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AtomTalking with the voice of Jeanne D’arc
Remember Jeanne D’arc? Level 5? Original SRPG on the PSP? Back at Comic-Con I had a quick chat with Kari Wahlgren who did the voice of Ashe in Final Fantasy XII and Saya in Blood+ about her new role as Jeanne in Jeanne D’arc. Before starting the interview I completely butchered the game’s title by not using any French pronunciation when I asked how she liked her new role. Yeah, this was one of those spur of the moment things, but something I’m glad I can bring back to Siliconera HQ even if I made a fool of myself to get it.
So why did you decide to do the voice of Jeanne?
KW: This was one of those few games where I didn’t have to audition for it. They called and said “hey we have this part and we would really like you to do it.” And the character is based on Joan of Arc, a historical character that is very fascinating to me. So I was very excited about it. The game is loosely based to her story with some historical and fantasy elements mixed together. Yeah, I was pretty excited about it.
Have you got a chance to play the game yet?
[laughs] I have got a chance to play the game and I have to admit I’m a terrible gamer. I had to have some of the guys help me get to the next level because I would be like crap this is hard! It is a very strategy based game and I think the hardcore gamers that like that style of game will be very challenged by it. It’s cool. I’ve played it, but not well.
What was your favorite part about it?
Just the look of it. I mean it’s so clean, the storyline is great, the characters are very interesting. It’s got a little something for everyone. The gamers will be challenged, but it’s got enough story and character development for the people that like that kind of game are also going to enjoy it.
Who is your other favorite character? Besides yourself, I know you’ll pick yourself.
There is a great relationship between the two main female characters. She (Jeanne) has this best friend named Lea. There is such a great relationship between them that I would say I dig her character too.
Did you get a chance to hear the Japanese voice acting before?
Yes, we do get to hear the Japanese actors in a game like this where it is already been released in Japan, which is kind of nice because you get a sense of style with the character and personality. Before we dub each line into English we do get a chance to reference the original Japanese recording.
Is the Japanese language track going to be in this too?
In this one just English.
Sony Representative: It’s one of the situations where well they are French, so why are they speaking Japanese. Obviously people are going to ask why are they speaking English then. We decided not to put it in for artistic reasons. We felt the quality was so good I don’t think anyone is going to miss the Japanese.
You speak English in this right?
Yeah.
Did you have to learn pronunciation or do you already have a French accent?
We did do pronunciation in the game, which was very challenging. We had a French engineer in the studio making sure we pronounce things right and we don’t get too euh huh huh about it you know? So yeah we had help with the pronunciation.
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15 Responses to “Talking with the voice of Jeanne D’arc”
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:42 am
She is really an excellent voice actor. I thought her performance as Shelke in Dirge of Cerberus was actually the best aspect of the game. And I’m glad that Japanese game enthusiasts will have the chance to hear her as Ashe with Final Fantasy XII International.
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:31 am
If I recall correctly, she did the voice of Karen in Shadow Hearts: Covenant, which is one of my favourite games of all time. I bet she did a good job in this game too!
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:44 am
I’m a real fan of her work, so it’s relieving to know she doing Jeanne. I just recently finished playing the Jeanne D’arc demo(CW firmware only), and I have to say - she sounds great. Having finished the demo, I really can’t wait to get my paws on this game.
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:59 am
“It is a very strategy based game and I think the hardcore gamers that like that style of game will be very challenged by it.”
Err…actually, the game is pretty easy. But it’s still a pretty fun game to play. ^^;
As for the game not having Japanese voice track, I guess I’m ok since I already have the JP version. Though to be honest, I’d don’t like their reasoning for taking out the JP track, I mean, if there’s enough room to put it, why not?
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:55 am
@Marco - something like what you were saying, which is completely wrong right?
@Tony - Glad you understood that part! It took me some extra time to figure out how transcribe it and keep the meaning.
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:01 am
“Like they said, for “artistic†reasons and the likes.”
And like I said, I don’t like their reasoning. They just wanted an excuse. If it were really for “artistic” reasons as they have claimed, then shouldn’t they have used French VAs instead, for that same “artistic” reason?
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:27 pm
I’m not too familiar w/ American VAs, but if she was Karen from Shadow Hearts 2 and Ashe of FFXII indeed, then she’s quite skillful.
Yeah, the whole reasoning of leaving out Jpn is flawed. Remember in “Secret of Blue Water” where Nadia and Jean spoke English w/ French accent because they’re from France? It’s under the assumption that they are speaking French regardless if they speak English or Jpn on screen, not another language w/ an accent.
Now, should the French and English sides speak their respective languages instead of Jpn in “Bladestorm Hundred Year War”.
I want to snatch the Jpn version too, but can’t stand the yellow striped “best of” version :)..
August 3rd, 2007 at 1:22 am
Well, usually those “best of” versions(or whatever they’re called, since they have like a gazillion names for them in Japan
December 6th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
I really would love to play this game.
does anyone know if it’s coming out on PS2 or any other game console?
I sorta don’t have the money for a PSP…
(Email me if you know anything! afrog2@msn.com)
June 20th, 2008 at 7:33 am
I love Kari as Cher in Wolf’s Rain, I was psyched to find out that she was doing the voice of Jeanne
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August 2nd, 2007 at 12:45 am
Awesome interview! ^_^ Its nice to know that the graphics are clean and the stoyline is awesome and I’m looking forward to this a lot! ^_^ So, how exactly did you pronounce Jeanne D’Arc without a french pronounciation? I can imagine something like that. Did you you say it like Jee-an Darc?
Not to worry though, at least you brought us this great interview! ^_^