About Me
- Steph
- I'm a crazy nutty aspiring voice artist hoping to make it big time in further projects out in the big open. Well known online for playing Meglif in the internet series "I.M.P" . I am a sucker for word play and I have a rather mischievous sense of humor. I have been on the Autistic spectrum now since I was five but that isn't going to change the way I am now. I am still in high hopes of my dream job to be a voice artist. I'm also a gamer and lover of all things nostalgic and geeky.
Monday, 3 April 2017
GIFT from Colleen O'Shaughnessey
I'm so proud to have had this today after Colleen saw my tribute. This is her little thank you! :3
Tuesday, 31 January 2017
Princess life ♡: Connie Glynn All Grown Up ✧ Noodlerella 2016 Highl...
A brave and beautiful girl. I hope you are okay now. Never give up on your dreams.
I'm a supporter of Connie and really enjoy her videos. God bless you Connie Glynn. <3
Princess life ♡: Connie Glynn All Grown Up ✧ Noodlerella 2016 Highl...: 2016 hasn't been....the best year of ANYONE'S life let's be real, but some really wonderful things have come out of thi...
I'm a supporter of Connie and really enjoy her videos. God bless you Connie Glynn. <3
Princess life ♡: Connie Glynn All Grown Up ✧ Noodlerella 2016 Highl...: 2016 hasn't been....the best year of ANYONE'S life let's be real, but some really wonderful things have come out of thi...
Monday, 30 January 2017
Shy as a fox: A tribute to Colleen O'Shaughnessey.
Isn't it wonderful how one voice can change when you put your mind, mouth muscles and face to work? Isn't it also wonderful that many people are even making a living out of this and making so many others in the world smile?
Since the beginning, voice-overs have been heard on radio dramas, TV shows, commercials, documentaries, video games, electronic books and board games, toys, GPS sat navs, you name it!
There have been many wonderful voice talents going back as to the mid to late 1920s-30s onwards. Those who have appeared on radio and Broadway would rise to bigger fame by lending a voice or more to the animation department. Mel Blanc was a big example and an influence on to many upcoming comedians and voice artists such as Bob Bergen, Billy West, Maurice LaMarche, Jim Cummings, Jeff Bergman, Dee Bradley Baker, the late Joe Alaskey and even Frank Welker. As generation upon generation went on, new voice actors would take over and thus, voice acting has grown more iconic since the decades begun. The 1980s to the 1990s and beyond is where it really kicked off for so many up and coming new stars. Many men would lend their voice to an animated project and make a living out of it.
Voice acting is pretty much a form of art that is overlooked by so many and is often overshadowed and only moved to video games and animated shows, with talents such as Jess Harnell, Jeff Bennet, Cam Clarke, Charlie Adler, Dan Castanaletta, Rob Paulsen, Kevin Michael Richardson, Eric Bauza, April Stewart, Carlos Alazraqui, Jodi Bensen, Cree Summer, April Winchell and Bill Farmer to name a few more or less.
Sadly, voice-overs in huge blockbuster movies today no longer cast the likes of our beloved voice artists often now, since Hollywood chooses to bring in none other than actors such as Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet and even various pop artists to fill the roles. As wonderful the animations and story-lines are, I just don't understand why Hollywood always turns down all the TRUE vocal talent behind the mic.With that being said, voice acting is a gift that we should all treasure to the fullest and never give up on what we love. If you can act and sing, then chances are you may just get lucky.
Then we have the many living lovely ladies (say that few times fast) or voice acting (or as Knuckles from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and the hit animated show Sonic Boom puts it: The laaaaaiiiideeez!),Voice artists such as June Foray, Debi Derryberry, Kath Soucie, Katie Leigh, E.G Daily, Nancy Cartwright, Pamela Hayden, Tara Strong, Russi Taylor, Kathleen Barr, Veronica Taylor, Rachael Lillis, Grey Griffin, Kate Higgins, Tress Macneille and of course the late Norma MacMillan, Christine Cavanaugh and Dana Hill, all of these voice artists have and had something in common and that is that they have all provided voices for MALE characters. That's right! Next time you sit down with your kids, your friends, your relatives or have a get together to watch some nostalgic cartoons with your friends, listen to some of these voices you hear.
