Kiba Walker Interview Ohayocon 2022 (Long Bronzed Gilbert)

With PAX East 2022 just around the corner, we are determined to catch up on any and all interviews that may have fallen through the word work. Despite our chaotic schedule and convention preparation, we know that you would love to hear more about the different voice actors that bring to life certain characters. The next interview we have for you is with voice actor Kiba Walker. At Ohayocon 2022, we conducted the Kiba Walker interview but had to wait until the release of Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands before we could share it with you. Kiba Walker is the voice of Long Bronzed Gilbert in Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. He is also the voice of Erwin Marcel in 86, Mumps Virus in Cells at Work!, and Paplo Esposa in Black Clover to name a few roles.

VA Beginnings

Matt Kowalski (MK): First question, what got you into voice acting?

Kiba Walker (KW): I started in theater. Voice acting was never really thought until a friend of mine had come to me and said, “Hey we’re going to do this thing on Tumblr and we’re going to voice the characters and I had no clue what she meant. And when we did it, I realized that I use my acting kind of my Singing training to really do something different with my acting. I’d always been so self-conscious about looks. So being able to do something without being seen was like, oh, let me see what this is like. I started going to conventions outside of my cosplay stuff that I was already doing and I went to a couple of panels and met with some actors and I kind of met the right people and the bug bit me, and 10 years later here I am.

So yeah, really it was. I mean, when your bigger or, you know, you don’t really get. You get told all the time like, hey, like you don’t really fit this character type even though you sing it or act it well, people always tend to kind of,  pass you off because you don’t look it. So voice acting was a way for me to do what I loved and be characters without having to worry about people judging me for my weight or anything.

MK: I had that in college theater

KW: College theater is the worst about it. So.

MK: Oh, you’re a tall guy. You’re playing basketball.

KW: Yeah, I guess that’s the role. I want. Cool. Thanks.

We have an interest.

First Role

MK: What was the first role you auditioned for and did you get it?

KW: My first role I auditioned for? God. My first-ever voice acting role, I actually did audition for it and I booked it; it was for this webcomic series called Love Games and I auditioned for this character in Boku Tamagawa, and I didn’t think I was going to get it because I’m like it’s an original project. I’m just starting out whatever and actually did get it.

My first anime role actually, I’ve auditioned for a lot of stuff and not have gotten it but got called in for a lot of things. So my first anime role that was a name character was actually in Junji Ito Collection as Stano. So I got to play this creepy Supernatural, high school student who terrorized the town and made things happen.  That was my first anime role would be a fun character.

MK: That be a fun character to play.

Kiba Walker: Oh, yeah, 100%.

Booth Bombs/ Horror Stories

MK: Any Horror Stories or booth bombs from your time as a voice actor that really stand out?

KW: This guy had been going down the line. They had this doll with them and it was this decrepit Marionette doll and he was like petting it, whatever. And he kept walking down and I was just like out of the corner of my eye. Like, is he coming this way? And finally, he had stopped at our table and he was like right at the edge here and I had someone I was talking to and I just kept looking and he’s just like set the doll on my table and I was like, oh, this is some Annabelle like crap. I’m ready to get out of here. He was like, well, you know, I don’t remember the doll’s name I’ll make it up. Patricia would like an autograph. and I was like, well who’s Patricia?

MK: He was like my friend here.

KW: Right? So I signed an autograph for this doll, and then he left and I never saw him again. And I’m pretty sure I have 13 years of bad luck now, so, we’ll see. Probably.

MK: What about Studio bombs?

KW: Oh my gosh. Gosh, Booth bombs. Let me see. I haven’t had one that I’ve left or someone has left for me. However, I have a moment where I was working with on Ginji actually, is my first long session and I was nervous because I was like, I don’t want to mess it up. and the director, Terry Toady, I remember like right before I would say a line, She would say something just ridiculous.

