Johnny Yong Bosch is best known as Adam Park, the second Black Ranger from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, to those who grew up in the 1990s. Bosch, on the other hand, has shifted his focus from wielding the Power Axe to working as a voice actor on anime such as Code Geass, Sailor Moon, and Bleach. But do you know how Johnny Yong Bosch became a voice actor?
Johnny Yong Bosch became a voice actor by chance. He had to re-record his lines for a film due to an audio production issue, and a producer complimented him on his “hero voice” and invited him to audition for an animation. A few weeks after that audition, he was cast as Vash in the anime Trigun.
Black Ranger Swagger Adam Park
Adam lacked a square jaw and rock-hard abs and was neither arrogant nor cocky. He was truthful, brave, and devoted. He had the patience of a monk and the courage of a warrior. He was also a community leader in Angel Grove, volunteering to mentor young children in several episodes. He was a relatable, socially responsible superhero.
He was also Asian. Johnny Yong Bosch was half-Korean, half-Irish/German. Still, he had distinct features that distinguished him as the Asian guy. He was also handsome, a quality not commonly associated with Asian men. The show’s producers recognized Bosch’s attractiveness by frequently having women fall for him. It quickly became a running gag.
Previous portrayals of Asian men had been embarrassing for Asian viewers and, hopefully, the actors who played them. Mickey Rooney’s racist performance in Breakfast at Tiffany’s was astounding, and Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles is a farce. But then Adam appeared. He was Asian, just like me, but he was a badass! He also got the girl!
Even though the concept of getting the girl was problematic, it made Asian boys like myself feel capable and desirable. Adam defied stereotypes while also owning them. Yes, he knew martial arts, but thanks to Bosch’s legitimate credentials as a true expert, Adam made that awesome. While the rest of the Rangers, except for Rocky, Jason, and Tommy, knew karate to the letter, Adam practiced wushu, jeet Kune do, and Shaolin-style kung-fu. Adam not only demonstrated that Asian men could be unique, but he also made us proud to be ourselves. (Source: Power Rangers Fandom)
Johnny Yong Bosch’s Career
Bosch was born in Kansas City, Missouri, to a South Korean father and an American mother. Bosch was fascinated with martial arts and imitated several famous martial artists, including Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. Bosch admitted he was a bully but changed his ways after learning kung fu. Bosch was studying Shaolin Kung Fu under Master James Clark in Texas at the time of his Power Rangers audition, and Clark showed him the audition ad and encouraged him to audition just for fun.
Since the end of his time on Power Rangers, Bosch has gone on to great success as a voice actor, with roles in anime and video games, including Ichigo Kurosaki in Bleach, Lelouch vi Britannia in Code Geass, Yu Narukami from Persona 4, Nero from the Devil May Cry-series, Jonathan Joestar in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Hajime Hinata in Danganronpa, and Giyu Tomiok. (Source: Power Rangers Fandom)
Image from Flickr