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Interview With Vic Mignogna
- First of all, how does one become a voice actor in
the first place?
- Most
voice actors I know are just plain ACTORS. We all have an extensive
background in theater and stage work. That, coupled with the
opportunity to audition for an anime company is how most get started.
Location is also vital.
- How does voice acting differ from normal, physical
acting?
- Voice
acting is more difficult than stage acting in that you do not have all
the other tools available to you in communicating a character...
gestures, facial expressions, body language and movement.... you have
only your voice to express with. Not only that, but you must do so in a
strict confine of established mouth flaps. Those two things make it
harder than stage I believe.
- Which do you personally prefer more as a job, voice
acting or normal acting and why?
- I love both. I would never want to give one up for the other.
- How did you get involved with anime to begin with,
a surprising job offer you took, or a long term "dream"?
- To
be honest, it was quite by accident. I have a friend here in Houston
who suggested that I audition for a then tiny little company called ADV
Films. I did, got cast and just kept getting cast. It has been an
unexpected thrill and one I am very grateful to God for.
- You were a part of the immensely popular anime
series Fullmetal Alchemist. What was it like working as Edward in an anime of
this caliber?
- I
absolutely loved every minute of FMA. I couldn't be more pleased with
how the show turned out and count it a huge honor to have been part of
it. Ed is definitely one of my all time favorite roles.
- You also worked in a few Dragonball Z movies, as
Broly. Now Broly as a character is VERY different from e.g. Edward Elric. Was
it immensely different to work as Broly when comparing it to Edward?
- While
I was pleased to be part of the DBZ world, I must say that Broly was
the hardest role I have ever played for one reason....the yelling and
fighting. His voice was already low and angry. Add to that the power
ups and yells and I was trashed! And it just so happens as I type this
that I will be heading to Dallas tomorrow to record another DBZ Budokai
game. OUCH!
- Making voices for videogames in my mind wouldn't differ that much from making voices for
anime overall, but you tell me - Is there a difference in making a videogame when comparing it to making anime?
- Video games differ from anime series mostly in battle sounds. One has to do a lot of those for games...and they can be grueling!
- How do you prepare for a voice role in e.g. in an
anime?
- Well,
there is not too much one can do to prepare. I have never watched the
subtitled Japanese versions of shows I have done with one exception -
FMA. For the most part I rely on the director's vision for the show and
characters and let it unfold before me naturally, as it would for the
character.
- You've done all sorts of different anime roles so
far – is there any specific character you liked the most and why?
- Everytime
I am asked this I have to answer the same. I could NEVER pick one
character above the others. An actor puts part of himself into every
role he plays. So picking one would feel like betrayal to the others!
Ed, Dark, Gawl, Hiroki, Kurz are among a list of favorites.
- Is there a character that you would've wanted to do, but never got the chance?
- I wanted very much to get into Naruto and almost did. Came very close. But I am very grateful for the roles I HAVE gotten.
- Any projects going on so far, anime wise?
- I
am currently playing Hikaru in Macross. It a great old school anime
that most people remember as the first third of Robotech. I'm having
tons of fun on that. And I'm doing several other small roles in other
shows.
- You're a multi-talented guy; you do things from producing music to
making logos and banners for internet sites. Is there anything you
haven't done yet, but would want to do?
- I want very much to score music for a motion picture. THAT is a goal of mine.
- Do you enjoy anime during your free time? Or would that feel like you're bringing work home?
- I don't even get a chance to watch the shows I've been in. So I don't watch in my spare time, which is extremely limited.
- Have you ever watched one of your own work, and what were your thoughts after you saw it?
I
can count on one hand the number of shows I have seen in their entirety
that I have been in. Sometimes I like what I hear...other times not so
much! I am very critical of my own work.
- What about the future – what does the future hold
for Vic Mignogna?
- I
am just so grateful to have gotten the opportunities I have thus far. I
never expected this neat thing to happen to me, but I hope it lasts for
a long time. And I would love to get the chance to work in some new
markets too. We'll just have to see!
We thank you very much for your time, we appreciate it a lot! We here at Anime Reviews wish you the best of luck for the future! |
