Alicyn's Wonderland

There’s no other way to end the year but with a wonderful guest! In this episode, the incredibly talented storyboard artist Jordan Koch joins us for a fantastic finale episode. Jordan has worked on some MAJOR animated properties over the last few years, including Nickelodeon’s The Loud House Cartoon where he boarded 34 episodes and drew over 44, 000 storyboard panels for the Emmy Award-winning cartoon!

Join us, as Jordan and I talk about a host of fantastic topics, from his days of making home movies in the backyard with his brothers and even how he got The Golden Girls’ autographs when he turned 16! Jordan also shares with us what a storyboard artist does, and what it’s like to work on some of the biggest shows like The Loud House and Tom & Jerry! He also shares some valuable pieces of advice for anyone looking to start a career as a storyboard artist. This episode offers a ton of inspiration and cheer, making it the perfect way to close this year!

Timestamps:

[1:15]            Jordan talks about The Golden Girls

[7:43]            What does a storyboard artist do?

[14:33]          How Jordan got the job at The Loud House

[29:57]          What tools does Jordan use as a storyboard artist?

[37:18]          Jordan talks about his current project at Netflix

[45:13]          Jordan’s advice for aspiring storyboard artists

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Alicyn's Wonderland | Inside the World of Animation & Games

Love the cartoons from Dreamworks Animation? In this week’s episode, we are joined by someone who’s been involved in a number of them! Voice actress Secunda Wood joins us down the rabbit hole to share her amazing and inspiring journey into the world of live television, animation, and voiceover. Secunda is best known as Mercat in Gabby’s Dollhouse, as Hailey Comet in The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants in Space and Tiffany Benson in Fast & Furious Spy Racers. She has also played many parts in live television. 

Join us as Secunda shares her colorful journey which started from the time she starred in a commercial when she was just five years old. She also shares some insights on how voiceover acting has evolved over the years. Lastly, Secunda also graces the airwaves with her dynamic range, singing “Spa Science”! This episode with Secunda offers plenty of empowerment, inspiration, and joy for anyone looking to start a career as a voiceover artist. 

Timestamps:

[12:18]Secunda talks about her audition for Gabby’s Dollhouse 

[14:45]Secunda sings “Spa Science”

[16:31]The start of Secunda’s performing journey

[21:12]How Secunda landed her first-ever commercial

[28:44]Why voice acting changed Secunda’s life

[34:04]The changes Secunda has seen in the industry

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Alicyn's Wonderland | Inside the World of Animation & Games

For this exciting edition, on-camera and voice actress Sharon Muthu joins us down the rabbit hole and through the looking glass into the wonderful world of the entertainment industry! Sharon’s career in the voiceover and the entertainment industry is the culmination of a lifelong journey. She has worked in some major projects like the Diablo and Agents of Mayhem video game franchises as well as the voice of Dr. Bellum in the Carmen Sandiego series on Netflix! 

In addition to her successful career, Sharon also serves as the “Ambassador to Hollywood” as part of the Dark Is Beautiful campaign. Join us as Sharon talks about her journey, where she went from studying and working in theater in San Diego to becoming an on-camera actress in Los Angeles and eventually, a voiceover actress. She also goes into detail about what the campaign Dark Is Beautiful stands for and also talks about the importance of authentic representation in both the on-camera and voice acting industries. This episode offers a ton of value for anyone looking to start a career in either the on-camera and voiceover industries! 

Timestamps:

[4:20]Sharon’s New Project

[6:56]The impact of Sharon’s theater training on her approach on auditions

[8:37]How Sharon prepares for a role

[30:31]Sharon talks about the Dark Is Beautiful campaign

[38:54]How the call for diversity has changed the industry so far

[42:52]Why it’s so critical to have or be supportive parents

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Alicyn's Wonderland | Inside the World of Animation & Games

Here’s an early gift for you this December! For this episode, I am joined by animation writer Eric Rogers. Eric worked his way up in the TV industry from the bottom as a production assistant and script coordinator for various live-action shows before breaking through and becoming a writer’s assistant for Futurama! Soon after Eric went on to develop the smash-hit Skylanders Academy animated series, where he not only wrote and produced but also provided the voice of Crash Bandicoot for two seasons! 

