Fan-favorite voice actress Kari Wahlgreen is not any stranger to superheroes particularly these of the DC Universe. Some highlights embody Starfire, Elasti-Woman, and even the Amazon warrior herself Marvel Girl. Her function as Zatanna within the present iteration of the DC Tremendous Hero Women franchise would be the most good casting selection for her to this point. On this new reinterpretation, Zatanna is a highschool drama pupil and aspiring performer which overlaps completely with Wahlgren’s personal highschool expertise.
Over the past two seasons within the DC Tremendous Hero Women cartoon, Zatanna was compelled to cope with the trauma of her previous and her rising darkish magic. It’s a plot thread that comes full circle within the new Teen Titans Go! & DC Tremendous Hero Women: Mayhem within the Multiverse animated movie. We had the possibility to talk with Kari Wahlgren about exploring Zatanna’s vulnerabilities in addition to voicing the villain Star Sapphire. Plus we contact upon Wahlgren’s return to the Younger Justice animated sequence after nearly a decade.
Taimur Dar: You performed Zatanna earlier than within the Justice League Heroes online game however I get the sense this model of the character is much more inside your wheelhouse. Within the present, Zatanna is all about performing and is a drama pupil which by the way mirrors your individual highschool background. Does Zatanna really feel like a pure extension of your self in that regard?
Kari Wahlgren: Very a lot so. I used to be completely a theater woman after I was in class. After I was younger I did all types of performs. I used to be very dramatic. Zatanna undoubtedly appears like just a little little bit of who I used to be after I was younger. It’s not an excessive amount of of a stretch! [Laughs]
Dar: Because of the pandemic, it was a necessity to file remotely by your self versus ensemble classes like the primary two seasons. Had been you continue to capable of retain some sense of camaraderie even whenever you have been recording solo?
Wahlgren: The enjoyable factor is that we’d be texting one another generally regardless that we’d be recording remotely. Each as soon as in awhile there can be a textual content thread between all of us that may pop up and any person can be like, “Oh my God! I simply recorded my traces! I miss you guys! I want we have been recording collectively!” There was a pleasant camaraderie once we all obtained to file collectively within the studio. It wasn’t the identical recording solo from our completely different homes however undoubtedly the connection was nonetheless there.
Dar: Whereas Mayhem within the Multiverse brings in plotlines from the twond season of DC Tremendous Hero Women, it’s nonetheless very accessible even If you happen to’ve by no means seen the present. It does reference the episode “#HappyBirthdayZee” the place we uncover Zatanna’s mother deserted her on her birthday. It’s one in all my favourite episodes and affected me in a method I used to be not anticipating. That episode and the movie afford you the chance to showcase some vulnerability for the character so did that episode inform the way you performed Zatanna within the movie?
Wahlgren: That’s such an incredible factor that you simply introduced up. For one factor, that birthday episode was one in all my favourite episodes as a result of I believed it was an opportunity to essentially dig into Zatanna’s backstory. She has such an incredible relationship along with her dad all through the sequence which I really like. However you don’t see her mother being very current. I believed it was very highly effective that they dug into the truth that her mother left and she or he needed to cope with that. And perhaps that was a part of what gave her the character that she had rising up. I cherished that they carried a few of that over into the film and explored it even just a little bit extra. Her scenes with Raven within the film are most likely my favourite as a result of if there’s anybody else in that multiverse who might actually perceive what Zatanna goes by, it’s Raven. I really like that that they had a few moments the place they obtained to attach and luxury one another.
Dar: You’re no stranger to voicing sorceresses like Charmcaster from the Ben 10 franchise. With the discharge of the brand new Physician Unusual movie that options Scarlet Witch in a outstanding function, it simply dawned on me there’s this trope in fiction of highly effective magical feminine characters having to cope with the darkness inside themselves and the way it manifests in generally harmful methods. With Zatanna, it’s refreshing to have a personality come to phrases along with her internal demons with out turning into a monster within the course of. Was that one thing that appealed to you?