So I just remember one time. I’m like trying to get this laughter going and for some reason, I was having trouble and she goes. It’s like beep, beep, beep. And right before I start talking. She’s like boobs at the top of her lungs and I just started laughing and she was like, see. There we go. We got it. And I was like, are you kidding? Like, why did you have to go and do that? Make me break character.

But like I don’t really get the bombs, because we work remotely now. So I don’t get a chance to like hear anybody leave it before me or anything like that, but there’s some really funny stuff we’ve done in the booth. Yeah, I mean honestly a lot of it. I rarely get to see who’s before me in any session now.

MK: Yeah, Kent was saying you don’t really get to see who you are working with who was before you.

Kiba Walker: Yeah. I’m usually first to nowadays in some of the shows. So I don’t really get to hear anybody’s stuff.

Other Career paths

MK: If you weren’t a voice actor what other career would you like?

KW: I mean, I’m a full-time drag performer. So I do that already as like I have my pictures up here. Yeah, take a look. So I’ve already done that full time. So my biggest thing is I would love to be a musician full-time again. I used to do it before I even started doing voice over sir professionally, but unfortunately, you know, Texas is a place where like you do one thing and that’s like what you’re stuck with right now, but if I wasn’t doing voiceover, probably do drag or music full time.

A Desired Role?

MK: What is one role you wish you could have been cast in?

KW: One of them is Deku, but I would say if I could have been cast in any role and I wish I could have the chance to be in like Demon Slayer which would be really cool. I think it would be a really good Zenitsu. I play a lot of higher voice characters and I think would have been really fun. But I mean, Alex Lee does an amazing job. I think one that still hasn’t been dubbed. What is his name? Mafuyu in Given.  That show is really, really close to my heart and it hasn’t been dubbed yet and I’m hoping for the chance to be them in that because he sings, he’s sensitive and it’s a very great love story, and I would kill to be in that part.

MK: Have you reached out?

Kiba Walker: I mean, hey, you never know. If you are listening out there for anyone who’s casting that show. I’m here. I’m here.

Voice Acting Inspiration

MK: Who is your voice acting senpai? The person you draw the most inspiration from?

KW: I’m inspired by a lot of my colleagues. A lot of the people I work with, I grew up listening to, which is really surreal, you know, even like Kent and like Barry and Cynthia and John even. All of them, I’ve listened to on various things, but I would say, my biggest inspiration would be Greg Ayers; he’s always been such an inspiration in like voice type.

So I got to meet him for the first time last year at a convention and he came up to me and was like, I’ve heard your name around. It’s like finally great to meet you. And I’m like AWWW! and he’s been really cool to me. That he’s reached out to me on a lot of different things like personally and I just really think he’s an amazing person and he’s a great symbol for LGBT Community. He’s been in this business for a long time and he’s so great at what he does. And I just think he’s, he’s someone that I like really look up to.

MK: I’m trying to remember if Greg is the one that does Gir in Invader Zim?

KW: That’s Chris. Yeah, they are brothers.

MK: They come to Ohayocon quite a bit.

Kiba Walker: Yeah, I was shocked to not see Greg here but yeah.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

MK: How excited were you to work on the March project (Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands)? You can blame Kent for that.

KW: I’m a kill Kent and Barry (Laughing). So I to say that working on something like that is something just unrivaled and incredible because I grew up playing this said series. For me, getting the call to be such a very small instrumental character in this new story is just really, really cool. So when I found out Kent and Barry were a part of it and I directly affect those characters. I was like, oh, I have the power in my hands. But yeah, I’ve been trying to like, not, say anything but these two.

MK: I think the rule was if your character was shown in gameplay or a trailer you could talk about it.

KW: Yeah, but we haven’t been yet.

MK: I pulled up the trailer yesterday and we didn’t see the roles.

Kiba Walker: But yes, it was an amazing time working on it so I had a great time.

One Obscure Fact

MK: What’s one obscure fact about you that people wouldn’t know?

KW: I was in a boy band when I was 12 and I was in a boy band with Ross Lynch from Austin and Aly/Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and we did a couple of performances in Hollywood at Universal Studios City Walk. But yes, I was in a boy band.

