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| KOEI Warriors interview Doug Stone; Voice of Gan Ning | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:40 am (839 Views) | |
| LittleDragonZ | Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:40 am Post #1 |
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KOEI Warriors is now pleased to present the fact we've had a chance to interview the voice actor, Doug Stone. In this we target specifically his career and his role towards the popular character we know as Gan Ning. Enjoy! KW: How did your voice acting career begin? Doug Stone: I was working a Managerial job at General Foods when they announced that they needed someone to voice on test commercials - testing them for timing, etc. before the big stars actually voiced them. I auditioned for, and got the job. Eventually they began to pay me for the work. I had wanted to be a full-time actor for a long time (I'd been doing theater for a few years). The idea of supplementing my career with voice work was very appealing. I quit the job and had enough money to last one year - that was how long I gave myself to succeed professionally. I was able to get a client who hired me to supply all of the commercials for the stores in a large mall. Soon I was making enough to help support my theater and t.v. career. My Dad had been on radio for years and my younger brother was a News Caster. I guess it was in the blood. In 1985 I was the lead in a small short film. The cinematographer, who was well-known, recommended me to a large talent agency, who signed me. Luckily, two months later they secured auditions for a cartoon series called, M.A.S.K. I was able to secure the lead and quite a few other characters. That got me to Los Angeles, in 1985. I've been making my living strictly as a v/o actor ever since. Whew! Long answer! KW: Since working with Voicegroup, what have been your highlights? Doug Stone: I'm actually working with Voicegroup again tomorrow! I don't know the name of the project. I've voiced hundreds of anime shows and many games. I was the commercial voice of Hotpockets for a few years. Perhaps what I'm best known for is the role of Psycho Mantis in the game, "Metal Gear Solid." KW: I also hear you even directed Voicegroup for a few titles for Koei's Dynasty Warriors series. What was it like managing and performing these actions? Doug Stone: I had actually been directing dubbed projects since 1989 or so, as well as a few games. But the Dynasty Warrior series was certainly daunting. We had so many actors to cast and direct, such precise pronunciations and such a complex story. The Koei representative was very exciting. It took a lot of work. I was happy that I was also hired to do the casting, so I was able to get auditions for a lot of good actors that I knew. Many of them are still on the series today. KW: Talented and favorited voice actors such as Yuri Lowenthal, Lex Lang and Kirk Thornton have been with the series for a long time. Have you been able to work closely or meet up with any actors playing alongside you? Doug Stone: Yes, I know Lex, Yuri and Kirk. I've probably known Kirk since 1988 or so. I've also directed Liam and Crispin and a few of the "younger generation," of voice actors. When I directed Dynasty Warriors I interacted with all the actors. I don't see them at sessions now because each actor works alone. There have been a few actors added to the series since it began but I directed most of them at the start. A lot of very talented and nice people. KW: Gan Ning, the character who you voice is quite a lively, fierce person. What was it like acting as a pirate and causing trouble? He has a rough voice (though it's different in Dynasty Warriors 6, less preferred by fans might I add), so how hard was it to catch these characteristics and perform the best you can? Doug Stone: Gan Ning did begin gruffer, as you say. As I recall, it was Koei's decision to pull that back a bit. Gruff voices can be more difficult because they wear on the throat but it was no problem with Gan Ning. I enjoy his attitude. In many games the characters you play are very similar - soldiers and such. Gan Ning has a distinct personality. But you've got to be prepared to bring some energy with you to voice him! KW: Did you get to pick this character and if so, why? Otherwise would you have any idea of a character you would love to bring alive? Doug Stone: We don't get to pick the characters we do. We all go through the audition process. In this case, Koei picked who they wanted. Originally I wasn't supposed to audition because I was busy directing. But there were a few characters they hadn't found actors for yet, so I gave it a shot. I was able to get Gan Ning and a few others. There's no other character that I long to play. I think you get used to who you have and concentrate on bringing them to life. Once you're given them you sort of adopt them as yours and they're all you focus on. If I was ever jealous of not having a different character I've long forgotten who that was. KW: Would you be interested in taking part once again for Voicegroup and Koei? You're aware that Dynasty Warriors has behind it another very similar series called Samurai Warriors which is based on the Warring States of Japan? How about playing a role in this or any other products? Doug Stone: Actually, I do voice on Samurai Warriors. Voicegroup has been very supportive of me and allow me to audition for any project I might be suitable for. They're are terrific people on a personal level as well. They create a great atmosphere for an actor to work in. They're open to allowing the actor to take chances and add their creativity to the mix. KW: There's many fans of Gan Ning out there. What can you say about the future of Gan Ning and the support this warrior has? Doug: I'm not sure of the future of Gan Ning. I'd have to do some reading of history to find out how long he played a part in the history of this saga. It's fantastic to learn that there are fans of Gan Ning in particular. That's very gratifying. When you voice you're really in the dark as to how people feel about your work. You know the Director likes what you're doing but you have no idea how the fans are reacting. By the way, if you go to the IMDB site, you will find a pretty comprehensive list of the anime dubbing I've done. I'm proud to say there are some pretty good titles. I don't know where to find an accurate list of my game titles. Anyway, I'm just one of many voice actors out there. I've been fortunate enough to make a living at something I love. I hope to be voicing Gan Ning for many years to come! Be well everyone! KW: Thank you! Edited by LittleDragonZ, Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:43 am.
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| Lord Rizal | Tue Jun 29, 2010 6:47 pm Post #2 |
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Mastery over mind and body.
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I didn't know that was Doug Stone as Psycho Mantis... Lil Z, do you know if Mr. Stone is in a union? That would explain his absence from the new generation of Koei games. |
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| Sera | Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:14 am Post #3 |
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Legend
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It's funny that only Gan Ning has been mentioned among the DW characters that Doug Stone voiced, when he did Xu Zhu and Zhang Jiao until DW6. Very good Xu Zhu and Zhang Jiao, by the way. Thanks for the interview! |
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| Qing Long | Wed Jul 14, 2010 12:27 am Post #4 |
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青龙
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Thanks for this interview of Gan Ning's voice actors, and woow I didn't know or think that he voiced Psycho Mantis too, as Xu Zhu & Zhang Jiao. Really nice voicing! It really looks like they have very different voices ^^ |
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| Sokudukeh | Sun Aug 8, 2010 2:19 am Post #5 |
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° Rough-and-tumble °
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Wow... I did not know Doug Stone was Gan Ning's English voice actor for DW6... I read it on IMDB the other day, but I thought it was just them being lazy and not putting the actual VA. Shows how many different voices Doug can do (Xu Zhu, Zhang Jiao and a totally different sounding Gan Ning) I guess ._. Gruff-sounding Gan Ning ftw though! D: Hope Doug does that voice for Gan Ning if there is gonna be a DW7 (: |
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I read it on IMDB the other day, but I thought it was just them being lazy and not putting the actual VA. 
8:03 PM Jul 11