 | Shannon Emerick, a successful stage actress and a new comer in the anime voice acting industry, answered some questions from us about herself and her role as Kei Kishimoto in ADV Films' Gantz | | | |
Active Anime: First let me thank you for giving us the opportunity to ask you a few questions about yourself and your role as Kei Kishimoto in Gantz.
You have been a stage actress for some time now; at what age did you start acting and can you tell us a bit about your stage acting experience?
Shannon Emerick: I was in my first play in 2nd grade, and I’ve known since 6th grade that acting was what I wanted to do with my life. I’ve been very fortunate in my career. I’ve done Off-Broadway shows in New York, and I’ve worked regionally at theaters across the country. Favorite plays I’ve done include Hamlet, Arcadia, Proof, In the Garden of Live Flowers, and The Mineola Twins.
Active Anime: As a successful stage actress, what made you jump into voice acting?
Shannon Emerick: I did just a little bit of voice work in New York, and I immediately loved it. I find it very interesting – what happens when you are only heard and NOT seen. It doesn’t matter what you look like or what types of characters you normally play – with voice work, you can try all kinds of new things.
Active Anime: Prior to your audition, have you seen any anime in the past or have you even heard of anime before?
Shannon Emerick: I had both heard of it and watched it. I watched a little bit in college. Active Anime: Was the transition from stage to voice acting hard?
Shannon Emerick: Foleys were a little tricky to learn, but voice acting, especially for anime, is so much fun. You have license to try just about anything and really work at getting the right sound. I find it invigorating. It’s a whole new challenge, a whole new side of acting for me. Active Anime: What aspects of voice acting do you find more difficult than other forms of acting or performance?
Shannon Emerick: In anime, almost everything, at least emotionally, is BIG. In other words, you don’t explore the more subtle expressions of emotion. So I have to switch my brain over to that BIG world when I step into the booth! And certainly for film acting, everything is much smaller. And even for stage acting, unless you’re doing a farce or something really over the top, you don’t “go as big” as you do in anime. Active Anime: And what aspects of voice acting do you find easier than other forms of acting or performance?
Shannon Emerick: It’s very liberating to do voice work. You can jump up and down to get the right sound in your voice; you can make funny faces. What you look like doesn’t matter – you just need to get the sound right! Active Anime: When you auditioned for the first time, did you actually audition for the role of Kei Kishimoto or did you have to wait for several months before being cast into the role?
Shannon Emerick: No, originally ADV auditioned me at a general audition. I read for several directors, which was wonderful – it was great to get to audition for so many people at once. A few weeks later, I was called to audition for a “Hello Kitty” role, which I booked – which was LOTS of fun since I grew up with Hello Kitty! Then Matt (the director of “Gantz”) auditioned me for another series called “The Fuccon Family,” which I also booked. I did a few other shows for Matt and for Sandra (the first director who cast me in “Hello Kitty”). Then Matt brought me in to read for Kei. And I was lucky enough to book the role! Active Anime: Not all newcomers get a leading role right away. What was your reaction when you learned you landed a leading role in one of the most highly anticipated anime to come out this year?
Shannon Emerick: I’m not sure I fully understood the scope of “Gantz” when I booked it. Since I’d never had a lead before, I didn’t know how many episodes there would be and that I would be so involved. But I was very pleased because I also have such a good time working with Matt and with ADV. And then after I was cast I started to hear more of the buzz about the show… And after we first started recording, I began to get a sense of what it meant to have a lead. I was – and still am – very honored. Active Anime: The GANTZ anime is notable for its many scenes of graphic violence and nudity, especially with your role. What were your reactions and thoughts about your character when you found out about it?
Shannon Emerick: Well, the violence is certainly there. But it’s so fantastical. Even though the graphics and animation for the show are amazing, because it IS animated, it’s somehow easier to distance myself from it. As for the nudity, that’s a little harder for me to take, mainly because it signifies how vulnerable Kei is and how little she can do to protect herself. Active Anime: Your character is quickly thrown into scenes where she's scared, freaked out, or screaming. What was it like to perform those scenes, and how did you prepare for it?
Shannon Emerick: Well, we don’t get the scripts until the moment we are going to record them, so there’s no real preparation! You just jump right into it – give it 100% and have fun with it! Active Anime: Did you have any reservations about playing the role of Kei Kishimoto?
Shannon Emerick: Again, I was so new to all this that I’m not sure I knew what to expect. Though I may not agree with or like everything that happens to my character, in a way, that makes me want to give her the strength that I feel she deserves. Active Anime: I have not seen the entire series other than what’s out on DVD, but could you give us and the readers a sneak peek on what we could expect with Kei Kishimoto in the series?
Shannon Emerick: Let’s just say she gets tougher… (smiles) Active Anime: Overall, what do you think of GANTZ?
Shannon Emerick: I think the animation is phenomenal. And I think the story is very creative and unique. I am really enjoying working on it. Active Anime: Many voice actors and actresses out there have an embarrassing moment while recording. Have you experienced any embarrassing moments during recording?
Shannon Emerick: Nothing embarrassing, but the most fun thing I’ve had to do on “Gantz” – and the wildest scene - was to make vomiting sounds! I surprised myself at how easily it came! Active Anime: Do you have any other anime voice acting roles coming up, and could we expect to see you in conventions or plays in the near future?
Shannon Emerick: No conventions yet. I’ve recently recorded some smaller roles in things. The only bigger thing would be when the next “Hello Kitty” comes out! I’m the voice of the evil Snow Queen (in The Snow Queen) and the wicked Stepmother (in Cinderella). Active Anime: Is there any advice you may want to say to fans out there that are thinking about becoming a voice actor or actress?
Shannon Emerick: Go for it! And mainly have fun. Active Anime: Final question, is there anything you want to say to the fans out there?
Shannon Emerick: Thank you so much for watching “Gantz” and other anime! About Shannon Emerick
Shannon has appeared in theaters across the country and was the 1991 ARTS Winner in the Theater Category. Her television experience includes "Haunted New York" on the Travel Channel, a voice-over for Oxygen and "Ed" on NBC, and she has done several independent films including "Macbeth: the Comedy," where she played the half-asleep Cockney Porter, and "Broken Up,".
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