Seibertron's own Raymond T recently had a chance to interview Neil Kaplan, who provided the voices for Optimus Prime and Ro-Tor in the Transformers R.I.D series.
In the interview Kaplan discusses his past, present and future work as a professional voice actor in both the animated and video game industries, goes into depth about portraying Optimus Prime in R.I.D, his impressions on the new Animated series, his involvement with "Audio Theatre for the Troops" and his work on "I, of the Wolf".
ST: Hey Neil! Thanks for doing this interview for
Seibertron.comNK: My pleasure. Anything for you and your readers, Ray.ST: It has come to our attention that not everyone knows you or your work. So would you mind telling us who you are and what you've done before becoming a voice actor?
NK: I do voice work. These days most of my work is heard on video games and Anime. I am, proudly, best known for providing the voice of Optimus Prime on “Transformers: Robots in Disguise.” Other credits include Hawkmon on “Digimon”, Diabolico on “Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue”, “Justice League: Heroes”, “Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic” “Star Craft II” and many, many others.ST: Early in your career you did impressions. Did you ever get into hot water with your Nixon or Reagan impressions?
NK: No, not at all they were used in a political parody. Fortunately, at this point satire and parody are still protected forms of expression. By the way, I still do some impressions. Gene Simmons, Walter Matthau, Ed Wynn, and Peter Cullen are just a few that I have done professionally. ST: Do you do any unofficial impressions nowadays? For instance, call up your agent or a company and pretend that you are someone else? Do you play with telemarketers?
NK: Sort of. I do slap on a voice for numbers I don’t know and will often say “Mr. Kaplan is not available, but I’ll give him a message for you.”
I NEVER play a trick on my agents! They work too hard for that kind of thing. (And I’d like to keep having them as my agents!)
Once, I did “bust” some workers at the local Blockbuster Video store for watching a bootleg copy of “Clerks 2” long before it was out on DVD. That was fun, but hopefully I kept them from getting into actual hotwater.ST: Did your comedic background help you get into voice acting? And how did you "Roll out" into voice acting?
NK: Well, comedically speaking (is that a usable term???) I started off as an impressionist. All of my laughs were from voices and gimmicks not from real stories and jokes. That could explain why my foray back into stand-up comedy is not going as quickly as I might have hoped for.
I’ve always been a voice based guy. When I do work on stage it has always been the voice that comes to me first. So, voice acting was a natural fit and pursuit for me.ST: So you got a string of jobs doing various Power Rangers series and started to get noticed for doing voices like Hawkmon on Digimon. How did that lead into getting the job on Transformers: Robots In Disguise?
NK: That’s pretty simple, all of that work was under the Saban umbrella. Once I got into the pipeline they brought me in to read for different shows. Many I did not ever get to work on. But, I was fortunate enough to get cast in a few fun and long lasting titles.
I was known by the producers of “Robots in Disguise” at the time of casting and they brought me in to read on some of the supporting characters for that show.ST: What were the important traits for you doing the voice of Optimus Prime? How much did you want to remain true to the old Peter Cullen character and how much did you want your Optimus Prime to be Neil Kaplan?
NK: Well, everything I did on “Robots in Disguise” was based on the fabulous Peter Cullen. His work had stuck in my head for 15 years, so using that as a touchstone, I knew I’d be best served.
“R.i.D.” was voice directed by TWO different directors, one of whom (The affable Michael McConnohie) had worked with Peter on G1, back in the 1980s. So, he would direct me to slow it down, play it more like John Wayne.
The other director, (The fantastic Steve Kramer) was the MAIN director on the show and he wanted to play Prime more as an action hero. So, you can hear the difference between their episodes.
Fortunately the character had a face shield, so we didn’t have lip flaps to worry about. That alone made it incredibly easy to adjust. Oddly, neither director knew of that situation until the season had basically wrapped.ST:Was there anyone or anything in particular you based your Optimus Prime on?
NK: Yes, I based it on Peter Cullen and then on my desire to portray a HERO in the post- 9/11 world.ST: How is your Optimus Prime different than Primes of the past and future?
NK: Well… it was the first time Optimus Prime was a Fire Truck, so this version was a FULL TIME hero. There was no down time, even when not in “robot mode.” Our first episode aired on September 8, 2001. Just a few days later, giving voice to a fire truck changed for me in ways I dared not to even imagine.ST: What was it like doing the work on Robots In Disguise, especially during a time when the world went into shock with the events of 9-11, which caused episodes to be switched around (and banned) and morale to change?