Join us as we dive into Eric’s epic career. He also talks about the challenges and the triumphs he’s seen throughout his career as a show creator animation writer. However, the most exciting part has got to be the opportunity to talk to Eric about the exciting new things he’s working on! This episode serves large helpings of wisdom and inspiration for anyone looking to make their own breakthrough in the TV industry. 

Timestamps:

[10:27]Who inspired Eric Rogers’ aspirations to work in the TV industry?

[19:21]How Futurama changed Eric’s life

[27:25]Eric didn’t do what until college?!

[30:31]Eric talks about his transition from adult animation to children’s animation

[36:01]Eric’s mistake 

[57:18]What’s Eric working on lately

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Alicyn's Wonderland | Inside the World of Animation & Games

Hop aboard as three-time Daytime Emmy Award nominated casting and voice director Kristi Reed joins us today down the rabbit hole and through the looking glass into the wild and wonderful world of animation! Kristi started off her career in the industry by directing commercials before Eric P. Sherman saw her potential and suggested she try her hand in the anime industry. Things have never been the same for Kristi since. 

Today, Kristi boasts a long list of spectacular achievements in both anime and American animation, having worked on iconic shows such as Samurai Champloo, Clarence, Infinity Train, Centaurworld, Vampirina, We Bare Bears, Summer Camp Island, and more! Kristi also stands as an advocate for LGBTQ+ representation in the industry. Join us as Kristi and I talk about her journey to becoming who she is today, the importance of meditation, and more in this exhilarating and enlightening episode! 

Timestamps:

[3:39]Kristi’s global journey to Los Angeles

[5:19]Kristi talks about authenticity 

[9:31]What it was like to work on Clarence

[13:26]What it was like working on Adventure Time

[18:46]Tips on how to help a actor bring out their best performance

[25:06]The charm of working with children

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Alicyn's Wonderland | Inside the World of Animation & Games

Ahoy, matey! This week, we are joined by one of the most spectacular minds in the animation industry, who’s brilliant imagination helped bring some of the most iconic animated shows in recent history to life. Thurop Van Orman is a cartoonist, voice actor, television producer, writer, and director. He is best known as the creator of the Cartoon Network show, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, that boasted surreal style and witty humor that won the hearts of viewers of all ages. 

Join us down the rabbit hole as Thurop takes us all the way back to the time when he decided to live in Shell Island and the crazy misadventures he lived through, the time when he was studying at CalArts, and how he eventually found his way into the voice acting and animation industry. He also talks about the humble beginnings of his hit show, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, as well as his other work. This episode is definitely a wild and inspiring ride, so brace yourself! 

Timestamps:

[5:04]Thurop’s Shell Island (mis)adventures

[19:06]How Thurop got into voice acting 

[21:11]The humble beginnings of The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack

[23:44]Thurop’s advice for aspiring show creators

[28:07]What it was like to transition from 2D to 3D

[40:54]How ADHD affects Thurop

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Alicyn's Wonderland | Inside the World of Animation & Games

In this week’s episode, I am joined by yet another amazing woman in the voice acting industry. Award-winning VO and MOCAP actress Linsay Rousseau is best known for Elita-1 in Transformers: War for Cybertron and her extensive work in video games including Deathloop, Fallout 76, and Rage 2 to name a few. She also hosts a weekly talk show for all things geeky called The Roll Out on YouTube! 

Linsay takes us down the rabbit hole to talk about her early life and how it has helped keep her grounded while performing today, plus her musical foundations! She also goes into detail about the reason behind her decision to join the army as well as her experiences, and what she did after she was discharged. Finally, Linsay and I talk about her journey as a VO, how her military training has given her an edge in this line of work, and her characters. Linsay’s story surely proves that you never really know what life’s going to throw at you, and the best way to handle those curveballs is just to pivot. 

Timestamps:

[07:03]How constantly moving as a child helps Linsay stay grounded when performing

[09:07]Why Linsay joined the army

[14:22]What Linsay did after being discharged from the army

[21:59]Linsay talks about what it was like to book her role as Elita-1

[48:15]The most challenging thing Linsay had to do while voice acting


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Alicyn's Wonderland | Inside the World of Animation & Games

In this week’s episode, I am joined by the one and only Kaitlyn Robrock, whose voice gives life to many delightful characters today. Kaitlyn assumed the role of Minnie Mouse after the character’s original voice artist, Russi Taylor, passed away in 2019. She is also the voice of a plethora of other animation characters including Felicia in Amphibia and the title character Mrs. Pickle, as well as a number of characters in films and video games. 

