"Anime NYC 2024 - Critical Role Fireside Chat & Cast Q&A" (Sx88) is a special episode presenting the Critical Role cast's Q&A-style fireside chat panel from Anime NYC on August 29, 2024, moderated by Ginny Di.
Synopsis[]
An introductory question from Ginny Di: How are you feeling being at Anime NYC for the first time?
The cast love it, amazing experience so far. Taliesin says it has been a while since he was in an anime con that he forgot the energy was so different in a good way.
Turning to questions submitted from the Beacon Discord:
- Q. When dubbing anime versus recording lines for The Legend of Vox Machina or the Mighty Nein animated series, is your process different when thinking about and getting into the headspace to record dialogue for these characters?
Travis explains there are a number of things that are informing your read while you're dubbing for an anime like having a line you have to match lip flap and a physical performance. It's a blank slate for The Legend of Vox Machina and the Mighty Nein animated, the cast is also responsible for a lot of the dialogue themselves they can change anytime. Liam says there are restrictions when they do voice over for other non-Critical Role projects, but when they record together for their own stuff there's no limit. - Q. (for Matt) If you could GM a one-shot from any anime where you have voiced a character, which one would you choose?
One Piece if it's a rich world with crazy powers. But if it's modern day, kind of subterfuge with rich magic system it will be the Fate/Zero series. - Q. (for Laura) Tohru from Fruits Basket and Jester from the Mighty Nein are both raised by just their mothers. How would each of these shows be different if those characters switched places?
Laura says they are the same at the core, they both want to make people happy but in very different ways. If Jester was with the Somas everybody would be animals all the time. Marisha jokes that they would be all dead, given how Jester treated Sprinkle. Laura continues by saying that Tohru disarms people so well that nobody would want to be her enemy. - Q. (for Liam) After voicing Nephrite in Sailor Moon Crystal, are there other classic anime that you'd like to see get the reboot treatment and potentially perform?
Liam always loved Revolutionary Girl Utena. He would also like to see a new and longer version of Akira to have the full story this time.
Pivoting to questions about Bells Hells (mostly):
- Q. (for Sam) With rejoining Bells Hells as Braius, how do you handle roleplaying a completely new character? Is it hard to separate the different elements of FCG versus Braius?
No, it's not hard because they're totally different. It's so refreshing and fun to be a new character that doesn't have the knowledge of all of those episodes to worry about. Sam missed a character that has high charisma, flirts a lot and be sexy. It's what he does best. - Q. (for Taliesin) What was the thought process behind playing a character like Ashton who has chronic pain? Did you know that fans with chronic illnesses would be able to relate?
He didn't how many people would relate about chronic pain and that's maybe a little horrifying. Taliesin had chronic pain most of his adult life; thankfully it's getting better now. It's something that Taliesin thought he would never explore in a character, but when Ashton's design came out, he thought of that immediatly. - Q. (for Marisha) The animated episode Pass Through Fire is just as powerful but very different from the original. Can you tell us about making that change and keeping the meaning that helps Keyleth grow?
Marisha explains that they cannot fit everything into the show; they have to find clever ways to truncate, combined and blend. For example, Patrick Rothfuss's character Kerrek is very important to Keyleth, but there wasn't enough room to incorporate him in a meaningful way. Marisha is really stoked about what came out of the writers' room, it's the literal visual representation of that moment. - Q. (for Travis) Chetney has joked about murdering people when he turned on the full moon. How has his Dominox-induced vision affected his outlook towards his lycanthropy? And would his reaction have been different if the vision's victims weren't children?
He has convinced himself that was not in fact true or is totally in denial and just choosing to believe that he didn't kill children. But he's still really happy to be a wolf either way. - Q. (for Ashley) You referred to Fearne's new look as being more grounded with recent events. Can you elaborate on that decision and how you think this will affect Fearne's role in the party?
Ashley wanted something more practical for Fearne, especially for the seriousness of the situation they are in right now. Ashley likes wearing clothes of people that are important to her, so wearing FCG's jacket made sense for Fearne. It feels like a hug in a way.
Turning to live audience questions:
- Q. (for Matt) How fulfilling has it been, and during Campaign Three with the Bells Hells, to have them meet all the previous campaigns' characters and see all their stories tie together?
It's the best. Matt wanted to do that since he began playing in high school. Now that he can do it, it's something that he cherishes immensely. It's also his gift to his players, showing them the impact they had in previous campaigns in this current one. - Q. (for Sam) Have you seen the Matt Mercer Hozier T-shirt? I need to see all of you in it because it's my campaign's uniform now.
Yes, Sam has seen the T-shirt. he also suggests that they should do T-shirts of Matt in different bands. Sam wants Matt as Gotye, Matt wants to be the Spice Girls, Travis needs Matt to be Scott Stapp of Creed. - Q. (for Matt, regarding his role in Final Fantasy VII Remake) Vincent Valentine's story has concluded in his standalone video game Dirge of Cerberus. But this new rebirth universe, his story might change a little bit. How do you see his story ending? Because we already saw certain aspects of that game already with Yuffie's DLC. Would you rather have a remake or a remaster of this video game?
