Eric Johnson's FUNimation Chat Transcript

Hi, all. This is Eric Johnson. I'll try my best, but please forgive any spelling mistakes.

Thanks for coming here today to ask me questions, especially in light of our country's tragedy. My best goes out to all of you and yours... I hope you're all safe. Now, what can I answer for you guys?

Q: Do you like being a voice actor?
A: I love acting, first. It doesn't matter to me in what fashion I do it.

Q: Do you have any DBZ Anime Cels
A: No. They're quite expensive. I collect books and DVD's.

Q: how does Trunks and Goten fuse?
A: By doing fusion. There's a little move they do, it's pretty complicated. I don't understand the exact physics of it.

Q: What is you're favorite episode?
A: I LOVE ALL THE EPISODES, DUDE!

Q: What's your email address?
A: My fan e-mail address is exploreinsanity@hotmail.com

Q: How did you get picked to be the voice of trunks?
A: It was very last minute. Chris Sabat gave me a callback after I auditioned for him three months earlier. Two days later I was in the booth.

Q: What is your favorite Saga?
A: Cell saga.

Q: I want to become a Japanese DBZ Voice actor, do you think I can do it and do you have any advice?
A: I don't know you, but if I can do it, I bet you can. My advice is to start acting as early as possible, as often as possible. After you d o that for a while, you'll know the next steps to take.

Q: What's your favorite food?
A: Italian with red wine.

Q: Do u like what u do?
A: If you mean my job, yes. If you mean having to clean the kitchen and run to the grocery store and pick up after my cat, then no.

Q: Which character do you like best?
A: Vegeta, by far.

Q: How fun is it to work in a cartoon?
A: Very fun, but weird. If you're acting, you can see yourself, you can judge yourself. Voice acting, cartoon work, you can see yourself, so it's a little odd.

Q: Do you have any friends that you work with while voice acting? and if so who are they and what characters do they play?
A: I have no friends. Just kidding. Chris Sabat directs me, and we hang out a lot. He lives near me. He also does Piccolo, Vegeta, Mr. Popo, and Yamcha.

Q: Who is your favorite bad guy?
A: Cell.

Q: Exactly how old are you, exactly?
A: Exactly, I am 27, exactly.

Q: Are you friends with Sunny Strait, voice of Krillin????
A: I just call him Sonny. And yes, he's a great guy. Lots of fun.

Q: Do you ever get an adrenaline rush during a fighting or training scene?
A: No, I just get tired.

Q: What's your favorite song?
A: Tough one… I never change the station when a Doors song is on, so it's somewhere in there.

Q: How many hours do you work?
A: Depends on the week. I also write for DBZ, so that is a full time job at home. Studio work is less often.

Q: Is the meaning of life, 42, as Sean Schemmel said?
A: So, I see Sean has actually read a book, that's great for him. Just kidding... the meaning of life, to me, is pizza.

Q: Do you ever watch the shows/movies?
A: Yes, being a writer, I have to watch many episodes in order to have a grasp of the story.

Q: What was the hardest voice or action you've had to do while being the voice of Trunks? (ex. powering up, going ultra super saiyan etc.)
A: Hyperbolic time chamber with Vegeta and Trunks. I screamed so long, I passed out in the booth. I recovered quickly, though.

Q: What did you do to prepare to do Trunks' voice?
A: Chris Sabat taught me to siren. You start your voice at a high pitch then siren it down to a low pitch.

Q: Do you play the DBZ card game?
A: No.

Q: Do you go to public places and use your Trunks voice to mess with people?
A: No.

Q: Which do you prefer? Cookies or brownies?
A: Brownies. Duh.

Q: Is the voice of Young Gohan going to have a Celebrity Chat any time soon?
A: In the future, everything is possible.

Q: Is your personality like Trunks' or totally different?
A: Different. I'm a really high-strung person.

Q: Why do all the girls like Trunks?
A: He so fine. It's the hair.

Q: How many people work as the voices of the DBZ/GT characters?
A: DBZ is approx. 40 people.

Q: Do you like the Babidi saga
A: I like Buu, but Babidi bugs me to no end.

Q: Why is Vegeta your favorite character?
A: Because he's the baldest.

