Skip to main content
Interview: Will Friedle (Batman: The Brave and the Bold)
Omnicomic was fortunate enough to get an interview with the voice of Blue Beetle from The Batman: Brave and the Bold, Will Friedle. Fans of Friedle may recognize him as Eric Matthews from the angst ridden but generally happy Boy Meets World. Enjoy.
Omnicomic: It seems like you've done a lot of voiceover work, both in animation and video games. Is there a difference in the two in terms of amount of time spent doing the work? Do you prefer one over the other?
Will Friedle: Video games always take a lot longer because of the advanced technology and programming required to match the dialog with the interactive character’s action. It’s because the characters can do so many different things! If you hit one button, the character would do one thing. If you hit another button, something else completely different happens! I would have to record to make sure we have the appropriate dialog to cover every possible outcome that can happen during game play. I love doing voice over for all types of different characters regardless of whether it is a video game, TV show or movie.
Omnicomic: You seem to have done a lot of work in comic themed shows. Did you read comics growing up? If so, who was your favorite superhero/villain? Do any of those roles stand out to you as your favorite?
Will Friedle: I wasn’t a huge comic book fan growing up, but I love mythology and have come to the realization that in many ways, comic books are our American mythology. Batman has always been my favorite superhero in every incarnation, from the Adam West TV show to Michael Keaton’s interpretation in film. I’m not sure who my favorite villain would be, but Lex Luthor is pretty cool! My favorite role by far will always be Batman in Batman Beyond. It’s very cool to tell people that you’re Batman.
Omnicomic: You played a small role in Batman: Gotham Knight, where Kevin Conroy reprised his role as the voice of Batman from Batman: The Animated Series. Did you watch Batman: The Animated Series, and if so, were you kind of awed when working with Conroy? Or was he just another guy really?
Will Friedle: I did watch The Animated Series and was a huge fan. I was beyond awed to meet Kevin. When you work with voice-over industry professionals like Conroy, it’s a fantastic opportunity to work with someone who will mentor you. He’s one of the nicest people you could ever meet in the world, and he made me very comfortable with the role.
Omnicomic: Was it weird for you to be in a Batman show and not playing the role of Batman? I know you voiced Batman in Batman Beyond and Justice League, but now you're playing the Blue Beetle, definitely a lesser known character than Batman. Did you have to do a lot of research on the character?
Will Friedle: It’s fun to be involved in the whole world of DC Comics and I jump at the chance to play anyone in that universe. I didn’t have to do a lot of research, but definitely took some time to find out the background of the character. I also have a very good friend, Brad, who is a huge comic book fan. Whenever I have questions, I go to him first.
Omnicomic: IMDB has you listed as playing the role of Blue Beetle for two episodes in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Can we expect more from your character in the show, or is two episodes it?
Will Friedle: You can definitely expect more than that. We have completed 26 shows and Blue Beetle is recurring character. The character is getting great response from fans and it’s a lot of fun to do his voice.
Omnicomic: Do you have anything you want to plug while you have the floor?
Will Friedle: Tell the fans to keep watching Batman: The Brave & the Bold on Cartoon Network, Fridays at 8pm! I’m also on The Secret Saturdays which airs after Batman: Brave & the Bold. It’s a great time to be on the Cartoon Network!
Omnicomic was fortunate enough to get an interview with the voice of Blue Beetle from The Batman: Brave and the Bold, Will Friedle. Fans of Friedle may recognize him as Eric Matthews from the angst ridden but generally happy Boy Meets World. Enjoy.
Omnicomic: It seems like you've done a lot of voiceover work, both in animation and video games. Is there a difference in the two in terms of amount of time spent doing the work? Do you prefer one over the other?
Will Friedle: Video games always take a lot longer because of the advanced technology and programming required to match the dialog with the interactive character’s action. It’s because the characters can do so many different things! If you hit one button, the character would do one thing. If you hit another button, something else completely different happens! I would have to record to make sure we have the appropriate dialog to cover every possible outcome that can happen during game play. I love doing voice over for all types of different characters regardless of whether it is a video game, TV show or movie.
Omnicomic: You seem to have done a lot of work in comic themed shows. Did you read comics growing up? If so, who was your favorite superhero/villain? Do any of those roles stand out to you as your favorite?
Will Friedle: I wasn’t a huge comic book fan growing up, but I love mythology and have come to the realization that in many ways, comic books are our American mythology. Batman has always been my favorite superhero in every incarnation, from the Adam West TV show to Michael Keaton’s interpretation in film. I’m not sure who my favorite villain would be, but Lex Luthor is pretty cool! My favorite role by far will always be Batman in Batman Beyond. It’s very cool to tell people that you’re Batman.
Omnicomic: You played a small role in Batman: Gotham Knight, where Kevin Conroy reprised his role as the voice of Batman from Batman: The Animated Series. Did you watch Batman: The Animated Series, and if so, were you kind of awed when working with Conroy? Or was he just another guy really?
Will Friedle: I did watch The Animated Series and was a huge fan. I was beyond awed to meet Kevin. When you work with voice-over industry professionals like Conroy, it’s a fantastic opportunity to work with someone who will mentor you. He’s one of the nicest people you could ever meet in the world, and he made me very comfortable with the role.
Omnicomic: Was it weird for you to be in a Batman show and not playing the role of Batman? I know you voiced Batman in Batman Beyond and Justice League, but now you're playing the Blue Beetle, definitely a lesser known character than Batman. Did you have to do a lot of research on the character?
Will Friedle: It’s fun to be involved in the whole world of DC Comics and I jump at the chance to play anyone in that universe. I didn’t have to do a lot of research, but definitely took some time to find out the background of the character. I also have a very good friend, Brad, who is a huge comic book fan. Whenever I have questions, I go to him first.
Omnicomic: IMDB has you listed as playing the role of Blue Beetle for two episodes in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Can we expect more from your character in the show, or is two episodes it?
Will Friedle: You can definitely expect more than that. We have completed 26 shows and Blue Beetle is recurring character. The character is getting great response from fans and it’s a lot of fun to do his voice.
Omnicomic: Do you have anything you want to plug while you have the floor?
Will Friedle: Tell the fans to keep watching Batman: The Brave & the Bold on Cartoon Network, Fridays at 8pm! I’m also on The Secret Saturdays which airs after Batman: Brave & the Bold. It’s a great time to be on the Cartoon Network!
Comments
Post a Comment