Congratulations to Kyle Hebert for winning Best Voice Actor (English) at Anime Expo 2009!

Otaku Crush: Fans want to know more about the man behind the voices. Where did you grow up?

Kyle Hebert: Born in Louisiana, but my folks moved to Texas pretty much right away, so I lived in Dallas my whole life until fall of 2005. Been in Los Angeles ever since.

OC: Did you watch a ton of cartoons in the 70’s?

KH: You bet! Looney Tunes was the biggest chunk of my cartoon diet. I also distinctly remember Speed Racer, Battle of the Planets, and Star Blazers.

OC: Which ones were your favorites?

KH: Bugs Bunny, Foghorn Leghorn, the aforementioned anime titles.

OC: Were you able to amaze your friends and family with your voices at an early age? Or was it something you developed later?

KH: I was actually quite shy growing up, so only my close friends knew about my ability to do voices. But Looney Tunes truly inspired me to do it as a career. Learning that Mel Blanc- just ONE guy, voiced all the Looney Tunes was enough to make me decide what to do with my life.

OC: Tell us a little bit about working at Radio Disney and did it shape your career in anime?

KH: My other life long goal was to be a DJ. After getting a degree in it, I started as an intern at ABC Radio Networks in Dallas, working on several syndicated national satellite radio formats. In 1996, I was hired for my first full time radio job at Radio Disney there. I was a DJ, writer, producer, and character voice talent for them for nine years. I had a total blast. My on air persona was very zany, with sound effects, and multiple characters that I would record and interact with. In summer 2000, some co-workers took a tour of Funimation and found out they were having auditions. They knew cartoon voiceover was my ultimate goal, so they gave me the audition number, I called, tried out, and a few weeks later, I got hired. Been a rollercoaster ever since, starting with Dragonball Z.

OC: How did you get your “foot in the door” in anime voice work when you moved to LA?

KH: Steve Blum is who I owe my LA career to, definitely. I met Steve as a fellow guest at Animefest in Dallas in 2004. I told him I planned to move to LA and he offered to pass my demo around to the various studios. Within a few months of moving, I was on Naruto, Bleach, etc. I’ve been very fortunate, and I am eternally grateful. Steve is who I wanna be when I grow up, hehehe. He’s voicing Wolverine nowadays. Just an incredible, genuine, rockin’ dude.

OC: If there is a young person out there who thinks they have talent in voice over work, where would you advise they start?

KH: Get training and experience when and where you can, then move where the work is. Its about acting, not doing voices. Many voice actors can’t do a gazillion voices, but what they can do is bring a character to life with their acting skills. Take workshops or enroll in classes. It won’t come fast, cheap, or easy, but if its a path you’re passionate about, go for it and never give up.

OC: Which is your favorite anime voice? Or are they all like your “children”, impossible to pick a favorite.

KH: I truly am just thrilled that I get to do this. Whether its a bit part or a recurring role…video games or anime (and someday cartoons!)….I am a geek about my own career. Gohan and the Narrator on DBZ will always be special because that was my first show. Lately, I’d say a personal recent fave was Kamina from Gurren Lagann. His character really resonates with the fans and its a fantastic show.

OC: Have you ever been in front of the camera? Any desire? You have a great look.

KH: Thanks!!! I’ve done a tiny bit of on camera. My biggest project was being an extra on the third Pirates movie, but any shot that I could have been in was not used in the final cut. I’ve done indie shorts and web stuff (such as Wario in “There Will Be Brawl”). I am very interested in pursuing more, especially in commercials, but my main focus is voiceover. You really do have to be 110 percent committed to make acting work happen.

OC: How many conventions do you do a year? Do you get tired of doing a character’s voice on command by a fan?

KH: There’s a little bit of a “dance, monkey, dance” vibe, but I always keep it in perspective. These roles are what brought me to the fans’ attention. They love the shows and I am very thankful every day for their support. My goal is to entertain people. I do at least a dozen cons a year, and every year, the appearance requests grow. I LOVE going to cons and meeting the fans. I get to travel, get treated like a rock star for a weekend (VAs are struggling actors and definitely NOT rich)…..I absolutely adore my job.

OC:  And speaking of your voice, how do you take care of it?

KH: I don’t, hahaha. I do everything your’e NOT supposed to do before a session, like eat, drink soda, etc. Some sessions are screamfests and I end up losing my voice…….but its all worth it.

OC: Kyle, Any special projects or information about yourself you would like us to include in the interview?

KH: I encourage everybody to check out my geek news podcast, The Big Bald Broadcast (http://thebigbaldbroadcast.com). Every week we cover video games, anime/cartoons, movies, gadgets/tech, and other random fandom insanity.

OC: And now Kyle, for our lightening round of questions which we end every interview with:

1.  Beer or Wine

KH: beer

2.  Mac or PC

KH: PC….but am curious to try Mac

3.  Dog or Cat

KH: dog….don’t own any pets though

4.  Spielberg or Lucas

KH: Lucas….but sometimes I wanna strangle him, hahaha.

5.  Rock or Rap

KH: METAL, baby!

6.  Bike or Car

KH: Car, fo’ shizzle

7.  Desktop or Lap top

KH: laptop…but really its all about the iPhone!

8.  Coke or Pepsi

KH: Dr. Pepper, huzzah!

9.  Hamburgers or Sushi

KH: Sushi……..spicy tuna owns!!!!