Last year saw the resurrection of Kid Icarus, with 3DS title Kid Icarus: Uprising. It is the third game in the Kid Icarus series and the first since Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters back in 1991 - a whole twenty-year wait, with the small exception of the heroic angel featuring in Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii. The title had been Pit's first major appearance, and with him, he brought a voice.
21 year-old Antony Del Rio is the cheery-chap behind the voice of Pit and Dark Pit, and Nintendo Life was lucky to journey to the Underworld to catch up with him.
Nintendo Life: Welcome Antony, thanks for taking the time to chat with us here at Nintendo Life, we're big fans of your work! Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?
Antony Del Rio: Hey this is Antony Del Rio, voice of Pit/Dark Pit in Kid Icarus: Uprising!
NL: How did you begin your journey into voice acting? How did you come to pick up the role of Pit in Kid Icarus: Uprising?
ADR: To tell you the truth, voice acting was never something I thought would be part of my career. It first started out just me recording a few things for my agents when I had nothing else to do. Then, it just so happened that out of the possibly 100+ things that I recorded, one of them stuck and it was a show for Cartoon Network called "The Super Hero Squad Show". I was lucky because on this show I worked with some heavy hitters in this business like Tom Kenny, Charlie Adler, Steve Blum, Tara Strong, etc. I gained so much respect for voice acting and I started taking it seriously from then on. The voice director of Kid Icarus: Uprising heard about me from another voice director I worked with on previous games. Then she brought me in for an audition and thankfully I booked the job!
NL: How aware were you of the NES title, or how much did you know of the 3DS game, before voice recording started?
ADR: I didn't know anything of the NES title or even of Pit for that matter until Super Smash Brothers Brawl. As far as the 3DS game goes, I didn't even know I was recording for Kid Icarus: Uprising until the first day we started. Everyone is very secretive and careful with the information they let out to the public, even to their actors.
I didn't even know I was recording for Kid Icarus: Uprising until the first day we started. Everyone is very secretive.
NL: What were your thoughts on the script when you first saw it?
ADR: I never saw the script before hand. I would get the parts of the script I'd be working on that day just a few minutes before we started, and I was given some time to look it over briefly. Then I would have to just trust the director to steer me in the right direction as far as what my intentions were in each scene.
NL: Did you record your parts on your own, or were you in the studio at the same time as voice-actors on other parts?
ADR: For half of the game I recorded alongside Ali Hillis who voiced Lady Palutena. Then our schedules made it hard for us to be in the studio at the same time so we started to record everything separate. She was the only one I recorded with during this process though, everyone else I either had to listen to a recording or the director would read their lines for me.
NL: Were there any particular highlights throughout the whole recording process for the game? We found the script between yourself and Ali Hillis (Palutena) quite entertaining!
ADR: Thank you! Ali is amazing, I learned so much from her. I think a lot of the highlights for me are what happened behind the scenes. The team was so amazing to work with, and there was so much material that could have made the gag reel if there was one. As far as in the game goes, I really enjoyed singing Pit's song.
NL: Before you began voice acting for various video game roles, you had a part in a couple of TV shows; how did voice acting compare to live acting?
ADR: It's VERY different and VERY alike. They're different because on camera you have your facial expressions and body language to help portray your emotions and of course in voice acting you don't. They're alike because essentially it's all just acting. I bet some of the best actors are voice actors, some people just prefer to stay behind the mic.
NL: Are you interested in doing any more game voice roles in future?
ADR: Absolutely! There's plenty of stuff that I've recorded and am very excited to come out. Unfortunately I would get in trouble if I mentioned anything in particular.
NL: Is there any hint of a sequel to Kid Icarus: Uprising? Even a slight chance?
ADR: I sure hope so! I personally think the game is very special and deserves a sequel. If not a sequel, then just another Pit game entirely... I may be biased.
NL: Can you tell us about your gaming habits?
ADR: I actually never played a lot of video games, I was never any good at them. But I loved watching my brother drive around as Mario.
NL: Are you a Nintendo fan, and if so what systems or games do you like the most from the company?
ADR: Big Nintendo fan. I loved Mario Kart and Super Smash Brothers.
