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Recently our own Nathan Thorell had the opportunity to interview a box of Fig Newtons at March's Anime Detour convention. We've secretly switched his box of Fig Newtons with Carrie Savage, the voice of Rakka from Haibane Renmei, who has also appeared in other series such as I My Me Strawberry Eggs and Marmalade Boy. Let's see if he notices...

Neither the First, Nor the Last

Nathan Thorell: Is this your first total convention experience other than Anime Expo?

Carrie Savage: Other than Anime Expo? Yes.

NT: Like where you get to go around and just hang out with everybody?

CS: Yep.

NT: And are you enjoying yourself so far?

CS: I am having a blast! I am having so much fun. I love talking to people and I love the people here and the panels. I like stepping into some of the panels where things are going on that I've never seen and watching them. And I love how much fun everybody has here.

NT: So you’re learning a whole bunch about the genre.

CS: Yeah.

NT: Would you love to be invited to more (conventions)?

CS: Yeah!

We Like What We're Hearing

NT: Are there any performances you’ve heard in other shows you’ve worked on that have really impressed you?

CS: I really was impressed by Crispin Freeman in I My Me! Strawberry Eggs as male Hibiki and also female Hibiki (Sally Dana); I thought she was just so dead-on and awesome. And the vice principal (Erika Schaffer), she’s the only other voice actor I’ve probably seen in person before... no, there’s maybe two that I’ve seen, besides Crispin. I thought she was so good and dead-on. And I also loved Fujio (Jennifer Sekiguchi). When I first listened to it, I was like, "Hey! She nailed that". She was the perfect Fujio. I also think that everybody in Haibane Renmei was really good too.

How Do You Pronounce It Again...?

NT: What do you think of the show Texhnolyze?

CS: I think it’s definitely a different show than any of the ones I’ve done so far, being very dark and very violent, but I think it fits. Obviously the show is about a kind of revolution or very unsettled period where people are trying to fight and overturn a type of governmental system. So, the violence fits what the show is about. And, I love the character, Ran. I love the chance to play a darker character like that. Most of my characters so far have had a lot of cheerfulness in their voices (except Rakka, but she was still hopeful) and Ran doesn't have any. She’s seen so much darkness and so much death that her character is extremely low-key, cautious and depressed. Although I know she has hope and visions of someone kind of saving the city... hopes that someone will come along and be able to make things right. She sees all possible futures, all the alternatives; I love playing a character like that. And her voice, how do I put it, its soft, but very dark. I love the challenge in that.

NT: Would you say it’s one of the most challenging performances you’ve done as an actress?

CS: I don’t think so. It might be if it wasn’t for the fact that she doesn’t speak very often. I’m finding Hakufu (Ikki Tosen) a little bit challenging for me and I think it’s because she’s so up and so energetic all the time. When I’m having a hard time doing a specific line, my own energy tends to go down because I get frustrated with myself. And there’s a lot of fighting, which there was in Dangaizer too, but I want to make sure I do it right, and get the character perfect, so that’s a little bit challenging. Rakka was challenging in the best way. I might be able to say that was the most challenging; well, she’s the most challenging in the best way that I as an actor dream of, you could say that. But Hakufu is challenging in different ways. It’s just the high energy level and certain tones in my voice that I would like to stay away from that seem to come naturally with that character that I don’t like as much. (Laughs) And it’s so much my real voice, Hakufu, and sometimes I don’t like the way I sound.

Jonathan Klein is One Bad MuthaSHUT YOUR MOUTH

NT: Many of us at Dub Review are fans of Jonathan Klein, and we wanted to know from one of the people that have worked with him, what it’s like working with him.

CS: I love working with him.

NT: How so?

CS: There are so many things I love about Jonathan. First of all, he’s very honest, down to earth, and totally helpful about everything involving anime. I can ask him any question I have about anything and he will do his best to give me a good answer or advice that will be helpful to me as a voice actor. As far as working on the shows, I love the fact that he’s never pigeon-holed me in any certain type of part or voice. He seems to know what I am capable of and cast me accordingly or have an idea and he’ll let me try. When we are working on something, he knows when I’ve done -- say a certain line or an emotional part from Rakka or Ran for example -- he knows when I‘ve done a good enough job, but he also knows when I’m able to (perform better). He knows when I’ve got more to give and he’ll ask for it and I always know too. I’m like, "That was OK, but I know in my heart that wasn’t exactly perfect". And he knows when I’m capable of more; he’ll say, "That was good. I think I could use that, but I think you can do more". I love the opportunity to get it right dead-on and to really give it my best instead of just going with it. I just love that he has a sense of what I am able to do and asks for it. He lets me give my all.

...But What I Really Want To Do Is Act

NT: Speaking of directing, have you ever considered doing it yourself?

CS: I think maybe, after five additional years of doing anime, I could maybe, possibly... be ready to direct something. I would feel very (reluctant) to do it now, because I’m just too afraid. I would want to do such an awesome job and I think that being a director involves a lot of pressure. I think I could direct an anime better than say, a theater show, because I could concentrate on directing the acting and wouldn't have to worry about blocking, sets, lights and all of that. But I would be worried about my ability to stay very true to the author’s intent, since I don't speak Japanese. Because I would be relying on the translation, I would never hear the original Japanese or know the meaning of it. I'd feel better if I knew enough to be able to stay true to the author’s intent. I think that more experience voice acting, prior to directing, is important for many reasons. Right now directing is not a huge goal in my life, but I think someday it could be. If I did direct something, I would want it to be something very heartfelt; like a love story or very emotional piece. Something like I, My, Me! Strawberry Eggs or Haibane Renmei.

Spreading the Marmalade

NT: If you really were Arimi in Marmalade Boy, which of the main boys do you think you’d go after?

CS: I’d have to say Ginta, because I think Arimi would make a very good couple with him. I haven’t seen the whole show yet, so I don’t know if she winds up with him; however, I think that those two should be together. It seems like Ginta might every once in a while think that Arimi is kind of cool, and I think if Arimi gives herself the chance, she would find Ginta very cool. I think that he would even out some of her personality traits, and she his.

Wrapping Things Up...

NT: Any last words for your fans?

CS: You guys are amazing. I am, so... sometimes, when I read the stuff that you say, it’s like a dream come true to me. It makes me feel that I’ve gotten across the performance that I was aiming for and have had the effect that I wanted to have. I’m blown away by the things that you say; it’s amazing. I would like to get to know some of you better, and maybe talk with you more on the Internet. I am not online very often, so that’s the only hard thing. I don’t want anyone to think I'm not going to respond to them, I'm just not on there very often. And I really enjoy meeting you guys and getting to know you. Thank you!