One voice actress whom I have had the honor in talking to recently is no exception. It is amazing how after all these years, I found out just how many times she had been called in to do voice-work. She has voiced awkward girls in school, to teenagers, to kids in Anime and even video game characters. I am talking about Colleen O'Shaughnessey Villard and this blog, I would like to pay my little homage to such a splendid beautiful woman. Colleen Ann O'Shaughnessey was born in Michigan She is the sister of stage acress Katie O'Shaughnessey and daughter of opera singer Peggy O'Shaughnessey. Colleen is also an improv member and comedienne of the "Social Extortion" improv group. From her early childhood, O'Shaughnessey loved watching cartoons during the era at the time including Scooby Doo, The Flintstones and Hong Kong Phooey, as well as things like The Wonderful World of Disney and Super Friends. She attended Boulan Park Middle School in Troy, Michigan, for grade 6-8. She grew up in Troy, Michigan and spent summers at her family home in Ireland. Colleen is a 1989 graduate at Marion Catholic High School in Birmingham, Michigan. As of 2016, O'Shaughnessey has been nominated for seven awards.Don't worry gal, you will join Frank Welker, Maurice LaMarche and the likes one day and win an Emmy. Just you wait..
Colleen O'Shaughnessey began her voice acting as the role of Skipper in a sound book called Reporter Barbie. But her career in animation begun in 1999 on The Kids From Room 402 where she as "teacher's pet": Polly McShane. A socially awkward irritable but smart preteen who often annoyed the likes of Nancy Francis. I haven't really seen the show so I can't really say more but from what I have heard, Colleen's performance as Polly was terrific and really does sound like what you can imagine from such a character.
After auditioning for several roles, O'Shaughnessey' ended up landing the part for Sora Takenouchi in the hit show Digimon. This was her first time ever doing voice-overs for a Japanese Anime and I think looking back, this was her first breakout role of the Saturday morning cartoons genre or renaissance, whatever you like to call it, haha!
She would use her sarcasm when playing the role and she even loved her sense of humor and spunky personality, a trait that Colleen continued to play Sora in the second series as well as other various brief minor roles in the Digimon series. Digimon's English dub did have some rather cringy voice work for some fans, but O'Shaughnessey is an exception. This wouldn't be the last time she would do voice work for anime. O'Shaughnessey went on to dub voices in other Anime series including additional voices and various roles for Bleach, Tenkai, Glitter Force, Naruto, the list just goes on and on. I could be here all night.
In all my honesty, Digimon wasn't really a show I got into much at the time (I was more into Pokemon), but for an English dubbed Anime, Colleen did a wonderful job providing the voice of Sora. She is kind, responsible and always willing to help those in need. This goes to show that Colleen is pretty capable at doing the voice of tomboyish preteens.
Through the years, Colleen went on to voice Jazz Fenton in Danny Phantom, Paula Pickney in Gormiti and EVEN ended up into the adult orientated genre with her role of Karen McCormick in the off-colored, rude and crude, satirical yet hysterical masterpiece that is one of my favorite shows: South Park. O'Shaughnessey reprised her role for Karen in the hit RPG video game tie in with the Black Friday trilogy: South Park: The Stick of Truth as well as providing the voice of the game player's mother.
Colleen also had done a fair share of additional voices in animated movies including Digimon: The Movie (reprising her role as Sora), Spirited Away, Cars, Toy Story 3 Monsters University and even Ponyo.
She has also done a fair share of voice work for other various video games. For many, this is where most of the underrated magic really breaks out for most voiceover artists. Voice roles for titles such as Dishonored, Fallout 4, Rogue Galaxy, Tales of Symphonia and even the Sonic The Hedgehog series where she was cast as Charmy Bee replacing 4Kids voice artists: Amy Birnbaum.
