Chat Log - Mike McFarland

Hey, everybody! Mike McFarland here. I'm the voice of Master Roshi, Yajirobe, Pui-Pui, and hundreds of characters like "Man in Suit" and "Freaky Hippie Guy". I also serve as one of the Voice Directors here at FUNimation, along with Justin Cook and Chris Sabbat. I'll answer as much as I can about me, the show, me, my characters, me, myself, and me as possible.

Q: Do you wish Roshi was stronger?
A: Roshi is pretty strong. He is one of the few people that has ever kicked Goku's butt (World Tournament).

Q: What was it like to voice a character who wasn't shown in DBZ for a long time?
A: It's cool. I get to do a lot more in Dragonball than on Z. Plus, like I said, I do bit parts like crazy.

Q: What's it like working for FUNimation?
A: It's great! I get to have fun recording, directing, and going to conventions. And I have achieved my own personal goal of having my own action figures.


Q: Do you think Master Roshi is really weird?
A: He's kind-of weird, but he's also a hermit, spending much of his time alone, which would explain his lack of social skills.

Q: How did you get into voice acting?
A: I have been acting professionally for a few years now, and even before that I was a musician and singer. I took voice training for both areas of study.

Q: How do you get your voice to sound like Master Roshi?
A: When I first auditioned, I pictured the voice to be somewhere between the Cadbury Creme Egg guy and the Pepperidge Farm guy, and from there I was able to come up with my own voice.


Q: How long have you been in the voice acting business?
A: Since about 1996.

Q: As a voice director, what are your responsibilities in the studio?
A: To get the performance that I like out of the actor, to make sure that it fits with the animation, and to listen for subtleties that will make or break the reading.

Q: What is your favorite episode of DBZ?
A: I'm not sure, but I really like the Buu saga so far. I also really liked the episode with the Cell Games re-enactment with the bad actors in masks and suits.

Q: Are you close friends with anyone from the DBZ cast?
A: Yeah, we hang out a lot. A bunch of them come to my comedy show once or twice a week, and we see each other up here at work all the time.

Q: How did you get to voice Yajirobe?
A: I auditioned for it, and got it. I pictured his voice as a really chunky version of Keannu Reeve's "Ted" character.

Q: Who are your favorite Dragon Ball and DragonballZ characters?
A: Majin Buu, Vegeta, Android 18, Krillin, Roshi....I like almost all of them

Q: Do you like your character?
A: Yeah, my characters are fun. I wish they would get into more fights in DBZ, though. My guys seems to kooky sometimes.


Q: Do people ever recognize you or ask you for an autograph?
A: Yes, but it depends on where I am. No one asks for my autograph at The Family Values Tour. I'd get autographs for myself there, as well.

Q: If you could voice any other character in DB/DBZ, who would it be and why?
A: I'd like to do Vegeta, because he's the good/bad guy, like the Punisher or Wolverine. Those guys are cool.

Q: Do you have any other jobs besides this?
A: I act in commercials, films, do voice work, perform improv. comedy, and play music as my other jobs.

Q: What is your favorite Saga of DBZ?
A: Right now it's the Buu saga.

Q: What's it like working with the other voice actors?
A: It's great! We usually record one at a time, so it's always cool to work with others when the time comes.

Q: Do you have a pair of sunglasses like Roshi's?
A: No, and I just lost my cool Fossil sunglasses at a gig about 2 weeks ago. I'm currently using my spares.

Q: Was it hard to get the roll of Master Roshi?
A: I had to audition twice, but I got a lot of parts when I did. The first thing I ever did for FUNimation was the "Sleeping Princess" Dragonball movie. Chris Sabbat started then, as well.

Q: Do you collect anything from DB/DBZ?
A: Mostly stuff with my characters on it, DVD's, action figures...

Q: Would you rather play the voice of a character other than Roshi?
A: No, I wouldn't trade him. He's fun (and naughty). I'd always like additional parts, though.

Q: Have you done voices for any other anime?
A: Yu Yu Hakusho, and Blue Gender.

Q: Why did you pick this as your career?
A: I've always been a performer, and would not have it any other way. I'll never have a desk job.

Q: What is your favorite DBZ movie?
A: The Trunks movie.

Q: What character did you first try out for?
A: I tried out for about ten, and got Roshi, Count Lucifer, the Army Commander, and some monsters in the "Sleeping Princess" movie.

Q: Alright, you got to level with us. Which DB/DBZ female do you think is the most attractive?
A: There are absolutely no unattractive females. They are drawn to be cuties.

Q: Did you get the character you wanted to be?
A: Yeah, I'm very happy with my guys.

Q: Who is your favorite villain?
A: Buu is the most fun, and Cell has the coolest voice that went through changes as he evolved.

Q: What is you favorite attack in either Dragonball or Dragonball Z?
A: I was the first to do the Kamehameha wave, so it's cool. I also like some of the nasty attacks in the World Tounament.

Q: Are you any voices on DB/DBZ besides Master Roshi and Yajirobe?
A: Yeah, lots. Pui-Pui, Count Lucifer, and several hundred bit parts. In an early episode of the Cell saga, I was about 7 Men in Black all at once.

Q: Is your job fun?
A: Yeah, it's tons of fun (like Kevin Smith)

Q: Do you like any other cartoons?
A: Yeah, too many to list, but a few are X-Men, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, and Spiderman.

Q: What do you like best about DBZ?
A: That it's a long continuous saga that you have to follow and keep up with, like Twin Peaks. If you miss an episode or two, it's hard to keep up.

