Moon Chase Presents: An Interview With Jeff Lumby!

Hey Moonies! We're sorry for the lack of updates recently, real life has been intruding on our Moon time. D: But as part of our effort to get back into the swing of things, we have another stop on our celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the English Version of Sailor Moon, the voice actor behind Prof. Souichi Tomoe and others, Jeff Lumby! He has had a very widespread career from radio to television, and he has a lot of great stories to tell that you probably never knew before!

MC: How did you get started in acting?

JL: My first love was radio and it seemed a natural extension of that. Ironically though, I wasn't that attracted to drama in highschool. It all came together afterwards.


MC: Out of the three characters you played on Sailor Moon (the figure skater Mischa, Dr/Professor Tomoe, and Kakeru in the S movie) who was your favorite and why?

JL: Dr. Tomoe was my favorite because he was more nuanced than the others.


Josh2Darien: What was your favorite thing about Dr. Tomoe?

JL: What attracted me most to the character was finding a voice that accomplished both the Doctor and the villain in Tomoe. He had to sound intelligent and evil.


MC: How did you come up with the right voice for each of these three characters?

JL: It's always a benefit to see the character's illustrations when coming up with voices. In some animated series the voices are chosen before the animators have a chance to draw them, which is a lot more difficult.


MC: Your sister, Lisa Lumby Richards was a writer for Sailor Moon – did you ever get to collaborate with her on the roles that you played?

JL: No, but I definitely acted out her words on several occasions.


MC: Dr. Tomoe was a unique villain because he was the only one related to a Sailor Scout/Senshi (he was Sailor Saturn/Hotaru Tomoe's Dad). At the end of the season he was given a second chance to be a Dad again and make a new start free from his past mistakes. Most villains in cartoon shows stay villains and they are almost never redeemed. Was it challenging to play this kind of transition?

JL: Yes, it was challenging and fun, since I didn't know about the plot twist when I first took on the role, I then had to create a new softened take of Tomoe. Although the voice is clearly me, the tone and attitude are quite different during the "dad" stage.


MC: Did you ever watch the original Japanese episodes with subtitles before you recorded them?

JL: Yes, that's an interesting question. We would watch every scene first in Japanese just to get the intent of the scene. The Dr. Tomoe character was quite different in Japanese so sometimes this could be more of a hindrance than a help. I seem to remember the Japanese Tomoe as quite gruff, a choice I stayed away from with my version because I felt he needed to sound like an educated villain.


MC: Could you please describe what it was like to record an episode?

JL: I'm sure it sounds as though we spent hours in the studio but it really doesn't work that way. Each actor is called in separately, unless there's a very important piece of dialogue to record together, so once your line is recorded, the engineer will fast forward to your next line.....as a result each episode is recorded quite quickly. There will always be at least 2 takes of each line recorded for safety and choice. Sometime we'll lay down one line with a couple of intents.....punching one word on the first take and another on the second.


MC: How many episodes a week did you record?

JL: This varies. Sometimes we'll be called in for a few episodes over the course of the week, then we won't hear from the project for quite some time while they package the stuff we've already recorded. The Producers typically use the same studio for recording and mixing and sometimes they need to ship finished product for several episodes at a time, so they'll record a few then mix them, then get back to the recording.


MC: Would you reprise your role in a re-dub of the series?

JL: Absolutely.


MC: What do you think is Sailor Moon's legacy 15 years later?

JL: Obviously for me, the fan base is the legacy. Without your interest, we wouldn't be talking.


MC: Which memories of the show do you treasure?

JL: My fondest memories are from the recording. We always had a lot of fun doing it. Some of my favorite people (actors) today are folks I met on Sailor Moon.


ChibiGinger: Has Sailor Moon been the only anime (Japanese cartoon) you have dubbed?

JL: If I've done others they didn't have the impact of the "Moon".


MC: When you shot that first episode of Red Green, did you ever imagine it would have become the huge phenomenon that it did (let alone give a new life to duct tape)?

JL: Not a chance. I met Steve Smith (Red Green) at a promotional event the two of us were asked to participate in. (At the time I was Morning Man at a Hamilton radio station) We hit it off and he later asked me to be in the show. ("I'm looking for a Sewage and Septic guy and your name floated to the top.") After my first night in front of the camera I thought to myself, "well that was fun", thinking it was the last time I'd be on. 12 years later...


esahC: I see you're credited as the contributing writer for one episode for The Red Green Show. Tell us, how does that work?