O'Shaughnessey continued to play Charmy in the games but her absolute breakout role in all of her voice acting career would be none other than Miles "Tails" Prower. Replacing Kate Higgins in 2014, Colleen ended up auditioning for Tails for the fifth animated installment in the Sonic franchise Sonic Boom.
When I first saw promo images of Sonic Boom, I pretty much rolled my eyes and snuffed at all the redesigns and idea of yet another Sonic cartoon (after the disappointment of Sonic X). I'm a long time fan of Sonic but I have felt that recently, he's been losing his mojo and falling flat on his spiky blue derriere. When the first two episodes of Sonic Boom were leaked onto YouTube in 2014, I hesitated to give them a watch and challenged my own instincts to see if it were any good. At first, I rolled my eyes and groaned and it just seemed flat and not funny. Maybe I was just not feeling it at the time. Sonic Boom somewhat to me feels like it was made after being inspired by all the stuff fans would make the characters say. Heck, I even stated to Colleen in my interview with her (see below) that I knew this day would come.
But as the show goes, it's beautifully animated in all it's CG glory, the voice cast are a lot of fun and even if the story lines are a little silly, whether a hit and miss, there are some fun neat little homages to other classic Sonic media. The parodies and cultural references are fun but sometimes I think that's what the show is aiming for more most of the time, presumably something that the 80s and 90s kids would get that others wouldn't. I guess for many though, it's fun to see Sonic the Hedgehog go back to being a show that makes everyone giggle with glee with all it's pop culture and word play, it may not be groundbreaking as Tiny Toons or Animaniacs, but come on now, that was two decades ago, cartoons will still attract an audience no matter where or when.
While Higgins -a ridiculously talented voice artist- put on a wonderful performance for Tails in Sonic Colours and Generations, making him sound more like an actual male pre-teen boy, it was Colleen O'Shaughnessey who perfected the role by a mile. She has the right energy, wit and spiritual pizzazz put into the role. In my honest opinion, she was the perfect choice to play as Tails, Colleen always seems to have fun playing the role, especially when she's in the studio with the rest of the cast all cracking jokes and singing and just acting like kids in school again.
As an aspiring voice artist myself, I can say that you can learn a lot if you listen to voice artists and Colleen is one of those lovely and talented people you can look up to. With Tails cast on her card, I hope she continues to stay in his spot for many years to come.
Being a long time fan of Tails, I had the pleasure of contacting Colleen and arranging a interview with her last Friday. This has been an experience I will never forget.
Voice actors are hands down some of the loveliest and most pleasant people you could ever talk to. They are always so supportive, loving and supporting you in every way and will cheer you up no matter what.
Interviewing O'Shaughnessey has boosted my confidence more to follow my dream of being a voice-over artist and while I may NEVER land the part for Tails myself one day, I will always have a little part of him in my life with the love, devotion and support I have been given from one amazing voice actress.
My interview with Colleen can be heard on the link to your left.
Never have I heard a rendition of Tails' voice done so perfectly. Colleen poured her heart into auditioning and landing a part into Sonic Boom, while she lost out to auditioning for Sticks the Badger, it was pure destiny for her to play Tails.
In my opinion, this is the role that really brought out the iconic vibe in Colleen's voice acting career. What makes it really special is that she's working with the right cast on a show that continues a legacy of an iconic video-game icon since 1991.
In conclusion, Colleen O'Shaughnessey is a fantastic role-model for aspiring voice actors everywhere and I hope she continues to do what she lives in the near future. Generations upon generations and I am happy to have shared my experience with learning so much with her to you.
Colleen, if you are reading this, I have never been so happy in all my life, after a rough start this year and many more to come, you have brought something that has given me the strength to believe in myself and many others.
With that being said: "Catch you on the flip flop!" -Tails
Since the beginning, voice-overs have been heard on radio dramas, TV shows, commercials, documentaries, video games, electronic books and board games, toys, GPS sat navs, you name it!
