|
Let's Talk About You
|
| Dub Review: Tell us about Kei Kurono.
|
| Chris Ayres: Wow, where to start. I love the guy, but then I try to find something to like about all of the characters I voice. But this guy is very close to my heart. He's a 10th grader, so you've got all of the angst, anger and hormones that come with that. I like the fact that he's very much an anti-hero and is full of flaws, as are all humans. A lot of people have said "Are you sick of him yet?" and I have to answer, "No, I love doing the role." I think what they're referring to is that he's such a jerk and he whines a lot, but I think all of us have those qualities in us. I've heard some people have a problem with that and his colorful language, I don't. I've worked as a guest artist with local schools for over 12 years now, and when someone says, "Oh, young people don't talk like that," I just have to laugh, because they do... in fact more of them than you would think do. Getting back to the point, the thing that I really like about him is that he's incredibly human. And I find he and I share a lot of the same qualities, possibly more than I'd like to admit. Ha ha ha.
|
| |
|
These Aren't the Jerks You're Looking For
|
| DR: What did you think when you went in for the audition?
|
| CA: I didn't know what to think. I was just thrilled to have an audition with Matt Greenfield. I had done Megazone 23 for him, and he had never asked me back to record. The actor in me was thinking, "Wow. I must have really sucked." So, I was beside myself to get the opportunity to audition for him. He told me a little about the show, about how violent it was and all of that was cool with me. The scene we read was from episode three, where Kato is facing off with the Big Green Onion Alien, and crying and Kei is yelling for him to run. I remember getting very mixed up the first time I was reading. After all, there's dialogue for Kei, Kato and Kishimoto, and that's a lot of "K's" running across the page. I read for Kato first, and then for Kei. I normally don't like my auditions (what actor does) but Matt told me that he really liked both reads, and that I was a strong contender for one of the two roles. Matt told me recently that he actually brought me in because he was considering me for Kato, and that he read me for Kei since I was already there, and after I read for Kei he said, "Yep, that's the jerk I'm looking for" (talking about the character, not me... well, at least I think that's what he meant.)
|
| |
|
Man, That's Harsh
|
| DR: Do you still find yourself shocked by what's happening on screen?
|
| CA: Not really shocked. You have to remember I'm an long time horror movie fan. The gorier and more graphic, the better. So, while I see something and it may startle me because I'm not expecting it, I'm usually hooting and yelling very excitedly in the booth when something over the top happens. And I'm not just talking the violence, because Gantz is a pretty over the top show on a lot of levels. The first few sessions I was more than a little stunned, but now I'm anxious to get back in the booth to see what happens next.
|
| |
|
More Than Just An Ass
|
| DR: Are there any preconceived notions you developed between audition and recording that you don't want viewers to have?
|
CA: Yeah, actually there are a few. After getting the role I went online to see what I could find out about the show. I was able to talk to a few people who are fans of the show and all I kept hearing about was the fact that the show is incredibly violent and what an ass Kei was. I think I've already hit on the subject that Kei is not just an ass but he's very human. It's very easy to dismiss him as a jerk or an ass but if you look closely at him there are a lot more levels than that. I think he's written very true to his age, which makes it a lot of fun. The other thing is that the show is easily dismissed because of the violence, but the show is so much more than that. I think on some levels the show kind of points a finger at society; and by saying that, I'm not just talking about America. Nishi has a monologue in episode three about people's fascination with death and dying, and the show, especially episode one, really points the finger at that.
One thing that has disappointed me was hearing a lot of fan complaints about the show's release schedule, and some have talked about not seeing the series because of it. That bothered me because it's such an amazing show, the performances are incredible, and with each new cast member they add, it just keeps getting more and more amazing. The thing I like about the release schedule and it's super low price is that it makes the show a little more affordable for people and will hopefully open up a whole new audience, not just for the show, but for anime in general, and I think that was kind of the point. I know some people are upset about the shelf space issue, but as someone whose DVD collection is well up over 600, and who's just recently had to build yet another shelf to hold more, I don't have a problem with shelf space.
|
| |
|
Wanta Fanta Don't You Wanna
|
| DR: Have you been able to get the opening song ("Super Shooter" by Rip Slyme) out of your head since you first heard it?
|
| CA: No, I can't. It's a great theme and as you've implied, very addictive.
|
| |
|
Was Harry Knowles There?
|
| DR: Gantz debuted at the Alamo Drafthouse. What was it like to get to see it in front of a crowd who also watched it for the first time?
|
| CA: That was wild. My family was there, as were some friends and just to see the show on a huge screen was AMAZING. I had forewarned my parents about the violence and the language, so that wasn't a big deal, but they were floored by the show. The thing that surprised me was the humor in the show. When you're recording, you're working on making the moments as honest as you can, so you sometimes lose perspective on the fact that something you're doing is really funny (especially in a show like Gantz where the humor is character driven). So, when I started whining, again, and the audience started laughing, it was a pretty big surprise to me, but a surprise in a good way.
|
| |
|
Uhhh... "Gantz"?
|
| DR: Describe the show in a word.
|
| CA: FUN!
|
| |
|
Time To Wrap It Up
|
| DR: Do you have any closing words for your fans?
|
| CA: Well, I don't know that I have any fans, but I'll try to come up with some closing words for the readers. I hope they'll all at least give Gantz a try, because it's such a great show. I'm just grateful to the people who not only support Gantz, but anime in general. And, while I know I'm preaching to the choir, there is so much out there, that no matter what you like in terms of style and genre there's an anime that will greatly appeal to you. I'm really anxious to get back to recording Gantz, because I was screaming to find out what happens next. Yes, I'm not only a voice actor for Gantz but a HUGE fan as well. Thanks everyone for taking the time to read. Love and Laughter Always.
|
| |
|
