Veronica Taylor interview -- Talks about roles in Dinosaur King, One Piece etc.

[RomanMack]

http://media.putfile.com/Veronica-Taylor-Interview-NYAF-2007

Heh, It's an interesting hear through. I guess she learned that not many people liked her Nico Robin voice (though I never had a big problem with it, I just didn't like the accent, which is the fault of the voice director anyways).

[Dark Fact]

She wasn't being entirely clear in that interview regarding her fate as Amelia. She just mentions about "getting a call" and that's it. Was her getting the call meaning she was let off because her voice wasn't suitable or her not getting anymore calls because the ADR directors just didn't want to deal with her again?

Anyways, it was a nice interview despite it being a little short. Heh, April O' Neil is Veronica Taylor doing her natural voice. :)

[veemonjosh]

Strange, the audio file keeps ending at the 30 second mark...

[Light Lucario]

That was a really nice interview. I've always heard and read of how wonderfully nice Veronica Taylor is and this just proves how nice she is again. I'm not too surprised that she didn't know about how fans thought of her voice for One Piece. I'm sure that she has a busy time with her work so she may not be able to get to go online as often as we can. I understood what she meant that she either gets a job or she doesn't. I think that's how a freelace in any field of carrer gets a job.

I did like hearing about her feelings towards her role as Ash and her current role as Max on Dinosaur King. Like her, I was also kind of surprised on how well that Dinosaur King did turn out. It is a fun show, but I do agree with her on how it obviously isn't like Pokemon. I also felt sad for her when she said that because I could feel sadness in her voice, but I could be completely off the mark. Anyway, that was a great interview. Thanks for posting it, RomanMack.

[D Dubbs]

Thanks for the link, RomanMack.

I agree, it was a good listen. I was a bit surprised they asked about her role in One Piece, since she wasn't involved with too many episodes and also since she probably recorded them a good one or two years ago. I bet she only spent one or two days recording her lines for Robin.

Still, I'm glad to hear that she considers Ash to be one of her favorite characters to voice, although, I do feel sorry for her, since she obviously misses playing him.

It's also pretty cool that Veronica has taking a liking to Dinosaur King. Actors always seem to perform better when they get into the show, so I'm sure that she'll continue to do a great job on the dub.

On a bit of a tangent, I was also pleasantly surprised when the interviewer mentioned that the dub of Dinosaur King was faithful to the original. That may be a bit of an overstatement since there are a few things that 4Kids needs to work on, but nevertheless, I'm glad there are some people out there who recognize that not everything 4Kids churns out is a pile of edited crap.

[RomanMack]

Well, Robin was actually in the show (as part of the evil Baroque Works) for quite awhile, so it's not like she only voiced her when she joined the crew. Plus, there's the games.

[D Dubbs]

Well, Robin was actually in the show (as part of the evil Baroque Works) for quite awhile, so it's not like she only voiced her when she joined the crew. Plus, there's the games.

Ah, I see. I guess that is somewhat strange that she never heard any criticism.

Oh well, it's probably better that way. No need to upset her over something she didn't have control of.

[Light Lucario]

Still, I'm glad to hear that she considers Ash to be one of her favorite characters to voice, although, I do feel sorry for her, since she obviously misses playing him.

It's also pretty cool that Veronica has taking a liking to Dinosaur King. Actors always seem to perform better when they get into the show, so I'm sure that she'll continue to do a great job on the dub.

On a bit of a tangent, I was also pleasantly surprised when the interviewer mentioned that the dub of Dinosaur King was faithful to the original. That may be a bit of an overstatement since there are a few things that 4Kids needs to work on, but nevertheless, I'm glad there are some people out there who recognize that not everything 4Kids churns out is a pile of edited crap.

I felt bad for her too when she was talking about Ash. From what I understood, she really did love playing him and I'm not surprised since she did his voice for so long. I hope that she does continue to enjoy Dinosaur King. It is a fun show and I'm glad that she can enjoy watching another show that she does voice acting work on. I also completely agree with you about the 4Kids comment. That was quite refreshing to hear actually.

