If you grew up watching English-dubbed anime in the 2000s, McFarland’s voice is embedded in your memory. He was Kuwabara in Yu Yu Hakusho, the lovable punk with a heart of gold. He was Mayuri Kurotsuchi in Bleach, the creepy but brilliant scientist. And he was Rollo in Code Geass, a role that required deep vulnerability.
“He could do anything,” Saab says. “From comedy to tragedy. But his secret was that he never took himself too seriously. He treated every character like a real person, flaws and all.”
Kyo Kasahara’s Voice Actor in Blue Box: Yuma Uchida & Alejandro Saab
That’s a cultural truth we often forget: the best creators—whether they’re animators, musicians, or chefs—stay playful. Think of Hayao Miyazaki sketching whimsical creatures in his 70s, or Questlove sampling old records with childlike glee. Play isn’t a distraction; it’s the engine of innovation.
Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Mike McFarland
Here’s a gem: McFarland was also a skilled martial artist and taught self-defense classes on the side. “He’d show up to the studio and say, ‘I just disarmed a guy with a broomstick in class,’” Saab laughs. “And then he’d go direct an episode about space pirates. That was him.”
Another fun fact: he voiced Greed in the original Fullmetal Alchemist—a character defined by his insatiable desire. But in real life, McFarland was famously generous. “He’d buy lunch for the whole crew just because,” Saab notes. “And he never wanted recognition for it.”
Don't Miss Voice Actor Mike McFarland at Anime Fan Fest
This dissonance—between the loud, greedy characters he played and the quiet, giving man he was—is a reminder that we are not our roles. You can be a fierce negotiator at work and a softie at home. You can be a dragon on paper and a teddy bear in person.