There have been many wonderful voice talents going back as to the mid to late 1920s-30s onwards. Those who have appeared on radio and Broadway would rise to bigger fame by lending a voice or more to the animation department. Mel Blanc was a big example and an influence on to many upcoming comedians and voice artists such as Bob Bergen, Billy West, Maurice LaMarche, Jim Cummings, Jeff Bergman, Dee Bradley Baker, the late Joe Alaskey and even Frank Welker. As generation upon generation went on, new voice actors would take over and thus, voice acting has grown more iconic since the decades begun. The 1980s to the 1990s and beyond is where it really kicked off for so many up and coming new stars. Many men would lend their voice to an animated project and make a living out of it.
Voice acting is pretty much a form of art that is overlooked by so many and is often overshadowed and only moved to video games and animated shows, with talents such as Jess Harnell, Jeff Bennet, Cam Clarke, Charlie Adler, Dan Castanaletta, Rob Paulsen, Kevin Michael Richardson, Eric Bauza, April Stewart, Carlos Alazraqui, Jodi Bensen, Cree Summer, April Winchell and Bill Farmer to name a few more or less.
Sadly, voice-overs in huge blockbuster movies today no longer cast the likes of our beloved voice artists often now, since Hollywood chooses to bring in none other than actors such as Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet and even various pop artists to fill the roles. As wonderful the animations and story-lines are, I just don't understand why Hollywood always turns down all the TRUE vocal talent behind the mic.With that being said, voice acting is a gift that we should all treasure to the fullest and never give up on what we love. If you can act and sing, then chances are you may just get lucky.
Then we have the many living lovely ladies (say that few times fast) or voice acting (or as Knuckles from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and the hit animated show Sonic Boom puts it: The laaaaaiiiideeez!),Voice artists such as June Foray, Debi Derryberry, Kath Soucie, Katie Leigh, E.G Daily, Nancy Cartwright, Pamela Hayden, Tara Strong, Russi Taylor, Kathleen Barr, Veronica Taylor, Rachael Lillis, Grey Griffin, Kate Higgins, Tress Macneille and of course the late Norma MacMillan, Christine Cavanaugh and Dana Hill, all of these voice artists have and had something in common and that is that they have all provided voices for MALE characters. That's right! Next time you sit down with your kids, your friends, your relatives or have a get together to watch some nostalgic cartoons with your friends, listen to some of these voices you hear.
 |
| Colleen O'Shaughnessey |
One voice actress whom I have had the honor in talking to recently is no exception. It is amazing how after all these years, I found out just how many times she had been called in to do voice-work. She has voiced awkward girls in school, to teenagers, to kids in Anime and even video game characters. I am talking about Colleen O'Shaughnessey Villard and this blog, I would like to pay my little homage to such a splendid beautiful woman. Colleen Ann O'Shaughnessey was born in Michigan She is the sister of stage acress Katie O'Shaughnessey and daughter of opera singer Peggy O'Shaughnessey. Colleen is also an improv member and comedienne of the "Social Extortion" improv group. From her early childhood, O'Shaughnessey loved watching cartoons during the era at the time including Scooby Doo, The Flintstones and Hong Kong Phooey, as well as things like The Wonderful World of Disney and Super Friends. She attended Boulan Park Middle School in Troy, Michigan, for grade 6-8. She grew up in Troy, Michigan and spent summers at her family home in Ireland. Colleen is a 1989 graduate at Marion Catholic High School in Birmingham, Michigan. As of 2016, O'Shaughnessey has been nominated for seven awards.Don't worry gal, you will join Frank Welker, Maurice LaMarche and the likes one day and win an Emmy. Just you wait..
Colleen O'Shaughnessey began her voice acting as the role of Skipper in a sound book called Reporter Barbie. But her career in animation begun in 1999 on The Kids From Room 402 where she as "teacher's pet": Polly McShane. A socially awkward irritable but smart preteen who often annoyed the likes of Nancy Francis. I haven't really seen the show so I can't really say more but from what I have heard, Colleen's performance as Polly was terrific and really does sound like what you can imagine from such a character.
 |
| Polly McShane |
 |
| Sora |
After auditioning for several roles, O'Shaughnessey' ended up landing the part for Sora Takenouchi in the hit show Digimon. This was her first time ever doing voice-overs for a Japanese Anime and I think looking back, this was her first breakout role of the Saturday morning cartoons genre or renaissance, whatever you like to call it, haha!
