Interview by Rafy Mediavilla, w/ Voice Actor, Bryce Papenbrook (Eren Jaeger) – Attack On Titan On Funimation. #AttackOnTitan #TheFinalSeason #Anime #ErenJeager
Many years ago, humanity was forced to retreat behind the towering walls of a fortified city to escape the massive, man-eating Titans that lurked outside their fortress. Only the heroic members of the Scout Regiment dared to stray behind the safety of the walls –but even those brave warriors seldom returned alive.
Criticólogos:
Almost 12 years of giving life to the voice of Eren Yeager. Did you expect this to blow up, the way it blew up regarding the show Attack On Titan?
Bryce Papenbrook:
I think everyone knew that this was a really special show. As someone who is a fan of the show before I was a part of it, I loved it. It really sucked me into it; as a viewer. I was absolutely hooked. I started watching as it was being released in Japanese in season one. There are about six episodes out when I started watching and after episode five, that’s when I knew this show was something really special, and I couldn’t stop watching.
When we were working on it after I had been cast, we had no idea how everyone would respond. It’s been incredible to see how the world has just been drawn to this, and stayed connected to the show. Just been on the edge of their seats the entire time. It’s very cool that others have had the same experience that I had as a viewer and to be part of something like attack on Titan.
Criticólogos:
Again 12 years giving life to the protagonist… What does it mean to you? How has your career changed since first coming into the character?
Bryce Papenbrook:
I was a fan of the show, and I would have been happy playing any character in the show, let alone Eren, even like the guy that got stepped on by Titan. That would have been special for me.
This show was the first audition I had for Funimation. I had been working on other anime and video game projects, but I had never worked for Funimation. I’m based in Los Angeles, California, Funimation is in Dallas, Texas. I hadn’t crossed paths with anyone there. When Mike McFarlane, the casting director of the show, was starting to push out those auditions; a buddy of mine, Patrick Seitz, received the audition and knew that I was a fan of the show, and I would have loved to read it.
He asked: “Hey, can my buddy Bryce read for you?” And Mike’s like: “Yeah, you can pass these along and have him send them in”. Immediately, when I got the audition, I went out and bought soundproofing for my studio at home. Now I have a very professional space that I’m in now. But before, I was working out in an adapted closet that didn’t have the best soundproofing. I knew I would scream, and I didn’t want my neighbors to call the cops on me. I’m really glad I did because I gave it everything I could in that audition and definitely must have resonated through to Mike
I think the biggest thing that shifted in my life is just the friendships that have come out of this show. I really didn’t know too many of the folks that lived in the Dallas area and worked for Funimation. Now I’ve built these truly lifelong friendships with people like Trina Nishimura, Mike McFarland and Josh Greeley. I feel like I’ve become so close to them. Working with them for so many years, it’s created something that’s really special to me personally. It’s just been incredible.
Criticólogos:
Eren has changed so much since the first season, to say the least. One of the things that stood out to me about Attack On Titan is the character development. How much information did the producers give to you? We have seen Eren gone through so many changes. How much did you know already? How much did you guess down the line? Did you agree where the lines of Eren were going? Walk me through it.
Bryce Papenbrook:
How much did I know? Absolutely nothing. In fact, even though I was a viewer of the show, it’s pretty rare for voice actors to be able to watch a show before you get to work on it. It’s a luxury to have that, but we don’t get scripts ahead of time. We don’t do table reads. We have no time to practice and really what I do. My method is also not to look online for spoilers and not to read the manga.
I still don’t know where this story is going or what is going to happen. I’m staying with the anime as it’s released now. I’m on the edge of my seat and I can’t wait. The first episode just released yesterday and I watched it as soon as I could. I was so excited, and I absolutely loved that first episode and can’t wait to work on it myself. But going through the story, absolutely nothing came from the producers.
