If you work in the anime business long enough, you can rack up a good set of credits to be sure. Sometimes it can get pretty surprising depending on how deeply you follow voice actors and ADR directors with just how many shows they have a hand in. Jamie Marchi has been involved in acting since 2000 and has worked with FUNimation for quite a few years now as an actress, script writer and ADR director. She’s also a heck of a lot of fun on Twitter while also amassing a fanbase over on Facebook . With Jamie having some big titles under her belt recently and gearing up for the release of Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt, we decided it was time to find out what’s going on with her. Having worn three hats so far while being involved in voice acting, doing ADR directing, script writing and acting, is there one that you prefer over the other? And how does delving into all three facets here impact what you do? Does working on script writing and the directing side help to bring new ideas perceptions to the acting and vice versa?
I honestly can’t say I prefer one medium over the other on a regular basis. I love them all so much for very different reasons, and they’re all such creative aspects to my work. Whatever I happen to be doing at the time is usually my favorite, though. What can I say? I live in the moment.
I would definitely say working in each area does impact the others to a great degree. I’m a better voice actor because I’ve directed and written. I’m a better writer because I’ve acted and directed. And, I’m a better director because I’ve acted and written. I believe any time you can thoroughly immerse yourself into any thing, you will have a greater understanding of the product as well as a greater confidence supported by that knowledge. I count myself lucky that I’ve had the opportunities I’ve had in this industry.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msWbNfEOFlk?rel=0]On the directing side, you’ve got an interesting array of credits so far, though they tend to lean a bit more towards the comedy side. Is there a particular genre of show that you prefer to work on or do all of them hold an appeal?
For me, good characters hold appeal. Whether they are in dramas, comedies, or space jams, I really like to get involved with good, interesting characters. I’m usually drawn to people who make me laugh in real life, so I suppose it’s only natural I would be attracted to characters who make me laugh as well. But, either way, give me a great story with some great characters, and I’m a happy girl.
My answer for both would be a long running series. I think I would enjoy the challenges a long running serious would provide. Also, job security is awesome.
With the work put into Sgt. Frog, doing both directing and script writing, what sorts of issues did you run into or talk about with the team when coming up with the localized jokes and gags and if there were concerns about those pieces dating the production too much.
We tried to use a lot of not necessarily current references (jokes, gags) for a variety of reasons. 1) We didn’t want to date it by using terms that were too modern. We’d throw a couple in here and there, but the majority of the references were not current. 2) Older references are awesome in terms of quotable and memorable films/movies, and most of us recognize and appreciate them for various nostalgic reasons. I mean, think about the 80’s. Who doesn’t love Goonies? The Princess Bride is my favorite movie of all time! I wrote several Heathers quotes into one episode simply because I wanted my character (Aki Hinata) to be able to say, “What’s your damage?” 3) The references we used are hilarious. No one will ever convince me otherwise.
Our main concern was simply writing a funny show that could be enjoyed by kids of all ages. Some call it the Shrek treatment; I call it common sense. Funny is funny. I think the biggest issue I had was writing a great line about a scarecrow looking like Michael Jackson. I wrote the line before his death, but after his passing, we had to cut the line. I was devastated because it was a really funny line, and, though dark, it was still pretty funny after the fact. Alas.. We can’t always get what we want. Lesson learned, Mick Jagger. Lesson learned.
One of the works you were in recently that saw release was the Legend of Legendary Heroes. That series features a pretty wide voice cast overall and some diversity to it. What went into your approach when playing Milk Callaud? Was she a character you could identify with?
Other than the obvious pun as Milk being Legen.. wait for it.. dary… (If I had a dollar for everyone who’s said that to me, I’d have at least three whole dollars.) Milk is by far the scrappiest character I’ve ever had, which made her a ton of fun. Scrappy and Awkward are her two equally important middle names. Whenever I was called in to voice her, I always said, “I’m scrappy!” to get into her voice and energy. I certainly recognize myself in parts of her, but I’m not the kind of girl who chases guys around who clearly aren’t feelin’ me. Ryner should be chasing her, amIright?
You’ve had some good lead roles over the years with your voice work, particularly with Masane Amaha in Witchblade. This year will see you taking on a very, very high profile work with Panty & Stocking and Garterbelt. And not just any role but that of Panty herself. With the attention the series got during its original airing, the mild controversies and the like, what has the reaction been like so far to the snippets of the show that has made it out and what do you feel you’ll be bringing to the character in this adaptation?
Overall, from what I’ve heard, people are either really excited or really offended.. which is, in my opinion, completely bleeping awesome. I just censored myself there. The show, however, will NOT be censored on DVD. Trust me. Earmuffs will have to be in full effect with this baby.
