Interview with Sparky Thornton
Sparky Thornton's main role for the dub of Rurouni Kenshin was as the voice of Hajime Saito-- the "Wolf of Mibu", a man who defies the simple labels of "friend" and "foe". Mr. Thornton's portrayal of Saito is considered by many to be one of the brightest points of this shining dub; we had the pleasure of conversing with Mr. Thornton about his approach to this series. Thanks to Mr. Thornton for his time and insight!
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Dub Review: Rurouni Kenshin is different in many ways from other shows you have done-- it's three seasons long, and contains many Japanese words and cultural references that were not translated (such as Kenshin's attacks). How did you feel about working on this show?
Sparky Thornton: I felt very privileged to work on Kenshin. It's beautifully animated and has a story-line containing many multi-level characters. I liked my character from the beginning, but he continued to grow and change as the series progressed, bringing new challenges for me with each new volume. Not being an expert on Japanese history, I still appreciated the classical feel of the project. I've always been a fan of classical theatre, so I guess I would compare Kenshin to one of Shakespeare's more active dramas like Richard III or Macbeth because of the noble battle between good and evil. All of the good characters have their share of faults making them human and the evil characters are not without their charm, giving them believability and a hook for the actor to grab onto (an actor has to like a character to really enjoy playing him). The correct pronunciation of Japanese words is always a challenge that I dread and look forward to at the same time. If dubbing was too easy it wouldn't be any fun.
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DR: Did you hear any of Sony's "Samurai X" dub of the TV series? If so, how did it affect your portrayal of your character?
Thornton: I did hear Sony's "Samurai X", but not enough of it to affect my performance in any way. It had a much different feel because it was adapted and directed much differently. I appreciated both versions, much as I would appreciate a good play produced by two different production companies. It's fascinating to see how the same material can be interpreted so differently when seen through different eyes.
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DR: What was your first impression of Saito? How did that impression change over time?
Thornton: My first impression of Saito was that of a rather one-dimensional character without much imagination or initiative. The more I worked on him, the more I discovered his subtle wit and a much stronger will than I had first given him credit for. He had a quiet strength which was wonderful because it gave him a huge range of emotions which brewed under the surface and only occasionally came out.
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DR: Hajime Saito is best described as an anti-hero: he's not exactly on good terms with the main character, but for the time being, they're on the same side. How did your approach to Saito differ from that to other characters you've played?
Thornton: I have to say that I approached Saito the same way I approach every character. I'm totally dependent on the director's knowledge of the show to give me as much information as possible. The more information I get, the more details I can add to my performance. I rely very heavily on the director for the first few episodes until I can get a feel for the character on my own. I also depend a lot on the animation. As I look at the character, I physically try to imitate his body, get a feeling for his rhythms, and let those factors lead me to the proper voice for the character. From then on, it's a joint effort between the director and I to see where the character goes.
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DR: Has the intensity of Saito inspired you in other roles you've played, and if so, which ones, and how?
Thornton: I always try to give 100% of my focus and energy to every performance, whether it's a two-line incidental character or a large role like Saito. It doesn't make any difference to me if the viewing audience knows the character has been voiced by me or not; I know. With every performance there are new discoveries as well as mistakes that I would fix if I had the opportunity to do it again. So with each new role I try to carry the good discoveries over and find places to use them while at the same time remembering the mistakes and trying to avoid them this time around. I sound like a politician, don't I? I haven't really answered your question directly. The answer is yes, hopefully I've carried the intensity of Saito into every role I've played since.
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DR: You've played a very wide range of characters, from more ominous ones like Saito to more comical characters such as Ken Sanada in Dual. Which kind of character is the most difficult? What character have you enjoyed playing the most?
Thornton: I've always been a big ham and am prone to overacting, so the broader the character, the easier it is for me. While doing theatre, I never had problems playing large outdoor venues and projecting my character to the back rows. A difficult character for me is one who must convey his feelings with subtlety and finesse. I think I'm the opposite of most actors who find it easiest to portray roles that are similar to themselves. It's difficult to say which character I enjoyed playing the most because I have so much fun every time I step into the studio. I enjoyed Black Jack because of his eccentricities and the challenge of the language, and Sanada because of his zaniness. But sometimes I have the most fun going in and doing a show where I just pick up a lot of small characters so that I get a chance to be a big bully, a little wimp, a monster, a guard, a doctor, etc... and see just how different I can be.
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DR: Now that it's over, how do you feel about working on Rurouni Kenshin?
Thornton: Grateful.
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DR: What is your favorite scene or memory from Rurouni Kenshin?
Thornton: I don't have a favorite scene, but my favorite memories are from working in the studio with the producer/directors (Eric Sherman and Kaeko Sakamoto, respectively), and the engineer, (Patrick Rodman), who worked every bit as hard as I did to make this performance work.