Mona Marshall Interview

• Interview with: Mona Marshall
• Interviewed by: Nukunuku on March 29th, 2003
• Location: E-mail
• Publication Date: May 31st, 2003

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Anime Dream:

How did you start voice acting, specifically anime dubbing?

Mona Marshall:

I started out acting for stage and film, but was mostly earning my living as a teacher in a private school for child actors. One of my students was in a VO workshop taught by the late, great Daws Butler (Voice of Yogi Bear, Quick Draw McGraw, and many other Hanna Barbera characters). The student's mother encouraged me to take the workshop, and Daws was a wonderful teacher. I loved being able to act out characters without being limited by my age, type, or even sex. Then one day this director who knew Daws had auditions for the Harlock anime series. He wanted to use one actress who he already knew for all the female parts, but the client liked my voice for the little girl. I had never dubbed before, but I am a singer and musician, so I was good at it. I just remember looking at the time code and watching the picture and hitting the loops. The rest of the cast just assumed I had done this type of voice work before.

Anime Dream:

You tend to get cast as young boy, Are you happy with that casting choice? And is it more challenging to play a male character or a female character?

Mona Marshall:

I really enjoy playing the parts of young boys, maybe because I'm a tomboy. I like getting into that consciousness and making the character come alive. Both male and female characters are challenging and fun! It's more about the character, than the character's sex.

Anime Dream:

Is there any role model in your real life, where you can get inspired for playing young male characters?

Mona Marshall:

Early on in my acting career I learned to study people. Children especially are fascinating. I toured doing children's theatre before my VO work really took off, so I leaned to appreciate the wonder children have in relating to the world. For the last 9 years I've been a volunteer for Rolling Readers. My classes have ranged from 2nd to 4th grade. Interrelating with these students when I read and help them to learn continues to be a wonderful inspiration.

Anime Dream:

What would you consider your best performance in an anime dub?

Mona Marshall:

I've done too many to choose. Each performance has its own challenges, but some of my favorites are the strange, ageless killer boy in one of the Cowboy Bebop episodes, Ran in Tsukikage Ran, Motoko in Love Hina and of course Izzy and Terriermon and now Lucemon in The Digimon Series and the boy in .HACK.

Anime Dream:

Which roles do you remember as being especially difficult, either performing or auditioning for?

Mona Marshall:

Actually, the word "difficult" really doesn't apply. As I said earlier, each role has its challenges, but that only makes the work fun and exciting; for instance, Ran's scenes when she had been indulging in her favorite drink: Sake, or conveying Terriermon's attitude when he digivolved from sweet looking creature to mega Rapidmon without changing the basic voice.

Anime Dream:

Was there ever a specific role you wanted to get, but didn't get?

Mona Marshall:

There have been many, but mostly in original animation.

Anime Dream:

How did you enjoy playing Ran in Carried by the Wind - Tsukikage Ran? What was your first impression of the character?

Mona Marshall:

I really enjoyed playing Ran. She is a strong character, with lots of levels to act and thanks to excellent direction by Kevin Seymour and outstanding writing by Mary Claypool, my work on the part was a joy!

Anime Dream:

What do you like most (and least) about Ran? And if you have a choice, would you want to live like her?

Mona Marshall:

In real life terms, I didn't like the fact that she got drunk. But as an actor, those were great scenes to play. I liked the fact that she was a strong woman and a martial arts expert. In that regard she was a good role model. I think the character has an interesting life, but no, I would never chose to live a life like Ran's; I much prefer my own.

Anime Dream:

Have you worked on mainstream productions? i.e.: Disney, Hanna Barbera, Dreamworks, and other non-anime productions?

Mona Marshall:

I have worked on many non-anime productions: Jackie Chan, Rugrats, The Mummy, etc. You can probably find some of them listed if you type my name in Google. The Kids Ten Commandments is one of the recent projects I had the privilege to work on. I played one of the leads, Ephraim, a young boy, and Hanna, a girl goat, and Miriam, an old lady. The writing was superb, and I got to sing some wonderful songs. The people were a pleasure to work with and the DVDs are entertaining and educational.