Wahlgren: It appealed to me loads as a result of I really feel like generally ladies are anticipated to be so good. Zatanna could be very dramatic and flamboyant however she is fighting this stuff about herself. I feel any time we discover storytelling that tells ladies that it’s OK that they’ve elements of themselves that aren’t good and so they can work on themselves and love themselves for every part that they’re. I at all times suppose that these issues are essential. It’s fascinating that you simply introduced up Charmcaster as properly as a result of she’s one other one who has had some tough issues occur.
Dar: Along with Zatanna, you additionally voice Carol Ferris higher referred to as Star Sapphire. Coincidentally, you voiced a pre-Star Sapphire model of Carol Ferris in Younger Justice. How does it really feel to revisit the character?
Wahlgren: There have been plans for far more with Carol Ferris in Younger Justice after which the present had gotten canceled. After which once they got here again they took issues in a special route. I at all times had that little “what if” feeling in my coronary heart. This unfinished factor of, “I don’t get to dig into this character extra!” Regardless that it’s a totally completely different portrayal there was one thing about attending to play Star Sapphire in DC Tremendous Hero Women that simply felt like, “Sure! OK! I’m at the very least getting one other shot at it!” In order that was actually satisfying for me personally. Any time you get to play a personality once more [or] any time there’s a reboot or a online game or one thing like that, you’re by no means assured you’re going to get to play the identical character. Any time you get to return again and revisit a personality you’ve performed previously could be very significant. It was actually particular to get to return again and play Star Sapphire and it was only a blast! She’s simply so excessive and loopy. I laughed extra taking part in Star Sapphire than most likely the rest in that present. It’s simply a lot enjoyable!
Dar: Such as you stated, Star Sapphire and her obsession with Hal Jordan is hilarious. However, she’s nonetheless fairly endearing.
Walhgren: Sure!!
Dar: Was making her a extra sympathetic character versus merely being a loopy ex-girlfriend one thing you tried to convey?
Wahlgren: Very a lot so as a result of it’s these little moments that make you’re feeling for the characters. Everyone has motivations that make them act the way in which they do. Good or dangerous. And any time we’ve got little glimpses of that, we’ve got little bit extra sympathy or understanding of why characters act the way in which they do. I really like that there was that weak underbelly of Star Sapphire who simply desires to be cherished.
Dar: Returning to Younger Justice, by the way you’re again within the newest season voicing some new characters most notably Saturn Woman. You’ve voiced her a couple of instances, the primary time being the 2006 Legion of Tremendous Heroes cartoon. Did they provide the function to you immediately or did you could audition?
Wahlgren: It’s a kind of uncommon instances after I didn’t must audition. They requested me if I’d do it. I used to be so honored as a result of Legion of Tremendous Heroes was such a strong expertise for me. To get to work with a few of these guys for the primary time was such a memorable expertise. Like I stated, every time they reboot issues or do one thing new, you’re by no means assured that you simply’re going to get to maintain taking part in your similar character. So it was very particular that they got here and requested if I’d play the half. I simply can’t say sufficient how significant it was.
Okay… I’ve been sitting on this announcement for a few years and — I’m so excited to be taking part in Saturn Woman (and Phantom Woman!) on this new season of #YoungJustice now streaming on HBO Max! ?♀️ pic.twitter.com/gfECXuMRVl
— Kari Wahlgren (@KariWahlgren) October 21, 2021
Dar: I’m actually curious the way you play Saturn Woman in another way in Younger Justice than in Legion of Tremendous Heroes?
Wahlgren: I feel the most important distinction is simply the age of the viewers. Legion of Tremendous Heroes that we did again in ’06 was undoubtedly made for a youthful viewers than Younger Justice. You may go just a bit bit darker with the Younger Justice portrayal. There’s one thing about Saturn Woman that stays just a little constant so I felt that there have been sure core elements of the character that have been in each portrayals surprisingly.
Teen Titans Go! & DC Tremendous Hero Women: Mayhem within the Multiverse is offered now on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital and will probably be out there to stream HBO Max on June 28.
