I interview voice actress Dani Chambers on her roles in My Hero Academia, Ancient Magus Bride, and more! We also discuss her journey in voice acting and what roles are the most important to her.
Transcript
This transcript is edited for clarity.
So hello anime friends, welcome back to another episode of The Anime Tea. This week I have a very special guest joining me. You may have heard her voice recently as Mahoro on My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising. The movie English dub, that just came out in the US. I want to welcome Dani Chambers to the show. Welcome, Dani!
Dani Chambers: Hi. Thank you for having me. I’m really excited.
No problem. Thank you for coming on and very, very grateful that you came on the show.
Dani Chambers: Yeah, of course it’s my pleasure.
Okay, so I want to start off with, as I mentioned earlier, you are in the, new my hero movie and are character Mahoro in the new My Hero Academia movie. So how did you react when you first received the news that you were going to be cast for her?
Dani Chambers: I actually was very surprised because I honestly didn’t think my audition was good enough, because I was housesitting at the time. And so I didn’t have all of my equipment. So I had like my janky travel equipment. And so I got the audition and was like I guess I’ll do my best. So I did it and I wasn’t really that confident in it. So I sent it in anyway. You never know what can happen. And then like a week later, my agent’s like, “Hey, can you record for this, My Hero movie for Mahoro?” And I forgot about it. And then I was looking back at the emails and I’m like, oh, snap, I booked it!
It was so awesome. Like, the best surprises are unexpected. And that’s great.
Dani Chambers: And its so true when they say when you send off your audition, just forget about it. Because that way when you book it, you’re just like, oh my goodness, this is a nice surprise!
I think we can kind of go into spoiler territory, but what I’m going to mention right now isn’t a super spoiler. But I wanted to say that I love when [Mahoro] went off on Deku.
Dani Chambers: My grand Entrance.
Yes. I was like, oh, you went off on that part. It was perfect. Perfect older sister is very overprotective and you really embody that.
Dani Chambers: Oh well. Thank you. I am an older sister, so that that helped me.
That explains it.
Dani Chambers: Now that was fun putting that part. I think that was like my first line. And so we’re just we’re trying to figure out the voice at first, and it was a little lower. But then, Colleen was telling me [Mahoro] is a bit younger. So we tried, aging her down a bit. And that’s how I got the voice of Maharo. It was funny because I’m not really used to being sassy in real life. And then I haven’t really done a lot of sassy characters, voice acting. So it’s like, how do I turn on the sass? So Colleen helped me with that, and the results we got were amazing.
That’s great. I loved her, I love that part. I also wanted to say. So you attended the red carpet premiere of the movie, right?
Dani Chambers: Yes
I saw that you all met and took pictures with Gabe Kunda and Zeno Robinson. The voices of Rock Lock and Hawks.
Dani Chambers: Yes
So what was it like being in a movie and being with other black voice actors in this really popular movie and having you guys behind the scenes of this anime.
Dani Chambers: It was really, really cool. Because I met Gabe before, but I hadn’t met Zeno since I think he’s in California, so, when I finally met them all together, I was like, I’m so happy you guys are here. We’re making it! We’re coming up! And it is very emotional, too, because, I mean, I get to act along with these awesome people, awesome voice actors and it is just a really good feeling. And how hopefully we can be inspirations for, you know, other black voice actors to get into anime and, that’s always a good feeling to help be a part of that, to help inspire others to to do this as well. So it was a feel good moment. And like we took pictures together and there’s one where I’m like hugging Zeno, and I feel like a proud mom.
It was so sweet and cute and you guys all look so happy. Of course, the anime community on Twitter and on Instagram were like, cheering you guys all the way. We were so happy to see you guys there.
I wanted to ask, do you watch My Hero Academia?
Dani Chambers: Yes I do. I’m not caught up yet. I’m a very impatient person sometimes especially when it comes to shows I’m really invested in. I want to wait until season four is completely done so I can just watch it all at once. And it’s so good. So it’s like trying to stay away from spoilers and stuff.
Anime Twitter likes to spoil a lot of things.
