The Event Experience

There were impressive displays of official merchandise from Bandai Namco and BoxLunch, featuring a giant Jiji cat alongside other Studio Ghibli properties, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and more.

A postcard writing table invited us to write personal messages to a loved one. The cards featured original concept art by Yoshifumi Kondo (animation director and character designer of Kiki’s Delivery Service), printed for one of two IMAX posters created for the 4K release. Kondo also directed Whisper of the Heart, another Ghibli classic that will receive its own 4K IMAX remaster in theaters.

Before seating, we picked up our movie snacks from the complimentary concession stand, which included not only popcorn but also bread from one of my favorite bakeries, Okayama Kobo! Eating bread while watching a movie where a witch-in-training lives above a bakery? Perfect.

The Magic of 4K Remastering

I haven’t seen the film in over 5 years, so watching a remastered Kiki’s Delivery Service in 4K on the IMAX screen was pure joy. The hand-drawn details of this older film, now magnified and sharpened, truly showed the care for animation that Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli painstakingly put into their work. The bustling city crowds felt alive, like each background figure had a story of their own rather than just being “extras.” The architectural details and the lush greenery also added to the feeling like I was watching it for the first time all over again. 

My heart was smiling the entire time, and seeing the hand-drawn animation at this scale, every brushstroke and painted background, is a great reminder that real human hands created this film. The 4K remaster lets longtime fans rediscover details they may have missed and lets new viewers appreciate the beloved film that still resonates with audiences today.

Coming-of-Age, Loneliness, and Self-Care Themes

Even though Kiki’s Delivery Service was released in 1989, its themes still resonate with viewers, especially with adults. Kiki is a witch-in-training who has to live on her own for a year, all while dealing with the struggles of fitting in to a new town, managing the little money that she has, finding a way to support herself, and going through a form of depression due to burnout.

Doesn’t it sound familiar in today’s environment? People who have ever felt like they’re “losing their spark” will find comfort in this movie and be encouraged to take a break and reset. 

From Elusive to Main Stream

There was a time when watching a Studio Ghibli film meant importing DVDs or hoping a friend had a copy, even if it didn’t have English subtitles. For many Western fans, seeing an IMAX screening of an animated film from 1989 would have seemed impossible a couple of decades ago. Now, thanks to the success of Princess Mononoke’s 4K IMAX remaster last year, fans can continue to experience Studio Ghibli stories together and on the biggest screen possible. 

Watch Kiki’s Delivery Service in 4K IMAX nationwide on Friday, March 13, 2026, for one week only. The next two Studio Ghibli 4K IMAX remasters will be one-day-only releases of Whisper of the Heart on April 21, 2026, and The Secret World of Arrietty on May 19, 2026.

The post A Night of Kiki’s Delivery Service Magic in 4K IMAX appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Spoiler alert: I enjoyed it. The movie was fun, musically catchy, comical, and animated beautifully. Definitely a new kind of movie night. I immediately thought of the “choose-your-own-adventure” books I loved as a kid, brought onto the big screen.

So if you’re interested in not just watching a movie, but participating in one, HYPNOSISMIC, Japan’s first fully interactive theatrical film, lets the audience vote in real time using their smartphones to guide the story. There are 48 paths, 7 different endings, and 25 songs. Tickets are now available, as the movie releases exclusively at select Regal locations on February 27.

For Both HYPNOSISMIC Fans and Newcomers

For fans already familiar with the franchise, you’ll be happy to see the returning rap groups battle it out, but the story is structured for newcomers to enjoy as well. Anime Expo attendees last year got the first taste of interactivity when a portion of the movie was screened at the largest anime convention in the U.S. and North America.

HYPNOSISMIC – Division Rap Battle takes place in a world where WORDS have replaced weapons, and the rise of the Hypnosis Mic has ended armed conflict, allowing disputes to be settled through rap battles rather than violence. Now in the third year of the H. Era, the nation’s top rap divisions from across Japan face off in the Final Division Rap Battle, where rival crews compete for power, pride, and the future itself in the ultimate lyrical showdown.

Rap Groups:

• IKEBUKURO’s Buster Bros!!!
• YOKOHAMA’s Mad Trigger Crew
• SHIBUYA’s Fling Posse
• SHINJUKU’s Matenro
• OSAKA’s Dotsuitare-Hompo
• NAGOYA’s Bad Ass Temple

With high-energy performances, team loyalty, smack talk, fun competition scenes, and audience participation, the moviegoer will immediately know whether their team advances to the next round.

How the Interactive System Works

With real-time audience voting, you’ll directly affect the rap battle outcomes and story progression, making every movie screening a unique experience. 

Voting is done through the CtrlMovie app, which you should download in advance. You’ll scan the QR code that appears on the screen before the movie starts, and you’ll be ready to vote! 