JL: In the case of Red Green there were usually 2 or 3 main writers. Steve (Red) was always the head writer and the man through which all material ran. It was his vision and he had the best perspective on the overall idea. There were also a few contributing writers. We were expected to pitch ideas on segments and individual scripts. There would be weekly writing meetings where ideas were thrown around the table. If Steve liked your idea, he'd ask you to flesh it out. Even then it might get rejected, and if he liked it, it certainly would be improved upon. Steve Smith is the funniest person I've ever met, and my Red Green experience in this business was second to none.


MC: Do you have a new found admiration for those in septic and sewage maintenance or for duct tape?

JL: After you've sat behind that steamy truck for a few hours on a hot day in July, well let's just say "admiration" is one word that's new and found. There are others though.


MC: Winston Rothschild had quite a higher pitched voice than your regular voice, but one of the major themes behind the show was showing men being "manly". Did the voice and his somewhat quirky personality pose any challenges for you?

JL: Once Steve described what he wanted in the character it became very easy to portray. All he said was, "Winston loves his work. When you're performing remember one thing, Winston can't figure out why everyone isn't in the septic business." That was all I needed. As a result, there were very few scripts where Winston wasn't completely positive about any situation. Very fun.


MC: Which was your favorite episode of Red Green?

JL: I'm not much on "favorite" anything...but for Winston the episode where he was going to get married was memorable for me. "I've got the church booked, I've got the rings...now all I need is a bride." (or words to that effect) See, always optimistic. Winston also had the cool promotional catch phrases and the one that stuck out for me was this gem: 'Don't gamble with your septics. Remember, a flush always beats a full house.' Classic.


MC: What was the biggest lesson you learned from working on Red Green?

JL: To always have fun, even if you screw up. I used to get a bit down on myself when I'd flub a line cause I hate having everything come to a screeching halt for one of my mistakes. Particularly when I had such few lines compared to Harold (Pat McKenna) or Steve. Then I saw what happened when Pat blew a scene. He'd stay in character and play.....sometimes those "outtakes" would go on for minutes at a time. That's when I realized that I could either have fun with the mistake or suck the energy out of the room by getting down on myself. Pat is such a pro and was always so helpful and generous to me.


MC: Stephanie Beard was also a voice in Sailor Moon (Sailor Mini-Moon/Rini) and was the first woman to be on The Red Green Show. Did the show's dynamic change much when women were brought in to guest star on the show occasionally?

JL: No, it was quite refreshing actually. We had to clean up the lodge a bit when women guested, but other than that, I was for it.


MC: Do you know what prompted this change to have women visit Possum Lodge?

JL: Just a new dynamic for the show. Remember, the show's theme was to bring to life men's shortcomings, who better to do that than women?


MC: What are your favorite kinds of cartoon roles to play, ones for the younger audience or ones for the older audience (like Uncle Joe's Playhouse)?

JL: They both present challenges, but it's always fun doing cutting edge, meaty adult comedy.


MC: Which method do you prefer for voice dubbing – the Rhythmoband (which has almost gone the way of the dinosaurs) or the beep method?

JL: I liked Rythmo and got pretty proficient at it. The new digital technology is awesome though. Much easier to make corrections to etc.


MC: In March, I had the opportunity to see Fred Penner live in concert (he was doing a tour of campus bars). He commented that children's TV now isn't the same as it used to be and shows are more computer animated rather than using puppets and songs (the "variety" show aspect is almost gone). Having worked on Size Small – a legendary children's show in its own right with your own family behind it, what are your thoughts on shows for preschoolers and young kids these days? Do you think that these shows need to go back to a time when the technology was "simpler"?

JL: Yes, I agree with Fred. When my Mom (Miss Helen) created Size Small years ago, the goal was simple. Don't talk down to the toddlers. She never patronized, and sometimes I think that gets lost in technology. She (and Fred) have a very personal approach and I think some new producers of young children's programming thing they're only interested in flashy, fast edited shows. It's my opinion that they're missing the boat and contributing to short attention spans. Think about it, kids will watch slow paced shows like Size Small over and over again, now ponder what the retention rate is on overly produced, fast paced programming.


