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Author Topic: Excellent Martinet Interview  (Read 16149 times)

MEGAߥTE

  • In flames
« on: February 05, 2007, 01:24:23 AM »
The Sun, a newspaper and website from the UK, recently had an interview with Charles Martinet.  Martinet's voice has been featured in hundreds of games, commercials, and other venues.  Though best known for his Mario voice, he also mentions some of his other roles in games such as Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Men in Black.

Some very interesting details were revealed.  Martinet recounts the story of how he almost didn't become Mario because he was too busy enjoying the beach!  He also explains how the voice recording process works and how much he enjoys it.  The voice of Mario speaks very highly of the fun he has playing Mario games and Nintendo in general as well as their fans.

The article itself is just a summary of the longer audio interview.  The Sun also posted the 11 minute audio interview of "Charlie," which is chock full of the voice actor doing voices for various Mario characters and is a must listen.

BP

  • Beside Pacific
« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2007, 01:59:19 AM »
Aw, how cool. Reading that should make bashers of SMA voiceovers feel bad.
All your dreeeeeeams begiiin to shatterrrrrr~
It's YOUR problem!

MEGAߥTE

  • In flames
« Reply #2 on: February 05, 2007, 12:05:31 PM »
Why is that?

Sapphira

  • Inquiring
« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2007, 09:24:21 PM »
Awesome interview! Martinet is so fun to listen to; I find his animated, upbeat, and joyful nature and outlook absolutely refreshing.

Now I'm curious as to what roles he's played in those other games.
"The surest way to happiness is to lose yourself in a cause greater than yourself."

« Reply #4 on: February 07, 2007, 05:47:16 PM »
Not sure how accurate or complete this is, but give it a whirl.

« Reply #5 on: February 07, 2007, 05:55:27 PM »
After reading that, it's got to be a little weird for him to go back and play the games that he does multiple voices in.. it's almost like he's arguing with himself.
Kinopio is the ultimate video game character! Who else can drive a kart, host parties, play tennis, give good advice and items, and is almost always happy??

MEGAߥTE

  • In flames
« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2007, 06:00:54 PM »
If you've ever heard him do voices in person, he actually does argue with himself.

Chupperson Weird

  • Not interested.
« Reply #7 on: February 07, 2007, 10:19:12 PM »
Man, he gets called Charles Martinez a lot.
That was a joke.

Fwirt

  • Now in Cherry
« Reply #8 on: February 09, 2007, 07:24:39 PM »
Huh, I didn't know Luigi wore striped socks.  That interview with Martinet was interesting.

......And yet I STILL hate the SMA voiceovers.
"Say, you good at video games?  I'm not good at video games.  The last time I fired up one of my old Sega tapes it made me a waffle."

SushieBoy

  • Giddy fangirl
« Reply #9 on: February 09, 2007, 07:38:44 PM »
It comes from MaL:SS, you can't actually see it while playing, but in the character art it appears, Luigi is getting taller and taller!
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

« Reply #10 on: February 11, 2007, 07:56:43 PM »
If you've ever heard him do voices in person

I'm not lucky enough to have seen him argue with himself, sadly.
Kinopio is the ultimate video game character! Who else can drive a kart, host parties, play tennis, give good advice and items, and is almost always happy??

MEGAߥTE

  • In flames
« Reply #11 on: February 11, 2007, 09:17:25 PM »

Suffix

  • Steamed
« Reply #12 on: February 11, 2007, 10:39:11 PM »
That was hilarious! Completely hilarious! "Luk-ee..." I laughed myself to tears.

« Reply #13 on: February 12, 2007, 01:58:13 AM »
A guy impersonating an Italian impersonating Darth Vader.

AWESOME

The Chef

  • Super
« Reply #14 on: February 12, 2007, 02:50:45 PM »
I am now officially convinced that the next Mario game should have full-blown voice acting. :D

Suffix

  • Steamed
« Reply #15 on: February 12, 2007, 10:18:02 PM »
Impromptu voice acting. That would be even funnier.

The Chef

  • Super
« Reply #16 on: February 13, 2007, 04:06:53 PM »
What's that mean?

Kojinka

  • Bruised
« Reply #17 on: February 13, 2007, 09:30:06 PM »
A guy impersonating an Italian impersonating Darth Vader.