[Undrave]

Man I love this woman's voice :anime: its so lovable! I can't help but imagine cute characters when I listen to her :p

[Tea]

She wasn't being entirely clear in that interview regarding her fate as Amelia. She just mentions about "getting a call" and that's it. Was her getting the call meaning she was let off because her voice wasn't suitable or her not getting anymore calls because the ADR directors just didn't want to deal with her again?
She didn't seem to be referring to her fate if you're thinking about Slayers Premium or something. She was explaining how she got the part in the original TV series and replaced the old VA who was let go after like 3 episodes.

[BrendaBat]

That was a neat interview (even if it was a bit short). I laughed when she brought up how she and the other 4Kids actors would often work on Slayers and Pokémon at the same time. That must have been a trip! :D

One of my favorite Veronica Taylor roles (that almost nobody knows about) is Alice from the first Shadow Hearts game. She was awesome and I was totally crushed when the sequel replaced her with a generic, chirpy-voiced actress. :sad:


Originally posted by Light Lucario
I'm not too surprised that she didn't know about how fans thought of her voice for One Piece. I'm sure that she has a busy time with her work so she may not be able to get to go online as often as we can.
Well, being an anime voice actress, she probably avoids online anime discussions because about 98% of them just demonize her for dubbing over their beloved seiyuus. I know that's what I'd do if I were her. :p

[Light Lucario]

That was a neat interview (even if it was a bit short). I laughed when she brought up how she and the other 4Kids actors would often work on Slayers and Pokémon at the same time. That must have been a trip! :D

One of my favorite Veronica Taylor roles (that almost nobody knows about) is Alice from the first Shadow Hearts game. She was awesome and I was totally crushed when the sequel replaced her with a generic, chirpy-voiced actress. :sad:

One of these days I really need to get the first Slayers set and see how good it is. I've heard great things about it and I'm just curious to see if all of the praises match with the series. I don't remember hearing Veronica Taylor talking much about her role in Slayers during the interview, other than just that phone call about her role. I'll listen to it again and see if I missed it.


Well, being an anime voice actress, she probably avoids online anime discussions because about 98% of them just demonize her for dubbing over their beloved seiyuus. I know that's what I'd do if I were her. :p

While that may be a possibility, I think that she's also pretty busy with her work. There aren't too many voice acting jobs around New York as there used to be and combine that with the work she has from her current work and her personal live with her family and such, I'm guessing that she doesn't have as much free time on her hands to check out online forums like we do.

[BrendaBat]

Originally posted by Light Lucario
One of these days I really need to get the first Slayers set and see how good it is. I've heard great things about it and I'm just curious to see if all of the praises match with the series. I don't remember hearing Veronica Taylor talking much about her role in Slayers during the interview, other than just that phone call about her role. I'll listen to it again and see if I missed it.

You should check it out. Its a fun series and Funimation just re-released the first two seasons in reasonably priced box sets. :)

The "phone call" she mentioned was about her replacing the first actress who played Amelia in Slayers. For whatever reason, the first few episodes of that show had weird dubbing issues that lead to two main characters getting recast about 5 episodes in. But aside from that minor issue, the dub is fantastic.

[Undrave]

You should check it out. Its a fun series and Funimation just re-released the first two seasons in reasonably priced box sets. :)

The "phone call" she mentioned was about her replacing the first actress who played Amelia in Slayers. For whatever reason, the first few episodes of that show had weird dubbing issues that lead to two main characters getting recast about 5 episodes in. But aside from that minor issue, the dub is fantastic.

Crispin Freeman explains what happen in his interview on the Slayers Premium DVD. Basically there was like...a year long break (or something) between the two halves of the first season of Slayers and they kinda lost contact with the actors who played Amelia and Zelgadis.

[DrTooth]

Well, Robin was actually in the show (as part of the evil Baroque Works) for quite awhile, so it's not like she only voiced her when she joined the crew. Plus, there's the games.

Once again, so I'm the only one that didn't have a problem with the voice overs on One Piece? I mean, with all the other things they messed with, it's the only one that didn't stick out for me. Even still, it seems like the accent, which was not her choice, was the only problem? She has a hat that can be misconstrued as a Cowboy hat. Nothing too wrong with that one. But that's ancient history anyway.

So, she's the voice of Sheep on Word World? I caught a few minutes of an epiosde of that once. Didn't sound like her at all. I think I'll watch it again, listening out for her voice. (off topic, love those character designs on that show).