After each energetic rap battle, you’ll be prompted to vote, and you’ll have about 10 seconds to lock it in. The winner is announced after heartbeat sound effects, as you’re in suspense alongside the rap groups, anxious to know who won. Once the winner is announced, you’ll experience the adrenaline rush of live feedback from your theater group. 

This Letterboxd review from Starfrooot summed up my feelings about my particular showing, though: “I voted for my guys, and the whole theater let me down. #FlingPosse”

My favorite group FlingPosse, didn’t make it to the final stage

The Choose Your Own Adventure Film Designed for Repeat Viewings

With 48 paths and 7 different endings, the movie is built for and encourages viewers to come back again and again. Even the CtrlMovie app saves your progress and offers 60 achievements to unlock. My one viewing unlocked 6. 

There’s a lot going on screen that you can’t take in the first time, and I found my eyes darting between reading the speedy lyrics and absorbing in the crazy battles. Maybe I’ll watch another screening to redeem my group, FlingPosse. When the movie was released in Japan, more than 30% of moviegoers returned to theaters to experience different story lines. 

GKIDS Bringing Innovation to Select U.S. Regal Theaters

It’s no surprise that GKIDS, the producer and distributor of award-winning feature animation for both adult and family audiences, including The Secret of Kells, Mirai, Wolfwalkers, The Boy and the Heron, and much more, is responsible for bringing the first interactive film to U.S. audiences by teaming up with select Regal cinemas. 

This “gamified” theatrical format could shape how studios reimagine audience engagement and storytelling, giving everyone a chance to play an active, fun role in a unique experience.

Buy your HYPNOSISMIC – Division Rap Battle tickets online now for the limited one-day release on February 27 at participating Regal locations and “feel the beat!”

The post HYPNOSISMIC: Division Rap Battle Review – The Interactive Anime Movie That Gets Audiences Involved appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The intimate KPop Demon Hunters event started with the bar serving up drinks named after the film’s iconic songs: Golden, Takedown, Your Idol, and a non-alcoholic option: Soda Pop. There were also photo opportunities in front of a backdrop adorned with gorgeous flowers. The color scheme screamed, “If Gwi-Ma were floral.” My personal favorite was the meet-and-greet pictures with the songwriters themselves.

Record-Breaking Film with a Record-Breaking Soundtrack

“We had no idea this movie would become the most-watched movie in Netflix history. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, our stellar music team has produced five Grammy nominations,” Maggie Kang said at the start of the panel.

Chris Appelhans added, “We threw so much crazy sh*t at those two. Google Docs that were pages long, with stories, scenes, characters, and things we wanted to do in the songs. Mashup of references from H.O.T to Bill Withers to Imogen Heap to BTS.”

The creative version for KPop Demon Hunters started with Maggie and Chris, for a world that hadn’t been musically defined before, since they wanted the songs to work both inside and outside the narrative. “All the songs were truly the guidance of the directors telling us exactly what they needed,” EJAE said.

EJAE x Mark Sonnenblick Collaboration

While EJAE joined the project early in 2020, before the story was finalized, Mark was brought in much later through Ian Eisendrath, Executive Music Producer. Their dynamic blends EJAE’s extensive pop background with Mark’s theater storytelling. 

“We’re constantly policing each other like, ‘Hey EJAE, let’s get back to the story.’ So if I’m writing a line and it’s kind of general, you’d be like: That’s not really telling what Rumi wants to say. So he helped me a lot. Or you would write a lot of words and I’d be like: Oh no, it’s too many words!” EJAE shared.

The result, as you know by now, became irresistible songs with deep storytelling packed in.

Building “Golden”

“This is the story of the girls. This is the story of Huntrix. How do you get the backstory of all three of these girls in like eight lines of this song? And so, figuring out the melody that has enough syllables to do that,” Mark continued.

They debated between two melodies, but ultimately chose the one with “more real estate” for lyrics. With many versions sent back and forth among writers, directors, and producers, they coordinated to build Golden as the thematic backbone of the Huntrix trio. “Maggie was coming back and being like, can it be more yearning?” said Mark.

The audience then had a fun moment to sing along (briefly) with the songwriters.

The Hunter’s Mantra: The Film’s Spiritual Core & Korean Roots

Maggie and Chris had written what elements needed to be in “The Prologue (Hunter’s Mantra),” and EJAE composed it to be powerful, emotional, and cinematic. “Every time EJAE sent a voice memo, it was like, where is this divine inspiration coming from?!” Mark said in awe.

EJAE said, “It was a melody that could fit in many outfits throughout the movie.” She then dived deeper into how her being bilingual and culturally rooted helped her blend tradition + pop + cinematic styles. “The Korean lyrics aren’t modern, they’re actually old historical Korean.”

She continued to explain “pansori” (Korean traditional storytelling), which is typically known for emotional grit and vocal power, and that she blended it with “arirang” (Korean folk anthem), which is a more modern melodic approach. “I’m proud I brought that side of Korea into it,” EJAE smiled.