MK: What year was that?

KW: When, oh God, 2007.

MK: I would have been in Universal around that time.

KW: I literally was on the Citywalk stage.

MK: like right outside in the center? Where you can go left to Islands of Adventure or right to Universal Studios?

KW: Past, all the restaurants, and then there’s that I want to say House of Blues is right next to it.

MK: I know Margaritaville is right before it.

KW: If you’re on the stage to the left is House of Blues. Yeah, and then like I think there’s like a movie theater or something right behind it because I remember they’re always being like movie posters present.

MK: There was the surfboard area that everyone wanted to take pictures of or on. and the movie theatre is right after the escalators.

KW: Yes. Oh, so, you know my life before I even knew who you are? Love that. You’ve been stalking me.

MK: It’s just research.

Kiba Walker: It just researching promise.

Recreational Activities

MK: So favorite recreational activities it could be this or it could be something else.

KW: Honestly like drag is a recreational activity, but it’s become my full-time job at this point. But side say like now, I love cooking. I love to cook and I wish I could do more of it because I’m so busy. I don’t get too often. So when I get to it’s very relaxing and nice because I can just like cook and then kind of eat something healthier than you know, fast food. So, that’s always nice.

MK: Is there any style you like?

KW: Oh gosh, I love to cook a lot of pasta. So I love any type of like, I like to mix and match the ingredients. I’m like, you know Breath of the Wild’s Link. Toss things in and if it works, it works. I love cooking pasta. I love cooking things with a lot of different veggies. So just anything that I can, I can just throw in.

MK: I’ll throw in anything and if it’s bad I’ll eat it anyway and learn from it.

Kiba Walker: We just eat it anyway it’s food.

Who You’d Like to Work With

MK: One voice actor you’ve always wanted to work with and a general actor you’ve always wanted to work with?

KW: Oh gosh, because we all technically work with people but one I have not done a show with it all and I would love to because we’ve known each other for quite a while. It’s Zach Aguilar  We’ve known each other since like 2016, 2015. We’ve always missed each other. He works in the LA Sphere and I work in Texas. But technically we are in Genshin Impact together. Obviously, he’s the main character, but I don’t count that because it’s very different. So I would say Zach Aguilar would be a great person to work with and like, you know, see after all these years for sure.

Then a general actor. If I could meet Tom Holland and work with Tom Holland, done.

MK: Even just a meet and greet.

Kiba Walker: Yes

Cats Vs Dogs

MK: Cats or Dogs

KW: Cats. I’m allergic to dogs. So I had dogs growing up and I loved them until they licked me. I’m allergic to dog saliva, not the dogs themselves. So if a dog licks me it’s over with but I can pet dogs, it’s fine. But cats, I’ve had my cat for 17 years, he’s my boy. I love him and I love cats.

MK: If neither what would you choose

KW: If neither, if I could have any animal, a fox. I like foxes.

MK: They’re not dogs

Kiba Walker: They’re not quite dogs but if they lick me and I get an allergic reaction then that’s a sad day. But foxes for right now.

Favorite Pokemon

MK: Who’s your favorite starter Pokemon?

KW: Favorite starter? Rowlet because decision wise is a great Pokemon. But I would say from a classic if we are talking gen 4 or before then probably Bulbasaur.

MK: If not a grass type, who’s your favorite overall?

KW: Overall, if not a grass type.

MK: I mean it can be a grass type.

Kiba Walker: I mean Rowlet is my favorite overall. If I had to choose anyone, I could choose any time, because it’s so strong, probably Chimchar, Infernape. I pretty much destroyed Shining Pearl with my Infernape alone, that fighting fire combo is pretty strong since there are no fire types in Sinnoh.

Favorite Villager?

MK: Favorite villager in Animal Crossing?

KW: Probably, I gotta think of who’s my favorite villager because I’ve been playing since GameCube. And think about who’s been my consistent. Probably Kiki, yeah, the black cat. I like her. She’s very consistent, she’s a catty but she’s also nice. She’s been consistently keeping my village clean.