NK: First off, I am just a silly guy that does voices for a living. I am not a hero. I do not save lives in an operating room, in a burning building or rescue people at sea.
BUT, I do realize the need for telling stories and entertaining those who serve us all. It is one of the reasons I have founded “Audio Theater for the Troops” to provide audio entertainment to those brave young Americans doing the things many of us are unwilling to do to make the world a safer place.
Back to your question; 9/11/01 was a stunning turn for all of us in the world, let alone those of us involved with the show. Regarding the need to re-edit episodes. We were ALL supportive of that.ST: Have you stayed in touch with some of your co-stars from Robot In Disguise?
NK: Yes, Wankus is a buddy of mine on MySpace and of course Wally Wingert has been a dear friend for years both before and after the show. I played softball with Kirk Thornton a few weeks back, etc.ST: Have you worked with some of your former co-stars since Robots In Disguise?
NK: Yes, I have worked with Richard Epcar, Steve Kramer many MANY times since then. And I just saw Michael Lyndsay today.ST: How were you effected, if all, by the deaths of Bob Papenbrook (Mega-Octane and Ruination) and Barry Stigler (Scourge)?
NK: It is the circle of life. The longer we live and the more we do, the more people we will know, love and lose. That is the sad and wonderful part of being human.
I lost my mother at 19 and my father, as many of you know, last year… so I guess I get deep sometimes with regards to life and loss.
I loved Pappy (Bob), as did so very many of us. He is often thought of by me and by us all… he was the kind of man EVERYONE should get the chance to know. He was indeed larger-than-life.
To be honest, I did not know Barry well. But, that does not change the fact that he left us too soon.ST: Do you miss working on Transformers?
NK: Of course I do. But life moves on.
Would I like to do a guest role on “Animated”? Sure I would. Would I like to work on the live action movie? Certainly. But, I’m an actor, that is what I do and want to do.
I still am a voice actor, but I have also moved on to writing and creating.ST: Have you had the chance to (really) meet any of the actors from other Transformers shows?
NK: Yes. David Kaye and I had a lovely chat at Comic Con a few years back. Jack Angel has become a good friend and mentor. …and of course, meeting Dick (Rodimus Prime) Gauthier was HUGE thrill for me as both a professional and as a fanboy.ST: Have you seen the new Transformers Animated series? What's your impression? Do you have a favorite Transformers Animated character?
NK: Yes, I saw it. I like the look. I like the toys. The story lines are aimed a little too young for my tastes. Favorite character on “Animated” is probably Jazz… what can I say? I dig almost anything voiced by Phil LaMarr!ST: Would you be interested in doing a voice on Animated?
NK: Let’s just say, they would not have to ask me twice. I met the producers of the show briefly at Comic Con in 2007. They said they would love to have me on the show for a story arc. But, who knows… maybe they thought I was an imposter. (Who in the heck would do a thing like THAT?!?!)ST: Who does the best Prime? You (RiD), Peter Cullen (G1), Gary Chalk (Armada), or David Kaye (Animated)?
NK: Again… another EASY question. Hands down, it’s Peter Cullen. ST: Would you ever want to play Megatron?
NK: Don’t you mean “…play Megatron AGAIN?” I played him for two whole lines during “R.i.D.”
I would LOVE to play Megatron! Villains are a specialty of mine. I like finding the angle from which I can agree with what they are doing. PLUS, bad guys tend to get a lot of the best lines!
ST:Would you like to a voice on the Transformers Movies? Are you going to audition?
NK: I would LOVE to voice a character in TF2, or any sequel there after. Am I going to audition? I don’t know… that choice is not typically up to the actor. If the producers or casting people call, I’ll be there! ST: Do you find a difference between voicing video games, television, and movies? Which do you enjoy the most?
NK: There certainly is a difference. Personally, my favorite is voicing original animation with the ENTIRE cast there. Full cast recording is something HUGE that you lose in anime and most of the time in video games as well. It is such a great feeling to work with talented people and to hear the material actually working! ST: What has been some of the more memorable Transformers related moments for you personally, since doing the voice of RiD Optimus Prime?
NK: Seeing the truck in front of the theatre at the movie was surreal. It was like seeing a distant relative.
The heartbreak of the desperate e-mails I received after 9/11. (Playing a firetruck on a show that debuted three days prior linked me to people in ways I did not previously imagine.)