“Your Idol”: The Film’s Darkest Track 

Internally called The Black Hat song, EJAE is the original singer and songwriter for the “demo” version of “Your Idol.” 

She shared, “I don’t know if Maggie and Chris know this, but I purposely put the Mantra reversed as the intro. It sounds really eerie and demonic that way. So I did that, and then I harmonized it.” Drawing upon childhood exposure from her dad’s appreciation for cathedral Latin music, she layered in different harmonies to translate her metaphor strategy of: “They’re trying to kill the Honmoon.” 

“To sound like a dude, I had to transpose my tracks down. I had hundreds of tracks for this. I had to do the lead tracks, the doubles, harmonies, and effects vocals. I’m one vocalist and literally had to pitch down every single vocal take,” said EJAE. “Screaming in my room, it was fun.”

Mark added, “My favorite part of the song – dropping the beat going into the chorus. It’s missing a beat, and you just slam into the chorus harder, and it’s cool when there’s like little sort of weird things happening.”

EJAE continued, “Exactly, it was great. THEBLACKLABEL, like 24, and TEDDY just killed it with the trap. It’s like modern combined with that choir voice and the trap beats.”

The Soundtrack That Will Dominate Your Spotify Unwrapped

With multiple writing teams, working with people who have or haven’t done films before, “collaboration was so important and just no ego, and just making sure the song is king and making sure the story is alive while writing these songs were so hard, but magical,” said EJAE. “I think we did it!”

With KPop Demon Hunters being the most watched movie in Netflix history and with five Grammy nominations of Song of the Year (“Golden”), “Best Pop Duo/Group Performances (“Golden”), Best Song Written for Visual Media (“Golden”), Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media (The “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack) and Best Remixed Recording (“Golden” David Guetta REM/X), it’s safe to say, yes, yes they did. 

Thank you, Netflix, for inviting us to this intimate event! I look forward to seeing my Spotify Unwrapped to confirm what I already know.

The post How ‘Golden’ Was Made: The Songwriting Geniuses Behind KPop Demon Hunters’ Viral Soundtrack appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

“We’re very appreciative of the positive reaction on social media, especially when people have said that P5X is equivalent or even better than the console version,” Uda-san tells Nerd Reactor during Anime Expo 2025. “We’re really happy to hear that.”

And so far, I agree. While I’m still working my way through the first Palace on mobile, there’ve been many times when I’ve appreciated that the game feels almost the same as the console version, despite being a gacha game.

A Gacha That’s F2P-Friendly

When asked how they would respond to players’ concerns about gacha and the potential feeling of pressure to spend, the team responded that typical gacha games often disappoint players if they don’t get the character they want. However, they haven’t heard any specific complaints about P5X. The feedback they’ve received is that people can progress in the story as far as they expect to go, and by doing events and collecting gems, you can still unlock other characters.

I mentioned how fun it was to find Golden Tickets in the Palace treasure chests, and the team said the tickets would continue to appear in later Palaces. The idea is to reward players just for playing, although they did mention they’re still making adjustments. While the Golden Tickets only apply to the Standard Banner and not the Limited-Time Event Banners (those require Platinum Tickets), you can still get 5-star characters to include in your team without spending money if you don’t want to. 

Persona5: The Phantom X Keeps the Signature Jazzy Beats Alive

As music is such an essential part of the Persona series, to complement the game’s stylish visuals and gameplay, we asked how they balanced between adding new music and nostalgic beats from the original Persona 5. 

The team’s goal was to create fresh music that matches the new experiences players will have in P5X while still incorporating elements reminiscent of Persona 5.

“We want them to feel excited and pumped up about the experience, including music tied to specific moments, such as boss fights,” said Uda-san.

There are definitely some boss fight bangers, and you’ll be nodding along to the beat before you even know it.

Matsunaga-san also explained that after Act 2, players can unlock the School Band club, where they’ll get to choose songs and perform Persona music through a series of rhythm mini-games. It’s the extracurricular student life activities that enhance this game even further. Not only will you get Band Club Experience, but also Band Badges, which can be exchanged for rewards like Gifts for companions and, more importantly, Platinum Milicoins and Platinum Tickets!

And before the interview ended, a fun fact was shared. Other birds, like a penguin, were considered before ultimately deciding that Lufel, the owl-like creature, would accompany Wonder throughout the Metaverse. While Mona from Persona 5 was expressive and energetic, Lufel is more reserved and mysterious, speaking like an old soul, which suits his animal.