She would use her sarcasm when playing the role and she even loved her sense of humor and spunky personality, a trait that Colleen continued to play Sora in the second series as well as other various brief minor roles in the Digimon series. Digimon's English dub did have some rather cringy voice work for some fans, but O'Shaughnessey is an exception. This wouldn't be the last time she would do voice work for anime. O'Shaughnessey went on to dub voices in other Anime series including additional voices and various roles for Bleach, Tenkai, Glitter Force, Naruto, the list just goes on and on. I could be here all night.
In all my honesty, Digimon wasn't really a show I got into much at the time (I was more into Pokemon), but for an English dubbed Anime, Colleen did a wonderful job providing the voice of Sora. She is kind, responsible and always willing to help those in need. This goes to show that Colleen is pretty capable at doing the voice of tomboyish preteens.
Through the years, Colleen went on to voice Jazz Fenton in Danny Phantom, Paula Pickney in Gormiti and EVEN ended up into the adult orientated genre with her role of Karen McCormick in the off-colored, rude and crude, satirical yet hysterical masterpiece that is one of my favorite shows: South Park. O'Shaughnessey reprised her role for Karen in the hit RPG video game tie in with the Black Friday trilogy: South Park: The Stick of Truth as well as providing the voice of the game player's mother.
Colleen also had done a fair share of additional voices in animated movies including Digimon: The Movie (reprising her role as Sora), Spirited Away, Cars, Toy Story 3 Monsters University and even Ponyo.
 |
| Charmy Bee |
She has also done a fair share of voice work for other various video games. For many, this is where most of the underrated magic really breaks out for most voiceover artists. Voice roles for titles such as Dishonored, Fallout 4, Rogue Galaxy, Tales of Symphonia and even the Sonic The Hedgehog series where she was cast as Charmy Bee replacing 4Kids voice artists: Amy Birnbaum.
O'Shaughnessey continued to play Charmy in the games but her absolute breakout role in all of her voice acting career would be none other than Miles "Tails" Prower. Replacing Kate Higgins in 2014, Colleen ended up auditioning for Tails for the fifth animated installment in the Sonic franchise Sonic Boom.
 |
| Tails |
But as the show goes, it's beautifully animated in all it's CG glory, the voice cast are a lot of fun and even if the story lines are a little silly, whether a hit and miss, there are some fun neat little homages to other classic Sonic media. The parodies and cultural references are fun but sometimes I think that's what the show is aiming for more most of the time, presumably something that the 80s and 90s kids would get that others wouldn't. I guess for many though, it's fun to see Sonic the Hedgehog go back to being a show that makes everyone giggle with glee with all it's pop culture and word play, it may not be groundbreaking as Tiny Toons or Animaniacs, but come on now, that was two decades ago, cartoons will still attract an audience no matter where or when.
While Higgins -a ridiculously talented voice artist- put on a wonderful performance for Tails in Sonic Colours and Generations, making him sound more like an actual male pre-teen boy, it was Colleen O'Shaughnessey who perfected the role by a mile. She has the right energy, wit and spiritual pizzazz put into the role. In my honest opinion, she was the perfect choice to play as Tails, Colleen always seems to have fun playing the role, especially when she's in the studio with the rest of the cast all cracking jokes and singing and just acting like kids in school again.
As an aspiring voice artist myself, I can say that you can learn a lot if you listen to voice artists and Colleen is one of those lovely and talented people you can look up to. With Tails cast on her card, I hope she continues to stay in his spot for many years to come.
Being a long time fan of Tails, I had the pleasure of contacting Colleen and arranging a interview with her last Friday. This has been an experience I will never forget.
