Amin Abbas

Abdullah Elfiky, a talented Egyptian voice actor who worked on Japanese animated projects such as The Journey (2021), Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna (2020) and English animated projects like 3Below: Tales of Arcadia (2018), Klaus (2019) & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023), spoke exclusively to Arab News Japan about his inspiration for voice acting.

“I’ve always wanted to become a voice actor since I was a kid watching Mazinger z and Captain Tsubasa (Captain Majid in Arabic). I started my voice training in 2008 and I became a professional voice actor in 2016. My style is to act honestly and smoothly, as it adds depth and charm to the performance.”

“My first project was voicing the main character, Krel Tarron from Netflix’s 3Below: Tales of Arcadia,” he added.

Abdullah Elfiky is known for voicing Zurara in ‘The Journey’, the first major animated feature between Manga Productions and Toei Animation that was released in 2021.

He shared his story and experience about voicing the character in the movie: “I received a message from Space Toon expressing interest in me casting for several characters in latest manga production’s project ‘The journey’.

“Of course, I agreed and put in a lot of effort, especially for the character Zurara, whom I adored immediately. I was thrilled to land the role, and the entire experience was truly wonderful for me.

“Zurara and the Journey movie held a special place in my heart because it depicted an Arabian story, capturing the essence of Arabian culture flawlessly. The manga team’s exceptional writing and drawing skills inspired me to give it my all.

“Recording Zurara during the pandemic presented its challenges, especially with the director being in another country. Despite the communication hurdles, the experience taught me invaluable lessons,” he added.

Elfiky was very pleased about his experience in voicing Zurara in the ‘The Journey’ movie and going by the feedback from the people, he said: “I was incredibly proud — it was like a dream come true! I felt fortunate to receive so many positive comments and messages on my Instagram about my performance as Zurara. It meant the world to me to see fans loving my acting, taking the time to find my account, and sending messages that brought me immense joy.”

Abdullah Elfiky is known for voicing Yamato Ishida in Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna (2020).

“I vividly recall the call from Tala Tourgane, asking me to audition for both Yamato and Taichi. Without hesitation, I expressed my preference for Yamato, my favorite character. However, she insisted I audition for both, which I did. To my delight, she chose me for Yamato. The recording sessions with Dima and Tala, the directors, were incredibly smooth, and I learned a lot from the experience. I also remember helping with translating some Japanese sentences, drawing from my studies in Japanese. It was a small contribution, but I was glad to lend a hand wherever I could. The Tourganes were wonderful to work with, and their kindness and professionalism made the entire process enjoyable”.

About his inspiration for Japanese animation, Elfiky said: “My inspiration for Japanese anime comes from its rich cultural tapestry, blending tradition with innovation. I’m drawn to the consideration of others within the narratives, the strength of the characters, and the captivating storytelling that resonates deeply with me. My favorite anime series are Hunter x Hunter and Bleach”.

About his recommendations for those who want to do voice acting for anime, Elfiky said: “My advice is to consistently train your voice and never stop practicing. And consider joining my voice acting course for even more guidance and improvement!”.