TLDR;
Jeff Nimoy discusses the origins of some of the jokes used in the Digimon movie, tracing them back to his work with Bob at an improv comedy theater and their company, Spliced Bread. He shares anecdotes about recording the movie, including Neil Kaplan's long-awaited Edwin impersonation and the surprisingly difficult process of recording the cat's meow. He also touches on his experiences at anime conventions and his continued connection to the Digimon fanbase.
- Origins of jokes from improv and NFL Films work.
- Recording session anecdotes, including Neil Kaplan's impersonation.
- The "meow.com" joke and Terry's obsession with cats.
- Experiences at anime conventions and fan interactions.
Oldies But Goodies [0:04]
Jeff Nimoy talks about jokes in the Digimon movie that he and Bob had used in previous projects. He and Bob met at The LA Connection, an improv comedy theater, where they worked on "Mad Movies," a TV show on Nickelodeon that redubbed old movies with new dialogue. They continued this work live and formed Spliced Bread, creating comic dubs for NFL Films, which won them an Emmy. One recurring joke was the "three bean salad" line, which they incorporated whenever possible. Another old joke was the duck joke, which they used in the movie when Willis comments on the Digimon getting along.
The Recording [3:32]
Jeff Nimoy describes the recording process for the Digimon movie, where he served as the voice director with Bob and Terry providing input. The recording sessions took place in the Saban building in Westwood, California. A notable difference between the TV show and movie recordings was the abundance of food provided due to Screen Actors Guild rules for movies. Jeff recalls a story about Neil Kaplan, who had been wanting to do an impersonation of Edwin, an old-time actor, for a long time. Jeff finally gave him the opportunity to say the line "Finished!" in Edwin's voice for the movie.
That Damn Cat [7:31]
Jeff Nimoy recounts the story behind the "meow.com" joke in the Digimon movie, where Tai's cat is using the internet. The idea was to have the cat sign onto a website, with an AOL-type voice saying "Thanks for visiting meow.com." However, recording the cat's meow became a difficult task because Terry, who loved cats, wanted it to sound like her cat. Jeff, Dave Mallow, and Terry all tried recording the meow, but no one was satisfied. Eventually, the ADR dialogue editor, Mike Garcia, was tasked with picking one. During an internal screening for Fox executives, Jeff recognized his original meow, and Mike Garcia grinned at him, mouthing the word "boom."
NFL Films [11:29]
Jeff Nimoy reflects on his work with NFL Films and transitions to discussing his experiences at anime conventions. He jokes about feeling old and out of touch. He shares snippets of interactions with fans, highlighting the enthusiasm and appreciation for his work on Digimon. He also touches on the financial incentives for attending conventions and expresses his continued connection to the Digimon fanbase.