Voice actors are hands down some of the loveliest and most pleasant people you could ever talk to. They are always so supportive, loving and supporting you in every way and will cheer you up no matter what.
Interviewing O'Shaughnessey has boosted my confidence more to follow my dream of being a voice-over artist and while I may NEVER land the part for Tails myself one day, I will always have a little part of him in my life with the love, devotion and support I have been given from one amazing voice actress.
My interview with Colleen can be heard on the link to your left.
Never have I heard a rendition of Tails' voice done so perfectly. Colleen poured her heart into auditioning and landing a part into Sonic Boom, while she lost out to auditioning for Sticks the Badger, it was pure destiny for her to play Tails.
In my opinion, this is the role that really brought out the iconic vibe in Colleen's voice acting career. What makes it really special is that she's working with the right cast on a show that continues a legacy of an iconic video-game icon since 1991.
In conclusion, Colleen O'Shaughnessey is a fantastic role-model for aspiring voice actors everywhere and I hope she continues to do what she lives in the near future. Generations upon generations and I am happy to have shared my experience with learning so much with her to you.
Colleen, if you are reading this, I have never been so happy in all my life, after a rough start this year and many more to come, you have brought something that has given me the strength to believe in myself and many others.
With that being said: "Catch you on the flip flop!" -Tails
Friday, 27 January 2017
Allow me to introduce myself! Lots of natter!
Hello internet. I thought I'd start off my new blog (which I have only just opened up...hahaa! 😜) with a little introduction about myself and what I do and what this blog will be about hopefully if I keep it going. At first, it took me a long ten to twelve years to realize why I was different compared to many other students in school and at first upon realizing, it was upsetting. But I have grown to accept what I have and you can't change the way you are in terms of your own condition. Because of my own spectrum, I have had my own fair share of learning difficulties, problems and of course lack of vocabulary and life skills, growing up and not realizing things any time sooner unless I have listened clear enough.
As a kid, I was rowdy, boisterous and unlike most girls, was a real tomboy (just about...hahaa). Being the only girl (with three brothers) was tough, but so was being a teenager and to this day an adult. I believe that whatever the condition, be yourself and never change it. I have gotten use to being who I am, but I don't blame my spectrum for the things I love, I don't blame it for the hidden gifts I have (memory wise).
The most important part of being yourself is to stick up for it and never let anyone kick you down, so what if you are into something that nobody else you know likes? Just because we're all different, doesn't mean we have to change the way we are.
More on my Autistic story to come possibly when the time goes by. For now, onward to my introduction. Yay!
I was born in Oxford in 1988 and moved to Ireland at a very young age (so I spent the 90s in Ireland most of my life). In my youth, I've had a huge love for animals due to living on a farm. My love for animals is strong and I am highly fascinated by them. As a result, I am an animal activist! Also at a very young age I took a massive liking to classical music after seeing a classic Merrie Melodies short A CORNY CONCERTO directed by Bob Clampett .
Due to growing up with Aspergers and learning difficulties, I wasn't the everyday GCSE/A Level student (which in return does make me feel a little happy but at the same time it makes me feel a little sad), but I went on to college and dropped out after nearly three years (for personal reasons I can't really say).
I am working on my independence bit by bit every day and often try reaching my goal to be a better person.
I am a crazy eccentric girl in my late 20s, my favorite color is orange (which happens to be my birthstone),
hobbies and interests include: listening to music, watching movies, attending conventions, cosplay, playing video games, nostalgic memories and most of all one of my favorite pastimes...VOICE ACTING!
As of lately, voice acting is my dream job and I am hoping to move onto bigger better things as of now since 2007, I only do voice-work online.
Whenever a new project comes in, I will be more than delighted to share it with you all.
This blog will hopefully be updated with all the crazy scenarios I get up to whenever an event comes up and I'll be there to share it and all it's craziness.Also maybe a few lookbacks, tributes and other wonderful memories and experiences.
More to follow once I get use to working out how this blog works hahaa! CIao for niao!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)