AWESOME

It all makes sense now!
Regards, Uncle Dolan

Fwirt

  • Now in Cherry
« Reply #18 on: February 16, 2007, 07:07:24 PM »
I am now officially convinced that the next Mario game should have full-blown voice acting. :D
I'm not sure about that.  Mario doesn't talk all that much because of the same reason that Link doesn't talk all that much:  Miyamoto doesn't want to be putting words into the players mouths.  I don't think the world is ready for full blown voice acting.
"Say, you good at video games?  I'm not good at video games.  The last time I fired up one of my old Sega tapes it made me a waffle."

The Chef

  • Super
« Reply #19 on: February 16, 2007, 09:19:22 PM »
Miyamoto nothin'. He's rarely involved in the development of most Mario games these days, so I'm still wondering why none of the developers have taken a crack at it yet.

Plus, if the world wasn't ready for voice acting, then how come Sonic Adventure already happened?

« Reply #20 on: February 16, 2007, 09:46:28 PM »
The World ins't ready for good voice acting. The acting in Sonic Adventure was lifeless and terrible (no emotion).

I'm glad the Mario characters haven't "evolved" to that level yet.
Kinopio is the ultimate video game character! Who else can drive a kart, host parties, play tennis, give good advice and items, and is almost always happy??

The Chef

  • Super
« Reply #21 on: February 17, 2007, 08:27:27 AM »
From what I hear, the VA in Sonic 2006 is pretty good. How can we not be ready for something good anyway?

SushieBoy

  • Giddy fangirl
« Reply #22 on: February 17, 2007, 08:29:47 AM »
I think we should stick to the one-liners like "It's-a-me, Mario!" and "Lets-a-go!" But it would be cool to see the bunch actually speaking.
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

The Chef

  • Super
« Reply #23 on: February 17, 2007, 08:30:48 AM »
Also, the difference between Mario and Sonic is that Mario's voice actor is actually good. So what the heck is the big problem?

MaxVance

  • Vance Vance Revolution
« Reply #24 on: February 17, 2007, 06:35:28 PM »
I went ahead and listened to this today. I rather enjoyed it.
Remember that your first Goomba boldly you walk? When Mario touched that mushroom being brought up more largely remember that you are surprised? Miscalculate your jump that pit remember that it falls?

Chupperson Weird

  • Not interested.
« Reply #25 on: February 17, 2007, 11:28:47 PM »
Star Fox Adventures had good full blown voice acting. And I loved it.
That was a joke.

Fwirt

  • Now in Cherry
« Reply #26 on: February 18, 2007, 12:13:03 AM »
Alright, I have to admit it.  The voice acting would be great.  I just hope they get decent writers.
"Say, you good at video games?  I'm not good at video games.  The last time I fired up one of my old Sega tapes it made me a waffle."

The Chef

  • Super
« Reply #27 on: February 18, 2007, 11:31:33 AM »
Now that I looked up what Impromptu means, I realized what Suffix meant. If they got Martinet to ad-lib the cutscenes, it would pwn on many levels.

MEGAߥTE

  • In flames
« Reply #28 on: February 18, 2007, 10:56:50 PM »
I kinda had the feeling he did that for Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2.  I felt he took some liberties and really began to define Mario's personality in that game.

Chupperson Weird

  • Not interested.
« Reply #29 on: February 20, 2007, 11:13:09 PM »
I wonder if Miyamoto likes Mario to have a personality. I kind of get the impression he doesn't. Not that that matters.
That was a joke.

Kojinka

  • Bruised
« Reply #30 on: February 21, 2007, 07:47:53 AM »
Yeah.  the one-liners offer enough personality.  Let the fans create their own view.  That is what I love about Mario and Zelda.  Actually, the games themselves can, at times, show a bit of a character's personality, with or without one-liners.
Regards, Uncle Dolan

SushieBoy

  • Giddy fangirl
« Reply #31 on: February 21, 2007, 01:51:23 PM »
Link could use some lines, instead of all the grunts and screams.
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

The Chef

  • Super
« Reply #32 on: February 21, 2007, 02:52:16 PM »
Link I could understand. Heck, his name represents the "link" between him and the person playing the game, but if done right, Mario can be awesome with a voice of his own. Now Sonic on the other hand had a crapload of personality without a voice, yet they gave him one anyway, and it's quite annoying to boot.

Chupperson Weird

  • Not interested.
« Reply #33 on: February 21, 2007, 10:18:33 PM »
I don't agree with Miyamoto's view of character personality, btw.
That was a joke.

Fwirt

  • Now in Cherry
« Reply #34 on: February 23, 2007, 05:21:31 PM »
I like Miyamoto's view of personality to a certain degree.  After Mario not having much of a personality for all those years, it's kinda hard to get used to him talking of his own accord.  I'm not sure I like that, but a few one liners couldn't hurt ;)

Link does NOT need a voice.  It would ruin his coolness.
"Say, you good at video games?  I'm not good at video games.  The last time I fired up one of my old Sega tapes it made me a waffle."