Q: Do you have a lot of time to spend with friends and family?
A: Not as much as I would like. We have different schedules.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: Watch movies and DVDs, go fishing, go see live comedy shows

Q: Is Dragonball Z your favorite anime series?
A: Of course it is.

Q: If you could change the way FUNimation recorded the voices so you were all together, would you, or would you keep it as it is?
A: I would not change anything....sir

Q: I have been a DBZ fan for 3 years and I was wondering how to become a voice actor (after getting an agent and a lawyer)?
A: Offer to work for local radio stations for free, to get yourself some experience and some copies of your work. They sometimes need people to do spots for them.

Q: What's your favorite battle in the entire series?
A: The one with Cell and Gohan.

Q: How long have you been Master Roshi?
A: Since 1996 or 1997. I forgot when, exactly.

Q: Do you think that you and Master Roshi are alike in some ways?
A: Oh, yeah.....heheheheheheheeeeeeeeeeeeee

Q: Is it hard to change your voice?
A: You get used to it after a while. It's hard at first to remember exactly what you did when you were in before to match up the work

Q: Have you ever made a prank phone call to someone with your voice?
A: Not to someone that didn't know it was me after a minute or two

Q: Do you have any humorous stories from adventures with the people at FUNimation?
A: Yes, but I'm bound to keep them secret, as they have dirt on me, as well.

Q: Do you ever worry about going bald like Roshi?
A: Every single day of my full-haired life

Q: How did you become a voice director?
A: The producer asked me if I was interested, and I was. I have training in theater, commercial, and film work as experience.

Q: Why does Master Roshi like all the women?
A: Why wouldn't he? He lives alone on an island with his magazines and aerobics videos.

Q: Are there any sagas after the Buu Saga?
A: I think it goes to Dragonball GT after that.

Q: Would you trade your job for any other job in the world?
A: I think the role of multi-millionaire actor/rock star would be a decent trade.

Q: Which do you like better: edited or uncut DBZ, and why?
A: I like the uncut, because the fights are rougher and Roshi is naughtier.

Q: Have you ever wondered what Roshi looked liked when he was young?
A: I think he looked the same, except for the beard and the hunch in his back.

Q: What is your favorite Kevin Smith movie?
A: I really like Mallrats and Dogma, but there are no bad Kevin Smith movies. I like the latest one the least, though, because the cool dialogue has been reduced to body function jokes.

Q: What sports do you like?
A: I like to play several, but I really hate watching ANY on TV....it's dull for me.
Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
A: I love going to conventions to see who watches the show.

Q: What is your favorite movie (not DBZ) ?
A: Not sure. I love tons. I like things by David Lynch, David Fincher, Kevin Smith, lots of sci-fi, lots of horror.

Q: Who do you think is the wimpiest character in DBZ?
A: Puar, but that cat is meant to be wimpy.


Q: What is your favorite line in the series?
A: "How 'bout a little hooter-huggin', baby?" - Sleeping Princess movie.

Q: Does Roshi's voice strain your normal voice?
A: No, it's easy to float in and out of.

Q: Do you hope to do more anime work?
A: I would love to. I would also like to work on The Simpsons, King of the Hill, and Family Guy.

Q: Have you met the voice of Buu?
A: Yeah, he's Josh Martin, and he is in my comedy troupe called Section 8.

Q: What type of music do you like?
A: Lately I listen to a lot of stuff like Rob Zombie, Godsmack, and Korn, but I also like Toad the Wet Sprocket and 10,000 Maniacs and stuff like that.

Q: What is the best thing about Master Roshi?
A: His love for the ladies is his best feature.

Q: Would you say Master Roshi's power level dropped after not fighting for so long?
A: I think so...he seems so dormant lately.

Q: Is Roshi immortal?
A: Only in the way that Yoda is, which is not really, but longer life than most.

Q: Will you do the voice of Roshi in GT?
A: Yeah, but he is not in much of it, I'm afraid.

Q: Who do you like better in DB Jackie Chung or Master Roshi?
A: Roshi, because he can hide behind his glasses.

Q: Do you think that Vegeta can be cocky?
A: He is meant to be. That's why everyone thinks he's cool.


Q: Will you grow a beard like Roshi?
A: Not unless I have to.

Q: When doing voices do you ever move around to them?
A: Yeah, it helps to get through certain high activity scenes.

Q: What's the stupidest question you've been asked?
A: Do I look like the character I play.

Q: Are any of your voices difficult?
A: Pui-Pui was hard, but fun.

Q: Do you wish you could ever date Meredith McCoy?
A: Who wouldn't want to date Android 18?

Q: What is your favorite DBZ game?
A: I don't have any. I'd love to play the video games, though

Q: Does Roshi die?
A: Not on screen, so I guess not.

Q: Do you like Star Wars? Yes?
A: I love Star Wars, and even liked Episode 1 (let the "uughhhh" commence").

Q: What do you think about Piccolo?
A: He's cool. He's got that gruff, low, smoker's voice.

Q: Why doesn't Roshi fight much in DBZ?
A: He doesn't need to. He trains other to kick butt for him.

Q: Who is Pui-Pui?
A: Pui-Pui is one of Babidi's mental slaves. He looks like a cross between Freiza and the alien from "Alien".

Q: How can we contact you voice actors outside the chat?
A: I have mikemc@section8comedy.com. I will soon add "mikemc@funimation.net" or ".com" to my list. Try that soon.

Q: Do you have a website for yourself and would you like one?
A: Try www.section8comedy.com. That's my comedy troupe. It has pictures of me, the guy who does Hercule, and the guy who does Majin Buu

Q: Have you ever seen the infamous Chris Sabbat?
A: I work with him constantly. He is currently at a convention in New York

Thanks, everybody! It was great chatting with you! Later!