Dani Chambers: I know but I mean, I get it, they’re excited. But like, right now, me and my roommate, she hasn’t seen much anime, and she really likes My Hero. So we’re starting from season one, and we just finished season one. So now we’re on a season two and she’s like, this is so good!
Yes, recruit more people to love My Hero. Yes. We also went with my friend and we recently took one of her friends to see the My Hero movie and she’s never seen anime before at all. So it was her first anime experience and movie, and she was like, I really like this movie, actually. I like the characters.
Dani Chambers: And I think My Hero is one of those anime where anybody can understand it. Like, you don’t have to be a huge anime fan. And that’s what I really like about it, because I feel like a lot of people can relate to it, no matter what age you are. Like Christopher Wehkamp he plays Aizawa, he has a story he tells at cons and he said, he had a fan come up and his uncle was there and he was talking to him about the show. “He’s like, oh, so you play that homeless dude, right?” But the cool thing is that, people know who he is. Like, they don’t know his name, but they recognize him. And what makes it cool is that no matter what age they are, they can still understand it. They know what it’s from. They’re like, oh, it’s that hero show, that anime thing. And that’s really cool that people of all ages, and no matter what background you come from, you can still like the show and you connect in that way. And I think that is a really cool aspect about this whole show too.
Yes, I think it’s great. People can just easily identify it and find it interesting and probably get into anime because of it, because it’s so easy to get into.
Dani Chambers: Yes. Oh yes.
So I wanted to say, your voice has actually been around for a while now, especially with, like, Funimation works and other voice acting roles. So, for example, you also voiced Bela in the series BEM, and Otomi in Mix: Meisei Story. Which is actually how I found you! When Funimation posted the behind the scenes. I was like, I need to know who she is! And then of course, I heard you were doing other voice acting roles. And you also have done, Funicia in Astra: Lost in Space, which is an anime that I love, that not a lot of people know about. And you voiced Kokoro from Smile Down the Runway recently. And my personal favorite is Chise from Ancient Magus Bride. It’s one of my favorite anime.
So what were some of your favorite roles to play in your voice acting career so far?
Dani Chambers: Oh, it’s so hard to pick. Chise will always be in my heart as my first big role. I was actually cast before that in The Morose Mononokean as Zenko, she was my first monotone, straight voiced character. And then I got sad panda Chise and I’m like, oh, I love her so much! And the story’s amazing! So that has a really special place in my heart. I also like Fai Fai from Endro~! and Funicia in Astra Lost in Space. That’s show is just amazing. And just being a part of it, really holds a place in my heart because it’s such a very diverse cast and working with Kaitlin on that show and all the stuff that the kids had to deal with, it was fantastic.
I loved it, I loved it.
So you seem to like the heavy hitter shows. The really emotional plots where alot of things happen and the characters go through a lot. Would you say you like those kind of shows, those kind of roles where the characters are just like not this super happy? Like Chise for example has a lot of different levels to her.Dani Chambers:
Dani Chambers: I do like playing characters who have, like, a little more character development, who want to get in depth with their character. Like, Chise, for example. After School Dice Club if you’ve seen it or if anybody has seen that show, Aya, seems like a very happy go lucky girl who just loves friends and she seems that way throughout the whole show. But then, there’s one episode. Spoilers. If you don’t want to have spoilers from that show.
You see she has a breakdown about her dad. She doesn’t have a very good relationship with him because he’s gone all the time. And so she’s trying to have some time with him, and then he says, “Oh, I gotta leave for another business trip.” But she’s like, “But you’re never here. Why?” And she kind of breaks down and you just see a different side of her. And I’m like, I love that. And like with Smile Down the Runway, I love playing Kokoro. She. I don’t really get to play like a lot of quiet characters as much, as of late, and that’s totally fine. But Kokoro is very sweet and she doesn’t really have a lot of confidence in herself. And so trying to find that confidence within her is her struggle. Because she wants to be a fashion designer. She doesn’t want to be a model. And then trying to get the courage and the confidence to break away from modeling and going into fashion designing. She’s learning how to stand up for herself and to build the confidence she needs to accomplish her dreams and not depend on anybody else to fight for her. She needs to learn how to fight her own battles. And that’s one of the things I love about this show. And I love doing it. And it brings a lot out of me because I feel like I can relate to these characters in some kind of way. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but just a little bit, and I think that helps the performance as well.