The fans from all over the world and the travel to meet them has been absolutely life changing.
Being mentioned in “debates” over the movie was odd. Reading posts about how people “love” me or “hate” my work is um… a lesson in humility.
I must say I have had LOTS of WONDERFUL memories, some were even quite touching. And yes, even a smattering of some not so great memories. Finding out I was no longer playing the part in front of a ballroom filled with people while being a “Guest of Honor” at Botcon ’02 was humbling indeed. Getting lambasted for it, was eye opening, indeed.ST: What has been your impression with Transformers fans, now some 7 years after doing Transformers?
NK: I my self am a fan of many, MANY things. They are basically the same as any other type of fan. Most of them are very, VERY nice people. Many are quite loyal and passionate about this universe that they LOVE! I am just happy to have been a part of it, if only for a little while.ST: Can you tell us what you have been up to, since Robots In Disguise?
NK: WOW…a LOT. I have voiced quite a few video games; Spider-Man Battle for New York (I was Green Goblin/Norman Osbourne), Spider-Man3 (Kraven the Hunter), John Woo’s Stranglehold with Chow Yun Fat (Ty Lok), Conan the Barbarian (Bone Cleaver), Justice League: Heroes (Gorilla Grodd), Night at the Museum 2 (Ivan the Terrible), S.T.A.L.K.E.R., Command and Conquer 3, Bee Movie Game.
I’ve also worked on various anime series including Naruto, Tokyo Pig and Zatch Bell, among others.
Mostly though, I have been working on writing and creating my own material. Many fans had the chance to check out the pilot for the educational/sketch/history show I created called “The Way it Wasn’t” which has found a home and is under development. I have a GREEN game show I am meeting with producers on… so keep your fingers crossed.
On another note, based partially on meeting a firefighter named Mr. Optimus Prime. (Yes, THAT gentleman!) I have created an organization called “Audio Theater for the Troops.” A not for profit organization, we use donated scripts, studio time and actors talents to (one day) create a huge library of entertainment for the brave men and women in uniform serving us.
After getting this organization up and running, I would love to spearhead the movement to do the same for the troops for our friends and allies. (Great Britain and Australia leap immediately to mind)ST: Back in June of 2005
seibertron.com was honored to have a (dutch) meet and greet with you. On the videoclips you were telling us about working on a graphic novel called I, of the Wolf. You have recently promoting the comic. Can you tell us more about it? How has it been working on your own creative idea and work on it for the last three years or so? Where can people get copies of it?
NK: First off, I have fallen quite hard for the city of Amsterdam and it’s citizens. I truly hope to own a houseboat there one day.
“I, of the Wolf” is my first graphic novel. The story is one I have told for years around camp fires and over cocktails (late at night).
It is a Re-telling of the Wolf/Man myth. I even delve into the origin of the species along with plenty of blood, violence and twists along the way.
After telling the story to the brilliant comic book artist Simon Williams (of Transformers UK fame) he told me it HAD to become a graphic novel… and so it has.
The opening chapter can be viewed and reviewed on triggerstreet.com
OR you can order a copy signed by the artists and myself at www.IoftheWolf.com
We also have patches and t-shirts and other cool swag there too!ST: Do you feel you've made your mark/found your niche, or are you looking to do something bigger?
NK: Yes and No. I’ve found it… but I haven’t made the mark I hope to as of yet. Mostly I am looking to keep busy, keep working, and keep telling stories. Sometimes, I do think “Audio Theater for the Troops” may end up being my largest and most important contribution to the world I am lucky enough to inhabit.ST: What other projects do you have in the pipeline?
NK: A second graphic novel called “Tsao Shun and the Night Patrol.” It’s your typical Vampire, Kung-Fu, American Civil War story. I am writing a few screenplays, including a romantic comedy based on my own life, which I hope to make with friends.
…I am THRILLED to announce that the beloved Optimoose is being developed into a web animation series. Keep your eyes peeled!
Also, I have been working on what should end of being a fairly major HUGE video game within the industry. If you look at my MySpace page, you might get a clue from “my top friends.”
Thanks everyone for letting me be a part of your universe. I hope you’ll like my stories and become a part of mine.
Your Buddy,
Neil KaplanFor more information about Neil and his work, you can check out his following sites:
http://www.nekap.net/http://www.myspace.com/neilkaplanhttp://www.iofthewolf.com/