Kojinka

  • Bruised
« Reply #35 on: February 23, 2007, 08:19:30 PM »
I like Miyamoto's view of personality to a certain degree.  After Mario not having much of a personality for all those years, it's kinda hard to get used to him talking of his own accord.
If you've seen the cartoons, you might have an easier time getting used to it.  But realize that the cartoons are not considered canon.  Actually, some of the hints to the Bros. personalities seem somewhat similar to that of the cartoons.  I wouldn't be surprised.  I saw a guy wearing Wario's color scheme in an episode of the Super Show!
Regards, Uncle Dolan

Chupperson Weird

  • Not interested.
« Reply #36 on: February 23, 2007, 10:27:53 PM »
Link's level of expression is so high just due to his face he doesn't really need a voice. I'm just saying Miyamoto trying to keep the heroes expressionless statues is lame.
That was a joke.

Kojinka

  • Bruised
« Reply #37 on: February 25, 2007, 11:22:19 AM »
I think Link and Mario have enough personality as it is.  Their silence strengthens the connection between them and the player.  I think that's what the team is after.
Regards, Uncle Dolan

Chupperson Weird

  • Not interested.
« Reply #38 on: February 25, 2007, 06:42:50 PM »
Their silence strengthens the connection between them and the player.

See, I find that statement to be completely false.
That was a joke.

MaxVance

  • Vance Vance Revolution
« Reply #39 on: February 25, 2007, 06:57:26 PM »
I find that the silence just ambiguates things. But that makes it useful for Mariology.
Remember that your first Goomba boldly you walk? When Mario touched that mushroom being brought up more largely remember that you are surprised? Miscalculate your jump that pit remember that it falls?

« Reply #40 on: February 25, 2007, 07:03:07 PM »
"The less a game character talks, the more words are put into his or her mouth."

Kind of quoted (paraphrased) from the RPG cliche list (not sure if it's still online). I think that's sort of true. Just look at how the animals react to you in Animal Crossing. They assume that you think all kinds of things about them, but it's just because we can't talk to them and tell them "I like you, Bob." or "I hate you, Valise." *animals picked at random*

I think there should be slightly more voice acting than there is now. Just enough so that Mario doesn't have to act out everything he's trying to say, Luigi can object to going on the adventure, Link can tell Zelda not to do that thing she's about to do, and Toad can tell Mario that the Princess is in another castle.
Kinopio is the ultimate video game character! Who else can drive a kart, host parties, play tennis, give good advice and items, and is almost always happy??

The Chef

  • Super
« Reply #41 on: February 25, 2007, 07:52:00 PM »
Well, in most of the big Mario games, such as SMS and PM:TTYD, every character talks except Mario, albeit via text boxes. Text boxes are still good though. Just look at the classic Final Fantasies. Those were epic enough, yet the technology was pretty limited. That's why I'm not much of a fan of these newer FMV-loaded junkheaps. Oh, and did I mention Cloud Strife is a burro?
« Last Edit: February 26, 2007, 08:05:47 PM by Suffix »

Chupperson Weird

  • Not interested.
« Reply #42 on: February 25, 2007, 09:38:24 PM »
Final Fantasy games have talking main characters.
That was a joke.

The Chef

  • Super
« Reply #43 on: February 26, 2007, 03:12:20 PM »
That isn't what I was referring to in my Final Fantasy comment. I was talking about how dialog can be just as easily conveyed through text as actual voiceovers.

MaxVance

  • Vance Vance Revolution
« Reply #44 on: February 26, 2007, 05:09:34 PM »
I don't think we were talking about whether characters communicated through text boxes or speaking, but rather whether or not characters even said anything at all.
Remember that your first Goomba boldly you walk? When Mario touched that mushroom being brought up more largely remember that you are surprised? Miscalculate your jump that pit remember that it falls?

The Chef

  • Super
« Reply #45 on: February 26, 2007, 06:35:15 PM »
Yes, I know. I just thought of it and decided to speak my mind on it. Cloud is a burro.
« Last Edit: February 26, 2007, 08:04:15 PM by Suffix »

« Reply #46 on: March 23, 2007, 10:19:34 AM »
I know it's late, but I just listened to the interview.  It reminded me of Ritalin for some reason.
Today's actually... nobody's birthday!  Quick, hurry up and make a baby!

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