Anime Dream:

If so, what is the biggest difference between anime and non-anime productions?

Mona Marshall:

By non-anime projects, I assume you mean original animation. Each is exciting and challenging. With anime you have the picture and you dub in the words, acting to picture. With original animation. you might have a drawing and a short description of the character and most of the time the writer's script which describes the action. The rest is up to you and the director.

Anime Dream:

And on a related note, have you acted on TV shows, movies, or in a theatrical production? If so, do you want to pursue that part of an acting career?

Mona Marshall:

I have performed VO on TV shows and movies: Spirited Away, Treasure Planet, Catch Me If You Can, Ghosts Of Mars, etc. and toured for many years with The L. A. Moving Van and Puppet Company and in my own one person original musical A Life Is A Celebration...Potholes And All, but as far as performing on camera today, I really don't pursue it. VO takes up much of my time and I also am working on several writing/music projects for children, which I hope to have produced. I also create artwork under the name MALKI which is selling locally.

Anime Dream:

What work do you do besides anime dubbing? About how much of your work time is spent doing anime dubbing in relation to any other jobs you may have?

Mona Marshall:

I do original animation and commercials and many educational projects and CD roms and games. I do toy voices and puppets also. Every week varies, so sometimes I do more dubbing and other times more of the rest.

Anime Dream:

If I recall correctly, you lend your voice in number of video games. Including, Brave Fencer Musashi for Squaresoft and .hack for Bandai. Is there any significant difference between anime and video game voiceover?

Mona Marshall:

The biggest difference is in anime you have to match mouths. In video games you have to complete the phrases in a certain amount of time. I use my imagination and create my characters' worlds in all VO projects, but with anime the frame of reference is already there, in all other VO, I am seeing it in my mind as I perform it.

Anime Dream:

How did you feel and think about doing .hack the video game? And, did you see the game or perhaps even play the game?

Mona Marshall:

I really like this character. He had lots of levels to play. He could be tough or sensitive and he had a lot going on inside of him all the time. I don't have a Play Station (I keep meaning to get one); I also have done voices for Rachet And Clank for Insomniac Games, so it's probably a good idea, but when would I have the time to play????!!!!

Anime Dream:

Did you approach this role differently than any other anime?

Mona Marshall:

No.

Anime Dream:

Do you have any desire to venture into writing, or perhaps directing?

Mona Marshall:

I have written original animation (The Zoomer Crews First Christmas, and other projects), poetry, songs for stage and animation (The Chucklewood Critters), and a children's read aloud book and am currently working on two animation ideas. I have no desire to write for dubbing (but have great admiration for the writers who do it well) or to direct.

Anime Dream:

What is your opinion toward Anime in general?

Mona Marshall:

When it's great like Spirited Away it's an absolute joy to watch. Like any art form, there are many levels. I enjoy voicing it.

Anime Dream:

Is there any upcoming anime work that you are allowed to divulge?

Mona Marshall:

There are quite a few, but I'd rather not speak of them.

Anime Dream:

Do you get any feedback from the fans? And do they recognize you just by your voice?

Mona Marshall:

I did get some e-mail when I was doing Izzy on the first 2 seasons of Digimon. Usually people don't recognize my voice because I do so many different voices. One of the things I like about VO work is the variation and anonymity.

Anime Dream:

On a related note, have you ever been invited or considered attending, one of the many wacky anime conventions?

Mona Marshall:

As of this time, I have not been invited to an anime convention. I would consider attending one if it would be helpful to people, especially children.

Anime Dream:

And finally, do you have anything you'd like to say to your fans?

Mona Marshall:

Your support is greatly appreciated. I love what I do and I work hard at it. Knowing that it gives pleasure and excitement to you makes my work even more joyful. Thank you!