[Dark Fact]

Whoops. Didn't know that Veronica was the replacement and not the replaced. It's been a long time since I've last watched the Slayers dub. :p

[BrendaBat]

Originally posted by DrTooth
Once again, so I'm the only one that didn't have a problem with the voice overs on One Piece? I mean, with all the other things they messed with, it's the only one that didn't stick out for me. Even still, it seems like the accent, which was not her choice, was the only problem? She has a hat that can be misconstrued as a Cowboy hat. Nothing too wrong with that one. But that's ancient history anyway.
You're not the only one. :)
There are a lot of things wrong with 4Kids. But the one thing they have going for them is their roster of very talented voice actors.

I saw bits and pieces of the 4Kids One Piece dub and, even with the goofy accent, I thought Taylor did a good job of making Robin a charming character. The girl who played Luffy was annoying. But Luffy was annoying in Japanese, too so at least 4Kids got that right. :p

[Yash]

I wasn't big on Robin's dub voice when 4Kids was still dubbing One Piece, but I'm sure if not for the outrageous accent, Ms. Taylor would have done a better job. It's funny how she was brought in as a replacement in Slayers, seeing as how Marc Diraison (I believe, it could have been someone else) said that 4Kids was originally going to use a different actor for Robin.

I'm glad she enjoys working on Dinosaur King, it is like Pokémon re-incarnate after all.

[DrTooth]

You're not the only one. :)
There are a lot of things wrong with 4Kids. But the one thing they have going for them is their roster of very talented voice actors.


Yeah, before this goes waaay off topic, I just shudder when people complain about the voices like they're the worst thing that happened in their dub. Especially since I've heard horribly wooden deliveries in quite a few dubs. The Gravitaiton my sister made me watch a couple years ago was almost amaturish in most cases.

I agree. Accent or not, she really had a voice that really fit with how the character would sound. Like a hot evil gal.

I wish she'd have mentioned April in her interview, however. Out of all her voice roles, that April is my favorite.

[Jacob T. Paschal]

Maybe if 4Kids was not run by a bunch of lazy bums somebody would have realized that Robin was not a cowgirl. This is where 4Kids' lack of looking ahead in the series gets the better of them.

[FGfan]

Veronica Taylor's not voicing Ash anymore? Wow, the Johto seasons put me off so much, I don't even notice these things...

[D Dubbs]

Veronica Taylor's not voicing Ash anymore? Wow, the Johto seasons put me off so much, I don't even notice these things...

Yep, you're only a couple years late... :p

[CyberCubed]

Yep, you're only a couple years late... :p

To be fair the PUSA dub has only been going for about 2 years, which isn't that much time at all.

Man, so many people stopped watching the show in the Johto era, didn't they? Can't say I'm surprised though. :sweat:

[Light Lucario]

You should check it out. Its a fun series and Funimation just re-released the first two seasons in reasonably priced box sets. :)

The "phone call" she mentioned was about her replacing the first actress who played Amelia in Slayers. For whatever reason, the first few episodes of that show had weird dubbing issues that lead to two main characters getting recast about 5 episodes in. But aside from that minor issue, the dub is fantastic.

I've been considering getting the first season set for the longest time. I always take awhile in deciding on ordering something for myself for some reason. Anyway, I did see the first episode subbed once and it looked interesting to me. Hopefully I'll finally decide on getting it when I go to DeepDiscountDVDs later tonight. I've always heard great things about it and I would like to check it out.

I had a feeling that was what the phone call was about. I thought that it was kind of weird how just right after she talked about that phone call, it sounded like the video skipped or the interviewer jumped into a new topic quite quickly. I remember hearing that two characters had to be replaced early on in the series. I heard that FUNimation wanted to redub those episodes with Veronica Taylor and I believe, Eric Stuart, but that didn't turn out possible. At least they tired and it showed that they did care enough to attempt it.


Man, so many people stopped watching the show in the Johto era, didn't they? Can't say I'm surprised though. :sweat:

I've heard the same thing in different forums myself. Most people stopped during Johto, but a lot of them came back during AG, which I guess makes sense due to how AG did feel like a fresh new start and with being a new series to Pokemon as well.

[Daxdiv]

To be fair the PUSA dub has only been going for about 2 years, which isn't that much time at all.