MC: You've had a radio career all over Canada for over 20 years – are you still on the radio now?

JL: Yes, I still dabble in my first love, radio. And I'm always recording radio commercials, so one way or the other, I'm on the radio.


MC: What were some of your most memorable radio moments and how did you get started in it?

JL: Let's start with when I got into the radio business. It was the same year I got out of high school and I had no interest in University or College at that point. My folks had worked with a man (Roy Curry) at the TV station in Saskatoon. Roy was opening a radio station at the time and I began taking voice classes from him. Eventually he hired me for the overnight show (Midnight-6 a.m.) The rest, as they say, is hysterical...ah history. I have one memorable moment I'll share with you....when I first started my Morning Show in Montreal in the late 80's, I was trying to endear myself to the audience by talking about the cultural experiences I was enjoying. So one night I went out to try a French Canadian staple called Poutine. It's French Fries topped with Cheese-curd and gravy. (ya, I know!!) The next morning I was all excited to report my findings and said, "last night I had my first Putin!" I guess the pronunciation was a little off, because immediately after I said it, my producer disappeared on the other side of the glass. Apparently he'd fallen off his chair laughing. I said, "what did I say?" He struggled back into the chair and pressed the mic button, "Jeff, you just said that last night, you had your first prostitute!!!" Good times.


MC: Size Small was shot in Saskatoon for many years – how did you survive those "balmy" Saskatchewan winters?

JL: Well, I'm originally from Saskatoon, so it's all we knew. We survived, "stubble-jumpers" are hearty stock.


MC: Are you in any upcoming productions right now? Where can Moonies find you next?

JL: I've been in several animated productions in one-off roles including the upcoming, Cat in the Hat starring Martin Short. A few years ago I played the Dad in Ricky Sprocket, but sadly the show only lasted a season. Right now though I'm very excited to be playing the regular, Charles LaPuck in Skatoony, which premiers on Teletoon in the fall.


MC: And with that, this interview is finally finished! Thanks again very much for doing the interview! We wish you the best of luck in the future!

More Upcoming Interviews!

We're celebrating the 15th Anniversary of Sailor Moon this summer, and it is our mission to bring you stories you probably never knew about the series! We've got not one, but TWO upcoming actors who are excited to participate in interviews for this site!

And they are...




Tracey Hoyt is the first actress to play Rini, and played her in the second season of Sailor Moon and the three movies. Tracey has had quite the career, voicing many characters in cartoons as well as appearing on camera, and is even a graduate of Toronto's Second City! She's also a voice teacher!






Jeff Lumby played Professor/Dr. Souchi Tomoe, Kakeru in the S movie Hearts in Ice, and Mischa in the episode "Ice Princess". He has also had quite the career voicing many characters in cartoons, as well as appearing on camera. He has also anchored radio shows on many stations across the country - and if you grew up in the 80s, you probably grew up watching his whole family on television!



At this time, we'd like to thank Tracey and Jeff for doing this and we are really excited to be working with you!

Fans will have until Midnight of June 14th to post their questions as comments on this post, or e-mail us at Moonchasers@NOSPAMPLZKTHXWITHACHERRYONTOPgmail.com (but please put Tracey Hoyt & Jeff Lumby Interview in the subject), or post your questions in this forum thread. We're going to limit fans to two questions per actor for this one! Again, don't feel like you have to ask only about their work in Sailor Moon!

NA Voice Actor Update for March 2010

The Red Green Show: The Infantile Years - Seasons 1991-1993 is now available on DVD. The Canadian comedy show includes Jeff Lumby (Professor Tomoe) as Winston Rothschild, III.

Alison Sealy-Smith (Amphibia) appears in an episode of Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures as Nurse Lydia. The episode is entitled "How to Get Ahead in Medical School." Here's a description of the episode, from IMDb: "As Ming gets ready to proceed with her plans for artificial insemination, her husband Chen is stressed and fantasizing about street races and infidelity. The sperm donor, Fitz, their medical school classmate and Ming's former boyfriend, is considering reinstatement at the hospital which stirs up a lot of unresolved issues. His return would also create more tension between the trio since he wouldn't be an absentee donor after all, but working alongside the couple every day."

