The Real Attack Titan
Anime fans who attended the Vegas main event, Anime Las Vegas, witnessed a great voice actor on the Attack on Titan (AOT) Panel, highlighting the excitement that comes with watching a favorite AOT character come to life.
Bryce was kind enough to provide an exclusive interview, a truly unique opportunity, to discuss his talent behind voicing Eren Yeager, the intense Attack Titan from the hit series Attack on Titan.
Anime Las Vegas and Anime Fire provided me with a dream interview to not only meet Bryce Papenbrook, but also to interview him. I was truly so excited to have this chance. Not only was Bryce friendly and engaging to speak with, but he was also very real and forthcoming. You really feel that all of his answers to the questions are honest. He made the entire experience just so incredibly special.
Transcript of the interview with Eren Yeager himself, Bryce Papenbrook (BP):
Bringing Eren to Life:
Bryce Papenbrook (BP): “Ok, I’m ready.”
Me: “Hi, I am Krissy Rodriguez interviewing you with Anime Fire at Anime Las Vegas. I have a few questions. What was your approach to voicing Eren? How did you take on his role?”
BP: “Yeah, I mean it’s tough. That was a decade. So I use many different things, but I think at the core of early Eren in Season 1 through Season 3, there’s like this anger emanating from every single line, from his entire being. So I had to find things in my life that also made me angry, like traffic. That’s what I did. Also, I had this dog. She was a Maltese/Poodle. She was a little white fluffball. Her name was Mini. Mini liked to eat, and that dog, she ate my chips! AND THAT’S WHERE I FIND THE ANGER FOR EREN!”
Me: “I love that. It’s relatable. What was the most challenging part of voicing Eren, not the most challenging scene, but his whole persona?”
BP: “The most challenging part, I mean, I think doing justice to such a beautiful story. Trying to go far enough, to go deep enough to honor the character, to honor the intention of the story. To play someone who is that intense, uh, in a way that does it justice. I really had to put everything into it and make it as real as I could. That’s how I could find Eren. So I wanted to feel the pain that he was feeling.”
Eren as an Experience:
Me: “I like that. It brings a real authenticity to it. Overall, what was your experience voicing Eren? How did you feel about voicing him?”
BP: “Yeah, I mean, I am a fan of the show. I was a fan of the show before I knew I could audition for the show. I, uh, would have been happy to be [the] guy who gets stepped on by Titan, but to play Eren was absolutely life-changing. So it’s just something I knew I wanted to be a part of. I knew I wanted to be a part of it. I didn’t know where the story was going, but I knew it was something special, and now, experiencing the entire decade of the story and then watching it back again, there were so many things that were right in front of us that I didn’t know about when I started. Just an incredible experience.”
Me: “So you enjoyed the whole process.”
BP: “I mean, yeah, it’s hard to just narrow it down to one thing.”
Me: “Okay. I get that. Did you bring any of your own personality to Eren?”
BP: “A little bit. I think a little bit of myself always sneaks into characters, and again, I am not as angry as Eren, but I can find that when I dig for it. ”
Bryce Papenbrook’s Path to Eren:
Me: “No, you’re not. How many years did you voice act before voicing Eren?”
BP: “Well, uh, I was born into a family of actors. My dad was working on a show called Power Rangers when I was eight. He played Rito Revolto, the skeleton dude on the show. I used to love to watch him work, and at the end of one of his sessions, they needed a kid’s voice, and he’s like, ‘He’s a kid, throw him in the booth!’ So, I’ve been voice acting since I was eight. Um, so I’d have to math a little bit.”
Me: “That’s okay.”
BP: “Yeah, so about 20 years or so, maybe a little more, uh, before I received that audition. That was the very first audition I had for what was Funimation, now Crunchyroll. I live in LA. They’re based in Texas. So, I was lucky to even receive the audition.”
Me: “Wow. That’s incredible.”
BP: “I think my neighbors heard the audition. At the time, my booth was in my closet.”
