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Rob Paulsen Talks About The High And Low Notes Of Life in Voice Lessons

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I got a chance to interview legendary voice actor Rob Paulsen who is known for his character voices in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Animaniacs, and his current series Talkin’ Toons.

We now get an in-depth look at Rob’s career and what shaped his success in a new memoir entitled Voice Lessons: How a couple of Ninja Turtles, Pinky and an Animaniac Saved My Life.

The book is available for purchase on Amazon here:

That’s My Entertainment (TME): You had a very expansive, legendary career. You’ve voiced so many iconic characters over the years but you’re doing something new now. You’ve decided to write a book. Tell me how that came about and what went into that.

Rob Paulson (RP): Well the book is a culmination about a number of things. The most important of which I think, was three years ago…at this time,  I had just finished radiation and chemo therapy for stage three throat cancer which was a curve ball for a guy,  who makes his living with his voice; it definitely got my attention.

I had been asked by friends and fans for years before that particular surprise as to whether or not I would write a book… Look, I’m good at my job and it’s not false modesty but the last thing the world needs is another celebrity Hollywood bio; especially by a guy who’s not a celebrity. The characters are famous. Not me. And I’m fine with that.

TME: But that makes your story much different… doesn’t it?

RP: Yes it does and it makes the story different and more interesting in the context of the throat cancer. If I had got skin cancer, stomach cancer, or pancreatic cancer, that would have been a drag but Jesus…everybody has their stuff. And everybody unfortunately knows and loves someone who has been touched by cancer and often has died from it. But if its something that  affects you not only where you live but in the way in which you communicate with the world, it makes for a more interesting story. Spoiler alert: I lived.

The book called Voice Lessons,which i think was a particularly terrific  title thought up by my co-writer Mike Fleeman…the context of my cancer experience is in there but the due to the fact that I have had contact and continued to keep in contact with a great number of people who I’ve spoken to over the years, usually whose children have gone through horrible circumstances and want to speak to Raphael or Pinky or Leonardo, or Donatello or Yakko or Carl… whomever as a result of their particular horrible cancer circumstances and also often the children don’t make it.

After these really heroic struggles, the parents keep in touch with me, over the years even though their children are gone; they continue to remind me how brave they were. and that really crossed me up and gave me immeasurable strength to deal with my own circumstances…and I’m a pretty tough guy but this was really brutal for me. It screws up your mouth, your throat, your stomach. It was brutal; really difficult.

It is not impossible to survive; Michael Douglass survived it. Unfortunately Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times did not survive it…and others. Its a pretty brutal cancer treatment and if you don’t take care of it, it can leave you worse for wear.  I was more than happy to give it a shot and I’m fine now. That is what the book is about…how these children and their parents and the characters; most importantly, brought strength and joy to not only them but to me.

It was a pretty wonderful experience. Ill tell ya…it was incredible.

TME: Talking about your characters and you’ve done so much work, was there any character in the middle of a gig that gave you a sense of ” this is it, this is what you wanted to be doing as an actor”?

RP: I came out to L.A. 41 years ago to do live action and music. I was a singer first and became an actor and that was what I was doing. A lot of episodic television,commercials. and about mid 80s the opportunity presented itself to do animation and of course I jumped at it because I wanted to work. I never say no. I just like to be creative and work.And so the first shows I did were G.I. Joe and Transformers and I thought “Man this is great.

Nobody cares what I look like because as I’m not celebrity talent, and your work and opportunities for work are dictated often by your looks. In animation work, no one cares what the actors look like. In fact often, you will do characters that are of the opposite sex. A lot of young boy characters are all done by women. Finally at about 30, I decided “I wanna stay here. This is great”… And I’m glad I did because now… all these years later, after Pinky, Yakko and Carl, Arthur on the Tick and the Mask, Mighty Max and Fairly Oddparents…

TME: You just described my childhood.

RP: Yeah…how about that? Mine too!  My post childhood…and my son’s childhood who is now 35 and I’m glad I made that choice.

TME: Was there any character that you personally identified with?

RP:  Yeah I gotta say because of the smart ass attitude I gotta say Rafael and Yakko are closest to me in my own personality because I’m a bit snarky and I have a saracastic attitude that I think is a sense of humor that certainly was helpful during my cancer experience; not take myself and my treatment too seriously and when things got pretty gnarly I would just say to myself “Well you know what? I reckon you better find a way to get on it because if you don’t find a way to do this it’s gonna kill you so you might as well find a way to enjoy the ride. You’re not living under a bridge; you got every type of medicine to get through it so why don’t you just take a handful and hook yourself to some fluids because you can’t eat and drink and listen to Pink Floyd. Start getting the cure done so you can get on with your life.All these children before you who didn’t make it and the brave men and women who tried this treatment; not knowing what the outcome would be…they’re a lot tougher than you. I reckon you better shut your mouth.”

That attitude helped me keep my head down and take a punch. I’m glad I have it. And those characters that I identify with and helped me be successful because they are utterly natural and organic and I didn’t have to stretch. Yakko and Rafael are the easiest to slide into and the two that come to mind.

Check out this story of Rob’s incredible journey and how his fans helped him through one of the toughest challenges of his life. See link above for purchase details.

*The following is an edited transcript of the conversation.

 

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Solo Leveling: Could We Be Getting Five Seasons and a Live-Action Movie?