Sabrina Grdevich appeared in an episode of Cra$h & Burn called "Bond Blame Baptize" as Nicole Asher. The episode debuted on February 4th. We've already seen Katie Griffin on this show too. Maybe more of the voice actors we know from Sailor Moon will appear later? Full episodes are available for viewing on the Showcase website here.

David Huband (Serena's Dad) is playing officer Nelson in an upcoming film called Dream House. The thriller is about a family who moves into a house that seems wonderful at first, until they learn of a brutal crime committed against the former residents. Currently filming in Oakville, Newmarket, and Toronto in southern Ontario, Canada; the film is expected to be released in 2011.

Harvey Atkin (Bumboo, Pox) played Rabbi Goldstein in an episode of 18 to Life, a Canadian comedy about neighbours with opposing viewpoints who become family when their teenage kids get married. Filmed in Montreal, the series started airing in January. The episode featuring Harvey Atkin was aired February 8th. Episodes are available online via the CBC website.

Emilie-Claire Barlow (Sailor Venus #2) has been commenting on her recent Juno nomination. From The Globe and Mail: “I think the only way to get any perspective on that is to travel outside the country. Travelling in Asia and Europe, [people say that] there’s something going on with Canadian musicians, especially female jazz singers. When I do travel overseas, people say there’s such a talent pool of Canadian female jazz singers.” And from Exclaim News: "It's nice to be invited to the party and this means another round of publicity. I'm up against Diana Krall though," she laughs.

Vince Corazza (Allan/Tuxedo Mask #2) is spotted voicing Caesar in the White Knight Chronicles PS3 video game, currently out right now. The fantasy role playing game begins in the kingdom of Balandor, where a princess' coming-of-age banquet is raided by an evil organization called Magi. A boy called Leonard grabs the princess' hand and leads her to safety in the castle cellars, where he finds a suit of armor that transforms him into the White Knight – an ancient warrior with the strength to defeat Magi's forces (description from Wikipedia). Thanks to Freddie Jay Francis for the tip!

Operation Moonrise Teaser Featuring... Melvin!

Phase One of Operation Moonrise will be posted later tonight! In the meantime though, we have a special treat for you all! In another special Moon Chase exclusive, Roland Parliament (Melvin, ADR Director) shares some of his experiences on the show , hardships, and some really great stories! Roland has since gone on to teach acting at many schools and venues all across Canada, and also directed the upcoming animated film Ferretina (which features many Sailor Moon voice actors). The following, are his thoughts on the series in his own words.


My favorite episode is "Tuxedo Melvin" (of course) and also the episode when Nephlite died. Mary Long had everyone in the control room in tears over her performance in that one. Very moving.

My favorite parts were working with some fabulous actors especially Terri
Hawkes, Tony Daniels and David Fraser who are VERY creative, and Jeff Lumby
who is very funny. I also loved working with the engineer Sal Grimaldi who
could almost read my mind and was a great guy. I agree that the music was first rate. I also loved the team camaraderie with the cast that existed despite the fact that many of them never met each other until the wrap party!

I also loved the system we used to record known as the "Rhythmoband". It was
weird at first, but once you got the hang of it it was a lot like Karaoke.
It would be too expensive to do it that way today. We would probably use the
"beep" system which is much more tedious and not nearly as much fun.

What I didn't like was working 14-16 hours a day continuously for over 4
months. I didn't eat right, I didn't sleep right, I got very little exercise
and I got bad eye strain as I was parked in front of bright TV monitor all
the time checking for sync. I got very ill after it was all over and it took
a year before I felt right again. Even though I'd love to direct again, I
wouldn't work like that again.

I think the episodes I directed turned out so well because I tried to make
it fun for everyone with jokes and wisecracks, and I let the actors have a
lot of freedom. Because they were all so good (excellent casting on Nicole's
part) they really didn't require much direction and they appreciated being
allowed to interpret as they saw fit.


We'd like to take this time to thank Roland Parliament for his support of this site! We are all hoping for a re-dub that while somehow fixes mistakes in the past, still retains it's original charm. The campaign will begin this evening, keep your eyes peeled on the site!

EDIT: The survey has been posted! CLICK HERE!