Development Reveals, Live Art, and Lyn’s Vocals at the P5X Panel

At the official Persona5: Phantom X panel moderated by CDawgVA, the fanbase got to hear from:

• P-STUDIO Director Kazuhisa Wada
• ATLUS Producer Yohsuke Uda
• SEGA Producer Jun Matsunaga 
• Persona Series Character Designer Shigenori Soejima

The team discussed their philosophy on character design, particularly for the Phantom Idols, where they explained their approach to balancing fantasy elements with realism. They aimed to create characters that are visually distinctive while still feeling authentic, and to have them embody cognitions and desires.

Appropriately, while the team showed amazing visual slides of the characters, Soejima-san was live drawing Wonder, and we got to see his impressive work in progress throughout the panel. 

Fans also got a sneak peek at the upcoming seasonal events, which will align with real-world timelines rather than being restricted to the game’s internal calendar. Look forward to a summer festival, a Christmas event, Valentine’s, and more. 

As the panel wound down, Matsunaga-san gave a closing remark, “Having just started the live service of the game, and to come here as a developer to get this interaction with you, your feedback, and your energy is super useful. We look forward to many months and many years!”

Uda-san added, “This is my first time coming to Anime Expo, and I love being in the room with you guys. We’re really going to pull out the stops and punches with P5X to make it amazing.”

The audience was then treated to a special live performance by Lyn Inaizumi, who sang “Ambitions & Visions,” the opening theme for Persona5: The Phantom X, and “Life Will Change” from Persona 5. 

Ambitions & Visions song:

Anime Expo, the largest anime convention in North America, will return next year at the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 2nd to July 5th. You can play Persona5: The Phantom X now on PC via Google Play Games or Steam, and on mobile devices, iOS, and Android.

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Note that there are spoilers for 3.4, so if you haven’t completed the “For the Sun is Set to Die” trailblaze mission, you’ve been warned!

Moderated by Trash Taste, a group of Tokyo-based content creators, Joey (The Anime Man), Garnet (Gigguk), and Connor (CDawgVA) had a lively panel discussion with the voice actors:

• Hayden Daviau: Voice actor of Tribbie, Trianne, and Trinnon, the three remaining fragments of Tribios, the first demigod of the Chrysos Heirs
• Gabriel Warburton: Voice actor of Mydei, Chrysos Heir and Crown Prince of Kremnos
• Joshua Waters: Voice actor of Phainon, Chrysos Heir, and the newest pullable character of 3.4
• Aiden Dawn: Voice actor of Cyrene/Mem, a childhood friend of Phainon and a floating cute fairy

All of them were fans of the game before joining and talked about how excited they were to be part of the cast officially. While I was sitting in the press and industry section during the panel, I came to realize that other HSR voice actors, such as Clara and Anaxa, among many others, surrounded me. They were really warm, supportive, and loudly cheering for their teammates on stage.

Notable Moments from the Panel

The actors discussed their approach to character development, and particularly for Daviau, who had to voice three characters. She focused on what their personalities were to hone in on how to distinguish them. 

“Tribbie was more energetic, the face and leader of the group,” said Daviau. “Trianne was a little more scrappy and kind of bratty at times. Trinnon was quite reserved. So it started from taking what her personalities were and then finding where that sat in my body for me.”

When asked which was her favorite, she picked Trianne with almost no hesitation, because of her scrappy energy, but would also choose Tribios as the older, whole form.

For Phainon, the 3.4 character of the moment, Waters explained his character’s progression. 

“Phainon is the mediated football coach, and we’re the Amphoreous squad,” Waters said. “He doesn’t want anyone to be mad or upset. He’s always quick to make them feel better. But as we got to 3.4 and his friends started passing away, he progressively got worse and became more Flame Reaver. So, if you look at the beginning of 3.4 and then the end, it is night and day, which I’m really pleased with.”

And how he voiced the Flame Reaver, who was revealed to be Khaslana, the Phainon of the previous Eternal Recurrence, elicited horrified gasps from the VAs sitting behind me. Waters explained that he pinches his larynx a little to get that growly voice. A no-no since it can lead to vocal cord damage.

Mydei’s Vulnerability

Warburton, while wearing the Phainon convention bag around his neck, talked about how he balanced Mydei, explaining that the toughest, most battle-hardened character can be the most emotionally vulnerable in private. He connected to Mydei by relating to his deep love for his mother, saying that if his mother were ever in pain, it would break his heart. That emotional connection helped him bring out the softer, more sensitive side, creating a natural balance between war, aggression, and vulnerability.

Cue back to the moment in 3.1 where Mydei first met his mother in the nether realm, telling him that the bloodline of Gorgo flowing within him will guide him home, and then later in his final cutscene, when he announces, “Mother, I’m home.”

Dawn talked about finally being able to reveal that Cyrene is Mem, a physical manifestation of Cyrene’s lost memories. As someone who hasn’t caught up to the latest patch, because I was busy building Phainon and grinding for his relics, this was a surprise to me. 