Nothing was spoiled and Mike, as the director, knew that of my method. He would only tell me certain things I need to know, basis, and it’s still like that. I don’t know where Eren is going. I don’t know what the endgame is and the shift in air that happened between season three and four. We had no idea that was going to happen. For me, as an actor, being able to recreate the character and reinvent where the character is after living with him for so long was really exciting, and it was very much of a collaboration with myself and Mike McFarland.
In seasons one, two and three; there’s this anger that’s running through everything in Eren’s being. Every word that comes out of his mouth has this anger that goes along with it. The shift that happens in this final season, what I approach it as, is adding a layer of coldness on top of it. That anger still lives with him, but it is just buried under coldness. That was kind of what’s running through the entire performance. For me, it makes Eren absolutely terrifying, and I love being able to portray that and take the character there. It was really, really fun.
Criticólogos:
You’ve got to change your voice into different emotions and different situations. In this last season, Eren is dealing with so many emotions. How did you prepare yourself?
In my method, because we don’t get scripts, we don’t really have that time to make decisions ahead of time. You’re kind of also they’re not adjusting the animation to us. We’re dubbing. So you’re in this creative box; You have to make the performance your own. You take inspiration from those who have touched the show before.Yūki Kaji is an incredible actor and I love his performance. I take a lot of inspiration from what he’s done with the character.
I try to come in to the show with a blank slate, then view what’s happening At that moment; as Eren At that moment and just immerse myself in the show. Just live as the character for the short time I get to portray him. It’s really, really fun, and that’s just my method. That’s the way I go into it. Sometimes as I’m performing those lines immediately after, I’m just like: “Oh, how good? How could he say that? How could I say those words?”. I just love that I’m able to do that as an actor, and that’s something that’s really special about being particularly a voice actor.
You can be all these different things very quickly. Having Mike at the helm, who is such an experienced director and so talented, kind of bringing me to those moments; getting me into those moments and then just reacting, whatever comes out at that moment is what comes out. I’m very excited to go through that process, especially knowing how epic this show could be and the potential it has.
I don’t know what Eren’s endgame is. A lot of times, I never guess these twists and turns. As the viewer, I was surprised with every single one and every episode of Attack on Titan. Just opens the world up is so meaningful; it’s exciting. Every single episode is just more and more exciting. I can’t wait. I really just cannot wait.
Criticólogos:
Without any spoilers. What can fans expect from this? What can you give us? What can they expect?
Bryce Papenbrook:
There’s going to be action in it, as we’ve seen from Attack on Titan, and especially in this final season. It’s really intense, and the action scenes are just incredible. We’re going to get a lot of that. There’s going to be big, massive battles in very much attack on titan fashion. I’m sure not everyone’s going to make it. We know anyone can go at any time and it’s so stressful. I’ll reinforce, I do not know what’s going to happen. I do not know who’s going to go next. But I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of battles and there’s going to be some blood, and I can’t wait. It’s going to be fun.
Criticólogos:
What else can we expect from Bryce after attack on Titan? What else are you offering?
Bryce Papenbrook:
It’s a very exciting time in my career. I’ve been lucky enough to be part of Not Just Attack on Titan, but some other really incredible franchises that are out there that I highly recommend you guys checking out. One of them that comes to mind is Demon Slayer. I voice a character named Inosuke, who wears the boar mask; who screams a lot. Also, sword art online. If you guys have heard of that franchise, we had the movie SAO Progressive come out just last year.
An Incredible story that takes you back to Aincrad’s from Asuna’s perspective. I voice Kirito in Sword Art Online, and there’s definitely more of that story coming. For those that might be a little younger and want something a little lighter, a show called Miraculous Ladybug is continuing. We have a movie coming and that’s what I can talk about now. There’s definitely lots more coming for me. It’s just a very exciting time in my career, and I can’t wait for you guys to hear everything I’m working on.
Please keep up with me on social media at Bryce Papenbrook (@BrycePapenbrook) on Instagram and Twitter. I announce what I’m a part of as soon as I’m allowed, and I also cannot wait to come back to conventions.
See the full interview:
Trailer: (The Final Season)