Now it's time for the whole staff of Moon Chase to take a nap. We've worked non-stop for the last few days on all of this zzzzzz...

NA VA News (Part Two)

Rino Romano in Spaceballs?!

The 80's movie Spaceballs was a parody of Star Wars. It wasn't very popular in theaters, but gained more popularity when it was released on home video (and subsequently DVD). The movie also poked fun at tons of other Sci-Fi productions that were popular during the day. Fast forward to this year, and there is an animated series in the works. The series was due to start in June on G4 but has since been postponed with no premiere date as of this writing. In Canada though, the series airs on Super Channel. Playing the leading role of Captain Lone Starr is none other than Rino Romano (Tuxedo Mask #1). Captain Lone Starr is a combination of the personalities of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. He has a companion, a half-man, half-dog (mawg) named "Barf" (short for Barfolomew) which is a parody of Chewbacca. Fans awaiting the series can check out a trailer here!

Robert Tinkler in New Movie!

Set to premiere at this year's Toronto International Film Festival is Cooper's Camera! This one is about a family's Christmas celebration in 1985 that becomes horribly dysfunctional when an estranged uncle shows up. The story is told through the Cooper family's youngest son Teddy's "eyes" - aka his Christmas present, a second-hand video camera. Robert Tinkler (Rubeus) plays the supporting role of Officer Malette alongside The Daily Show's Samantha Bee and Canadian comedian Dave Foley. This looks hilarious from what we have read and we hope to hear more about this soon!

Jeff Lumby Featured in New Red Green Special and Book!

I'm sneaking in this quick edit this morning! Meg Ruffman is an actress who has an interesting hobby - carpentry! She has even written a few books about simple how-to projects for beginners. She is nearly finished writing a book called We're All In This Together, a biography on Steve Smith. Last week she was featured as a Special Guest Co-host on Jeff Lumby's (Professor Tomoe, Kakeru, Mischa) radio show, Lumby in the Morning. While she was there, she also shot an interview to be aired on The Comedy Network in October as part of We're All In This Together: The Red Green Story a tribute to Red Green. The show definitely ranks up there with long-running Canadian TV shows and we were sad to see it go when it did. We look forward to watching this special and hopefully we'll see a few "brilliant" moments from Jeff's character, Winston Rothschild III of Rothschild's Sewage and Septic Sucking Services. Picture courtesy of SOS, pointing out our favorite evil professor in court (of course, not for his monster engineering).

VA Sightings March 2008 (Part 2)!

Naz Edwards' Souvenir Continues!

Naz Edwards (Queen Beryl) continues to perform as the singer who can't sing across Michigan! She is currently in Lansing at the BoarsHead Theatre performing in Souvenir, a musical about Florence Foster Jenkins. She liked to believe she could sing, when in reality she could not. Naz is a very accomplished jazz and cabaret singer, and we wonder how hard it might have been for her to train for this role (or rather, learn how not to sing). We've read a few reviews of the show and we have heard that it's really good, and recommend any fans in the area to go check it out!

Jeff Lumby Plays Showbiz Dad!

Jeff Lumby (Dr. Tomoe) can currently be heard playing Leonard, who is better known as the nerdy father of Ricky Sprocket in Ricky Sprocket, Showbiz Boy! The flash-animated TV show can be seen on both Nickelodeon in the United States, and Teletoon in Canada. The show uses a kid-friendly approach to talk about society's infatuation with celebrity. Ricky is constantly fighting battles between how he should grow up, and how he should act in the public - or how he should avoid being seen the wrong way by the ruthless paparazzi! Jeff is still a radio host at Dave FM in Cambridge, Ontario. Fans can read his blog, here!

Dennis Akiyama Comes To Degrassi!

Degrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian TV show which is making waves all over the world. It has been a staple on CTV and has now begun on Nickelodeon's The N and also the CW. Though sometimes controversial, we think this is a good drama for teenagers to watch as it's very close to being true-to-life. Degrassi follows high schoolers and the challenges they face in and out of school. In the Season 7 episode "Death or Glory Part II", school strongboy Gavin "Spinner" Mason was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Dennis Akiyama (Malachite) appeared in the show as the Oncologist (Cancer Doctor) who talks to Spinner about his options for treatment. Fans can check out the episode streaming online at CTV or The N.