NL: Have you played through Kid Icarus: Uprising at all?
ADR: Played through the whole game in a week, I loved it! It's not only the only game of mine that I've played, but the only game I've actually played all the way to the end.
NL: Thank you so much for your time Antony, it is very much appreciated. All the best for future projects!
ADR: Thank you!
Comments 49
Great interview Orla! That sure was an interesting read! Have you gone up in the world? Starting at Nintendo Scene and now here with the big guns, interviewing celebrities!
Hahaha, what a nice chap.
Wonder if there's any relation to Alberto Del Rio or whatever that Mexican wrestler's name is.
Really cool to see an interview for Pit's voice actor! That dude did a good job. Nice job Nlife!
I already hear viridi's voice saying: Shhh, we're not supposed to talk about that! Anyway good job Anthony, a good voice actor can make the game much more fun btw; why are there so many Anthony's on the internet?
It must be strange for Antony to play Kid Icarus and you hear you own voice for most of the time. Then again, it must also be pretty epic. It also must be strange recording grunts and stuff like that.
Lani Minella is the first one that voiced Pit in a game not him
For me, it's always weird seeing the person who does voices for certain characters since they never look like they could do the respective voice(s). Judging a book by its cover I guess.
Antony Del Rio did an awesome job with Pit / Dark Pit in Uprising. Hoping he returns in Smash Bros. 4.
That question about acting and voice acting made me think about Leonard Nimoy and Mark Hamill. Nimoy tunes his vocal chords before recording and Hamill uses tons of body expressions to help his voice acting feel more realistic.
I take it Antony had never seen Melee's trophies before he took the role?
I gotta say, the best voice actor in the game was Cragalanche.
Because he didn't talk at all!
I hope I didn't make O' Pitty-Pat...err...I mean Alberto Del Rio mad with my comment, don't want to russell a few feathers now, do we~
I have yet to play Kid Icarus: Uprising, but it's one of the biggest reasons I'd love to get my hands on a 3DS XL. The best thing about it, to me, is that the voice acting has been well received as it could encourage Nintendo to be a bit more brave with voice acting. After Other M, there must have been some serious question marks.
They just need to get the right partners and go for it with real money and effort, IMO.
The English text translation in Nintendo games has been pretty fantastic for a LONG time, so now it's time to get best in the industry people working on voice acting, and writing for voices which is quite different.
If it's not great though, I'd rather read it.
VGH had a much longer, content-filled VIDEO interview with Antony back in 2012, too. It's kinda funny to hear Pit's voice coming out of his mouth.
http://youtu.be/5smSSCaJP_E
It's ironic... I was just playing Kid Icarus Uprising too.
Nice interview Orla! I would never have put that voice to his face - amazing.
You have a beautiful voice, Antony, I hope you will come in if there's a sequel!
And thank you, Nintendolife, for the interview.
It's Chico! In MGS Peace Walker!
@LordJumpMad "Well duh, he's just a rock"!
See my reference there?
Pretty cool interview. While playing I could never shake off the feeling that his voice kinda sounded like Neil Young's.
I loved the direction they took with the script, breaking the 4th wall so often. Refreshing to see this after having lots of games taking themselves too seriously.
Unfortunately, I was put off by the voice acting in a KI:U montage video.. which is why I have not picked up the game yet. Well, that and the fact that I can't seem to get a hold of a CPP attachment over here, much less a copy of the game. >.< I should point out though, I am very picky about which voice actors I like in general, so no big deal. I tend to enjoy Japanese voices a lot more (eg: FE:A) or the few phrases that Mario/Luigi/Peach tend to say in their games. :3
That said, like @aaronsullivan pointed out, Nintendo should contract the bigger names in the industry for voice work for their western releases. Like the Japanese FE:A, for example, employed a whole lot of famous voice actors - voice actors that had already made a name for themselves in the anime industry (Sugita Tomokazu, Koyasu Takehito, Okamura Akemi and Kobayashi YÅ« to name a few) - so the quality was top notch. That is not to say that amateurs need not apply.. case in point, Bastion. Logan Cunningham did a phenomenal job as Rucks and that is the kind of voice acting I would love to see in games.