Q: Do you have a website about yourself?
A: A fan made a website for me, but that's about it. I'm not sure what the site address is.

Q: If you wanted to act as a character how would you find out if there are any open spots on the show? Say I wanted to act for this show how would you get on it?
A: Get an agent, and they'll get you the work.

Q: Do you collect anything from DBZ?
A: Paychecks. I collect DVD's like I said. I also collect signed posters.

Q: Is Chris Sabat the coolest guy or what?
A: He's a little long winded and has the breath of a banshee, but I can put up with him for at least 45 minutes at a time.

Q: Do you use the computer much? Like go online and chat with people a lot?
A: Not for chat. I use the computer as a writing and research tool mostly.

Q: What city were you born in? and what is your favorite city to visit?
A: Born in Grand Prairie, TX. My favorite city to visit is Las Vegas, baby.

Q: How many DBZ DVD's do you have?
A: I never counted. Many.

Q: Which episodes are you guys actually working on?
A: #244.

Q: You people are so funny. How can you be that funny?
A: Huh?

Q: Hey, I thik your voice sucks man.
A: I can spell.

Q: Do you like Smash Mouth?
A: They're okay. Their drummer is from Denton, TX - where I lived for many years.

Q: Why are the voices so different now on YTV?
A: It's beyond the scope of my job to have answers to that. Sorry.

Q: What is your favorite part about being Trunks' voice?
A: Developing a voice that was originally very far from my natural voice.

Q: Do you have any parts in Blue Gender?
A: Yes, I play the lead, Yuji.

Q: What is your favorite book?
A: Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury.

Q: How old is DBZ?
A: Almost 20 years, depending on which series.

Q: Can I have you and/or any other voice actors autographs?
A: FUNimation is attending many conventions this year. They always bring actors with them. Watch the website for the dates when we'll be in a town near you.

Q: Is it hard speaking Trunks' voice?
A: Not anymore.

Q: How much do you get paid?
A: As much as is deemed appropriate by my employers.

Q: Does the person that plays Babidi also annoy you?
A: I don't know who does that voice. I've never met him.

Q: What is your favorite TV show?
A: It's a close race... The Simpsons or The West Wing.
A: X-files, too.

Q: I'm being Trunks for Halloween, do you suggest anything I should do for my costume?
A: Do not use permanent hair color.

Q: Do you like any other cartoon series?
A: Family Guy absolutely ROCKS! I'm also really digging Cartoon Networks AdultSwim.

Q: What other work have you done besides DBZ? Have you done any other anime work?
A: hallofmirrorsmovie.com is the website of a film I did. I've also done many commercials. I'm also working on Blue Gender, I play Yuji.

Q: Do you have any more scheduled live appearances, and if so when?
A: All of my trips are currently on hold. We're going to wait on those decisions.

Q: Do you like other animes too?
A: I grew up on Robotech, Starblazers, and Battle of the Planets.

Q: Do you know the email addresses to any other DBZ voice actors? If you do, could you please tell me them?
A: Sorry, I don't.

Q: When you do a fighting seen do you just act like you're constipated to make the noises?
A: No, I just eat a lot of cheese.

Q: What is Blue Gender?
A: A new anime acquired by our company. It is a great show and it will be available on video and DVD October 16th. Buy it. It's my favorite thing I've done. Even better than Trunks.

Q: Did you like the music from the band Dream Theater that was put under the Trunk's Special? I thought it Rocked!!
A: Yeah, it fits very well. But I've not listened to them outside of that context.

Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: Dream about how I can be more like Chris Sabat.

Q: What are your feelings about the current events taking place?
A: It the worst thing that has ever happened to our country.

Q: Do you act Chibi (young) Trunks' voice, too?
A: No, Laura Bailey does that voice.

Q: Have you ever considered making your own cartoon before?
A: No. I can't draw anything to save my life. I'll stick to VA.

Q: Where do you live right now?
A: At home.

Q: Do you ever order stuff from the FUNimation Store?
A: No. I buy at my local toy retailer.

Q: Are you all right with the fact that the character you play has purple hair?
A: Yes. I am secure in my life.

Q: Are you going to be the voice for young Trunks when he's an adult?
A: I hope so. If I'm still around, and they'll still have me, then I'll do it.

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