With Mem’s language, though, the team decided that every single syllable was still going to have to mean something, even if all you hear is “mem, mem, mem.” The tone and inflection still need to convey what she actually means.

“I had a lot of fun being this bratty little flying thing and being that character that’s always got some fun commentary on her,” Dawn explained.

Live Voice Acting and Surprise Song

It wouldn’t be a panel with voice actors without some voice acting, so the audience got to experience live performances with the most entertaining ones being Hayden voicing her chaotic character trailer, “Children Know Nothing,” along with Joshua and Gabriel voicing the Mydei and Phainon bathhouse scene where they had a “sauna battle.” Complete with sauna stools and privacy towels as props!

Another bonus? We were treated to a musical performance of the animated short “Hark! There’s Revelry Atop the Divine Mountain” with vocals by YMIR, who kind of looked like the Flame Reaver, with his hooded cloak. Joshua also voiced Phainon as he fought his way to Nanook.

Overall, the official Honkai: Star Rail panel was full of energy, and the voice actors are obviously huge fans of each other, making the in-game moments even more tight-knit. As a regular Honkai: Star Rail player, I was thrilled that everyone who attended received an exclusive Phainon metal card, an amazing memento to commemorate the panel, a temporary stop for the Astral Express. 

As Pom-pom would say, rest up, Trailblazers, your next adventure is right around the corner!

Anime Expo, the largest anime convention in North America, will return next year at the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 2nd to July 5th. You can play Honkai: Star Rail, currently on version 3.4, on PlayStation 5, iOS, Android, GeForce Now, and Windows.

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Yes, Aniplex is teaming up with Anime Expo, the largest anime convention in North America, to host an exclusive live performance on July 4th at the Peacock Theater to celebrate the music of our favorite main character slayer, Tanjiro Kamado, during his Unwavering Resolve arc (the first season). You can expect Natsuki Hanae to perform (Japanese voice actor for Tanjiro) as well as other surprise appearances during this highly anticipated panel!

This event is open to everyone who has a valid Anime Expo badge for the day. If you haven’t gotten your badge yet, you can still do so here.

Event: Demon Slayer 6th Anniversary Celebration
Date: Friday, July 4

Times: 10:30 AM (doors open at 9:30 AM and event ends at noon)
Location: Peacock Theater, 777 Chick Hearn Ct, Los Angeles, CA 90015

While the Peacock Theater (formerly called Microsoft Theater) has a capacity of 7,100, this event will be extremely popular. It’s recommended to line up early to increase your chances of getting in, as it’ll be the first main event of the day. Anime Expo 2025 will take place July 3 – July 6, 2025, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

This celebration is the perfect lead-up to the first movie of the three-part film series, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle,” which will be released in the United States on September 12, 2025.

If you want to catch up or rewatch your favorite moments, all seasons of Demon Slayer are available on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu. 

Shout “Umai!” at Demon Slayer x Bearology Mugen Train Pop-Up

Can’t get enough of Demon Slayer? Then check out the latest immersive experience held at Bearology in Temple City, CA, where you can board the Mugen Train and try some of the tasty foods that Rengoku was chowing down on, along with testing your reflexes.

Here’s a closeup of the delicious Tuna Grilled Onigiri and the Gyunabe Bento:

Bearology x Demon Slayer reservations are available until July 31st, and they’re open every day from 11 AM to 11 PM at 5805 Rosemead Blvd, Temple City, CA 91780. Please note that a $10 pre-payment per person is required to reserve on OpenTable, but this amount will be credited towards your final bill! To maximize seating space, if your group is three or fewer, you’ll be seated with other folks. It’s a great chance to meet other Demon Slayer fans!

It wouldn’t be a pop-up without exclusive merchandise, so here’s a closer look at the menus:

A similar experience is expected to appear at Anime Expo, 626 Night Market, and Foodieland throughout the rest of the summer if you don’t get a chance to visit the Temple City location.

Happy 6th Anniversary, Demon Slayer!

The post Demon Slayer 6th Anniversary Music Celebration Heads to Anime Expo 2025 appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

And if you’ve ever thought, “Hey, I want to do that too,” we attended a fun and insightful WonderCon 2025 panel discussing how to break into the voice acting industry for games and animation. Curious if you have what it takes to be a voice actor? Read on and find out!

Panelists Introduction

Moderated by artistic director Shawn Strider, the founder of Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade Ball, the panelists included:

• Daniel Ross (Emmy Award-winning voice actor, Donald Duck in Mickey and Minnie Wish Upon a Christmas)
• Heather Gonzalez (Tsuru in Beyblade X, Yukari Takeba in Personal 3: Reload)
• Stephanie Southerland (Jean Gunnhildr in Genshin Impact, Tess Bailey in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6)
• Alex Bankier (Gran Kirkwayne in Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture, Crème Brûlée Cookie in Cookie Run: Kingdom)
• Isaac Robinson-Smith (Bishop in X-Men ‘97, Mushu in Disney’s Dreamlight Valley)

Guess what they all had in common?