As the lead writer on Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt, I think I bring a unique brand of offensive yet disturbingly charming comedy to the show overall. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t write Panty for myself, but that was all hopeful writing. I still had to be cast. Did it give me a leg up? Probably, but so did my ability to sell the hell out of big-girl-panty cursing (no pun intended). Like Liam Neeson, I have a very particular set of skills. Instead of hunting people down and killing them, I swear at their faces like a boss.
As far as my performance is concerned, I feel I brought her to life efficiently, offensively, and hilariously. I can’t even put into words how much fun this show was for all of us. You can absolutely tell that in all our performances. Check it out and see for yourself!!
Any favorite bits from the series that stand out for you?
My favorite episode is the Transformers one… It cracks me up to no end.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB9vwyoaA3o?rel=0]You had the role of the narrator for Hetalia Axis Powers. If you could be any country character, which one would it be? And would you treat Italy any differently than that country already does?
To be honest, the Narrator is my favorite character in Hetalia. I might have written her that way (with Chuck Huber, of course) on purpose. Sometimes, characters speak to me. She spoke, and I loved her for it. Choosing someone else is almost impossible. Prussia and France do make me laugh, though. And we’ve already discussed my attraction to people who make me laugh. The inappropriate article usage from Russia does bring me much of the joy times, though. Basically, I have no idea. One thing I do know for sure is I will never treat Todd Haberkorn differently than I do now. With complete and utter loveable scorn.
You’ve been hitting the convention seen as a guest since 2008, way back with Anime Detour 2008. And every year it looks like you add more conventions and more varied locations for them. What’s it been like to get out there as a voice actress and interact with the fans? Memorable stories or encounters? And where haven’t you been yet that you want to go to?
Actually, my very first convention was Otakon in 2007 followed the next week with Comicon in San Diego. To answer your next two questions: yes, they were awesome, and yes, I was wickedly overwhelmed. I love to be able to interact with the fans. In this industry, it seems we’re so often locked in sound booths or at home on our computers. To be able to see and meet people who appreciate what we do is amazing and wonderful. Any time I get to see someone dressed as one of my characters is a blast. I have too many stories to get into here, but there are definitely some ringers. There was the time an angry voice actor wannabe demanded to know why he wasn’t the next Vic Mignogna (mispronouncing Mignogna, of course) yet. Or the time when one of my friend’s husbands sold my copy of Witchblade I had loaned them online, and I found out at a convention when I was signing it for a fan. (Thanks to Juan for the replacement set, btw!) It seems like every convention I go to has at least one great story!
I’d love to go overseas sometime. Right now, though, anywhere they let me go is fine!
Animation in general seems to go through cycles with its popularity on TV, even taking anime out of the equation. From our perspective and coverage, we’re seeing more serious and serial oriented shows hitting this year and going forward on places like Disney XD and Cartoon Network. Do you think there’s a chance that anime could see another upswing on the major broadcasters?
I have no idea. I’d like to think so, but that is beyond my area of expertise.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXvppV7HccI?rel=0]If there’s a show you could work on for one of those networks, which one would it be?
The one that came with a beach house.
Dream casting time; As we see when Disney gets to work its Studio Ghibli films, they get big name talent to work on them. What kinds of Hollywood actors would you want to work with and direct?
Patrick Stewart, Meryl Streep, and Mark Hamill (all for obvious reasons).
Anime fans and those in the industry itself can’t – and shouldn’t – live on anime alone. What other types of entertainment do you enjoy?
I enjoy music, movies, dancing, macaroni and cheese, running, watching crap TV, watching good TV, great conversations, visiting my family and friends, a good bar, and a good burger joint.
Every show one works on is its own special child of course, but is there a show that you’ve worked on that you’ve felt has been the best or most memorable experience?
I’m terrible at favorites, but Panty and Stocking is definitely on my short list. Hetalia, Sergeant Frog, and Negima?! are on there, too.
What do you see with anime voice work going into the future? Any surprises or changes to come or are things fairly well set at this point with how it’ll be going?
If I’ve learned anything, it’s that nothing is ever fairly well set. Stay tuned and keep watching!
And lastly, any thanks, comments and such for the fans at large?
Of course! Thanks to everyone and all the support I’ve been given by so many amazing people out there.. I mean, unless you’re reading this to find new ways to hate me. If that’s the case, you can suck it. Either way, you can follow me on facebook at Jamie Marchi Voice Actress or on twitter, @marchimark. I love you guys so hard!
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