All tagged interview
Justin Briner is a relatively new face in the anime voice acting world, but he has recently skyrocketed in popularity thanks to his breakout role as Izuku “Deku” Midoriya in the hit series My Hero Academia. We sat down with him at Matsuricon 2019 in Columbus, Ohio to chat about his most iconic roles, the uniquely bizarre world of Sarazanmai, his take on whether or not Mikaela from Seraph of the End was actually in love with Yuuichirou, and plenty of other topics. Let’s hear what he has to say!
If you ever want to add a little bit of spice and risqué humor to your anime convention experience, the Midwest-based burlesque troupe Bubble Pop Burlesque has just the show for you. They specialize in cosplay-themed performances that include everything from stripteases to pole dancing to wacky skits and much more—although when we saw their Saturday show at Colossalcon this year, they tested out a new format based on the Western zodiac signs. It was equal parts fascinating and uproariously funny, and their unique “consent indicators” (glow sticks that could be purchased for $1 before the show started) ensured that nobody was touched who didn’t want to be touched.
Tia Ballard has been in the voice acting business since 2010 and has voiced some of your favorite heroes in anime. She’s best known for bubbly and cute characters like Happy from Fairy Tail and Shao Mei from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, but she has recently branched out with roles like the mature Zero Two from Darling in the Franxx. We sat down for a chat with her at Colossalcon in Sandusky, Ohio, and she opened up about all kinds of things: her motherly instinct towards the characters she plays, the unusual route she took to become a voice actor, and even her love of gardening. Let’s hear what she has to say!
This past weekend at Anime Boston 2019, we had the opportunity to speak with Richard Epcar, veteran voice actor of over 600 characters from anime and video games. Some of his best-known roles include Batou from Ghost in the Shell, Jigen from Lupin the Third, Ansem and Terra-Xehanort from Kingdom Hearts, the Joker from several Batman games, and old Joseph Joestar from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. He has also served as a director and writer on many anime projects with his wife, fellow voice actor Ellyn Stern.
Richard Epcar shared his thoughts on connecting with his characters, his dream roles, and much more. He also offered exclusive insider info on the voice acting business. Let’s get started!
Steve Conte has had quite the career. He’s a New York City-based singer and guitarist whose resume includes playing with the New York Dolls, The Michael Monroe Band, his own band, and too many other acts to name. He also writes and produces his own songs, and even after over 30 years of rocking, he still makes his punk haircut look good.
Even if you aren’t into rock music, you’ll likely recognize his voice from songs like “Call Me, Call Me” and “Rain” from Cowboy Bebop, “Living Inside the Shell” from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, or the opening “Stray” from Wolf’s Rain. He’s worked with Japanese composer Yoko Kanno since the ‘90s and has helped create some of the most iconic music in anime history. We interviewed him over the phone after his summer European tour and his appearance at J1-Con in Atlantic City, NJ. Here’s what we found out!
If you’ve ever been to the dealer’s room at an American anime convention, you’ve likely perused the pretty pastel products of Tasty Peach Studios. Their boutique-style booth sells unbearably cute plushies, wigs, enamel pins, and other merchandise based on designs by artist and company founder Ryan Zanfei. Her creations often take the form of adorable animals with food motifs, such as mochi kittens called Meowchi, narwhals topped with ice cream called Nomwhals, and a trio of cake-themed foxes. She’s also well-known for utilizing modern crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Patreon to fund some of her projects.
![[Honey’s Anime Interview] Justin Briner – Voice of Izuku Midoriya, Mikaela Hyakuya, Enta Jinai, and More!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594f053cbf629a4fd216a1b2/1567808125725-EM7HL58UGLOKJDE0ZLRB/12821582_10206355159017678_9080872785588563185_n.jpg)
![[Honey’s Anime Interview] Tia Ballard – Voice of Happy, Zero Two, Kagura Sohma, and More!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594f053cbf629a4fd216a1b2/1560003593396-94I48H9R62A189C115RW/CSlz1zjUYAALphZ.jpg)
![[Honey's Anime Interview] Steve Conte: Composer and Vocalist (Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell, Wolf's Rain)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/594f053cbf629a4fd216a1b2/1537999555206-Q1A20080Y6YXDBJ6FGKQ/Picture17.jpg)