A background in theater.

Stage performance played a significant role in their voice acting, and the panelists started with community and/or school theater, as it helped them with vocal control, characterization, and performance skills. So, if you’re seriously interested in pursuing this career, start by joining your local or school’s theater program as a valuable stepping stone!

It’s Not Just Doing Funny Voices

For aspiring voice actors, the panelists emphasized that training is essential.

“It’s voice acting. It’s not just about the voice. There’s a misconception that you get to do funny voices in front of a microphone, but it’s so much deeper than that. You really need to be able to have your acting chops reflect that you can do an actual character, a living, breathing creature, or a person or whatever,” said Stephanie Southerland.

“Yeah, it’s like you can do SpongeBob, but can you do SpongeBob reciting Shakespeare?” quips Heather Gonzalez.

“Know yourself, your instrument, and what your capabilities are. Saying ‘I’m really passionate, and I really want to do this is not enough,’ said Daniel Ross on stressing the importance of knowing oneself and how to stand out in a competitive industry.

Other essentials for aspiring voice actors? Mindset and Resilience.

Knowing WHY you want to do it and having that clear motivation will help guide you when things get hard, especially when auditions can be exhausting, and you’ll experience more rejections than acceptance.

“It’s a marathon, not a sprint. The people who make it have usually been at this for at least a decade,” said Alex, reminding everyone that success takes time, persistence, and patience.

Regarding major challenges, Isaac discussed stepping into the role of Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther for Disney Parks and cruise lines as well as Eddie Murphy for the role of Mushu. “Chadwick meant so much to the world…it was definitely intimidating but very humbling at the same time. I just want to make sure I’m a good steward of those characters because they mean so much, but so challenging and exponentially rewarding.”

How AI is Impacting the Industry

You might’ve noticed that some of your favorite game characters aren’t speaking anymore.

On July 26, 2024, SAG-AFTRA initiated a voice actors’ strike between video game VAs and gaming companies over AI protections, fair wages, and better working conditions. As companies have used AI to clone voices without the actors’ consent and additional compensation, the actors want protection against unauthorized AI replication of their voices.

“Just because our industry is threatened right now, it doesn’t mean that AI is evil. It’s what people do with it. The nefarious notion that you can take interviews, TikTok videos, and YouTube videos and compile a composite of someone without their consent… It’s pretty disgusting. We’ve been striking for so long because the companies just want to say, ‘We worked with you once, now we own your voice forever.’ And we’re like, no, of course it’s not okay,” said Daniel Ross.

Alex Bankier said, “Certain automation can make aspects of production easier, but that does mean it can cut into our livelihoods as performers and even the livelihoods of audio engineers, the production team, game developers, it really affects all of us…this is an existential threat and these companies really want to be able to use just the bounty of existing performances to whatever end they want, but don’t want to compensate the performers.”

Currently, negotiations are still ongoing with no resolution reached, which has led to delays in some video game releases and even temporary removal of voice-overs in certain games. Actors are using the hashtag #GamePerformanceMatters to spread awareness and encourage people to do the same for support.

Real Questions Answered By Established Voice Actors

For the Q&A portion, audience members quickly lined up at the microphone to ask their questions, but due to time, 6 questions were answered. All of them were great, so we felt the need to share and summarize their answers!

Q: How do I create distinct voices for my cartoon characters?

A: Start with their personality traits. Are they tired, energetic, cynical, optimistic, etc? Use contrast to play with different tones and energy levels to make them distinct. Consider the emotional tone of the show; for instance, if it’s a comedic show with emotional moments, then balance humor and depth.

Q: What are some reputable voice acting classes or coaches?

A: Avoid any predatory courses that promise instant success and six figures. Panelists love coaches like Richard Horvitz, Keythe Farley, and Cissy Jones. Schools include Voice Trax West, Sound On Studio, and Real Voice LA. You can also get a free consultation at Global Voice Acting Academy, with other resources including Voice Over Resource Guide and IWantToBeAVoiceActor.com

Q: How do I start auditioning for roles in voice acting?

A: As mentioned, theater experience is a valuable stepping stone, but you can also begin with voice acting lessons to get in front of industry pros. During this time, start building connections with working actors, directors, and casting agents. Since big roles often require an agent, work towards getting representation.

Q: How do I stand out when the industry prioritizes A-list actors?

A: Alex emphasized the importance of standing out in the industry, not by stepping on others but by honing one’s craft and putting oneself out there through networking and self-promotion. Daniel utilized social media to showcase his talent and to gain visibility. But remember that success takes time since most established actors have been in the industry for at least a decade!

Q: Should I include impressions in my voice demo reel?

