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The term seiyuu (声優, sometimes written as seiyu) is used when referring to a Japanese voice actor/actress. Being a seiyuu is a respectable profession in Japan and most popular seiyuu have a large fan base. In fact, many fans will watch a specific anime just to hear their favorite seiyuu. Even so, most seiyuu do not depend solely on anime work for regular income. Many do voice work for TV, movies, documentaries, educational programs, CD drama, radio, commercials, and video games.
Good seiyuu convey a lot of emotion in the way they speak. You don't have to know the language to detect that disturbing hint of menace in a villain's voice or to appreciate the rage-filled battle cry of a righteous warrior. The seiyuu makes a huge difference when a manga is being brought to life as an anime. Good seiyuu also utilize great versatility to adapt to multiple types of characters. For example, you may not know it but the man who voiced Pilaf also provided the voice of Raditz. Total opposites... you bet they are. These seiyuu have the ability to provide voices so different, you can hardly tell they belong to the same person.
Seiyuu are more likely to branch into music than anything else, often singing the opening or closing themes of shows in which their character stars. More recently, seiyuu have begun to release image songs, songs that are sung in character but aren't included in the anime. Popular anime series spin off all kinds of fan merchandise including CD music albums that carry these character "image songs".
In the end, anime without its seiyuu is nothing but mere silence. Luckily DragonBall had one of the most diverse casts assembled at the time, allowing it to still have an impact with audiences today. Please remember that all sections of this guide are organized with respect to the fully Romanized spellings of the Japanese seiyuu.
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