Join us as Kaitlyn Robrock tells us how she came to be the legendary Russi Taylor’s successor for Minnie Mouse. She also shares which among Disney’s many characters are her favorites. Kaitlyn also reveals why being a fan of your work helps in maintaining the character’s magic not only for the young audience but also for long-time fans. Moreover, Kaitlyn also talks about her other work like Felicia and Mr. Pickles. This episode offers plenty of magic and inspiration for fans of Kaitlyn’s characters as well as those looking to learn more about voice acting.

Time stamps:

[8:18]The time when Kaitlyn met Russi Taylor

[14:15]Kaitlyn’s favorite Disney characters

[14:45]How Kaitlyn became the new voice behind Minnie Mouse

[43:10]What Disney taught Kaitlyn about parenting

[46:04]Kaitlyn talks about Nicholas Cage

[55:15]Kaitlyn talks about the original voice actors of Mickey and Minnie


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Alicyn's Wonderland | Inside the World of Animation & Games

In this week’s episode, we are joined by someone who’s been doing voice acting pretty much her entire life. Olivia Hack became a part of the creative industry when she was just eight months old, starring in a Minolta commercial. She has since made quite a name for herself in the voice acting community, and has lent her voice talents to a spectacular range of characters over the years. Some of her best known characters include Ty Lee from Avatar: The Last Airbender, Cloe in the Bratz show, and Rhonda Wellington Lloyd from Hey Arnold! She has also done plenty of voice acting work for several video games, including Final Fantasy X-2 and the Avatar: The Last Airbender games. 

Join us, as Olivia talks about her experiences as a child voice actor in the industry and the many crazy (mis)adventures she’s gone through throughout her career! In addition to this, Olivia also shares why she absolutely loves taking part in conventions. She also shares some incredibly inspiring advice for those who want to cosplay but hold back out of fear of being bullied. This episode brims with colorful anecdotes, tips, insights, and uplifting messages that’s sure to give you a boost of inspiration to pursue your dreams.

Timestamps

[2:58] Why Olivia LOVES conventions

[21:03]How it’s like to work with Michael Hack

[36:04]Olivia and OnlyFans

[49:47]What’s the best part about voice acting?

[53:40]Olivia talks about The Brady Bunch

[58:19]Olivia on why you shouldn’t be afraid to do cosplay

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Alicyn's Wonderland | Inside the World of Animation & Games

AW 27 | Tom Ruegger - Creator of Animaniacs, Pinky & the Brain, Tiny Toons

In this week’s episode, we are joined by animation legend Tom Ruegger, the creator of Animaniacs, Pinky & The Brain, and Tiny Toons. Tom has been in the animation industry for over four decades and has worked on some of the most memorable cartoons at Warner Brothers, Hanna-Barbera, and Disney. He has won seventeen Emmy Awards for his work that has defined generations of childhoods across the world. To say that I am thrilled to finally sit down with Tom is an understatement!

Tune in as Tom takes us back to his journey to fully realizing his animator dreams (you won’t believe what the final straw was for Tom to leave New Jersey!) and the events that led him to work amongst animation’s biggest names in the 80s. Tom also shares what it was like to work with the likes of Hanna Barbera, Jo Barbera, and Steven Spielberg. Finally, Tom goes into detail about how his iconic works such as Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, and Pinky & The Brain came to be. This is definitely a very inspiring and nostalgic episode!

Timestamps:

[7:20]Tom Ruegger’s Humble Beginnings

[17:39]The Phone Booth Call That Changed Tom’s Life Forever

[22:13]Tom Talks About Working With Hanna-Barbera

[29:39]Meeting Steven Spielberg and creating the most iconic cartoon shows of the 90s

[41:21]Tom talks about the Will You Wear A Mask project

[47:53]Tom shares his process

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Alicyn's Wonderland | Inside the World of Animation & Games