What If Italy Was A Pokemon Region? - (Youtube Video)
Project Overview
(Go to 49:33 in the explainer video to get a better idea of what this project is like)
~Project Details~
In my "What If ____ Was A Pokemon Region?" videos I take a look at certain countries around the world and talk about what they could be like as Pokemon Region. I go over what Towns could be translated from real life places and turned into Pokemon Towns, what real life animals and legends could be turned into Pokemon, and I even create my own stories that play out within these hypothetical regions.
I'm currently working on my next "Regional Video", which is about Italy, and I wanted to up the production values on my video even more by including actual voiced characters in the "story section". The actual structure of the video will revolve very heavily around me narrating and guiding the story (The explainer video shows this off pretty well), but at certain moments I want to have uniquely voiced dialogue come from specific characters that are on screen. In many ways the format is almost reminiscent of a "Visual Novel" cutscene, but mixed in with my own narration to move the story forward.
~General Story Overview~
(I'll detail more specifics in the character audition section)
The Player character has arrived at the Italian Region for the Summer and has decided that they're going to try and challenge the Pokemon League! On their journey they meet a variety of different people including the "Evil Team" of the Region called Team Esteta, who have a very heavy renaissance-aesthetic to them and believe the region has forgotten its traditions, a group of people called "Team Imperium" who don an Ancient Roman style and are friendly side characters that assist the player on their journey, and of course a rival! (And a total jerk one at that!) All throughout the story these various characters are interacting and causing many different effects on the Italy Region.
~Requirements/Guidelines~
-If you are auditioning for a character please have good microphone quality. Minimal to no background noise, no pops, no whistles, no puffs. Noise removal is alright, but just make sure its not overproduced because i want to hear your pure, unfiltered voice!
-Auditions will be evaluated and judged between myself and a small panel of people who are working on the animatic. Unfortunately, because of time, I won't be able to offer much critique on many of the auditions. (I'll try to when I can though!)
-You can audition for more than one role, but please don't submit multiple auditions for the same role.
-You don't have to be a huge Pokemon fan for this project, but if you are (or at least kind of know what it is) then that will definitely help.
-Try to really get into your character and emote/express as best as you can! This series will be going to some crazy places and the voices are what will be selling people on it the most!
-Have fun and don't stress too much! I know I'm making this seem really serious, but this is a fan animatic for fun, so please don't get nervous and audition as best as you can!
When you are logged in, you can comment, add submissions, create projects, upvote, search open roles, and way more. Login here.
Marco is the main rival in the Italy Region and has a very abrasive personality. He's the son of a powerful Mob-Boss working in the region, and has grown up very spoiled. He's very bratty and impolite and often times tends to ignore people, put others down, and just be a total douchebag. There is kind of a drive to Marco though. While he's a total jerk, there is a part of him that is legitimately trying to become a good trainer and impress his father (who he has a strained relationship with), but that side of him seldom comes out.
For Marco I'm looking for a younger-ish sounding voice that can really nail his bratty attitude. This is a guy that's grown up getting everything he wants, and now that somebody (the player) is standing in his way, he's very upset! An Italian accent isn't needed, but if he has a very light one it would be nice. (A few of the words he says are in Italian)
(Annoyed and being slightly condescending)
"What are you looking at, loser? This is a private matter concerning *my* Pokemon training, and not just any street rattata can be here!
(Just beat a kid in a Pokemon Battle and is very smug)
"I hope you never forget what a pathetic trainer you are!"
(Normal voice (which is bratty))
"Whatever. This was a waste of my time. You know my Pokemon and I could destroy you if we felt like it"
Antonio is a powerful Mob-Boss working in the Italy Region and is the father of Marco. He runs the "Italian Branch" of Team Rocket, and while he's a "bad guy", he has a lot of charm to him. His evilness is expressed more through his smugness and his scheming rather than his raw, outright bravado. His relationship with his son is somewhat tense, as he outwardly expresses his disappointment in Marco and how weak he is, but inwardly he wants his son to be strong enough to join him in Team Rocket.
For Antonio's voice I want it to have a slight Italian accent to it. Not super super heavy, but definitely noticeable. He also needs to have a somewhat reserved and calm voice that is befitting of someone like him who is better at plotting and scheming than he is at battling.
(Slightly scolding Marco for not introducing him to the player)
"Always forgetting your manners, aren't you Marco? My name is Antonio, Marco's father."
(Quietly pondering and scheming)
"Hm... You're nowhere near as weak as Marco is, so you might actually be of use..."
"Eccellente!"
Professor Leo Cypress is the kind and eccentric Professor of the Italy Region. He's going to be based on Leonardo Da Vinci, which is especially fitting because his forte is creating Pokemon Art as well as inventions to aid Pokemon! He doesn't have a super large role in the region, but is there at the start of the player's journey, and pops up sporadically a few times.
His voice needs to have a heavy Italian accent. He was born and raised in the region, and has absolutely soaked up so much of the arts, history, and culture around him. Even though he's an older man and would have an "older man voice", there are times where he gets super animated and excited, and I want his voice to have the kind of range that can express his excitement as well as normal voice.
