The Making of X-Men ’97: Voice Cast Audition Process Behind the Nostalgic Animation
Recapturing the Nostalgic Spirit of the Original ’90s Cartoon
The team behind the highly anticipated X-Men ’97 has been committed to recapturing the spirit of the beloved original ’90s cartoon. In an interview with IGN, the executive producer of X-Men ’97, Brad Winderbaum, revealed that the team went to great lengths to imitate the iconic animation from that era. They even imposed “false parameters” on themselves to ensure an authentic nostalgic experience for the viewers.
Furthermore, the nostalgia factor extends beyond just the animation as it also carries over to the voice acting in the upcoming series. Notably, several actors from the original X-Men animated series have returned to reprise their iconic roles, such as Cal Dodd as Wolverine, Lenore Zann as Rogue, A. J. LoCascio as Gambit, Holly Chou as Jubilee, and Ray Chase as Cyclops.
Auditioning Process for the Voice Cast
In spite of their previous portrayals, the returning actors Cal Dodd and Lenore Zann had to go through the audition process once again for X-Men ’97. In an exclusive IGN roundtable, they shared their audition experiences, shedding light on the challenges they faced while trying to voice their beloved characters.
The scene that they picked [for the audition] was so obscure. ‘What do you mean? He doesn’t yell at anyone here, or scream or be ignorant or be funny, underhanded funny?’
Cal Dodd explained that the chosen audition scene was quite unusual for Wolverine, as it depicted him in a peaceful moment up North, where everyone was celebrating his fishing skills. Dodd found it interesting that the scene depicted a side of Wolverine different from his usual portrayal.
Lenore Zann, on the other hand, received a mysterious email about Disney’s search for her without any details about the show. After giving her consent, casting director Meredith Layne contacted her and shared the original lines from the X-Men animated series for her to read.
“They were the lines from the original show,” Zann said. “And I was like, ‘oh! It’s Rogue! I’ll just do Rogue.'”
After a successful audition, Lenore Zann was invited to a Zoom meeting with the producers, where she received the good news that they wanted her in the show. Excitedly, she accepted their offer to reprise her role as Rogue.
The Challenge of Voice Matching and Bringing New Interpretations
The newcomers to the voice cast, including A. J. LoCascio, Holly Chou, and Ray Chase, faced the unique challenge of matching the voices of the original cast members, while still having the freedom to showcase their own acting abilities.
“The trap is to lean too heavily into voice match and then you forget about actually acting, right?” Chou joked, emphasizing the struggle of finding the right balance between imitation and genuine performance. She recalled the producers suggesting that the voice cast should not feel obligated to solely emulate the previous voices.
Reflecting on the impact of the original show, Chou added, “I think we do [evoke the previous voices] anyway because how could we not be influenced by that? That’s gonna come through anyway.”
Speaking about his role as Cyclops, Ray Chase revealed that he didn’t grow up with the original X-Men series. To prepare for his portrayal, he found inspiration through a YouTube video titled “Cyclops Says Jean a Lot.” He further mentioned that uttering the name “Jean” helped him immerse himself in the X-Men universe.
“I said the line about Gambit – ‘all he cares about are his stupid beignets’ – like 100 times in varying degrees of whininess,” Chase shared about the challenging process of finding the right balance for Cyclops’ characterization.
Conclusion
As X-Men ’97 continues to air weekly, fans of the ’90s cartoon are thrilled to witness the return of the nostalgic animated series that captured their hearts. With the voice cast—both familiar and new—nailing their auditions and reintroducing the beloved characters, the revival promises to be a delightful experience, paying homage to the original while infusing fresh interpretations.
For more on X-Men ’97, be sure to check out IGN’s review of the first two episodes and the exclusive interview with executive producer Brad Winderbaum.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
