Maaya Sakamoto (坂本 真綾 Sakamoto Maaya?, born March 31, 1980) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actress, and voice actress who worked with Flying Dog and Victor Entertainment and associated with Yoko Kanno and others.
She is known for her roles as Lunamaria Hawke in Gundam Seed, Aura in the .hack// series, Hitomi Kanzaki in The Vision of Escaflowne, Nano in Arakawa Under the Bridge, the current voice of Ling Xiaoyu in Tekken, Black Butler as Ciel Phantomhive, The Saint Seiya Hades OVA Series as Pandora, the Rebuild of Evangelion anime remake film series as Mari Illustrious Makinami, Ouran Highschool Host Club as Haruhi Fujioka, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle as Princess Tomoyo, Tiger & Bunny as Tomoe Kaburagi, the Ghost in the Shell series (including the Prequel such as Arise) as young Motoko Kusanagi, and Makoto in the Blade anime series collaborated by Marvel with Madhouse. As well as voiceovers in Japanese dubbing such as any roles portrayed by Natalie Portman and Rose in BBC's Doctor Who series since 2003.
Maaya was Montalvo's prediction to be the japanese voice for Twilight Sparkle in the official Japanese dub of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic ever since she was in MLP Equestria Tales, until Takara Tomy's new rival company, Bushiroad chooses Miyuki Sawashiro instead. Leading Sakamoto not part of the Japanese MLP team by Bushiroad itself. However, Despite Montalvo's acceptance and Sawashiro voicing Twilight Sparkle, Maaya Sakamoto reprises her role in Harmony Unleashed: Human Ponidox Continuum Shift and the animated adaptation of Harmony Unleashed: Anthro Bunraku.
Sakamoto is married to fellow voice actor Kenichi Suzumura in August 8, 2011 before 5 days of her announcement of her marriage on her site. As it could make sense for Suzumura and Sakamoto's marriage to be towards Twilight Sparkle and Applejack's romantic friendship in the Anthro Bunraku series and the Harmony Unleashed Z and DX spin-off stand alone films, as well as Shinn and Lunamaria's relationship in Gundam Seed Destiny when it comes to Japanese voiceovers.
Roles in HU[]
Anime Shows[]
- Harmony Unleashed: Human Ponidox Continuum Shift - Twilight Sparkle
- Harmony Unleashed: Dramatic Ascension - Maya Lang
Anime Films[]
- Harmony Unleashed: Human Ponidox Continuum Shift (film series) - Twilight Sparkle
- Harmony Unleashed: Rainbow Dawn Dissidia - The Animation Special: Tournament of All-Stars - Princess Luna
- Harmony Unleashed: Anthro Bunraku - Aegis Resort - Twilight Sparkle
Games/Dubbing[]
- Harmony Unleashed: Anthro Bunraku: The Animation - Twilight Sparkle
- Harmony Unleashed: Anthro Bunraku (film series) - Twilight Sparkle
- My Little Pony: Harmony Unleashed - Anthro Bunraku x Equestria Girls series:
- Mirror Raiders - Twilight Sparkle (AB Universe)
- Prelude to Blood - Twilight Sparkle (AB Universe)
- Dual Equine Blood - Twilight Sparkle (AB Universe)
- NaruIchi97 AllStars Harmony Unleashed x My Little Pony: Fighting Is Magic: Rainbow Dawn Dissidia - Princess Luna