"Buongiorno! Welcome to the world of Pokemon! My name is Professor Cypress."
(Hesitant after a character demands he give them a Pokemon)
"Oh... er... Yes, I did bring the Pokemon with me, but perhaps I can maybe give you an explanation first?"
(Filled with passion for creation)
"Oh, I see you found my latest invention! That right there is a device that let's you talk to Pokemon! How was it made you ask? Well, with a lot of time of course!
Sophia is part of an ancient group in the region called "Team Imperium" that celebrates and preserves their ancient history. All of them, including Sophia, are descendants from Ancient Romans in the region, and Sophia feels a great burden trying to make sure that any relics she finds that are linked to her ancestry are not destroyed or mishandled. Within the story she is a minor character that helps the protagonist at various points on their journey.
For Sophia's voice I'm looking for something a little softer and a little more reserved. She has a complicated history where she was formerly a villain, and now that she's a (relatively) good person, she finds herself contemplating her actions before she does anything. She also has a slight sense of being a "know it all", although this isn't as pronounced as her reserved-ness.
(Is moderately surprised you found her)
"Few people ever find this tower's chamber, so I'm rather impressed you're here. Please, call me Sophia."
(exasperated with someone who is breaking her valuable sculptures)
"If I show you the exit will you promise to leave without breaking anything and never come back?"
Federico is the stoic leader of Team Esteta. His goal in starting the organization was to remind the region about its heritage and cultural ties to the past. He's become sick of so many people forgetting and shunning the arts, and has decided to take matters into his own hands and try and do something about it.
He has a very deep voice, almost booming at times, but is also very stoic and somber. He's very well articulated and never shouts or yells at anyone. He almost seems sad all the time in a way. A slight Italian accent would be great, but is not mandatory.
"So, you've arrived at last. The heralded "Savior of the Region" come to destroy the terrible Team Esteta."
"It's time for this Region to learn that the past is just as important as the future."
"Grunts, dispose of this intruder. I don't want them to interrupt our work."
Venezio is the second in command of Team Esteta, and as such, has immersed himself in the arts and culture of the region! He's somewhat flamboyant and condescending, with many thinking of him as just a "pretty boy", but if you anger him then you'll find out that he's more than just a pretty face and can obliterate you in a Pokemon battle!
For Venezio's voice I'm looking for something a little more effeminate and soft, but can have a very hard edge if need be. He is often soft-spoken, but if insulted he can change on a dime to being very angry.
Here's a couple references for the general "sound" I'm thinking (Although these are just a rough guideline and feel free to try and do something different if you feel the inspiration:
https://youtu.be/vfgdWw59zi4?t=197 (Go to 3:17)
"*Haughty Laugh*" It seems that you just could not stand up to my beauty in battle!"
(In shock from being defeated, before getting angry)
"So... you think I'm not fabulous, do you? Well, we'll just see about that! Come and aide me my beautiful Pokemon!"
"My style (Oh), and my grace (ah), are unmatched! Challenge if you want, child, but be prepared to be dazzled into oblivion!
Tempera is a young child that has proven her Pokemon battling ability, and has joined Team Esteta as one of their admins. She wears a Purloin mask (that she never takes off for some reason), and is one of the minor antagonists within the Italy Region's story.
For Tempera I'm really looking for a younger-sounding voice that can come off as almost annoying at times. Tempera is something of a mischievous prankster, and can switch from being very nice and sweet to mischievous and deceptive on a dime.
(She just jumped out of the shadows hissing like a Purloin and is laughing at someones expense)
"Ha ha, did you think I was a Pokemon? That's so funny!"
(Acting very sweet, but almost to the point of sounding fake)
"There there, Venezio, I'm sure these ignorant people are willing to change! Surely they see our beauty!
The lower-level members of Team Esteta! The grunts believe in Federico's cause and joined him to try and help the Region remember its heritage!
Italian accents are key with the Esteta Grunts. They're all originally from the Italian Region, and can speak in a variety of different tones and types. There's not one unified way I want them to speak. Maybe a little more "old-school" as they are dressed in heavy renaissance clothing, but any normal sounding voice is alright for them.
"Stop! You can't come through here because we're busy painting the buildings!"
"I could tell you where the boss is, but I'm not going to."
*Feel free to improv any lines you think they would say*
The player's mom has a very minor role within the story. Her and the player have just moved to the Italy Region for the Summer, and she's going to be running a small Bicycle Store to earn money. She's excited that her child is going out to live their dreams, and that excitement carries over into her demeanor.
I'm looking for a mom voice, plain and simple haha. Maybe one that can get a little bit more excited than usual, but still a calm and friendly voice that the player would hear from their mother telling them to live their dreams.
"Oh! You just got a letter in the mail, sweetie!"
"I know this is what you want to do for your Summer vacation, so just remember that I'll be right here supporting you every step of the way."
Comments
Public Submissions
