Yūko Mizutani (水谷 優子, Mizutani Yūko; November 4, 1964 – May 17, 2016) was a Japanese actress, voice actress, narrator and singer from Ama District, Aichi. Throughout her career, she worked with Production Baobab, and was working with Aoni Production at the time of her death. Mizutani was best known for her anime voice roles of Sakiko Sakura in Chibi Maruko-chan, Mihoshi Kuramitsu in Tenchi Muyo! and Pinoko in Black Jack. She also portrayed Excellen Browning in Super Robot Wars, Sora Takenouchi in Digimon Adventure, Leina Stol in Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos, and Sarah Zabiarov and Cheimin Noa in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Mizutani was the official Japanese voice actress for Minnie Mouse, and voiced her in the Kingdom Hearts franchise.
Since her death, Aya Endō took over as the Japanese voice of Minnie Mouse and Machiko Toyoshima took over as Sakiko Sakura in Chibi Maruko-chan.
Contents
Career
After graduating from the Institute for Youth Theater in 1985, Mizutani was signed to the Seinenza Theater Company's talent agency until 1989. She debuted in 1985 as an airfield announcer for Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam while appearing on television in TV dramas. After playing the role of Sarah Zabiarov in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, her portrayals of Leina Stol in Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos and Apple in Zillion were highly praised and her popularity grew. In 1988, she starred as Hiromi Oka in Aim for the Ace! 2.
Since 1991, Mizutani had been the official voice of Disney's Minnie Mouse. In addition to animation and video games at the Tokyo Disney Resort, she also appeared as Minnie Mouse in attractions, shows, and parades.
She voiced the role of Sakiko Sakura in the anime series Chibi Maruko-chan from 1990 until her death.
In 1993 she voiced Pinoko, Black Jack's loyal assistant/adopted daughter, in Osamu Tezuka's Black Jack OVA. She reprised the role in an anime series from 2004 to 2011.
Mizutani was cast from 1995 to 1997 as Galaxy Police detective Mihoshi Kuramitsu in Tenchi Muyo!.
Personal life
In November 1994, she married Mizuho Nishikubo.
Death
On May 17, 2016, Mizutani died from breast cancer at the age of 51.
Filmography
Anime television
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985–1986) – Sarah Zabiarov and Cheimin Noa
Dirty Pair (1985) – Security Guard, Creamy Girl
Machine Robo: Revenge of Cronos (1986–1987) – Leina Stōl
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (1986–1987) – Milly Childer
Zillion (1987–1987) – Apple
City Hunter (1987–1988) – Yoshimi Iwai
Esper Mami (1987–1989) – Midori
Tenkū Senki Shurato (1989–1990) – Lakshu of Kisshō Ten, Hōraisan
Idol Densetsu Eriko (1989–1990) – Kaori Yamaguchi, Catherine, Reporter
Idol Angel Yokoso Yoko (1990) – Kyoko Hoshihana
Oishinbo (1990) – Kimiko Oide
Yawara! (1990–1992) – Anna Teleshikova
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (1990–1991) – Marie
Kyatto Ninden Teyandee (1990–1991) – Omitsu
Brave Exkaiser (1990) – Kumiko Morita
Momotaro Densetsu (1990–1991) – Princess Kaguya (Second)
Chibi Maruko-chan (1990–2016) – Sakiko Sakura, Keiko Uchida, Wakabayashi, Nagasawa's Mother, Yamane's Mother, Hiroshi Sakura (young)
