Before I answer, let me preface:
1. I am ONE actor, and a newbie at voiceover at that. If an actor with more experience in creating demos gives you contradicting advice, listen to them.
2. I am not a director, and have never had say in any casting decision ever, so if a director gives you advice that contradicts mine, listen to them.
3. I have the IQ of a bucket of apples. If my advice doesn't make sense don't get mad, chances are it's because I'm a moron.
So, the first thing I would say is stay away from doing lines directly from anime unless you're using it as an example of official work. At least, don't make it your only source of lines? Directors want actors, and if you show an interest solely in anime, it begs the question whether you want to act, or whether you just want to have a big deal made out of you at anime conventions. That in turn leads to a question of reliability, because if you only want to be a con guest, will you flake out on the second half of a show in a few years when you're frustrated because the invites aren't flooding in? Short bits of monologues may work, and if you go the original route, you can hire someone to write lines and put together a demo that will work with your strengths.
Length: A minute to a minute and a half. If you have a 5 minute demo chances are they'll look at the first minute of it or skip around. You deserve to have your demo heard in its entirety, so choose only your best minute.
Sound: A demo on a laptop mic sounds unprofessional. By renting a studio and paying for a professional demo, it shows that you are willing to make an investment in your art, which shows tenacity. It also shows that you appreciate how amazing and one-of-a-kind audio engineers are, because they are unicorns. If you think that fiddling with adobe audition for a few minutes makes you as capable as a good engineer, you are so dang wrong. And hey, the demo also sounds better that way.
Honestly, there are people who make a living creating anazing demo reels for actors. I 100% reccomend utilizing their expertise over doing one yourself, because you'll get a better product and it feels good to know that you're supporting another artistic audio industry.
View more