Gloria Rocha, Dragon Ball Z Dubbing Director, Dies at 94

Mexican voice actress and director Gloria Rocha, a pioneering and legendary figure in the industry, passed away this Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the age of 94. Affectionately known as “La Madrina” (The Godmother), she died on the same day she would have celebrated her birthday, as confirmed by fellow professionals. Her death is an immense loss for the world of dubbed entertainment, especially for the Brazilian audience that grew up watching the series she helped adapt. Over decades, Rocha shaped the childhood and teenage years of millions of fans across Latin America, thanks to her essential work on iconic franchises.

As the original dubbing director, she was the mind behind the Spanish versions of absolute hits such as “Dragon Ball Z”, “Sailor Moon” and “Slam Dunk”. However, her legacy goes far beyond directing. As a voice actress, she brought to life unforgettable characters for Latin audiences, including detective Velma Dinkley from “Scooby-Doo”, Miss Piggy from “The Muppet Show” and Aunt May from “Spider-Man”. In this way, her voice and artistic direction became an integral part of the pop culture of generations, deeply connecting with Brazilian fans who consumed this content.

Tributes and legacy of a pioneer

News of her passing was met with deep sadness and gratitude from the dubbing community. René García, the Mexican voice of Vegeta in “Dragon Ball Z”, expressed his grief on social media. “With very mixed emotions today. Thank you, godmother, for the enormous affection you always gave me,” he wrote. Likewise, Eduardo Garza, the voice actor for Krillin in the same franchise, paid his tribute. “Today we lost a great woman. Someone who changed the lives of millions around the world,” Garza stated, highlighting the global impact of her work.

Gloria Rocha goes down in history not only as a talented professional, but as a true mentor and mother figure to countless voice actors who passed through her studios. Her nickname, “La Madrina”, precisely reflected this role as guide and support within the industry. Her legacy is therefore lasting: it lives on in the voices she directed, the characters she played and the stories she helped tell for Hispanic audiences and, by extension, for all anime and cartoon fans in Brazil. Geek culture and the dubbing world lose one of their most important and respected voices.