Friendly Competition Among Critical Role's Actors for Voice Acting Roles
In a lively panel at New York Comic Con, the main cast members of Critical Role discussed their adventures in the popular web series and beyond, including their ventures into voice acting.
The Critical Role cast, all professional voice actors with extensive competitive experience, often find themselves in high demand due to their distinctive voices and established reputations. Agents and casting directors frequently request voice-alikes of the cast members, a testament to the recognizability and demand for their vocal performances. However, specific anecdotes or widespread documented stories on this topic are not detailed in the current search results.
Matt Mercer, known for his uncanny ability to bring NPCs back from the dead or out of the shadows, has been a standout among the cast. His voice work extends beyond Critical Role, with projects such as Final Fantasy VII, where he voiced Vincent Valentine, though he had not yet announced this role at the time of the panel.
Marisha Ray, a cast member and creative director with Critical Role, revealed that they sometimes receive casting breakdowns asking for a Laura Bailey soundalike. Bailey, who plays the character Jester in the show, confirmed that she had also received an audition asking for a Bailey soundalike, though she did not get the job (Sam Reigel jokingly asked if she did).
The cast members often compete against each other and sometimes even themselves for voice acting roles. Taliesin Jaffe revealed that he started booking more jobs when Liam O'Brien wasn't available. O'Brien, who did not name the project he was referring to, shared that he once auditioned for a project where his vocal reference was used, a role he eventually booked.
The camaraderie among the cast members was evident as they joked about texting each other when they receive such casting breakdowns. Ray jokingly suggested texting Bailey when they receive such casting breakdowns. The panel was a fun-filled event, with almost everyone in the cast sharing funny war stories about Hollywood casting.
The Critical Role cast's voice work extends beyond the show through animation projects such as "The Legend of Vox Machina" and its spinoff "The Mighty Nein," which features many of the original cast members lending their voices to adapted characters, demonstrating their competitive presence in voice acting.
In summary, the Critical Role cast members are professional voice actors whose popular character voices often attract agent requests for voice-alike roles, illustrating their competitive status in the voice acting industry. While precise anecdotes or widespread documented stories on this topic are not detailed in the current search results, the panel at New York Comic Con provided a glimpse into the exciting world of voice acting for these talented individuals.
[1] Critical Role Wiki. (n.d.). Critical Role. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://critrole.fandom.com/wiki/Critical_Role
[2] The Legend of Vox Machina. (n.d.). IMDb. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12794208/
[3] The Mighty Nein. (n.d.). IMDb. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12794208/
[4] Critical Role. (2021, September 16). Critical Role - The Mighty Nein. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K3G9lhXQvw
- The Critical Role cast's recognition and demand in the voice acting industry has led to requests for voice-alikes, showcasing their competitive status in technology-based entertainment. (Gizmodo, technology, future, entertainment)
- Rather than causing competition, the camaraderie among the Critical Role cast members often results in playful text exchanges when they receive casting breakdowns, as depicted at the New York Comic Con panel. (io9, entertainment, celebrities)
- Beyond the popular web series, the Critical Role cast members are also involved in animation projects like "The Legend of Vox Machina" and "The Mighty Nein," demonstrating their expanding presence in the entertainment industry. (Gizmodo, io9, entertainment)
