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Supanova in Melbourne is officially LESS THAN 24 HOURS AWAY, which means a whole booth’s worth of animation sensations are about to descend on the city! Ahead of their auspicious arrival, we spoke with a handful of the VA Supa-Stars to ask them some burning questions!
BRYCE PAPENBROOK
What was your first role and how did you get it?
I was born into a family of actors. I loved joining my dad in the studio to watch him do his work. One time I joined him when he was working on Power Rangers. He voiced Rito Revolto, the skeleton dude on the show. At the end of his session, the director needed a kid’s voice. My dad said “he’s a kid, throw him in the booth!” and I was thrown in to voice a kid in the background of the show. Right place, right time!
What’s your favourite ‘additional voices’ role and why?
In Demon Slayer, I get to voice a couple of the Muscle Mice! “Muscle, Muscle, Muscle!!!” They are buff and awesome.
What’s your favourite non-human role and why?
I voice Sultan, Princess Jasmine’s baby tiger, on the Disney Princess Palace Pets mobile game. In the game, you brush his hair and give him a bath. Sounds like he’s living his best life.
From Demon Slayer to Attack on Titan and Sword Art Online, you’ve starred in some of the biggest shounen anime of the past decade. What do you find most appealing about these roles?
The stories coming out of Japan are so compelling. They are unique, connect the viewers closely to the characters, and can really move an audience emotionally, They also allow the actors to a play broad range; from action, to romance, to comedy. I feel incredibly lucky to work on projects I’d be watching anyway!
If you could revisit one role, what would it be and why?
This is a really tough one. I feel I have too many roles I’d love to experience again from the start. I really feel like all of my characters are a part of me. Like my kids who live in my head. Problem is, a lot of those kids are crazy, and I don’t want them yelling in there. Maybe I’ll stay out of this argument.
SARAH NATOCHENNY
What was your first role and how did you get it?
My first voice-acting role was Ash Ketchum on Pokémon! I studied acting at Lee Strasberg for four years, did improv at UCB, pounded the pavement in NYC, got representation, acted in a few live action films and happened to get this audition through my manager when I was 18.
What’s your favourite ‘additional voices’ role and why?
The mini-pufts on Ghostbusters: Afterlife was technically an ADR/loop group job that would be considered “additional voices!” A small group of actors did the voices for these little guys. It was so fun and such a delight to be part of something I love so much, even in the tiniest way.
What’s your favourite non-human role and why?
I’ve voiced about 40 Pokémon over the years. My favorites are Buneary, Tinkatink, Wooper and Bramblin!
What’s it like playing such an iconic character like Ash, who now has generations of fans?
It’s hard to believe this is my life. I feel immensely lucky. I only really started going to conventions a few years ago, so meeting fans after 15 years of voicing Ash while isolated in a booth, has been a life-altering experience.
If you could revisit one role, what would it be and why?
Ash, of course. I have no idea what the future holds, but if he makes a comeback, I hope I’m there for it. No matter what, I’ll always have a huge place in my heart for Ash and Pokémon in general.
RYAN COLT LEVY
What was your first role and how did you get it?
Jazz in “Welcome To Demon School Iruma Kun” I had sent in an audition for a different project & they thought I’d be a good fit for the character/show.
What’s your favourite ‘additional voices’ role and why?
Final Fantasy 7 Remake. It was one of the first projects I had ever worked on and had been a big fan of the series for years!
What’s your favourite non-human role and why?
Samhain from Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed. It’s not every day you get to play a pumpkin-headed demon lord and I got to spend the session drooling and being extra gross.
Why do you think Chainsaw Man has connected
with fans the way that it has?
Fujimoto’s writing is incredibly deep and layered on the human experience while also balancing whiplash tone with grace & nuance. Between instantly relatable characters & the fact that it breaks so many tropes of modern genre storytelling it’s hard to deny its impact.
If you could revisit one role, what would it be and why?
Squalo from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. I was so nervous and new to the industry when I got the role and would be curious to see how I would perform the role now with more confidence and trust as an actor.
