The world has been hit hard with the recent news of the passing of a beloved Japanese voice actress, known and cherished for her portrayal of Motoko Kusanagi in the Ghost in the Shell film franchise and, more recently, in the Call of Duty Mobile game as the same character.
Atsuko Tanaka’s death, from an undisclosed illness, has left a void in the hearts of fans and colleagues alike, who have been mourning her loss for the past few days.
Remembering Atsuko Tanaka, Voice of Call of Duty’s Mokoto Kusanagi Skin
The actress’s contributions to the voice acting industry are nothing short of legendary.
She’s most recognized for bringing Motoko Kusanagi from the Ghost in the Shell animated film franchise to life, and she voiced the Call of Duty Mobile skin of the character as well.
The voice actress of Motoko Kusanagi, named Atsuko Tanaka, has passed away at the age of 61 today.
— Call of Duty: Mobile News 📲 (@codmINTEL) August 20, 2024
May her soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/W5bTgJCxsI
Her talent goes beyond this role. She lent her voice to a ton of iconic characters in most forms of media you can think of, including anime, TV shows, movies, and video games, making her a household name in Japanese entertainment.
Undoubtedly, she has one of the most recognizable voices in the industry, but that isn’t to say she has limited range. Aside from Motoko, she was the voice behind Bayonetta in the Japanese audio.
Fans of Jujutsu Kaisen will also remember her as the voice of Hanami, while in the Devil May Cry series, she voiced Trish.
いつもお世話になっている皆様へ pic.twitter.com/rfzWhMbsIl
— 田中 光（Hikaru Tanaka） (@HikaruTanaka_va) August 20, 2024
She also provided the Japanese dub voice for countless characters from American TV shows and movies, becoming the voice that many Japanese fans associated with some of Hollywood’s most iconic figures.
You’ll find her voice in popular movies like Toy Story and Inside Out. More recently, she was the Japanese voice of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen in House of the Dragon.
The Loss Is Deeply Felt Throughout the Internet
The news of her passing was broken by her son, Hikaru Tanaka, who revealed his relationship with the actress for the first time. Like his mother, Hikaru is also a voice actor.
The only dope character in the game 😭
— Lana Del Rey's Boyfriend (@WasTakenHunter) August 20, 2024
The loss has been felt across the Call of Duty community, where her portrayal of Motoko Kusanagi was celebrated by fans of the game.
It’s always exciting to see crossovers of your favorite franchises with Call of Duty, and it’s even better when the original voice actors return to take part in these projects.
Damn. Thank you for the memories! Rest in paradise queen.
— OnzoOnX ❎ (@OnzoOnX) August 21, 2024
People all across the internet are posting tributes, recollecting all the hard work she has delivered over decades and how she’s elevated the characters she’s played.
She may have passed away, but her legacy will never be forgotten. The internet will continue to remember her as time goes by, and the work she has accomplished will be celebrated for decades.
What is your favorite Atsuko Tanaka role? Feel free to tell us all about it in the comments below.