Me: “Oh, ok.”
BP: “Yeah, I could barely talk after, so I’m sure they loved me.”
Beyond Eren:
Me: “I am sure they did. Who else did you audition for [in Attack on Titan]?”
BP: “I read for Eren, Armin and Levi. I wanted to play Levi, because he’s awesome. I thought I had the best chance for Armin because I’ve played characters that explore the higher range that are also played by females in Japan. I share a lot of female counterparts. So, I thought I had the best chance for Armin, and I thought there’s no way I’ll get cast as Eren, but I might as well try. When I got the call from Mike that I was cast as Eren, I couldn’t believe it. I think I scared my dogs because I screamed so loud when I found out.”
Me: “That’s incredible. It was what you weren’t expecting. I get that. I think you really brought him to life. I think you bring a lot of versatility to your characters.”
BP: “Thank you. I really appreciate that.”
The Rumbling:
Me: “Of course, it’s the truth. Now this question is a little bit controversial. What was your opinion on the rumbling?”
BP: “Yeah. I mean, in like what way? Do you want to know what I think about it as Bryce Papenbrook or what Eren thinks about it? “
Me: “So, I think we all know Eren felt justified, like he had no choice but to do it. How do you feel as the person who brought Eren to life, or as being in the anime and its conclusion?”
BP: “I think that’s what’s so beautiful about Isayama’s story. He created this moment where it’s morally grey, and it depends on your perspective. If you’re getting smashed in the rumbling, obviously, it feels bad. I think Eren himself knew it was bad. His last lines are: ‘Look for me in Hell.. I’ll be waiting.’ And yet he made that choice anyway to save his friends, to save the people he cared about, and with a kid in that position, a kid like Eren, can you judge him? Can you blame him? It’s terrible and sad and beautiful.”
Me: “And almost predestined too. Almost like he really didn’t.”
BP: “Well, he knew. He knew he got what he wanted. It was the only way to save his friends.”
AOT’s Future:
Me: “Yes, it was. Last question, do you see Attack on Titan as a legacy anime or as a future classic anime looked back on like Dragon Ball, Naruto or Cowboy Bebop, for example? “
BP: “I hope so. I hope so. I think it’s such a beautiful story and I hope new fans to anime discover it. I hope that people who have watched it watch it again, continue to celebrate it. Um, I think that everyone should see Attack on Titan because of how powerful the storytelling is. Whether it’s an anime or across any medium, Attack on Titan is just incredible to watch, and I hope that it’s right there with the greats, you know, with Dragon Ball, Naruto and Cowboy Bebop. I am in Cowboy Bebop, by the way. Yes, I am. Yes, I have a couple of lines. They go to Mars, and there are all these orphans, and there’s one with a little robot like this, look at this. That’s me as a kid, and he had a pot on his head, and in the script it said Pothead. So, I’m Pothead in Cowboy Bebop. That’s very high on the resume.”
Me: “Yes, that is very high. But, it was a first introduction into crossing over into anime.”
BP: “It was an early one. I was in a few other ones around that time, too. But, yes, a very early one.”
Me: “Well, thank you so much. It will be shared on AnimeFire. Thank you, I really appreciate this opportunity.”
Closing:
Bryce Papenbrook’s charisma radiates. You can tell he is truly a friendly person. His energy matches his approach to voice acting, bringing forth incredible positive intensity. Bryce’s responses show deep reflection on his personal journey towards the role of Eren Yeager and his other roles. He is collaborative with his characters and the entire process of voice acting.
Final Thank You:
It was an incredible experience, unforgettable even, talking with Bryce Papenbrook and learning more about his approach to the role of Eren Yeager in Attack on Titan. There is much more to the craft than what meets the ear. Thank you to Bryce Papenbrook for taking the time to sit down with a fan. I am forever grateful! To Anime Fire and Anime Las Vegas, thank you for this opportunity!
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