Beau Billingslea walked into the convention room earlier than an interview with LNP|LancasterOnline carrying a T-shirt that includes a brand parodying Starbucks, however as an alternative with Jet Black from “Cowboy Bebop” within the middle, and the textual content round it saying “Jet Black Espresso.”
Billingslea voiced the loveable-yet-gruff Jet within the English dub of “Cowboy Bebop,” which was launched within the late Nineties, thrusting him into the scene as a outstanding voice actor. (A reboot of the collection, which Billingslea didn’t act in, was launched in 2021 on Netflix.)
At this 12 months’s Zenkaikon, which runs from March 25 to 27, Billingslea is among the featured visitor actors, alongside Kari Wahlgren (“Rick and Morty”), Debi Derryberry (“Jimmy Neutron”) and Mick Wingert (“Arcane: League of Legends”).
He’ll host a number of panels over the weekend, signal autographs and meet with followers. New to Zenkaikon? Learn this primer.
However, earlier than he launched right into a weekend filled with anime, sci-fi and common nerd festivities, he sat down with LNP|LancasterOnline for a Q&A about “Cowboy Bebop,” being a voice actor and what he is wanting ahead to most at Zenkaikon. This dialog has been edited for readability and size.
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In fact, you are most recognized for voicing Jet Black from “Cowboy Bebop.” Would you say he is one among your favourite characters you’ve got performed, or are there different roles which might be possibly a little bit extra under-rated than they need to be?
I’ve to say, he’s my favourite character. The characters that you just voice are sort of like your youngsters; you do not wanna say one is your favourite. However “Cowboy Bebop” has modified my life, and I like listening to tales from the followers of how they got here on board to be a fan and the way its effected their lives. So, yeah, Jet Black is one among my favourite guys. There’s a man, Oji, from “The Legend of Black Heaven,” that was the lead character; I voiced him. I used to be saving the universe with my music. (Billingslea sings a guitar melody whereas enjoying air guitar). It by no means actually took off. And after I go to conventions, from time to time there’s one or two those that say I watched “Legend of Black Heaven” and it was fantastic. He was a type of characters you talked about that did not actually get play. Ay from “Naruto: Shippuden” can be one among my favourite guys. However yeah, Jet is my favourite man. (Billingslea gestures towards his shirt).
I like your shirt; it is lovable.
My spouse, she bought a bunch of them for me. At first she bought one, and I stated, ah, effectively I will put on them to conventions. And she or he stated, OK, we’ll must get you multiple. You are going to have the conference funk occurring, so. She sends me off with at the least three of them.
So, preserving on with “Cowboy Bebop.” Why do you suppose it resonates with audiences greater than 20 years because it first debuted?
Most likely due to its humanity. I feel all the essential characters are flawed in their very own method and greedy to get a great grip on life, making an attempt to beat challenges from the previous in addition to into the current, you understand, making an attempt to make a residing and get some Woolongs (foreign money in “Cowboy Bebop”). Making an attempt to keep away from Faye stealing my Woolongs. I do not know for those who do not forget that episode the place she robbed us of our Woolongs and took off, after which she known as for assist. She bought right into a repair, so she stated “Jet, I need assistance!” And I stated, (slipping into Jet Black voice) “Oh, positive, you steal my Woolongs and now you need assistance!” I feel the writing is actually germane to many peoples’ experiences in life. I feel the viewers pertains to it from that standpoint. After which there’s the music. The music is superior; it is simply magic. From “Tank,” the opening tune, right through.
The dub was effectively completed, we took a whole lot of time. We did it in ’98, and Mary Elizabeth was directing it. However, we had time. A variety of instances, we’re speeding by means of on initiatives, however we had the luxurious of time with “Cowboy Bebop” to verify the dub was pretty much as good because it could possibly be. All the parts appeared to have come collectively, along with the chemistry that we had because the voice actors. All the visitor actors had been fantastic as effectively. The principle solid, we’re nonetheless a household. We nonetheless have an open textual content line, as a household. It was meant to be. After we had been first doing it, it was only a gig — a enjoyable gig — however I did not know what it was. I do not suppose any of us auditioned. We had been requested to do it. After we got here in for “Cowboy Bebop,” I am pondering cowboys, so I am (slipping into western accent) speaking like a cowboy, you understand? Spitting in a spittoon, using horses. And Mary stated, “really, no, that is not it. Cowboys are bounty hunters from the longer term, and Bebop’s your ship, and also you’re chasing the unhealthy guys. So let’s do one thing actually uncommon: let’s simply use your voice.” And I used to be pondering, effectively that is boring. Every part appeared to fall collectively: the chemistry, the music, the writing.
It is a present with a coronary heart, I feel. I say that due to the suggestions I get from the followers, expressing how the present has affected them. In fact, it warms the center to know that one thing you completed has had a constructive impact on folks’s lives. We all know we’re not doing mind surgical procedure, however we’ve heard time and again about the way it has had a constructive affect.
By the point you guys had been completed recording the English dub, do you know it was going to be one thing particular, or was it sort of a shock?
It was a shock, I might say. It took some time for me to soak up the affect, however I by no means imagined that it might be what it has change into. In a sure method, it is reflective of life itself. All of us have trials and tribulations; nobody’s life is ideal. All of us have ups and downs and it is only a matter of the way you cope with the bumps within the street.
How do you channel a personality earlier than you painting them?
Any actor, voice actor or stay motion, you attempt to discover a commonality of your self throughout the character. That is one of many issues with Jet. I’m a father, I’ve a son and a daughter. Faye and Spike are like my niece and nephew, I suppose. So, that is one of many ways in which I associated to Jet as a personality. You do what you’ll be able to to meld your self, or part of your self, to your character. With the assistance of the director and the writers, you fill it out. Put the meat on the bones, so to talk. Once I get an audition, I prefer to get a rendering of the character, and I sort of get a really feel for the character. So lots of the characters I voice, they’re simply loopy monsters. I wish to suppose, possibly there is not any place in right here (gestures towards chest) that is a loopy monster.After we audition, a whole lot of instances we do not get a whole lot of data. They’re code-named, so we do not know what we’re doing.
Are you wanting ahead to any of the panels, be it as a spectator or a essential presenter?
I just like the panels the place the followers get an opportunity to work together with me, ask questions. I prefer it once they come to my desk, as a result of then I get to ask them questions. I like all types of panels. I often do a panel about Beau Billingslea, the place they will ask me questions on my life. I will be doing a panel to debate the distinction between on-camera performing and voice performing. Tomorrow (Saturday, March 26), we’ll be doing a studying of a script with Kari Wahlgren and Debi Derryberry. It should be enjoyable. I like the panels and anytime I can work together with followers. It makes my day.