A: If it’s for an animation demo, then no, since those characters are already booked. However, a separate sound-alike demo can benefit you since sound-alike work exists in TV and movies. Have multiple demos. The ones you need for an agency animation and commercial demos because those are the ones that book the most, but you can also do a video game demo and a creature sounds demo. Put on display what you’re good at!

Q: As a voice actor, what’s the best direction you’ve received that improved your performance?

A: The best directors act as scene partners, making the performance feel real as most of the time, you just see an Excel sheet with some lines versus the whole script. They also help actors feel secure, especially during emotional scenes, so creating a safe environment is key. When actors were asked to imagine their physicality of the character, what the character’s posture is, and whether they are doing any movement. And when actors are encouraged to experiment, the element of play makes it easier for them to embody the character fully.

We hope this gets you one step closer to your voice acting journey – or at the very least, helps you understand the immense effort behind the work and why the use of AI can threaten the future of the profession.

WonderCon 2026 returns next year on Friday, March 27 – Sunday, March 29, in Anaheim!

The post How to Break Into Voice Acting for Games & Animation – Straight From the Pros appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The party celebrated the global retail launch of the Official HYTE Y70 Silver Wolf PC Case Bundle, which is available at the following select retail stores: Micro Center (United States), Canada Computers & Electronics (Canada), DD Tech (Mexico), and Links Japan (Japan).

You can also purchase this limited edition case online at HYTE for $299.99. Still, if you’re local to a participating store, we highly recommend checking it out in person to see how spacious the case is, how crisp the artwork and stickers are, and the attention to detail. The bundle includes the case, case fan frames, and an exclusive keychain. Pair it with the iBUYPOWER Silver Wolf “Contract Zero” Desk Pad ($29.99), and you’ll have a setup that Silver Wolf herself would approve!

Silver Wolf Scavenger Hunt for Free Swag and Boba

Fans experienced deja vu re-encountering Silver Wolf’s graffiti marks, but this time, in the form of stickers to complete their scavenger hunt card. iBUYPOWER and Intel presented the fun activity at the launch party, and when you followed all four hints to collect the marks, you got a swag bag of prizes that varied depending on supply.

The hint locations were spread throughout the store, but the aesthetic purple cases were easy to spot. Fans will also see the 3D-printed origami birds in full display, but suppress the urge to yank them because they’re not included with the case!

Upon exiting Micro Center, you’ll turn in your completed Scavenger Hunt card for a free bag of swag and a meet-and-greet with content creators Braxophone, DukTV, and Minsleif, who were signing Silver Wolf’s signature light cone posters.

Fans also got to sip some in-game drinks, choosing between Immortal’s Delight (brown sugar milk with boba) or Startaro Bubble (a taro-forward milk drink with popping boba) made by Boba Street utilizing a tailgate of a Cyber Truck as their drink-making station.

While the game’s description of Startaro Bubble is “visually appealing but tastes surprisingly rough and unpalatable,” the real version tasted delicious and “not-too-sweet.”

A steady stream of people participated in the launch party, but most notable was the large and organized cosplaying group, which even had its own Pom-Pom conductor in attendance, cosplayed by a very chill dog.

The large Honkai: Star Rail gift bag included:

• Silver Wolf chibi stickers
• Exclusive “Incessant Rain” light cone poster with optional signatures from the content creators
• HYTE Hydro-Flask 32 oz.
• Intel Chippy Plushie
• Intel Chippy figure
• iBUYPOWER Belt Bag
• iBUYPOWER Jet Tag

Fans who redeemed their scavenger card early on would’ve also gotten the HYTE LS10 LED light strip + Nexus Portal NP50, which was capped at 25 per day.

When you’re ready to optimize your desk, you can purchase the current Silver Wolf product line at:

Micro Center (US): https://hyte.co/microcenter
Canada Computers & Electronics (Canada): https://hyte.co/CanadaComputers
DD Tech (Mexico): https://hyte.co/DDTech
Links Japan (Japan): https://hyte.co/LinksJapan

Upcoming: The anticipated HYTE Silver Wolf “100% Break” Keycap Set and Desk Pad Bundle is available for preorder on HYTE.com and other worldwide resellers. It’s estimated to ship in December 2024 with an MSRP of $129.99.

Featured image credit: Honkai Star Rail Cosplay Group at Hyte x Micro Center Silver Wolf Launch Party. Photo by John Nguyen/Nerd Reactor

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Concert-goers will see the film on a vast HD screen while listening to a live, full orchestra, a scratch DJ on the turntable, and various percussion and electronic instruments. It’s an exciting two-hour and 30-minute film concert that will treat your senses to Daniel Pemberton’s musical scores, the composer of both released Spider-Man Spider-Verse animated films and the upcoming third installment.