Tracey Hoyt Dwells Into the Lives of Hockey Wives...

Tracey Hoyt (Rini #1) appeared on the last episode ever of CBC's drama http://www.cbc.ca/mvp/. She played, (for the second time in her career) a nurse inj Mad Scramble. Though this time, she was in a more intense situation. The first time she played a nurse was in the movie Godsend, during the delivery of a baby. This time, she played a psychiatric nurse and got to inject tranquilizers into an athlete who was a little delusional. She handled that syringe quite fiercely! If you are in Canada, CBC has all of the episodes streaming online at the official site. We'll warn our readers though,this series has some mature content.Tracey has also been teaching voice with Pirate Voice. Toronto's CityTV went over there recently to pick up a few tips, and Tracey was there to teach them! Fans can watch the video they have posted here to see Tracey in action!

... And so did Allison Sealy-Smith!

Allison Sealy-Smith (various Monsters of the Day) also appeared on the episode playing Cadde Lawrence, a psychic who helps another wife in search of a missing child. Allison also appeared in the movie, How She Move. This is a Canadian film about Jamaican dance culture and identity. Allison played Mrs. Davis, and fans can try to spot her in some video clips here. The movie was released on January 25th to only a limited amount of cinemas in Canada. Allison also appeared in Global's black hairdresser comedy, 'da Kink in My Hair. The series is based on the play of the same name by Trey Anthony, and was inspired by the many West Indian salons in Toronto's Eglinton suburb. Trey talked about her inspiration to the National Post last year. Allison played Leanne in the episode Empty Bag Can't Stand Up . Unfortunately, it seems Global has removed the show from its site, so we can't provide you a link to watch episodes. We can link you to a trailer, where you can spot the short-haired Allison Sealy-Smith for a quick second!



Julie Lemieux on Global Warming Cartoon!

Julie Lemieux (Sammy, Peruru, Young Darien) was heard as the voice of Becky Sue in the movie Chilly Beach: The World Is Hot Enough. It was just released on DVD , and follows the successful 3-season Canadian series all about life in the way-up-North!. Canucks Dale and Frank are tired (like we all are) of Canada's infamous deep-freeze winters. So they experiment with climate control, but end up destroying the planet in the process. Now it's up to them to go back in time and undo the damage before they do it! We hope to catch it soon, as we've mostly seen Julie play younger male roles more than she has female roles.

More VAs Appear on Little Mosque on the Prairie!

Last season, Maria Vacratsis appeared on the groundbreaking comedy, Little Mosque on the Prairie!. Now, it seems two more VAs have visited Mercy, Saskatchewan. These include David Huband (Serena's Dad) playing a Radio Manager in Crush and Meet J.J., and Norma Dell'Agnese (Prisma) who played the hairdresser Marsha in the episode, Wheat Week.Martha has blinds in her windows, which allows for Muslim women to get a haircut without men seeing them without their Hijab. Of course, things change when Martha takes away the blinds. David plays the manager of Mercy's only radio station, and is easily swayed from making decisions by getting bribes from Fred, the disc jockey who is desperate to save his job. It seems this show is airing all over the world these days except for the United States. We recommend fans look around for episodes posted on Youtube or Veoh to catch these VAs in action! Fans may be interested to know that while the show still features lots of shots of Regina and area, the production moved to Toronto after the pilot episodes were shot. In the first season, you may have noticed shots of the "Novia Cafe" - the Cafe actually exists and is one of the greasiest places to eat in the city!

Wendy Lyon in Two Movies!

Wendy Lyon (Queen Serenity)had a role playing Luanne in Kaw, a Canadian film about ravens that attack a small town. The indie flick also stars Sean Patrick Flannery. From the reviews of this movie that we've read, it didn't have more to the plot than that and it was not very well received. For those of you adventurous enough to watch it, the movie is on DVD. Wendy can also be seen in a TV Movie based on the horrible Mayerthorpe Incident in 2005. Four RCMP officers visited the tiny town of Mayerthorpe in the hopes of capturing a farmer who was growing marijuana in a barn. Unfortunately, the farmer shot and killed all four officers in an attempt to evade the law. The movie aired in February on CTV, featuring Wendy as Sally Ranfield.

