How to cosplay with the kids at Supanova Perth!

Neil, how do you approach voicing iconic characters like Scooby-Doo while still bringing your own creativity?

Having watched Scooby Doo cartoons from a young age, I was very familiar with the character but performing this lovable canine took a much more detailed study of all his unique characteristics.

Like any acting role, I researched lots of the cartoons and history going back to Scooby Doo, Where Are You! which first screened in 1969.

Performing the voice of a talking Great Dane dog poses several unique challenges. I needed to “Scoobyfy” the script to sound like a dog but also remain understandable to the audience. Then I perfected the exact tone and depth. Acting all his emotions, childlike innocence, insatiable appetite for Scooby Snacks, complete terror when confronted by ghosts and ghouls and infectious happiness with that iconic laugh.

I felt a huge responsibly to perform Scooby perfectly as he is in the top 3 as the most popular and recognizable animated characters in history!

What drew you to voice acting and how did you get started?

As a child, I was always voicing all the characters I watched in cartoons, during high school in the mid-1980s I performed as a mobile DJ and MC/Host for weddings and parties.

After university, I performed as an opening day cast actor at Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast in 1991 and always began developing a new character with how each character’s voice would sound and worked hard to perfect my American and other accents.

In 1998 I began recording voices for movies and tv shows at the Warner Bros. Studios on the GC and commercials for various radio stations.

Then in 2001 Scooby Doo 1 was filmed at the Warner Bros. Studios and other locations on the Gold Coast and around Brisbane and at Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Island. I successfully auditioned for the role of the voice of Scooby Doo, acting the character on the set with all the Mystery Gang and all the other actors, and performing the voice live for the entire movie. I then re-recorded Scooby Doo’s voice at numerous sessions at studios on the Gold Coast and at the Eastwood Recording Studio at Warner Bros. headquarters at Burbank, Los Angeles in the USA.

Can you share any interesting anecdotes or challenges you faced while voicing Scooby-Doo or other characters?

Performing on the sets of Scooby Doo and Scooby Doo 2 Monsters Unleashed for over a year I have so many great memories of working together with all the incredible actors. Both movies had super talented casts and one of my favourite memories was working with a treasured actor of mine, Rowan Atkinson in Scooby Doo 1. In particular when Rowan and I were the only actors called on set for the whole day as it was the office scene when Rowan's character Mondavarious wants Scooby to be a sacrifice with my memorable response, “Ra racririce?” I’d admired Rowan for many years in his numerous comedy series including Not The 9 O’clock news, Blackadder and of course Mr Bean so to work with and become friends was a career highlight for me. Rowen was very generous to work with and to see his acting process was a privilege and something I’ll never forget.