Goblins Animated: An Interview with Phil LaMarr

Happening now is the Indiegogo campaign for Goblins Animated, a web comic that is working towards becoming an animated series with talent like Matthew Mercer, Billy West, Tara Strong, Jennifer Hale, Phil LaMarr and more.

The incredible Phil LaMarr took the time to answer a few questions for us about his work and about the campaign (which runs for a month). In addition to doing a ton of the legwork on this campaign, Phil is also voicing the character Complains of Names for Goblins Animated. Check out our chat below:

Rogues Portal: How did you come to find Goblins as a webcomic?

Phil LaMarr: I’m a D&D head from back in my junior high school days. I remember when Advanced D&D was introduced and we suddenly had pretty hardbound books with colors on the covers! My friend Matt King, told me about his friend Tarol Hunt’s web comic, GOBLINS and I loved it. From the inside-geek references to the brutal sword & sorcery action to the surprisingly heartfelt moments, I was hooked.

RP: Which of the characters do you like the most? Which do you relate to the most?

RP: The one I like the most is the one I’m voicing (not a coincidence), Complains-Of-Names. He believes in doing what’s right, doesn’t suffer fools and is a little bit of a jerk. All of which, unfortunately, I can relate to.

RP: What was the appeal of taking this to Indiegogo vs trying to find a home for this at a traditional network?

PL: It’s so unique in it’s approach and unlike any thing else out there, we knew that it would be hard for a traditional media company to “get” it. So we opted to try to bring the GOBLINS world to life ourselves.

RP: What is your favourite thing about this project? What about it makes you feel passionate about seeing it come to life?

PL: It’s just so good. To me, good is a genre unto itself. I feel like PULP FICTION has more in common with SAMURAI JACK than it does some crappy straight to video movie it might be next to on Netflix just because they were shot with the same cameras. And I’m excited about the chance to helping create a great entertainment experience as something more than a performer.

RP: You’ve got a pretty exceptional cast attached to the show. Did you have these specific people in mind or how did they come together for this?

PL:While we were writing these episodes we did what most writers do, assemble a dream cast in our minds for the characters. The difference was, when we were done, I went and called them and asked them if they would be part of it. They are all friends of mine that I’ve shared booths with for years and they are coincidentally, some of the best in the world at what they do.

RP: Which of the cast members do you feel is most similar to the character that they’ve been cast as?
PL: Hm. Maurice might be the closest to Forgath because they both have exceptional beards.

RP: You’ve been working as an actor and voice actor for a long time now and pretty much everyone in the geek world has seen at least one thing that you’ve worked on – as you continue your career, are you getting more selective about what projects you take on? What draws you to a role now vs when you first started out (aside from rent money!)?

PL:The truth is, as an actor, you’re usually the selected not the selector. But I suppose there are maybe a few more projects these days than when I started out that don’t seem to be worth my time. But really, no one decides to be an actor to NOT act, so I’m still definitely more likely to take a job than not.

RP: What is one thing that sticks out to you from Goblins when you try to tell someone about it?

PL: The humor. The jokes are specific but also you can tell people about them out of context and still get the laugh. Like if I tell you about a tribe of people named according to their physical characteristics and that there’s one guy named “Dies Horribly” and another named “Can’t Think of A Name Because He Looks Like A Regular Guy”, you’re going to laugh.

Goblins Animated is on Indiegogo for 3 more weeks. It needs your support in order to come to life so make sure you head over to check it out ASAP.