Anime-Zing Game Show

Where voice actors dub live

Anime-Zing! at Edinburgh Fringe Festival

You don’t need to know anime to love this joyful show!
— Laura

Ever wondered what voice actors actually do?

Anime-Zing! Game Show: where real voice artists go head-to-head in epic voice battles, challenges, and live dubbing of indie anime live onstage!

It’s a sneak peek into the studio —performed live, (un)scripted, and just a little, “OMG! I’m sinking in quicksand!”

Whether you’re an Otaku who’s translated the lyrics to DanDaDan or spent your childhood glued to Saturday Morning Cartoons–you’ll love this! 

What happens when anime voice actors dub live on stage?

✅ Family-friendly clean

✅ Bilingual fun (EN/JP)* (in Japan)

✅ New show each day!

The Games

Think you’ve seen voice acting? Think again.

Our cast challeneges through unrehearsed voiceover games, mystery scripts, and silly sound challenges—all live, all unpredictable.

Every show has a unique combo of cast, games, and indie anime.
Even we don’t know what’s coming next!

The best show of the Fringe — dubbing indie anime live was incredible!
— Matthew

Theme song sing-along Karaoke.
Lyrics by Soness & Yuji Kitano. Composition by Nubia.

Meet the Voices

Comedian and professional voice actor Soness Stevens, creator of Anime-Zing! Game Show.
  • Creator. Voice actor. Possibly an appliance.

    You’ve heard her somewhere...
    Soness is a Tokyo-based voice actor, comedian and creator of “Anime-Zing!” Game Show.

    🍎 Insists Hello Kitty is a little girl (English voice 1999–2024)
    ⚠️ That calm voice warning you not to lick industrial machinery
    🤖 Accidentally taught AI to do her job—but she still does it better
    🍙 Once ruptured her Achilles in a sumo match. Worth it.
    🎤 Screamed “Take this!” 237 times in a sound booth
    🚃 The voice of your train delay—and your nightmares

  • Creator. Voice actor. Possibly an appliance.

    You’ve heard her somewhere...
    Soness is a Tokyo-based voice actor, comedian and creator of “Anime-Zing!” Game Show.

    🍎 Insists Hello Kitty is a little girl (English voice 1999–2024)
    ⚠️ That calm voice warning you not to lick industrial machinery
    🤖 Accidentally taught AI to do her job—but she still does it better
    🍙 Once ruptured her Achilles in a sumo match. Worth it.
    🎤 Screamed “Take this!” 237 times in a sound booth
    🚃 The voice of your train delay—and your nightmares

Guest performer and voice actor appearing in Anime-Zing! Game Show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
  • Child star. Grown up. Can still do the voice.

    Jesse R. Tendler is a New York based actor, director, and voice artist. Known best for his roles on Law & Order, Are You Afraid of the Dark, and video games such as Grand Theft Auto and Bully (Canis Canem Edit).

An Anime-Zing! Game Show character for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival featuring anime-inspired characters and creative voice acting games for children.
  • Who will it be today?

    Every day brings a new surprise! From Tokyo's top voice talents to international comedy stars, our Player 3 is voiced by a rotating cast!

    Watch a new show daily! Unique combination of voices, games, and indie animations.

Feels like you’re playing party games with your friends — except your friends are incredibly talented voice actors!
— Jamie

Cast & Guest Stars

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Anime-Zing! Game Show is an interactive live comedy and voice acting show where professional voice actors, comedians, and audiences create anime-inspired scenes, sound effects, characters, and live dubbing together. Think “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” meets anime dubbing and game night. No anime knowledge required.

  • No! Anime-Zing! Game Show is designed for anime fans, casual viewers, gamers, comedy lovers, and anyone who enjoys interactive live entertainment.

  • Not at all. Participation is always optional. You can simply watch the show, shout ideas from your seat, volunteer on stage, or participate only when you feel comfortable.

  • Yes. Anime-Zing! regularly features professional voice actors, comedians, narrators, and performers from anime, games, TV, radio, commercials, and streaming productions.

  • Audience members and performers help create anime-style character voices, ridiculous battle attacks, dramatic reactions, live dubbed scenes, sound effects, and comedy games inspired by the world of voice acting. Every show is different.

  • Live dubbing is when voice actors perform character voices and dialogue in real time while animation, comics, or scenes appear on screen — similar to how anime and games are recorded in professional studios.

  • Yes. Anime-Zing! Game Show is designed as an all-ages interactive Edinburgh Fringe show suitable for teens, adults, anime fans, gamers, and families.

  • Yes. Anime-Zing! was created by neurodivergent performers and aims to be welcoming, flexible, and low-pressure. Audience members are welcome to stim, wear headphones, move around, leave and return, or participate at their own comfort level.

Show Schedule

Venue: Las Vegas Room at Laughing Horse @ City Cafe
19 Blair Street, Edinburgh EH1 1QR

Edinburgh Fringe 2025 Dates: Aug 6 – August 29 (not Aug. 19, 24)
Daily @ 3 PM

 
Enormous fun — a joyous celebration of voice acting and human creativity.
— Rowan

Indie Anime You Haven’t Seen Yet (But will!)

Supporters & Thank Yous

Special thanks to Cathy Garner and Jacqui Spencer for your support each year.

Thanks to Yuji Kitano of Yokohama Physio for his incredible physiotherapy, support and design. I wouldn’t be on this Sumo Injury Comeback Tour without Yuji.

Thanks to Takasago Beya Sumo Stable and Japan Shine Tours for helping me live my sumo dreams, and without whom I wouldn’t have a sumo injury to come back from.

Partners

  • Laughing Horse Free Fringe (Alex Petty, Edinburgh Fringe venue partner)

  • Our community of indie animators and comic creators featured throughout the show

Creative Team

  • Created and hosted by Soness Stevens

  • Co-host & Performer, Edinburgh Fringe 2026 Jesse R. Tendler

  • Original Anime-Zing! Game Show score by Nubia @nubia_cello recorded at Studio Goshu

  • Original Anime-Zing KIDS score by Akayo Higuchi of Yako’s Music recorded at 8083 Studios Tokyo @8083Studios

  • Character art by Komaki @jpkomaki

  • PA Intern Rikki

Official Edinburgh Fringe Free Festival branding for Anime-Zing! Game Show and Anime-Zing! Kids.
Good Heavens comedy venue branding associated with Anime-Zing! live voice acting and comedy performances in Tokyo.