And Now, We Leave You With...

A wonderful performance from Emilie-Claire Barlow (Sailors Mars & Venus #2)! Here she is singing O Pato on Quebec's Belle et Bum show! Check out her blog to learn all about what she's been up to! We wish you the best of luck Emilie-Claire - the National Jazz Awards are just around the corner!

BIG, BIG VA NEWS!

Ferrets Anyone?

Ferretina has been on my radar since 2003, and year after year I had heard a rumor that it was going to be released. Unfortunately, this film took a very long time to animate, and information on it was scarce, aside from a few promotional images on animators' portfolios, and brief mentions of it on Roland Parliament's (Melvin and ADR director), Terri Hawkes' (Sailor Moon #2) and Stephanie Beard's (Rini #2) webpages. A few days ago, we stumbled upon a newly resurrected website for the movie, and we were astounded by the images we have seen! Up until now, the only information I had was that the movie was about a family of ferrets, it was produced in New York and Toronto, and that Roland Parliament directed and starred as Fritter the Field Mouse, Stephanie Beard played Souffle, and Terri Hawkes played Roxie. Well, now that the website is up, we can definitely confirm that several VAs are in the film (though we wonder where Terri's credit went). Jeff Lumby (Professor Tomoe) plays Stretch, Tony Daniels (Wiseman) plays Goulash, Julie Lemieux (Sammy, Peruru) plays Izzy, Susan Roman (Sailor Jupiter) plays Archer, Jennifer Gould (Himeko Nayotake, Sailor Saturn) plays Garlika, and Stephanie Beard plays Souffle! If you do not wish to be spoiled, we advise you NOT to click on synopsis. This looks like it could be a very heartwarming film, and is poised to put Canada on the map for voice talent! We're also curious if this Michael Eisner listed on the credits is the same Michael Eisner who once was the CEO of The Walt Disney Company. Other Canadian stars include Patrick McKenna, better known as Harold from the Red Green Show (which also starred Jeff Lumby) and Mark Ellis of Canadian television fame, who is better known as Stephanie Morgenstern's (Sailor Venus) husband. We hope to bring you more information on this as soon as we know, but we have a feeling that a release for this movie is just around the corner!

And Speaking of Stephanie Morgenstern...

It appears that her and Mark's pilot has been successful in their pitch to CTV and has been given picked up for a 13 episode run on CTV! Though it seems the title has been changed from Critical Incident to Sniper. We wish both of them the best of luck with this new venture which begins shooting in the Spring of this year.

All in all, the VAs have started 2008 with a bang! This is shaping up to be a very good year for the stars of Sailor Moon!

Three Quick Sightings and Looking for a Guest Writer

Do you have what it takes?

Hey fans. We’ll be expanding these sightings all a bit later but there’s one coming up that I need to get out ASAP.

☼ Robert Tinkler (Rubeus, Pupuran) is going to appear on ABC’s new fall sitcom Notes from the Underbelly . He will be playing Ben - I am unsure whether this is a voice or a live action role. ABC is going to show a sneak peak of the pilot this Thursday evening (check your local listings)!

☼ Jeff Lumby (Dr. Tomoe) is the new host of the Morning Radio Show on
Dave FM in Ontario . We’ll be listening to it soon (once one of us can wake up in our oddball timezones)!

We are currently looking for a reader in Europe that has access to the beta version of Joost - we acquired a token recently and are very impressed. However we North Americans don’t get Gong ! We’d love to hear from someone in Europe who has tried the service and what they think about it (and if it holds potential for North America)! Please contact us at moonchasers@NOSPAMPLZKTHXgmail.com . Previous freelance journalism experience is recommended but not required.

And just for kicks, you be the judge!

Here is the opening for the recently premiered tokusatsu comedyBishoujo Celeb Panchanne (keep in mind the same director of PGSM, Masataka Takamaru is directing this series):



Here is the opening for the tokusatsu we hope you’ve all heard of by now, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (spot the similarities!):




And here’s an older tokusatsu we were notified about earlier, and we think this may be a near remake of this series! Reader Adam DuVall told us of an older tokusatsu from the early nineties called Bishoujo Kamen Poitrine, and we can’t help but notice the alarming similarities between the two series!