The Energon Pub

Hasbro gave us the opportunity to ask a bonus Transformers Q&A question a couple of weeks ago which was sent to the teams at The Hub and Hasbro Studios. We asked "What additional voice talent will be lending their voices to the Transformers in future episodes of Transformers Prime?" Earlier this afternoon, we received our response from Jeff Kline, who is the Executive Producer/Co-Developer of the Transformers: Prime series.

Jeff Kline wrote:I know you’ll hate this answer… but, I can’t say. What I will say is this: I’m still amazed at the “name” talent that is excited to throw on sweat pants and come to our recording sessions for a few hours each week. Whenever we introduce a new character, the creative team will sit around and draw-up a wish list vis-a-vis actors/actresses. More often than not, we land our first choice.

sweat pants? for some reason the first name that came to mind was mick foley...

I hope and PRAY that I will be able to get a part on this or a future Transformers series/movie. It would be a lifelong dream come true! Heck, I would even be thrilled to voice a TOY or a TF commercial!!! Transformers is the major reason why I got into voice acting as a career. I have done a lot of Transformers fan stuff and chatted with some of the original voice actors like Rob Paulsen (First Aid) and Paul Eiding (Perceptor). The funny thing is, no matter how many cartoon voice actors I run into and have conversations with, they are all MORE interested in my career in MOVIE trailers than what THEY do! Apparently there is more job security in movie trailers and tv/movie promo work than animation. Phil LaMarr (TFA Jazz) and Kevin Michael Richardson (TFA Omega Supreme and TF Prime Bulkhead) both told me that they live from one series to the next just hoping they have something booked before the show they are currently working on ends. I never thought of it that way. But they also both have on-screen work as well. I don't know if I wanna get in FRONT of a camera or not. STILL, I'm 80% pleased with the Transformers: Prime series' voice cast. I would just love to book a recurring character and be IN THE STUDIO with my two favorite and biggest voiceover HEREOS Frank Welker and Peter Cullen. That would be my "Make a Wish" if I were terminally ill or something. On the bright side, I'm very close to getting into the Screen Actors Guild which will allow me to audition and book characters on shows for Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and the like! They don't hire non-union voice actors for network cartoon series'. So wish me luck! I may be spending a lot more time in LA!

I still have to let Ratchet and Starscream grow on me. Love the animation, not in love with the voices. Hate me if you will.

jON3.0 wrote:I hope and PRAY that I will be able to get a part on this or a future Transformers series/movie. It would be a lifelong dream come true! Heck, I would even be thrilled to voice a TOY or a TF commercial!!! Transformers is the major reason why I got into voice acting as a career. I have done a lot of Transformers fan stuff and chatted with some of the original voice actors like Rob Paulsen (First Aid) and Paul Eiding (Perceptor). The funny thing is, no matter how many cartoon voice actors I run into and have conversations with, they are all MORE interested in my career in MOVIE trailers than what THEY do! Apparently there is more job security in movie trailers and tv/movie promo work than animation. Phil LaMarr (TFA Jazz) and Kevin Michael Richardson (TFA Omega Supreme and TF Prime Bulkhead) both told me that they live from one series to the next just hoping they have something booked before the show they are currently working on ends. I never thought of it that way. But they also both have on-screen work as well. I don't know if I wanna get in FRONT of a camera or not. STILL, I'm 80% pleased with the Transformers: Prime series' voice cast. I would just love to book a recurring character and be IN THE STUDIO with my two favorite and biggest voiceover HEREOS Frank Welker and Peter Cullen. That would be my "Make a Wish" if I were terminally ill or something. On the bright side, I'm very close to getting into the Screen Actors Guild which will allow me to audition and book characters on shows for Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and the like! They don't hire non-union voice actors for network cartoon series'. So wish me luck! I may be spending a lot more time in LA!

I still have to let Ratchet and Starscream grow on me. Love the animation, not in love with the voices. Hate me if you will.

John I really enjoy your work man, I hope you do get a job with the cartoon voice acting industry, perhaps even transformers someday. With all your fan work I'd say they should put you in the movies at least!!!! You wouldn't believe it but when I heard you doing the announcing for the Book of Eli trailer I thought "OPTIMUS IS IN THIS MOVIE?!?!?!?!?" after hearing your work in another rude awakening of optimus prime!!! Keep up the good work

GEEWUN wrote:John I really enjoy your work man, I hope you do get a job with the cartoon voice acting industry, perhaps even transformers someday. With all your fan work I'd say they should put you in the movies at least!!!! You wouldn't believe it but when I heard you doing the announcing for the Book of Eli trailer I thought "OPTIMUS IS IN THIS MOVIE?!?!?!?!?" after hearing your work in another rude awakening of optimus prime!!! Keep up the good work

Thanks a lot, bro. I so hope you're right. Right now I'm running into complications getting unionized and I can't get a job in a network cartoon or movie until I am but I'm trying to stay as optimus-tic as possible!