“Across the Spider-Verse is probably the most exciting, groundbreaking, and impactful score I’ve written” – Daniel Pemberton

High-Energy Complex Blend of Hip-Hop, Orchestral, and Electronic Beats

We had the pleasure of attending the concert at the Segerstrom Center of the Arts in Costa Mesa, California. While there didn’t seem to be a bad seat in the house, the orchestra seats provided an up-front and intimate setting to see the music come alive.

The conductor is Shelbie Rassler, a 26-year-old Juilliard-trained composer and multi-instrumentalist. After auditions, Pemberton hand-selected Rassler to bring his exact score to life on the 50+ city tour.

Rassler encouraged the audience to cheer whenever they’d like during the film, making it a much more interactive and bonding experience for the fans. There were heavy cheers for characters like Miguel O’Hara, Spider-Punk, and Pavitr Prabhakar, and whenever the orchestra performed a piece that kept the audience asking themselves, “How is this live?!” which was quite often.

Not only did we hear the multi-dimensional musical blend of orchestral elements with hip-hop and electronic beats that made you feel like you were swinging alongside Miles Morales, but the stage lights also extended the movie visually. The colors changed, “glitched,” and added visual impact to pair with the high-energy and emotional score.

To get a small taste of the experience, check out the trailer:

Live concert shows are still available for Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, DC, North Carolina, and South Carolina through mid-November, so book your tickets here, experience the groundbreaking soundtrack like never before, and get some exclusive merchandise.

And remember, stay for the credits since the orchestra will play two more live songs!

The post Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Live in Concert Is a Can’t-Miss Show appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The Genshin Impact Baked Apple Pie and Deluxe McCrispy Meal are only available via the McDonald’s app (U.S. only) until Sept. 29, 2024, so be sure to get it in time to receive the exclusive in-game rewards. 

I purchased the Deluxe Meal, and thankfully, it came with the Apple Pie with proper Genshin Impact branding. If your pie came in a plain box, you can ask a McDonald’s staff member to find the right packaging.

Twenty-four hours later, I received an email with two codes to redeem in-game for the coveted “Wings of Delicacies” Wind Glider (which are basically Lyney wings and from previous Genshin x KFC collabs in China). The codes came with other goodies, too, but I only cared about the Wind Glider, the Name Card, and the 40 Primogems.

Travelers have experienced issues with delayed redemption codes, though, so if you’re one of the affected, view their Facebook post on how they’re addressing it.

Genshin x McDonald’s LAN Party in Los Angeles, CA

Beido temporarily traded her pirate ship for a red open-top vintage Mustang to stop by McDonald’s with Kazuha to get some tasty apple pie and savory foods. Lucky Travelers in Los Angeles got to meet them in person!

The two-day offsite event was held at SV Studios and was open to the public, with easy reservations made through OpenTable. Nerd Reactor attended and stepped into the world of Inazuma, complete with a Statue of the Seven.

You’re greeted with a piping hot Baked Apple Pie and a sweet McD x Genshin tote bag filled with swag. 

Next, meet Beido and Kazuha, each in their respective in-game outfits and the promotional McDonald “streetwear” outfit. HoYoverse, when are we getting these streetwear skins in-game?

With an actual McDonald’s so close to the event location, Travelers received unlimited chicken nuggets, french fries, and apple pie meals with Sprite to fuel their adventures.

Since it was a LAN party, they even created an “Apple Pie Warmer” prototype that uses the excess heat generated from Genshin PC gaming to keep a Baked Apple pie fresh and warm. Too extra? Yes. Silly fun idea? Also, yes.

Gaming stations were set up so Travelers could experience “whaled” accounts of a full C6 R5 roster. As a 3-year player, I didn’t even reach “dolphin” status, so seeing what a gacha whale account could look like was fun. 

Twitch streamer and YouTuber Tuonto also got some screen time on the big screen, where he attempted to C2 the new character Kinich. 

After losing to a Dehya (we all felt the pain), he took out a credit card to replenish his Primos so he could pull again and score. After successfully getting the pixel boi twice, Tuonto did a Spiral Abyss showcase to a live crowd with his *cough* C6 Chlorinde.

Nerd Reactor had a great time at the Genshin x McDonald’s LAN party and is excited to see more Hoyoverse collaborations with brands and off-site events outside of conventions. 

Here’s what we got in the swag bag, but we noticed other Travelers received some other products, like keychains and different post cards.

• McD x Genshin tote bag with the 7 elements
• McD x Genshin lanyard
• Teyvat license plate mousepad
• Kachina badge button
• Mualani, Kinich, and Kachina PVC photo card
• Greetings from Teyvat postcard
• Sprite blue-block glasses
• McD x Genshin name card designed notebook

Look for the Genshin Impact meal and dessert in your McDonald’s app (U.S. only) until Sept. 29, 2024, to get exclusive in-game rewards. Genshin Impact can be played on multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, PlayStation 4/5, and Windows. Playability on Xbox Series X/S is coming in November 2024. 

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