Hanging
with Henderson
by Daniel Kurland
Alright, boils and ghouls. The treat I have for
you today is a very special one indeed. There have been a fair amount of anime
voice actor interviews in the past few years. I had the chance to talk to
someone who hasn’t done that many at all though. This person goes by many
names: Noin, Yukari, Pixie, and most notable Gohan. This person is Saffron
Henderson. Saffron was a pleasure to interview and hopefully you will learn
something new about her. So here is a little look into Saffron’s career of
voice acting!
1.What got you interested in voice acting?
I was already acting, and already working in the
studio (singing jingles and on albums etc.), and some of the people I sang for
asked me to do voiceovers for radio/TV ads. Fun! Then I started auditioning for
animation work, and have really enjoyed that part of the studio experience! I
discovered how much less restrictive it is to be in a studio rather than on
camera. I can be a little boy or an old witch or a hamster, or someone who just
plain looks a lot more interesting than I do! Now I don't even go out for TV or
film. I just sing live and in the studio, and do radio work and, a big favorite,
cartoons.
2.Who were some of your biggest role models growing up?
Uhhh, tough one. Wonder Woman? Charlie's Angels?
(yes, I'm old) [laughs]. More like my dad, who's an incredible musician.
3.What is your most memorable memory in the voice acting career?
Another tough one. I work with great actors and
directors and engineers, so there are plenty of great (and funny) moments....it
was fun, when I worked on a show called Kleo the Misfit Unicorn, to travel to
France for Mipcom (animation convention) and see the thousands of cartoon ideas
being showcased and the people trying to sell them.
4.What is your favorite series you have worked on and why?
Man, you are asking some difficult
ones.....Dragon Ball was one of them, though. I worked on it for so long, with
different studios, and had a blast with the people I met. And Gohan is a cute,
innocent, fierce little guy.
5.If you could voice any other anime character who would it be and why?
Hmmmmm........I have to say I'm content with the
broad range of characters I get to inhabit, for one episode or a whole series.
6.I think you did a very good job with Lieutenant Noin. Did you enjoy voicing
the character and what were you impressions on Gundam Wing in comparison to
other anime series out there?
I liked Lieutenant Noin. Her character is smart
and strong and her voice is just natural, which is always a nice break from the
more acrobatic ones. Gundam Wing was fun to do, but I found Lieutenant Noin to
be a serious character who had very few light moments. I wish she laughed a
little more, but that would have taken away the edge she needed. There are
goofier characters to round out the show. I think Gundam Wing was good series
and definitely one of the better anime shows out there.
7.Most people probably recognize you as Young Gohan from the earlier episodes
of Dragon Ball Z. What was it like voicing this character and how did you
develop your voice for the character?
Actually, I first played young Goku, many years
ago, I think it was 10, on the original Dragon Ball Series. Once we started
Dragon Ball Z and Goku was all grown up, I started on Gohan's voice. Gohan was
easy to develop after working as young Goku. It's a cute, innocent character,
and I miss that little guy. But it was also a tiring voice, 'cause it needs some
grit, and Dragon Ball Z is full of battle scenes and long drawn out screams.
Ouch! Sometimes I'd be booked for a solid 8 hours of Gohan, then attempt to sing
at night with barely any voice left. I wouldn't be surprised if I wore a hole
(or a node) in my vocal cords. But he is so sweet!
8.What was it like when you and the rest of Ocean Group had heard FUNimation
was moving to Texas, and the parts would be recast?
We were all disappointed, but we knew they were
probably trying to save money and keep their project in a more convenient
location, since that's where FUNimation is based. Dragon Ball Z started
recording here in Vancouver again in 2000, and I enjoyed some more Gohan that
year.
9.What is your impression regarding how Stephanie Nadolny did the voice of
Young Gohan after you? I spoke to her and acknowledged this interview to her and
she wanted me to tell you she thinks you did a great job and she would like to
get in contact with you.
I haven't heard Stephanie's Gohan, 'cause I don't
usually have a lot of time to watch cartoons, as weird as that may seem! I'm
sure she did a great job herself, and hope there are lots of shows coming
through there for her to do. Shows come and go, but the people at FUNimation are
nice, busy guys. And we voice actors need to keep ourselves stretched!
10.It must have been rather exciting for you and the rest of the original
cast when you heard that you would be re-dubbing the newer episodes of Dragon
Ball Z?
We were happy to see those characters again, even
if we did have to gargle salt water afterwards!
11. A lot of talk went on saying you had to stopping voicing Gohan in the
Cell Saga because of "stress-related causes", this wasn't the case,
was it?
That's funny, I've heard that comment too. No, I
didn't stop voicing Gohan because of stress or exhaustion or anything like that.
The only thing that was stressful was the timing of my wedding! We'd planned it
for months and months, before Dragon Ball Z even came back, and in order to work
around my husband's availability (he's a baseball player), some immigration
business (he's American) and to get our families together....... We couldn't
change our wedding date when the producers decided they'd need me for a few days
in January/Feb 2001. So we recorded as many episodes as possible by the end of
2000, and then they auditioned new talent for Gohan so they could continue with
someone whose schedule they wouldn't need to work around.
12.Now that you are back to work have you done any other small parts in
Dragon Ball Z such as some of the other actors? I personally think you would
make a great Android 18.
No, I haven't been back to Dragon Ball Z. I've
been busy elsewhere, and they've got enough actors to cover all those parts now.
They don't usually need to bring anyone extra in, because the core cast can do
the incidentals. But who wouldn't love to be an android?
13.Have you heard Kyle Hebert or Brad Swaille's voices of the adult version
of your character and do you think they do justice to the character?
Sorry to say I haven't heard them. But I bet
they're great!
14.What is your all time favorite scene you have ever voiced?
Can't possibly answer that. But one of my
favorites was the one where little Goku goes to Bulma's house and they each take
a bath and he discovers she doesn't have a tail. He's hanging out naked in the
Japanese version, and in at least one scene of the North American one, they had
to paint a chair in front of his privates.
15. Are you close with any other voice actors?
You bet! I've met some great and true friends,
male and female, by working and auditioning with them. They tend to be very
entertaining!
16. What are your latest projects you are working on?
In terms of Anime: Hamtaro (cute little hamster
show, with some very funny actors on it), Brain Powered, and recently an episode
of Soul Takers where I was a bad, bad girl. And I just sang a couple of songs on
Fancy La La. Another cartoon that I've been working on in the past couple years
is "What About Mimi". Possibly also airing right now would be Kong,
The Lost Continent, Kleo the Misfit Unicorn, and Roswell Conspiracies. I've also
been creating a show with my sister, which we'll be trying to sell soon--very
different from most of the shows I work on. Lots of voiceover and singing work.
And I've been doing the female voices on some Internet Flash Animation at an
anti-smoking website which is at www.cancerhead.com. I think they're having a
contest where you could win a Playstation 2!!
17. Any words of encouragement to any aspiring voice actors of fans out
there?
Hmmmmm...........how about GO FOR IT!! Whether
it's acting or singing or writing or contributing anywhere in this world that
you feel needed and fulfilled. We all need just the right balance of dreaming
and doing. Speaking of doing..........there's some precariously piled dishes I'd
better attend to. Lots of Love and Luck to Everybody! Saffron Henderson
I really enjoyed having the opportunity of interviewing Saffron. She was a
great, fun person to talk to, and she gave out some lengthy worthwhile
responses. I really appreciate her putting some time aside from her busy
schedule to have a chance to talk with me. Once again, I thank you Saffron.
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