Jankenman (1991) – Aikko
OVA
Bubblegum Crisis (1987–1991 OVA series) – Anri
Space Family Carlvinson (1988) – Beruka
Leina series (1988) – Leina Stōl
Aim for the Ace! (1988–1989 OVA series) – Hiromi Oka
Bio-Booster Armor Guyver (1989–1992 OVA series) – Mizuki Segawa
Angel Cop (1989–1994) – Freya
Blood Reign: Curse of the Yoma (1989) – Kotone
3×3 Eyes (1991) – Natsuko Asai
Eternal Filena (1992) – Lila
Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (1992) – Mihoshi Kuramitsu
Black Jack (1993–2011) – Pinoko
KO Beast (1992) – V-Sion
Idol Defense Force Hummingbird (1993–1995) – Hitomi Nakajo
Magical Girl Pretty Sammy (1995) – Mihoshi Mizutani
Eternal Family (1997) – Akiko
Hyper Speed GranDoll (1997) – Miki Amagi
Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Animation (2005) – Excellen Browning
Eve no jikan (2008–2009 ONA) – Naoko
A Channel (2012) – Run's Mother
Ranma ½ OVA's – Kurumi
Video games
Flash Hiders (1993) – Harman Do Elan
Puyo Puyo CD (1994) – Draco Centauros, Sukiyapodes
Battle Tycoon: Flash Hiders SFX (1995) – Harman Do Elan
Dōkyūsei (1995) – Hiromi Tamachi
Puyo Puyo CD 2 (1996) – Draco Centauros
Langrisser III (1996) – Sophia
Kid Klown no Crazy Chase 2: Love Love Honey Soudatsusen (1996) – Princess Honey
Silhouette Mirage (1997) – Sophial SP
Bulk Slash (1997) – Colon Steiner
Rockman X4 (1997) – Iris
YAKATA (1998) – Miruko Kawaguchi
Magical Drop F (1999) – Justice & High Priestess
Growlanser (1999) – Karene Langley
Puyo Puyo~n (1999) – Witch
Super Robot Wars Impact (2002) – Excellen Browning & Alfimi
Kingdom Hearts series (2002-2016) – Minnie Mouse
Growlanser II: The Sense of Justice (2004) – Karene Langley
Namco × Capcom (2005) – Toby Masuyo, Katana & 99
Super Robot Wars Original Generations (2007) – Excellen & Lemon Browning; and Alfimi
Films
My Neighbor Totoro (1988) – Ryoko-chan
Doraemon: The Record of Nobita's Parallel Visit to the West (1988) (Linlei)
Eiji (1990) – Marina Takasugi
Crayon Shin-chan: Unkokusai's Ambition (1995) – Yukino
Tenchi Muyo in Love! (1996) – Mihoshi Kuramitsu
Dead Leaves (2004) – Galactica
Doraemon: Nobita in the Wan-Nyan Spacetime Odyssey (2004) (Zubu)
Dōbutsu no Mori (2006) – Perimi/Phyllis
Detective Conan: Full Score of Fear (2008) – Rara Chigusa
Time of Eve: The Movie (2010) – Naoko Sakisaka
Dubbing
Sarah Michelle Gellar roles
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Buffy Summers
Possession – Jess
The Grudge – Karen Davis
The Grudge 2 – Karen Davis
Southland Tales – Krysta Now
Meg Ryan roles
Sleepless in Seattle – Annie Reed
You've Got Mail – Kathleen "Shopgirl" Kelly
8 Million Ways to Die – Sunny (Alexandra Paul)
Army of Darkness – Sheila (Embeth Davidtz)
Bad Santa – Sue (Lauren Graham)
Beverly Hills, 90210 – Andrea Zuckerman (Gabrielle Carteris)
Beyond the Poseidon Adventure – Theresa Mazzetti (Angela Cartwright)
Bound – Violet (Jennifer Tilly)
The Arrival – Char (Teri Polo)
Career Opportunities – Josie McClellan (Jennifer Connelly)
Casualties of War – Tran Thi Oanh (Thuy Thu Le)
Cliffhanger – Sarah (Michelle Joyner)
Color of Night – Sondra Dorio (Lesley Ann Warren)
The Distinguished Gentleman – Celia Kirby (Victoria Rowell)
Drama CDs
Analyst no Yuutsu series 1: Benchmark ni Koi wo Shite – Chizuru Mizusawa