Taiki Matsuno, Sentai And SpongeBob Voice Actor, Has Died At 56
The highly credited voice actor suffered a fatal right cerebral hemorrhage on June 26
The world of Super Sentai has tragically lost another hero. Just weeks after losing Yuka Motohashi, Gekisou Sentai Carranger’s Yellow Racer to cancer at age 46, Taiki Matsuno, the voice of Sky Ninja Shurikenger on Ninpu Sentai Hurricanger, suffered a fatal right cerebral hemorrhage on June 26, dead at the age of 56.
Matsuno’s death was announced by his home studio, Aoni Productions, releasing a statement that read “We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the kindness shown to us [by Matsuno] during his lifetime.” His voice work extended deep into Sentai, with Shurikenger, who was mainly a voice role with it just being the suit, adapted into being the fully human Ninja Storm Green Samurai Ranger, Cam Watanabe played by Jason Chan. The Ninja Storm side has already lost its Red Ranger Pua Magasiva, its Sensei Kanoi Watanabe and villain Lothor, both played by Grant McFarland. It was Matsuno’s third role in the franchise overall, following Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive’s SpellMaster Pierre and Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger’s Clock Org. He would follow this up with roles in Dekaranger, Magiranger, Gekiranger, Go-onger, Shinkenger, Goseiger, Kyoryuger (all individually adapted into 12 of the next 13 years of Power Rangers after Ninja Storm), and ToQger and Lupinranger vs. Patranger.
Taiki Matsuno was born Tatsuya Masuno in Tokyo, Japan, on October 16, 1967. His first major role was as The Prince in the 1978 anime The Adventures of the Little Prince. He would go on to voice many characters in various anime familiar even to casual American audiences, like Pegasus in Sailor Moon’s fourth season, Sailor Moon SuperS, Nishiwaki and Beshimi in Rurouni Kenshin, Kōga in Inuyasha, half a dozen one-off characters on One Piece, Tsuru Tsurina the IV on Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, and most prominently Jun Manjoume, better known as Chazz Princeton to English-speaking audiences on Yu-Gi-Oh! GX and Agumon on Digimon Savers, known as Digimon Data Squad in English, which led to subsequent roles in that franchise. In addition, he’s been the Japanese voice of SpongeBob SquarePants from the first movie onward.
His video game work included voicing Liu Shan and Ling Tong in many Dynasty Warriors games, as well as Hammer in Xenosaga and Kikunojo Oka in several Sakura Wars games. Matsuno's family will hold a private funeral ceremony.
Source: Anime News Network