Yes it sounds very relatable, I haven’t seen Smile Down the Runway yet. My watchlist is so long. But her character sounds very relatable and I love that. Is there any character that you share a personal connection with or relate to the most, or that you feel in your own body or have some kind of or share like a main connection to, without getting too personal.
Dani Chambers: I think I probably relate to it from After School Dice Club because she’s, she seems so happy all the time. Yeah. And I feel like I’m not happy all the time, but I but I’m just like, yay, friendship. You know, let’s let’s do something. Let’s make everybody happy. And that’s really what Aya is. But then whenever she’s trying to, like, be strong or be serious, sometimes she doesn’t get taken seriously. Okay. And, and and I’m like, man, I feel that on a really personal level, it’s so it’s easy to, like, get into and do and do that show, or do that character’s I and it was I feel like it is the one that I feel close to.
I feel like I can kind of see that because with your work you’ve tended to like you’ve done really. Like over-the-top happy characters, but then you’re switching it up with the roles that you say. And like you just said, whether your character from Afterschool Days Club, you can see like your, the duality, like you’re not just one weight, like one voice acting if it’s all if that’s the same.
So I heard versions of some other interviews with voice actors and some of your interviews. And then voice acting is not just about like having a good or interesting sounding voice. It’s also about your ability to act. And I know you have a theater background, so how did that how did your theater background prepare you for, voice acting?
Dani Chambers: Well, I’ve been doing theater since I was six. And so I’ve learned a lot in my entire life up to this point about theater. And so it helped me learn with, like, character development, how characters should be at certain scenes and, and, you know, techniques and stuff like that. But having the theater background, for voice acting, helped a lot because, you know, when the director is trying to tell you, okay, this is how this is direction.
I want you to say this line, you can kind of go with, with how you think it should be said and try to get make sure the director likes that take. And, and you can kind it gauge and how you think they would feel, how you think they would say it. It gives you a better perspective on, how you think the, how you think the character would say it.
And rather than just repeating what the director wants you because, I mean, they’re like, well, I’m just doing the work I might as a recording, you know, rather than having the voice actor do it and having the theater background or any acting background in general, just happy theater film or whatever. Improv. Improv helps a lot too. But having any acting background helps because you’ll understand characterization and, and character develop, and that’ll help you convey the emotions needed to get the performance that the director wants and that the audience will react the best you, and and it does it does make a difference in if people and if if anybody wants to become a voice actor, I would suggest doing like community theater or if there’s like any, acting classes for beginners, in like your city or, if there’s a class, if you can afford it. Take a class that way, you know what you’re getting into in, in and if you like it, then go for it. If you don’t, then then maybe it’s not for you.
That’s great. That’s good advice because some people go for things thinking it’s going to be a certain way, and then it’s not. So it’s always yeah, it’s try. Yes, yes yes, see what you like. Which is amazing. That’s really good advice. Thank you.
I also want to ask, how did you get started with, animation and some of the other, like, companies that you voice active for?
Dani Chambers: Well, I actually started voice acting in 2013. I was not very good at all. I guess. I was just used to theater where you just big and boisterous and, like, yes. Of acting on the theater, the stage, and in voice acting. You still can do that. But you kind of have to pull back a little bit because you can’t make all the grandiose movements and stuff because it doesn’t make it up, and that’s distracting. But, I started I actually started with, specifically anime in 2000.
Was it, 17? No, no, I’m sorry, 2016. I took Chris Vega’s class, for, anime video games and, and I it was Joe McDonald and Sinclair and Tyler Walker, and they were the teachers there, and and I learned a lot from them about, you know, how different it is from regular acting and how you get stuff pulled out of you as an actor in it made me think, like, can I do this? This is kind of hard. And. But but I loved it, though it was a good learning experience. And, the following year, Joe McDonald teaching another regular acting class and, I was like, oh, neat, this is awesome. And he was like, hey, you didn’t send me your demo from the last class. I was like, oh, I thought I did. He’s like, I didn’t get i
So I sent it again. And then he brought me in, I think a couple weeks later for some wallah for one piece. And wallah is like, background characters. You know, bits and stuff, random people saying different things in the background and, I did wallah for a couple, a couple of weeks, and then, I did some wallah for Tyler Walker when he was directing, and he, he had me audition for the marathon in Okin. And so I was like, oh, wow. This an okay. Sure. And I wasn’t expecting to get anything. I’m like, this is I’m new.
