HYNDEN WALCH TALKS "TEEN TITANS GO! VS TEEN TITANS" & MORE (AUDIO CLIP)
After what seems like an eternity Teen Titans Go! Vs. Teen Titans finally being available for digital download. In celebration, Retro, Cool, Nerd is shellacking the internet with our interviews with the cast and crew of the thrilling animated adventure. Today we offer the Starfire. Trigon is trying to take over the multiverse? Who ya gonna call? Well, we called the voice known for breathing life into Princess BubbleGum,Harley Quinn, and of course Starfire- Hynden Walch! Long time fans might recognize her from her small role as “Debbie” (the newlywed) from the end of Groundhog’s Day, but we are here to gab about all things Teen Titans. Back in July, at San Diego Comic Con 2019, Hyden sat down with me (on assignment from Bleeding Cool) for a brief Q & A about Teen Titans Go! Vs. Teen Titans just before the world premiere. Weich enjoys a certain amount of anonymity and, although quite lovely, does not allow on camera interviews. Once everyone has turned off their video equipment she is relaxed and we start with the interview.
“That is confusing and more challenging that going “Here play this brand new villian no one has ever seen.” That’s easy. But, do yourself 18 years ago. I don’t know, what would you sound like 18 years ago? “
Teen Titans Go! Vs. Teen Titans promises us a multiverse of superheroes and at least two Starfires. Multiple voices are no problem for the legendary voice actor, but what about playing against herself. Hynden tells us:
“Voice director Wes Gleason ( Death Of Superman, Batman: Hush) gave us the option, “What do you want to do? Do you want to do OG first, and then Go!, or Go! And then OG, or do you want to talk to yourself? And I of course chose to talk to myself.”
Hynden has not voiced this version of Starfire since 2006 when the team died on screen in Teen Titans: Trouble In Tokyo. We asked her about the challenges of returning to Teen Titans version of Starfire after so many years:
“Yes. Absolutely. The easy observation is it was an action adventure show with comedy, so it was a different, sort of, style of show. The one that’s not so obvious is we were all 18 years younger. Wand we were at different points in our lives, and different points in the industry. So, I felt myself having to recall all that. To go “wait, what did it feel like to be young? OK.” I would imagine Andrea Romano Directing us,.. And try and remember Glen Murakami and David Slack looking at us in the booth. I really pictured all that while I was recording original Starfire. Trying to feel what ifelt then, and felt how she felt then. So yeah. It was kind of challenging.”
Without giving away any spoilers, there will be some “friction” between the 2 teams of young heroes, so we asked how well do the 2 different Starfires get along in this movie? Walch replies:
“Oh, they love each other, of course they do. The Ravens are fighting, the Robins Are really fighting, the Cyborgs are fighting, the Beast Boys are fighting, and Starfire and Starfire just want to chat.”
Hynden goes on to explain the differences between the 2 Starfires:
“Well, Since Go! Has started and been such a success we’re often told that the original Titans was very serious,.. but we weren't. It was really great. In and out of adventure. There was a lot more dramatic tone, you know? Bigger feelings, felt more fully. At least this is Starfire for sure. GO! Is a little more snappier, crazier indeed.”
The critically acclaimed Teen Titans first brought this eclectic cast together in 2003 and they have grown very close ever since. What was Hynden’s favorite memory from recording the original series so many years ago?
“The best thing that happened in the original series is (that I) got to meet my superhero brothers and sister, and we still get to be friends and play and work together and make cool stuff is the best thing.”