Regardless, good for Anthony. Seems like he would be returning as Pit for SSB4.
Great game! Great voice acting! Excellent gameplay. One of my top five games of all time! The production value of this game needs to be done in all future Nintendo games and its showing in titles like Fire Emblem as well. Bring on Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon/2!!
Although it seems obvious that he will voice Pit again in SSB4, I hope he does anyway. (I'm pretty sure we all know what he's been recording for anyway. ) actually watched a skype video on YouTube where he talked to some other guy. He seems like a fun person to hang around with, wish I could meet him.
This guy is like my hero. I thought his voice was perfect for Pit.
He's a cutie too.
Great Job on the Voices Antony. I thought their was a different voice for Dark Pit until I saw the credits. You kept the voice close, but different enough to throw me off. Good Job.
@NL Very Fun interview to read.
One of the best games i've EVER played. please god let there be a sequel
i really enjoyed his work in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker as Chico
Great interview!
I absolutely LOVED the voice acting in Uprising, it was so funny! I hope Antony Del Rio is can do some more voice acting for Nintendo's future games.
@3Dash Talk about a great commentary to a story like this!
Thanks for the great interview...nice to see a story that's different from the usual features (absolutely nothing wrong with the other feature stories, BTW).
@squashie Thank you! ^_^ Glad you enjoyed it. Yup, I started writing back when the 3DS was released almost 2 years ago with NScene... Time flies and so much happened!
Glad people have enjoyed reading the interview. Antony is a great guy, was a delight to interview him for the site!
@Superconsole I know yeah, tbh I was expecting the voice behind Pit to be like 12 years old!
Wow, I thought he was like 15 max. That's seriously impressive. I'm turning 15 this year and I can't get my voice that high.
"Take that, wall!" Great work from Antony, and the entire voice talent for Uprising. Took an already-great game to another level of fun and entertainment!
He sounds like a cool guy. I thought he added alot of personality to Pit and hopefully we will see more of Kid Icarus in the future.
I liked most of the voice acting in Kid Icarus: Uprising. A couple characters I didn't like, but I liked Pit & especially Dark Pit. I never knew much about voice acting before either. Cool interview.
I'd like to know what else he has worked on.
Certainly a young and aspiring voice actor with a bright future ahead.
Wow! One of the few game voice actors that when I see their face I can actually imagine them saying the lines!
I definitely hope for Antony Del Rio to voice Pit in SSB4. Maybe Pit could even talk to Palutena in Skyworld (or whatever KI:U stage the game has) using a taunt similar to Snake or team Star Fox.
I gotta say, the entire voice acting crew really brought the game to life. I always get a kick out of seeing voice actors demonstrating their role in person, its really mind boggling.
I can only imagine what must have went on behind the scenes, and how hard it must have been to keep a straight face while recording for a game like this.
Don't be fooled, this is just Ant Dickens in disquise.
I loved Kid Icarus, especially the voice acting and silly lines. I could not imagine another Kid Icarus with out this guy doing the voice.
I also can't imagine another Kid Icarus without Dark Pit
Can't believe no one's mentioned that he also played Revolver Ocelot.
This was a very interesting interview to read. It's neat to learn a little more about one of the the voice actors who made Uprising so memorable to me. Good job, @Orla!
BTW, it's funny to see how many people call him "Anthony" instead of "Antony."
@Prof_Clayton How'd you guess??? XD
I looked him up on IMDb to see who he played in Super Hero Squad. He played Reptil, the new kid with dinosaur powers. After seeing that, I noticed they do sound a lot alike.
I still need to get this game. Its trailer is the reason I wanted a 3DS from the day it was announced at E3 a couple of years ago. When I saw that it was a handheld game I was blown away and was immediately thinking, "I want one!"
Didn't even come close to replicating that feeling with the Wii U. More of a, "Huh. Okay."
I'm just imagining how Antony and Ali reacted to some of their lines while reading them in the studio together.
Ali:You better not be thinking of anything... naughty
Antony:laughing his head off Wha- how did you...
That photo... so handsome! ><
Love this guy's work. He was absolutely perfect as Pit and I hope he returns for more. Great interview!
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