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The anime adaptation of Solo Leveling has already created a massive buzz among fans of the popular webtoon and light novel series. Since its premiere announcement, the hype around the story of Sung Jin-Woo’s rise from the weakest hunter to the world’s mightiest has been palpable. Now, rumors swirling around the anime industry suggest that not only will the series extend over five seasons but it could also lead to a live-action movie adaptation. Could these rumors hold weight? Let’s break it down.

When Solo Leveling was confirmed as an anime adaptation, it was no surprise that expectations skyrocketed. The original story, written by Chugong and illustrated by the late DUBU, captivated millions with its breathtaking battles, compelling character arcs, and immersive world-building. The anime is being handled by A-1 Pictures, known for stunning productions like Sword Art Online and Blue Exorcist, which only adds to the excitement.

Given the vast amount of material in the source material, a five-season roadmap seems plausible. The light novel spans 270 chapters, and the webtoon is equally rich with detailed arcs. A five-season structure would allow the story to breathe, delivering each arc with precision instead of rushing through Sung Jin-Woo’s epic evolution.

The rumor mill isn’t just limited to multiple anime seasons. Whispers of a live-action movie have also captured fans’ imaginations. Hollywood’s growing interest in anime adaptations (One Piece, anyone?) combined with Solo Leveling’s global fanbase makes the possibility of a movie adaptation realistic.

Some speculate that the live-action adaptation would focus on the final arcs of the story or possibly a standalone tale set in the Solo Leveling universe. While anime-to-live-action transitions are often met with skepticism, the success of recent projects (Alita: Battle Angel and Netflix’s One Piece) suggests that studios are finally learning how to respect the source material.

Adapting a visually stunning and fast-paced story like Solo Leveling into live action would be no small feat. The series’ supernatural battles, intricate dungeon designs, and fantastical creatures would require top-tier CGI and production quality to match fan expectations. Casting would also be a critical factor—who could embody Sung Jin-Woo’s quiet intensity or Cha Hae-In’s graceful strength?

Furthermore, the cultural specificity of Solo Leveling, rooted in Korean mythology and history, would need to be handled with care. Fans are understandably wary of “Hollywood-ization,” which has often led to diluted or overly Westernized interpretations of beloved stories.

The possibility of a five-season anime adaptation has been met with widespread excitement. Many fans believe that extending the anime over multiple seasons would allow for a more faithful retelling of the story, capturing every thrilling fight and emotional moment. The potential for a live-action movie, however, has sparked mixed reactions. While some are optimistic about the idea of seeing Jin-Woo in a new medium, others worry about how the story’s essence could translate to live action.

While nothing official has been confirmed, the idea of Solo Leveling receiving five seasons and a live-action movie speaks to the enduring popularity of the franchise. Whether these rumors turn out to be true or simply fan speculation, one thing is certain: Solo Leveling is set to become one of the biggest anime adaptations in recent memory.

As we await more news, one thing’s for sure—this is just the beginning of Solo Leveling’s rise to global dominance. Fans, stay tuned. You won’t want to miss what comes next.

What do you think about the possibility of a live-action Solo Leveling movie? Do you believe the anime can deliver on its five-season promise? Let us know in the comments!

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Jurassic World Rebirth Official Trailer

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DEVA Movie Review

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Released in India: 2024

Released in the US: 2025

Genre: Action Thriller 

Runtime: Approximately 156 minutes 

Director: Rosshan Andrrews 

Writers: Story by Bobby–Sanjay; Screenplay by Bobby–Sanjay, Abbas Dalal, Hussain Dalal, Arshad Syed, Sumit Arora 

Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Pooja Hegde, Pavail Gulati, Pravesh Rana, Kubbra Sait, Girish Kulkarni, Manish Wadhwa, Gaurav More, Abhilash Chaudhary, Pravin Patil, Aditi Sharma 

Music: Score by Jakes Bejoy; Songs by Vishal Mishra & Jakes Bejoy 

DEVA delivers on the star power of Shahid Kapoor and Pooja Hegde but falters in its attempt to adapt the gripping narrative of Mumbai Police into a high-octane Bollywood thriller. While the film offers moments of style and spectacle, it ultimately struggles to leave a lasting impact. 

Shahid Kapoor once again proves his mettle, seamlessly embodying the layered persona of Dev Ambre—a character who walks the fine line between law enforcer and lawbreaker. His screen presence, particularly in the electrifying dance number Bhasad Macha, injects much-needed energy into the film. However, despite his commanding performance, the film’s screenplay does little to elevate its storytelling beyond the standard action-thriller formula. 

Pooja Hegde, a talented actress, finds herself in a thankless role, serving more as a narrative device than a fully fleshed-out character. Her chemistry with Shahid is engaging, but the script doesn’t offer her much beyond the love interest trope, leaving her talents underutilized. 

As a remake, DEVA retains the framework of Mumbai Police but struggles to replicate its emotional depth and narrative intrigue. Despite a strong cast and an engaging visual style, the film feels like a Bollywoodized version of a Hollywood thriller—heavy on aesthetics but lacking in storytelling impact. 

DEVA is a star-driven spectacle that will appeal to Shahid and Pooja’s fan base but fails to live up to its source material’s gripping intensity. A stylish but ultimately underwhelming action thriller.

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