TLDR;
This interview with Jeff Nimoy covers his work on Digimon, including voice acting, writing, and directing. He discusses his experiences with the original series, Digimon Data Squad, and the new Digimon Adventure tri. He also shares insights into his creative process, favorite characters, and memorable moments from his time with the franchise.
- Jeff Nimoy discusses his current projects, including a Digimon role-playing game and his involvement with Digimon Adventure tri.
- He shares anecdotes about voice acting, writing humor, and working with fellow cast members on Digimon.
- Nimoy reflects on his favorite characters, villains, and Digimon from the series, as well as his overall experience with the franchise.
Introduction and Current Projects [0:00]
Jeff Nimoy introduces himself as a lifelong Digimon fan and discusses his current projects. He mentions he's working with a publishing agency and has started a Digimon role-playing game online, which has gained unexpected popularity. Nimoy also talks about his involvement with Digimon Adventure tri, where he reprises his role as the voice of Tentomon and Kabuterimon.
Voice Acting and Character Development [8:51]
Jeff Nimoy discusses his experience voicing Tentomon and his evolutions in Digimon. He explains that he wasn't the original voice actor for Tentomon but took over the role after a few episodes. Nimoy also shares how he developed the unique voices for Kabuterimon and Mega Kabuterimon, including the decision to make Mega Kabuterimon's voice whispery to differentiate it.
Writing and Humor in Digimon [15:08]
Jeff Nimoy shares insights into the writing process for Digimon, particularly how humor was incorporated into the series. He explains that due to the nature of dubbing anime, there was little room for improvisation. The humor often stemmed from the physicality of the scenes or the personalities of the characters. He also mentions working with Bob Buchholz and their experience with comedy dubbing, which influenced their approach to Digimon.
Memorable Moments and Fellow Actors [17:52]
Jeff Nimoy recalls funny moments from recording Digimon, particularly with Steve Blum and Crispin Freeman, who often set him up for humorous outtakes. He also discusses directing "Fetch Belle," a series where he enjoyed working with his favorite actors. Nimoy expresses his fondness for Digimon Data Squad, noting that he had more creative control over the series and incorporated Easter eggs as tributes to previous seasons.
Digimon Data Squad and Creative Control [20:17]
Jeff Nimoy talks about his experience with Digimon Data Squad, highlighting that he had more creative control over the series compared to previous Digimon projects. He explains that he knew the ending of the series before writing the first episode, which allowed him to plan the storyline more effectively. Nimoy also discusses the Easter eggs he included in the series, such as Mona Marshall, the voice of Izzy, voicing the final bad guy, which was meant to imply that the entire season was a computer program created by Izzy.
Favorite Characters and Villains [28:34]
Jeff Nimoy shares his favorite human protagonists, villains, and Digimon from the series he's been a part of. He expresses his love for Joe Kido, Davis Motomiya, and Marcus Damon as protagonists. For Digimon, Tentomon is his ultimate favorite, followed by Veemon and Agumon from Data Squad. He also discusses his favorite villains, including Etemon and the Royal Knights from Digimon Data Squad, particularly Kurata, because he knew it was going to wind up as Izzy.
Digimon Adventure 02 Ending and Digimon Adventure tri. [37:45]
Jeff Nimoy discusses the ending of Digimon Adventure 02, particularly the pairing of Matt and Sora, which he admits he didn't anticipate and found surprising. He also touches on his experience returning to voice Tentomon in Digimon Adventure tri., noting that he enjoys voicing a character that someone else is writing. Nimoy shares a funny anecdote about a new director not knowing the history of Digimon and questioning his pronunciation of Tentomon's digivolution sequence.
Returning to Digimon and Fan Interactions [44:29]
Jeff Nimoy reflects on his experience returning to the Digimon franchise and reuniting with familiar faces. He shares a heartwarming story about working with old colleagues on "Revenge of Diaboromon" and the joy of reconnecting with the cast and crew. Nimoy also expresses his gratitude for the fans and their continued support of Digimon, noting that it's great to see both longtime fans and new viewers enjoying the series.
Gratitude and Future Endeavors [51:50]
Jeff Nimoy expresses his gratitude for the opportunity to be interviewed and thanks the fans for their support. He encourages fans to recommend him to conventions and shares that he enjoys interacting with them and telling stories about his work on Digimon. Nimoy also mentions his current project, a reality show called "Crazy Wheels," where he serves as a supervising producer and writer.