Interview with Julie Ann Taylor

• Interview with: Julie Ann Taylor
• Interviewed by: Nukunuku on May 4th, 2007
• Location: A sushi restaraunt in Sherman Oak, California
• Publication Date: May 23rd, 2007

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Anime Dream:

How did you first get involved with anime voice acting?

Julie Ann Taylor:

I took a voice-over class and made my first demo tape. A friend passed along my tape to someone who was doing anime, so they called me in and I did what is called a "walla session", where you are in the recording booth with about 5-6 other people and you provide all the background voices. For example, if there is a scene in a restaurant and there is a group of people at a table in the background, you make up dialogue for the duration of the scene. You might have a conversation with the person next to you; order your food etc- all the dialogue that would take place as if you were really in that situation. It was during that job that I was introduced to anime and how to voice characters for anime. Luckily, that same person who directed the show started casting me in other shows and I learned even more from that.

Anime Dream:

What is the best feature about your voice?

Julie Ann Taylor:

You know, I always think of myself as an actress first, not somebody who "does voices", so that's a little bit difficult to answer. I guess I would say that the best feature is that I sound young.

Anime Dream:

Of all the characters you've played, which character is the most memorable?

Julie Ann Taylor:

Well, I don't think I could narrow it down to just one — that's kind of hard. Ichigo from Please Teacher and Please Twins is one that stands out for me, because I had no idea that I could do that voice. It was the casting director that helped me to discover that voice — and I just had a blast playing that character, because she was so understated, and I don't get to play understated very often. Takumi Kisaragi from Gadguard also stands out for me. It was one of the first times that I played a boy with more than just a couple of lines. The director was very good with me and helped me to get down some fight effort sounds that were more like a boy sound than a girl sound. I feel like I learned a lot on that show.

Anime Dream:

Which are your most-favorite and least-favorite characters in the recent memory?

Julie Ann Taylor:

My most favorite as of late was playing Yukari from Paradise Kiss, mostly because the show was drawn so well and beautiful to look at. She goes through so much in the course of one week! I also really like the soundtrack. Least favorite would be...mm...can't think of one, I like them all.

Anime Dream:

Which character most resembles your own personality?

Julie Ann Taylor:

I guess I would have to say Ai Tanabe from Planetes. She's idealistic, awkwardly funny, sometimes insecure but also very sincere. I loved playing that part because the other actors were so good in that show — mostly they recorded before me, so that's always a treat! Also, I adore the Planetes director, Tony Oliver. He's very professional and we had a blast recording it.

Anime Dream:

You seemed to get evenly cast as characters of all ages. Is there any particular age group you like or dislike playing?

Julie Ann Taylor:

I like getting cast in general! I don't think that will ever change. No matter how many auditions you have, you always like getting that call that says we cast you as "so and so". I would like to work on my old lady voice though. I have played a couple of grandma types — with only a couple of lines here and there. It was all right, but I think I could practice and improve on that voice.

Anime Dream:

One of the fans' favorite characters, and certainly a favorite of mine, would have to be Sofia Forester from Last Exile. What is your opinion about her?

Julie Ann Taylor:

I loved playing Sofia Forester. I hadn't actually played a character like her all that much before getting that role. She was so controlled and strict, yet somehow strangely elegant. It was a challenge for me because I was used to playing higher pitched funny girls, not necessarily strong women like Sofia Forrester. I also found that Last Exile was very well written so it was a joy to perform it. In addition, it was great to work with the director, Eric Sherman, because I think he really helped guide me in discovering Sofia's attitudes and tone. Now you're making me wish I owned the box set!

Anime Dream:

So far, you are only heard in anime and some video games. What other voice work have you done?

Julie Ann Taylor:

I can be heard on California State University's website as the vocal prompt on how to fill out a college application. And sometimes I recite Shakespeare in my car when I'm driving somewhere alone.

Anime Dream:

Which types of characters are easier to act: the smart and confident (such as Meia from Vandread), or the ditzy and clueless (such as Mutsumi from Love Hina), and why?

Julie Ann Taylor:

I think that it's much harder to play ditzy, because you sort of have to erase what you know and be two thousand percent sincere. What sells a ditzy character and makes it believable is how sincere you are with your lines, and how you commit to them. I've been in the booth for some ditzy characters and the director has said, "No, I'm still hearing that you know too much — play against your instinct."

Anime Dream:

On a related note: have you worked on mainstream productions, or any other non-anime productions?

Julie Ann Taylor:

I voiced a character for a cartoon download for Warner Bros who partnered with Verizon Wireless. It was drawn by Eric Wight (a very good artist, by the way), and it was supposed to be the animated show that the characters on the TV show "The O.C." were involved with. It was fun to record and you might recognize some other anime voice actors in it too.

But my background is really from the stage. I haven't done any plays lately, but I formally toured with Los Angeles Music Center doing Shakespeare, and I was also in Tim Robbins's "The Actors' Gang." I really miss performing on the stage.

Anime Dream:

Are you interested in directing?

Julie Ann Taylor:

Not so much, although I wouldn't rule it out.

Anime Dream:

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

Julie Ann Taylor:

Right now I'm working on Zoids, which will air on Cartoon Network starting December '07. I play Kotona, and some incidental characters like a little boy and a grandma.

Anime Dream:

What does your family think about your anime voice-over career?

Julie Ann Taylor:

They are very proud of me. But I find that I have to kind of explain the genre of anime.

Anime Dream:

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

Julie Ann Taylor:

Yes I do get feedback from the fans, mostly through emails on my website, which I always try to respond to. I don't think they always recognize me by voice. I have received questions like "Did you play so and so in a particular show?" And it actually wasn't me. Or I heard a rumor that you will play so and so from this show. And that wasn't true either. I was thinking, "I'm not playing that character, but I would like to!" It's really fun to correspond with the fans. Sometimes they actually correct something I wrote on my website, like recently, somebody wrote in and asked if I was sure that I was playing a certain character because they had heard that someone else was playing that character. Well, it turns out that they were right, and I got the spellings of the characters' names mixed up. So I was able to fix it on my website, and I was grateful!

Anime Dream:

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

Julie Ann Taylor:

All you cosplayers and anime devotees: You rock and inspire me! Thanks for being interested and listening.