Lisa Yamanaka
Canadian actress and voice actress
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lisa Jai Yamanaka is a Canadian actress. She is best known as the voice of Wanda Li in The Magic School Bus, and Sherry Birkin in the 1998 video game Resident Evil 2. Her other roles include Yoko in Timothy Goes to School, and Isabelle in the Babar series. She is also credited as Lisa Boynton and Lisa Jai.
Career
Yamanaka was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where she stayed until 2008 until she moved to Los Angeles, California before moving back to Toronto in 2011. She attended Central Commerce Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Ontario. Yamanaka was awarded the Unsung Hero Award by the City of Toronto 2012 for her advocacy work in diversity in the mainstream media. She debuted her first theatre production in the city of Watts, California as Isela Sanchez in Lynn Manning's 'The Unrequited: A tale between two Worlds' with Cornerstone Theater and Watts Village Theater. She has also become an advocate for disabled actors, having developed rheumatoid arthritis.[1] As of 2018, Yamanaka focuses her time on theatre, independent films, and advocacy. She is also a published poet and spoken-word artist, having performed at the inaugural event Poetic Fashion. She has also performed spoken word in Los Angeles, New York, and Swaziland.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Babar: The Movie | Isabelle (voice) | |
| 1992 | This Is My Life | Shawn | |
| 1994 | Mirabelle and Me | Gwendolyn (voice) | Television film; animated sequences only |
| 1995 | Nilus the Sandman: The First Day | Girl | Television film |
| 1996 | Balance of Power | Jasmine Matsumoto | |
| 2010 | Creed | Asia | |
| 2013 | Sisters | Crystal | Short film |
| 2014 | The Window | News Anchor | |
| 2014 | Lost Angels | Louise | |
| 2014 | Runaway Dream | Linn | Short film |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | My Secret Identity | Megan | Episode: "You've Got a Friend" |
| 1989–1991 | Babar | Flora (1989–1990), Isabelle (1991) (voice) | 65 episodes |
| 1989 | T. and T. | Kim | Episode: "Family Honour" |
| 1990 | Little Rosey | Nonny, Tater (voice) | |
| The Raccoons | Patty (voice) | Episode: "Endless Summer!" | |
| 1991 | Rupert | Additional Voices (voice) | 13 episodes |
| 1993 | Tales from the Cryptkeeper | Becky (voice) | Episode: "Nature" |
| 1994 | Monster Force | Additional Voices (voice) | 13 episodes |
| 1994–1997 | The Magic School Bus | Wanda Li (voice) | 52 episodes |
| 1995 | Squawk Box | Various | |
| 1995 | The Neverending Story | The Childlike Empress, Junior Rockbiter (voice) | 13 episodes[2] |
| 1995 | Mr. Dressup | Herself (guest) | 1 episode[3] |
| 1996–1998 | Stickin' Around | Ashley (voice) | |
| 1999–2002 | Tweenies | Fizz (voice) | US version |
| 2000 | Twice in a Lifetime | Georgia | Episode: "Pride and Prejudice" |
| 2000–2001 | Timothy Goes to School | Yoko (voice) | 26 episodes[2] |
| 2001–2002 | Medabots | Erika Amazake (voice) | |
| 2001–2003 | George Shrinks | Ellen / Ronnie Ribnod / Winifred | 5 episodes |
| 2010–2012 | Pillars of Freedom | Spirit (voice) | 26 episodes[2] |
| 2013 | Trail Mix | Holly | Episode: "The Trail Mix Crew" |
| 2013 | Apartment Manager | Lisa | Episode: "Unit 4" |
| 2017 | The Magic School Bus Rides Again | Mrs. Li, William Li, Caller (voice) | Episode: "The Magnetic Mambo" |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Resident Evil 2 | Sherry Birkin | |
| 2000 | Dino Crisis 2 | Paula Morton |
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