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Anime Expo - Monday - American Voice Actors
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American voice actors aren't as prominent at Anime
Expo as at other North American anime conventions, but there are still
a few on hand. The most prominent were the Fort Worth-based Dragon Ball
voice actors from Funimation in Texas. On the left is Chris Sabat, who
voices Piccolo and Vegeta, and Eric Johnson, the voice of Trunks. Fans
lined up in the exhibit hall to get their autographs, and Johnson was impressed.
"It's insane, it's unreal," Johnson said about the autograph line in the
crowded room. |
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There also was a panel featuring actors Jonathan
Osborne (left) and Brad DeMoss. Brad started by making anime music videos,
then met up with actor and director Talisen Jaffe, who got him started
in voice acting. Osborne's break in the business came from translator Neil
Nadelman, who pointed him in the right direction. |
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Judging from the number of people who packed a panel
room where fans dubbed lines of dialogue, there are plenty of anime viewers
who would love to become voice actors. DeMoss said there's a lot of competition
for a few jobs, especially in California. "Disney goes for celebrities,"
said DeMoss. If you're an A-list actor, the waiting list to get on a Disney
project is longer than the line to get on Wheel of Fortune." |
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How tough is it to get a voice acting job? Osborne
said there are 13 acting agencies in Southern California who do nothing
but represent voice actors. Despite that number, it's a small world. "If
you burn your bridges with one agency, you've burned your bridges with
them all," said Osborne. "It's a small circle and it's hard to get your
feet in the door." |
