are the talented voice actors behind the male and female versions of Byleth in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Their performances add depth and personality to this unique character, making them a memorable addition to the Smash roster.