Marluxia - Voice Compare

Comparing the Japanese and English voices of Marluxia.
Tatsuya Kando vs. Shuichi Ikeda
Shuichi Ikeda vs. Keith Ferguson
Tatsuya Kando only provided battle grunts for Marluxia in the original GBA version of CoM, and while he did a passable job, he's a member of the development team and not an actual voice actor, so he likely wouldn't have been able to do much more than that. Shuichi Ikeda, however, is a veteran voice actor best known for voicing Char in the Gundam franchise. His voice is appropriately deep and his delivery appropriately commanding, since as the Lord of Castle Oblivion, Marluxia should elicit respect even despite his pink hair and flower powers.
Keith Ferguson is clearly trying and doing a decent job at first, even if his voice isn't quite as deep or authoritative as Ikeda's. But after Marluxia unhoods himself, Ferguson's voice gets less deep and his performance is now wooden as hell. His acting picks up again toward the end, but his vocal pitch goes even higher, which is all wrong for this character! I'm not sure how this went so wrong, but sadly there's no contest here. Shuichi Ikeda is leagues above Keith Ferguson, and his performance is the definitive Marluxia.

[@maltshayke5066]

English Marluxia is soothing

[@econmatthew2598]

Shuichi Ikeda for Re:Com Marluxia was cool lol, especially the final quote

[@Birdhouseart]

Marluxia is a Char!

[@primusvsunicron1]

AXIS GO! AND TAKE THESE DREADFUL MEMORIES WITH YOU!

[@reyonXIII]

With the reveal of his (young) original in Union Cross, it's rather hilarious to imagine the grizzled and gruff voice of Shuichi Ikeda coming from the mouth of a teenage boy. Probably already weird for some that it comes out of a very pretty man like Marluxia, but somehow, I find that it works perfectly

[@bobthelonghairedboi5425]

reyonXIII I hope he gets defeated in kh3 and then his human/full person form (lauriam I too play khux) help you fight xehanort

[@ShadowReubenKee]

Aaaaaaaahhhh... Shuichi Ikeda. ♥

[@lethalhitd2493]

Omg! The japanses voice is Shank’s voice from one piece

[@KingdomHearts4KHML]

Also Kite from HxH and Masayoshi Shido from Persona 5 😱

[@GuyWithTheCapitalJ]

Also Akai Shuichi from Detective Conan! 🕵️‍♂️

[@thelairofthedemongod]

also Char Aznable and Full Frontal

[@lbmybblb7993]

I think Ferguson was trying to depict a more "soulless" person, considering the "nature" of nobodies. Similar to Saix, he displays little emotion.

[@ericcaulfield4477]

Marluxia will drop Axis on you at the end if he gets desperate enough.

[@Ruffy94cos]

Shuichi Ikeda is simply the best :D

[@chizurin]

Char Aznable

[@SunGodNika-bi2jr]

The 🌹 Rose Comet ☄️

[@PainXIII12]

Char?!

[@andremalefic]

vote japan VA coz same chara as Shanks

[@KingOfStrapFanboy922]

English voice fits him much better than Shanks from One Piece

[@thelairofthedemongod]

CHAR AND FRONTAL?!?!?!

[@primusvsunicron1]

AKAI SUISEI!

[@williamwyant]

It actually sounds to me like Keith Ferguson had a bit of a struggle to keep his voice that deep. It's definitely not what he's used to doing in roles, and Keith himself has a fairly high voice. So I can understand if he slowly moved up into a register he was more comfortable with. When Marluxia raises his voice, like near the end, it becomes a much more full tone. I think the only reason it's mediocre is because it's not what Keith was used to doing.

[@GihirahimOfTheShadow]

That's a good explanation and probably true. I like Keith, but I maintain that they should have cast someone with a deeper voice for Marluxia.

[@MortalSoul13]

Marluxia is cool. But he did have a point about those who turn away from the truth.

[@couchgamingnews9379]

Wait char 🧐

[@ObscureAlex]

I normally don't like comparing English and Japanese voice actors, but getting Char for your Japanese voice is practically unfair to the English VA.

[@SunGodNika-bi2jr]

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