We lost a man who could make a pervy old man lovable. That’s a skill that doesn’t come around often. We lost a guy who could turn a simple line like “You fool!” into a memorable catchphrase. And we lost a director who knew how to pull a tear-jerker performance out of a voice actor on a Tuesday afternoon.
His passing leaves a hole in the Funimation family (now Crunchyroll) and in the hearts of fans everywhere. The outpouring of tributes from co-stars like Sean Schemmel and Christopher Sabat has been awful to read, because you can feel the real friendship in every word.
But here’s the good news: We keep the laughter. We keep the memories. Every time you watch Dragon Ball Z and hear Roshi yell about a magazine, that’s Mike. Every time you watch Fullmetal Alchemist and hear Havoc complain about his love life, that’s Mike. He’s immortalized in memes and marathon sessions.
Mike Mcfarland Voices
He’s also immortalized in the fact that he helped shape your childhood. For millions of us, his voice was the soundtrack to Saturday mornings, late-night study sessions, and awkward first dates where you tried to talk about anime. He was a part of the furniture in your emotional house.
So, How Do We Say Goodbye?
We don’t. Not really. Instead, we do what every anime character would do: We power up. We gather the dragon balls (metaphorically) and wish for one more episode. But since that’s not possible, we just hit replay.
Go watch an episode of Dragon Ball Super. Play a game of Smash Bros. where you main a character he voiced. Or, better yet, just laugh at a clip of him yelling “KAIO-KEN! TIMES TEN!” It won’t bring him back, but it’ll make you smile.
Classes Archive | Blumvox Studios | Art of Voiceover
And that smile? That’s the real legacy. That’s the punchline to the cosmic joke. Mike McFarland didn’t just leave behind a resume; he left behind a feeling. A feeling that even in the darkest moments, you can find a voice that makes you chuckle.
So, here’s to you, Mike. You’re probably up there now, voicing a cloud or directing a celestial soundstage. You’re making heaven a little more dramatic and a lot more funny. And you’re only 56 in Earth years, but in voice-acting years, you’re eternal. Rest easy, you absolute legend. Your Kamehameha is now a permanent part of the universe.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a sudden urge to rewatch the "Fusion Reborn" movie. For research purposes, of course. For Mike.
