NIKI YANG
SUPERVISING DIRECTOR ON SUMMER CAMP ISLAND
Her Start …
I was asked to audition for the voice of Lady Rainicorn on Adventure Time because I speak Korean.
Hearing Voices?
I think it comes naturally when you draw and write dialogue for characters. You hear the tone and nuance in your head. The next hurdle is you have to overcome the fear of the mic then you turn into a valuable resource!
On Pronouncing It Right …
I still have a hard time pronouncing some words—probably more than some. So people who know me write around those words, like ‘Won’t’ turns to ‘will not’.
Where Else You Might Hear Her?
We Bare Bears, Summer Camp Island and Fungies.
WALT DOHRN
DIRECTOR ON TROLLS WORLD TOUR
His Start …
In order to sell your idea, one must summon up as much courage and energy to “perform” the scene. As a result you end up “putting on a voice.” If you happen to show some enthusiasm in this area you will sometimes get recruited to record the scratch dialogue. If that works, well, then you might end up being cast in some smaller roles. This is what happened to me years ago when I was cast in some smaller roles in Shrek the Third.
On Being a Villain …
While working as head of story on Shrek Forever After, I had the pleasure of developing the character of the villain, Rumpelstiltskin, with director Mike Mitchell. I started doing the character’s scratch dialogue. After about a year of performing the character, much to my surprise, Jeffrey Katzenberg decided I would be the choice for the actual role in the finished film. I was honored to be cast.
When Eddie Tells You You’re Funny…
After years of working for and with Eddie Murphy (a childhood icon of mine) it was an honor when, after he saw the final film, he said I was the funniest thing in the movie.
MINTY LEWIS
DEVELOPING THE GREAT NORTH FOR FOX
On Her Lucky Break …
I was storyboarding and writing on Season 2 of Regular Show and J.G. Quintel liked how I voiced a new character named Eileen at a pitch. He asked me to do the voice for that episode and she ended up becoming a pretty significant character on the show.
For the Fun of It …
Going to auditions, overcoming rejection, all the things that career actors regularly have to deal with have never been part of the job for me. I just do voices when friends and colleagues ask me to, and it has never been anything but fun and rewarding. It’s also the only tangible thing about my animation career that my non-industry family can wrap their heads around.
Favorite Character?
Eileen was my bread and butter and will always be my cartoon sister, and getting to do a voice on Bob’s Burgers was a dream come true, but playing Jeannie in my friend Alex Cline’s self-produced Bill & Jeannie series has felt especially satisfying.
CARL FARUOLO
SUPERVISING PRODUCER ON ANIMANIACS
From Scratch to Screen …
I started doing voices on Kick Buttowski at Disney TVA. The executive producer wanted me to voice a character… [but] when he brought up his request he was told that Disney doesn’t allow artists to do voice work. So I was able to choose a comedian I liked to do the voice instead. Then a few months went by and another character was introduced. He wasn’t cast in time so I did some scratch. When the animatic was sent to the execs to get approved they liked the voice and asked me to do it. After that, Disney started calling me into auditions.
On Not Leaving His Day Job …
I don’t consider myself a voice actor. I really love doing it but I’m first and foremost a cartoonist. If it’s a right fit then it’s one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had. But it has to be the right fit.
Favorite Character He’s Voiced?
Grenda on Gravity Falls.
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