I auditioned and I was just proud of it. And like, you know, I don’t get anything that’s fun experience. I’m excited. And then, a week later, I found out other cast is Zuko just supporting character in the show. And I was like, oh, awesome. So that was like my first actual named role at Funimation.
Yeah. And then I think Tyler was out sick for a couple weeks, and then Kyle Phillips was directing a show, directing it for a while. And, he heard me and he’s like, hey, are you busy for the next 24 weeks? And I’m like, what? You mean? He’s like, can you come in like once a week? And I was like, oh, yeah, I can do that.
And he’s like, cool, what do you do for a show? And I’m so dumb sometimes because I was like, oh, yeah, I guess you just let me use me for like bits and Wallace of just to make sure I’ll be, you know, be good to help, to be reliable. And then so the first day and for the, for the show, he’s like, okay, I have a show called The Bright and, you’re going to be cheesy. And he’s like, she’s the main character in the show. And I was like, what? She’s a main character. I’ve only been working here for like three months. He’s like, no, I really like your sound. And I think you’d be a great fit for this character. And I’m like.
Oh my God, thank you. So that’s how I got my sad panda Chise. And then ever since then, it’s been a whirlwind and it’s it’s amazing. And I never I never want to stop learning. I feel like I do learn from my characters. So yeah. The huge thanks to Tyler Wagner and Kyle Phillips and Joel McDonald, I those are the three directors that I have massive respect for.
That is so amazing. This like like, where’s my heart? They like here. They like had an experience like that. And so great. And it made you feel like so comfortable. And you continue to learn from the characters that you do. And it’s great just hearing your voice every time. Like, every time I listen to a dub, like a new diamond or like it’s that that’s the difference.
Okay, so we’re reaching the end of the show. I want to do a quick question segment that this is the first time I’ve ever done it. So you’re the first person to do this. So yeah. Sweet. Awesome. It’s called the spill the tea questions.
And the first one I have is if you could have any quirk, what would it be?
Dani Chambers: Oh, I would have the power. Kind of like electricity. Kind of like Denki. But, not just electricity, but, like, can grab, like, metal objects, things that are that will conduct electricity that I could use to battle with.
And, who’s your favorite? Either my hero character or anime character in general.
Dani Chambers: Oof! But my favorite, my hero character is Robby she’s my favorite anime character right now at this present time.
Awesome. What are some upcoming works that you were involved in and are allowed to. And now I know you can’t always announce new stuff until it’s out. Oof! Am I in anything right now?
Dani Chambers: I don’t think any thing right now. Yeah, I don’t think there’s anything right now that, that I’m in that’s coming up soon. I think everything’s out in the open at the moment.
And what are some final words of advice you have some people make about getting into voice acting or just getting into the anime industry in general?
Dani Chambers: My first one would be do your research, make sure this is what you want to do. And you’re going to have to have a lot of patience. Like I said, I started in 2013. I didn’t book my first big thing until 2017. So that is you. You’re going to have to have a lot of patience, and you’re going to have to push yourself because you have to market yourself too. So be sure this is what you want to do. Do your research, ask around and and figure out if this really, really is what you want to do.
That’s great advice. Awesome. Thank you so much for being on my podcast. I’m still like it hasn’t really completely hit that. Oh, but, I wanted to say plug yourself. Ready to go find you online up and cause you’re going to.
Dani Chambers: Yeah. Well, first of all, thanks for having me. It was really a fun talking to you.
Dani Chambers: You can follow me on Twitter at Skinny Mini zero seven, Instagram at Danny D chambers and, Facebook, I think is Danny Chambers VA? I don’t know why they’re all different, but whatever.
Thanks again to Dan Chambers for coming on the show. I really appreciate her being able to. Come on. It was so fun to have her. And I really love her. She’s so sweet. You guys. So go support her. Go listen to what? The show she’s been on and go follow her on her social media.
