Cassandra Lee Morris is an American voice actress most well-known roles include Leafa in Sword Art Online, Nami in League of Legends, Kyubey in Madoka Magica, Edea Lee in Bravely Default/Bravely Second, Lin in Xenoblade Chronicles X and Taiga in Toradora! She and Honey sat down for some girl talk about voice acting and some of the roles she’s played.
Cassandra's icon image in the interview below is from Sangawa Project Official Website 'Guest' page: http://www.sangawaproject.com/guests/.
Honey's Anime
Cassandra Lee Morris
How did you get started in voice acting?
I started acting when I was eight years old doing community theater and dance in the town where I grew up in Connecticut. I found as an actor I fell in to a niche and found my strengths, I was doing a lot of commercial but also going on a lot of voice over auditions. When I graduated from college, I wanted to keep acting but wanted to make a living so I concentrated on voice over work since that was the bulk of my bookings anyway.
What was your first of most memorable anime role?
My first anime role was for a show called Magical do-re-me, that never aired. My first (role) that actually aired, was Alice in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, she appeared in a couple of episodes. I was then called back and cast as Yubel and that was my first major role.
How do you find the voice for your character?
When the send out an audition they send a description of the character and a photo of the character. I read the description and sometimes they have very specific notes about the vocal references for example “she is 15 years old, she is higher pitched, she talks fast” then I look at the picture and tweak it a bit more.
What is your favorite part of voice work?
It’s just a unlike any other career. I feel really lucky to be making a living doing this. It’s fun, I rarely have a bad day. It’s always new and different, I’m never board, we are never going to dub the exact same episode twice. I like that its constantly throwing new things at me and I don’t know what to expect. I love getting to see the finished project.
What is your favorite kind of -dere to play?
I like tsundere, like Taiga from Toradora.
Were you a fan of anime before you worked in anime?
I didn’t know growing up that anime was so big and was its own genre. The only anime I’d ever heard of was Sailor Moon, Pokémon and Dragon Ball Z.
Anime tends to be open to the LGBT community. How do you feel being part of that kind of industry?
The arts in general are very accepting of alternative life styles, though I feel weird to call the alternative, they’re just life styles. Anime has always seemed ahead of its time with characters that are LGBT.
You played Kyubey in Madoka Magica do you feel bad for all those young girls you lead astray?
Lets us keep in mind that it is fictional. I loved playing Kyubey because he is one of the most controversial characters in anime and anytime I can put something out in the world that makes people react strongly that feels cool to me.
You also play Leafa in SAO? So, who gets Kirito?
I think Asuna is his “ride or die” woman. But, I will say I want Leafa to find some body, because I think out of everyone she deserves to have a love the most. I think after seeing her in season one after what she went through having her heart ripped out and stopped on I just want to see her find someone that she’s not related too.
Thank you for talking with me today. I had a lot of fun chatting with you.
She also had the chance to interview Todd Haberkon a voice actor who has dubbed into English hundreds of episodes of Fairy Tail as the voice of Natsu. Todd not only has voiced roles in Fairy Tale but has voiced Italy from Hetalia, Ling Yao from Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Tierno from Pokemon, Allen Walker from D. Gray Man, Hikaru Hitachin from Ouran High School Host Club, Death The Kid from Soul Eater, and many others.
Todd Haberkon's icon image in the interview below is from Sangawa Project Official Website 'Guest' page: http://www.sangawaproject.com/guests/.
Honey's Anime
Todd Haberkon
How did you get involved in voice acting?
Voice acting for me was like the last leg of a career that began with stage when I was a kid. I got involved in television and that lead into voice over. I’ve had the great pleasure and honor that I’ve been involved in it for a long time and it’s a pleasure to keep voice acting.
What was it like the first time you stepped into a studio?
It was interesting to me because it was a different medium of preforming so I was very used to being on camera or on the stage where everything is seen by the audience. You just have your voice, it’s still physical because you’re still moving around. I was a little nervous because I wanted to do the best that I could for the show, it was a whole new world, I didn’t even know what anime was.
How do you find the voice for the character? How much do you model it on the original voice work?
The art and the original work is a guide and where we try to keep it similar. The animation itself guides you with is it emotion, is it big, is it small, is it fast, is it slow? In terms of that it’s just what the director tells you about the show and your own spices that you add to the character.
What is your favorite voice or character you’ve done?
Natsu is one I’ve done for six years, 276 episodes, I’ve lost my voice on several occasions for that show and I’ve got a tattoo for it so it better be my favorite.
We know you are very busy, but do you get to watch the show’s you’re in?
I do get to watch it a little when we watch it back to make sure it fits at the studio. I occasionally get to watch it with the fans or when I’m looking through netfilx and see a show, and am like I remember working on that one and then take a look to see how the story was put together.
You played the Role of Raji in Shirayuki. Does Raji really deserve her?
You know at the end Yes. In the beginning, he’s a real jerk. But, you see a nice arch of his growth. I was just talking about this in a commentary with a director and there is a nice clear arch where he becomes a better man. I think he at least deserves a shot.
You also played Tsukune from Rosario Vampire? Who is best girl?
I like (he squirms in his seat) .. you see regular Moka is a trustworthy Sedan, and when she transforms she’s in Convertible mode, and you go with the Convertible.
What kind of project would you like to be involved in in the future?
I would love to be involved in anything in the D.C. comic’s universe. I’m a huge Batman and Superman fan. My favorite Batman Kevin Conroy (the voice of the animated DC hero.)
Thank you Todd for joining talk with me and we can’t wait to see what Natsu is up to next.
![050 [Honey’s Anime Interview] Voice Actors Cassandra Lee Morris & Todd Haberkon](https://honeysanime.com/wp-content/uploads/img-common/author-profile-image/050.jpg)
Author: Zeke Changuris