KIRBY MORROW
THE VOICE OF TROWA

Kirby is a multi-talented actor whose done work on film and television, as well as being a writer and stand up comic. But he is also a voice actor with the Ocean Group who do anime dubs for Viz, Bandai, and Pioneer. He had performed as Goku in DRAGONBALL Z, Dr. Tofu & Piccolet in RANMA 1/2, Akira in Z-MIND, and Van in ESCAFLOWNE which ran on Fox for a while. But his biggest claim to anime fame is the role of Trowa in the hit Toonami series GUNDAM WING. He has also done the voice of Cyclops in X-MEN EVOLUTION, Michealangelo in NINJA TURTLES: THE NEXT MUTATION, and the title role in ACTION MAN.

KIRBY'S CREDITS

Escaflowne, Ranma 1/2, Dragonball Z, Gundam Wing, Z-Mind

Interview taken over the internet. (Feb. 2001)

• WHAT ARE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF TROWA AND HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF DOING HIM?
  Well, Trowa is a somewhat introverted character with sometimes very little to say. He's the type of guy who sits back in the shadows and waits to make his presence known when he feels it's appropriate. I chose to give him a monotone type of voice, which the dialogue supports quite easily.
  
  
• ON VAN FANEL, WHAT DO YOU THINK DRIVES HIM AS A CHARACTER AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO HELP MAKE HIM COME TO LIFE?
  Van is the type of character who is impulsive and energetic. He yells alot, and likes to fight. I would always do a really warm vocal warm up before doing an episode of ESCAFLOWNE.
  
  
• WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHT'S ON FOX'S CANCELLATION OF ESCAFLOWNE?
  Unfortunately, I never got a chance to see the show-but fans have told me that it was edited and/or played out of sequence which lead to its downfall. I've worked on a couple of extremely good shows that have been cancelled for some reason or another, which often have nothing to do with the quality of the show. Sometimes poor toy sales or a bad time slot(which dictates an audiences' age range)are to blame for the show getting axed. The bottom line is, it's never a good thing to have your show cancelled.
  
  
• YOU ALSO DID THE VOICE OF MICHAELANGELO. HOW DID YOU TRY TO DO HIM DIFFERENTLYT FROM HIS PREVIOUS INCARNATIONS?
  Actually, in the beginning when I first auditioned for the role-I watched the movies over and over and tried to duplicate the voices exactly. It was through the auditioning process that the voice slowly changed into what it became, because Dan Clark, the executive in charge, would give tips on what he was looking for in each voice, and the actors would adapt accordingly and try to appease. I went through nine callbacks to get that gig, auditioning against over 100 people, but eventually I prevailed.
  
  
• DO YOU LIKE THE NEW VERSION OF CYCLOPS YOU ARE DOING ON X-MEN EVOLUTION?
  Of course I like him...It's me. You've got to love it anytime your working.
  
  
• DID YOU HAVE TO DO ANYTHING INTERESTING FOR WHEN YOU WERE PLAYING PICCOLET ON RANMA TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE HE WAS STRETCHING HIS MOUTH?
  It's having trouble remembering, but I think I actually said some of the lines with my fist shoved in my mouth. Oh, the crazy things we do sometimes in this business.
  
  
• WHAT'S YOUR CHARACTER IN Z-MIND LIKE?
  I can't remember. It's been over a year since I did that anime, and I only did a few. I think he was alot like Van Fanel, but I'm guessing. I've never seen or heard anything about it since the day I recorded it.
  
  
• WHAT'S THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIVE-ACTION ACTING AND VOICE OVERS?
  You don't have to memorize your lines in voice overs. That reduces the stress a little. When you work steady in both mediums(live-action and voice overs)there's alot of homework. You read tons of scripts and analyze them, dissect them...etc. Memorizing isn't that difficult, but it takes time when your also trying to learn completely different shows.
  
  
• WHAT FUTURE VOICE ACTING ROLES ARE YOU DOING OR CONCIDERING?
  I've become the new Goku in DBZ starting at episode #144. 'Barbie in The Nutcracker' is a movie that will be coming out next Christmas. I play the Nutcracker/Prince Eric who are one in the same. There are a couple of new projects I've auditioned for, but have not heard back from yet. My series 'Yvon Of The Yukon' has also been renewed for a second season, so I'm recording that now as well.

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