Matt is not against exploring more of Vincent's story. He likes the concept of having the remake/rebirth series: familiar, yet expanding to their own path without overshadowing what came before. Vincent Dirge of Cerberus voiced by Steve Blum lives alongside this new version. But if ever they want to brought back Matt for more Vincent, he will answer the call. - Q. (for Ashley) How does it feel to be there with the group the whole time and really develop and evolve Fearne? (For the rest of the cast) How wonderful has it been to have Ashley there the entire time?
Ashley says it's been the best, it feels like coming home again. It's fun to finally be consistant at the table and naturally developing a character. Ashley loves the group so much. - Q. (for Matt) What do you do to get into the mindset of the different characters that you play so that you're taking actions or talking or making decisions as them and not them bleeding into one another or playing like, as yourself?
When breaking down NPCs, Matt has a series of notes to remind himself their vocal timbre and texture, accents, dialects, affectations they might have, and also a quick breakdown on their mood and vibe, as well as a few story notes. As a performer, you need to build in advance the world they live in so you can step into them in a more comfortable way. Matt also thinks about their goals, what they want to do. - Q. (for Ashley) Back in EXU Prime, when met with a future version of herself, Fearne once said that it didn't seem like her future looked very bright. Now that most of the things that Fearne told her came true and knowing what lies ahead, does Fearne still believe this?
Ashley thinks that Fearne still believes it. It's always there in front of her but she tries to change things so it could get better before that happens. Fearne also wears a mask to conceal her true emotions; she seems fine and wants to make everybody happy, but inside it's not at all that. - Q. (for Sam) I am a product of improv. A lot of my teachers used The Art of Play by Gary Izzo. And I know a lot of you guys also do improv as it is. Do you have any other books or suggestions for people that are looking to get into the art of "yes, and"?
Sam suggests Truth in Comedy by Kim Howard Johnson, Charna Halpern, and Del Close. - Q. (for Liam and Sam) About four years ago there was a very contentious race for the 69th presidential campaign. And so I was wondering, are you going to run for a second term, or is there another seat you might be running for?
Liam announces he's officially bowing out of the race and formally endorsing Ashley Johnson for president. Sam jokes about Liam being too old. - Q. (from Sam Riegel's mom, for him) I happen to know that ever since you were a little boy, when you were ever asked what you wanted to be when you grow up, you always said a minotaur. And I wonder if that affected your choice.
Sam's mom inspired him to follow his dreams and become a half-cow. - Q. (for everyone, but especially Marisha) The legacy that you're going to leave behind is going to be as big as honestly, Eberron, Forgotten Realms even. You're going to be a lasting legacy in Dungeons & Dragons. How do you guys feel about this? Are you guys thinking about that?
Liam has been thinking about it for the last decade. Some of the cast were big Dragonlance fans as kids and have stuck in people's mind for decades; the parallels with Critical Role are obvious, which is magical. Marisha says when they were debating on whether or not they should stream their games with the help of Felicia Day over at Geek & Sundry, one encouraging factor was that if this encourages even a few people to pick up a Player's Handbook and play Dungeons & Dragons, it was worth it. Cut to 10 years later, none of them could've predicted where they are right now and they're so grateful. - Q. (for Matt) As we're all hoping for for the third campaign, could we expect some Avengers: Endgame scenario for the final battle against Ludinus or Predathos?
Who knows? Many forces are at work in Exandria right now for so many different and dangerous things happening in this world altering event. We'll have to see what happens down the line. - Q. (for Sam) Coming into Bells Hells now and coming in with a new character, how do you find the right balance of the amount of backstory to have stuff to play with, while also getting enough to find what you get at the table?
Sam's philosophy for a late entry in a campaign like Braius or Taryon Darrington is getting all of the backstory out in the first episode because you never know how much time they have left. Sam says he almost said everything about Braius but the cast don't believe him. - Q. (for Matt) It's already hard enough to get a D&D group together, let alone to get a group together that can play off of each other in such a meaningful way as fellow voice actors and theatre-goers. Do you know of any resources or any things that can help us get there?
A lot of it comes from finding people that have similar interests at the table; sessions zero are great for that. Another great resource is checking out the local game stores and seeing spaces that host games. There are online spaces like forums in your local area and even websites now for digital online play. - Q. (for Travis) If you could pick one character that you've played to hang out with IRL and have a beer, who would it be and why?
Travis says definitely not Chetney, you can't trust him. It would be Grog Strongjaw: it would be the biggest bar tab ever and they would get arrested by the end of the night.
A final question from Ginny Di: What is one thing that you guys can talk about that has you super excited for the future of Critical Role?
The 10th year anniversary is coming up. New things are coming up on Beacon in the coming months. The Legend of Vox Machina, Season Three is coming up on October 3rd and Mighty Nein sometime after that. Marisha says to stay tuned to their socials and sign up for the newsletter because next year is going to be a year-long celebration with a lot of live shows. Daggerheart is also coming real soon.
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