Rest in peace to the voice behind Uncle Iroh, Aku and Master Splinter 🕊️
Remembering Mako, born Makoto Iwamatsu, who passed away 20 years ago this July at the age of 72. A trailblazing Japanese-American actor, voice artist, and theater pioneer, he helped break barriers for Asian performers while creating some of animation’s most unforgettable characters.
His iconic roles and contributions included:
• Uncle Iroh — Avatar: The Last Airbender
• Aku — Samurai Jack
• Master Splinter — TMNT
• Po-Han — The Sand Pebbles
• Akiro — Conan the Barbarian
• The Reciter — Pacific Overtures
• Co-founder of East West Players
Mako brought warmth and wisdom to Uncle Iroh, while his booming, theatrical performance made Aku one of animation’s greatest villains. His emotional rendition of “Leaves from the Vine” remains one of Avatar’s most heartbreaking moments.
Rest in peace, Mako. Your unforgettable voice will live on forever ❤️
I said this about AI well over a year ago. Using it to diagnose and fire people with medical conditions so they lose their insurance AND their income is somehow even more heartless and evil than I’d predicted.
the fact the US used the full force of the federal government to eliminate the Black Panthers while the KKK is still running around tells you a lot about this country
I lost it when the grandma from Encanto was forgiven like nothing happened after having created generational trauma for every single one of his children and grandchildren and DISOWNING HER SON for being different just to then hug him like he hadn't been living ISOLATED AND LIKE A RAT HIS WHOLE LIFE because of her.
No, everything is not magically okay with a hug. BAD thing to teach kids.