Man, so many people stopped watching the show in the Johto era, didn't they? Can't say I'm surprised though. :sweat:

I'm one of those people who dropped out Mid-Johto, and only went back during the Ash V Gary fight, then I got back into liking the anime during the AG arc because it was new fresh start. I think it flaws wasn't on 4Kids' end:eek: but instead of the Japanese staff trying to make it more similar to the game, even though the games set in Jotho region was my favorite (up until Sinnoh games, AKA Diamond and Pearl), the same can't be said for the anime adaptation. I would go into more detail on how ironic I hate Johto anime but liking the one set in Sinnoh, but that going a little bit off-topic for my taste.

That interview was nice and informative look, we all know since out of the major pools of Anime VAing, LA, TX, Canada, and NY, that NY is the weakest one, so her getting a job and holding on to it is an understandable thing to expect from someone working in NY. For the record I don't hate all of the VA that work for 4Kids, I just hate a small number of them in particular, and Ms. Taylor is a part of the majority that I do like.

[Tea]

I heard that FUNimation wanted to redub those episodes with Veronica Taylor and I believe, Eric Stuart, but that didn't turn out possible. At least they tired and it showed that they did care enough to attempt it.
Actually, Eric Stuart has always been Gourry 'cept in Slayers Premium. You're thinking of Crispin Freeman (Zelgadis) who was going to redub the 1st Zel (Daniel Cronin). They were also going to fix some of the mistranslations (Rezo being Zel's grandfather and great-grandfather, anyone? :sweat:) and apparently they were also thinking about making a game. So many broken promises...

[Undrave]

Actually, Eric Stuart has always been Gourry 'cept in Slayers Premium. You're thinking of Crispin Freeman (Zelgadis) who was going to redub the 1st Zel (Daniel Cronin). They were also going to fix some of the mistranslations (Rezo being Zel's grandfather and great-grandfather, anyone? :sweat:) and apparently they were also thinking about making a game. So many broken promises...

actually Rezo is Zelgadis' grandfather on his father side of the family AND his Great-grandfather on his mother side... or the other way around. In any case he is indeed both.

[Light Lucario]

Actually, Eric Stuart has always been Gourry 'cept in Slayers Premium. You're thinking of Crispin Freeman (Zelgadis) who was going to redub the 1st Zel (Daniel Cronin). They were also going to fix some of the mistranslations (Rezo being Zel's grandfather and great-grandfather, anyone? :sweat:) and apparently they were also thinking about making a game. So many broken promises...

Oops. My mistake. I must have mixed up the voice actors. Sorry about that. I did hear about fixing some of the mistranslations as well, but I don't think that I recall any game coming into the works. I think that, for at least the redubbing, they couldn't have the equipment necessary to do it, even though it seemed like they wanted to.

[BrendaBat]

Originally posted by Undrave
actually Rezo is Zelgadis' grandfather on his father side of the family AND his Great-grandfather on his mother side... or the other way around. In any case he is indeed both.
Was that bit of info in the novels or something? I never heard about it! :eek:
In any case, sucks to be Zelgadis. Either way his family is straight out of Deliverance. :p


Originally posted by Light Lucario
Oops. My mistake. I must have mixed up the voice actors. Sorry about that. I did hear about fixing some of the mistranslations as well, but I don't think that I recall any game coming into the works. I think that, for at least the redubbing, they couldn't have the equipment necessary to do it, even though it seemed like they wanted to.
The video game was mentioned in one of Funimation's first press releases regarding Slayers....
<http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2005/anime-central/2>

I hope it still happens. But it doesn't seem likely. :sad:

[Tea]

actually Rezo is Zelgadis' grandfather on his father side of the family AND his Great-grandfather on his mother side... or the other way around. In any case he is indeed both.
I've read from other websites (like his wiki page) that it is a mistranslation--and it was suppose to be "grandfather OR great-grandfather" because Zel (and Hajime) weren't sure. I'm pretty sure it's also that way in the novels. If you're unconvinced, I'll check 'em when I get home and find the page. At the moment I can't find the interview online where Hajime decides Rezo's only Zel's great-grandfather, but here's a very informative interview with him Slayers fans should check out anyway: http://tokitoki1.tripod.com/tokitamashanchi/slayers-etc/some-setting.html