MK: That’s nice, I know Kent was talking about wanting to visit your village.

KW: I know, I need to do that before we leave back to Texas. Although, I’ll see him.

MK: Plus you can do it remotely

KW: Exactly, I’ll be like “here’s my friend code, let’s do this.”

MK: Is there a certain village aesthetic that you like?

KW: I love villages that are like, I love watching videos of people going all out. Making streets, like full on Japan. I love that, however I could never do that. I could but i dont have the time and patience to. So I would say just anything that looks neat. I like to keep it pretty even with houses. But I love the aesthetic of when people make their village look like Spring just happened, and they permanently do that. All the streets are lined with flower petals, it’s so nice.

MK: I know I watch her play it sometimes.

KW: Do you do all that stuff too?

Zaff: I wish I had my switch so I could show you ill bring it down later.

Kiba Walker: Okay, I want to see this.

Favorite Game Franchise?

MK: Favorite game and favorite game franchise?

KW: Kingdom Hearts, all of it.

MK: How did you feel about three though?

KW: I loved three. There was some stuff I didn’t like about three but for someone who waited so long to play three… I used to host on GameStop TV, so I got to try Kingdom Hearts 3 at E3 when I interviewed Square Enix. They took me to the backroom to play it and I saw it from them and they gave me a free collectors edition for it and I was just so excited playing it that, I platinumed it. I’m still working on ReMind. Literally, I love that they brought it to a kinda darker place, like they tried to do with two.

Some of the boss battles were really fun and I love the visuals of it. I’m mad they made Sora stupider than he’s been before, however it was still very good. If you took out the Frozen world it wouldn’t have missed anything because it was just the movie rather than the other world actually having an effect of heartless. I felt like it was just Frozen, and they even did the Let It Go sequence – I could go on for hours.

MK: I understand, I know when I hit San Fransokyo and Pirates of the Carribean, I was just like you could have done so much more with these worlds.

KW: True, San Fransokyo especially. I liked that you could do the ship thing on pirates. I really liked that because I explored everywhere. San Fransokyo, I was really upset that there wasn’t more to do because I was like “you could have taken Frozen out and made this longer” and that would have been perfect.

MK: I forgive you at the end. I was like I understand it was supposed to be like you I forgive you for your past deeds but my dude.

KW: Yeah it’s a lot.

Favorite Con Experience

MK: Favorite Con experience overall? We heard the creepy marionette before.

KW: My favorite con experience was probably, was someone cosplaying a character of mine. Which was so weird because it was a random YouTube character I did earlier in my career. They came to the convention and surprised me in cosplay. I was like are you kidding this is so cool! So that was really fun.

I recently had someone drive 4 hours just to come see me, and they gave me all this custom stuff from Camp Buddy that i worked on. And they are making me a uniform of my character and they are going to send it to me. So that was my favorite con experience. I love when people are like super fans of it and we can geek out together because I am a fan of what I do. If they are enjoying it then I’m doing my job.

MK: Did they have to take measurements?

KW: They did have to take measurements. They had to take measurements of everything.

MK: Oh my.

KW: Look, I was talking about my height and my waist, all that stuff. Nothing else

MK: I mean sometimes you need to make sure it fits, you know. I’ve had pants that are way too tight down there and it’s just like see.

KW: The thing is that it’s short so i told them if you want to make me the shirt and I can find the shorts. But they are making me the whole thing so I said okay you’re good

MK: Free outfit and sentimental value

KW: Yes, that’s going to be the thing, I don’t think I’ll even wear it. I think I’ll just have it folded.

MK: DM them and find out when they are going to different conventions and just show up in it and surprise them.

Kiba Walker: I know, that’s what I want to find out because honestly they do go to a lot of different cons and I’m going to be like Surprise!

Favorite Voice Actor

Matt: Last question, who’s your favorite voice actor or voice actress?

Kiba: My favorite, like someone I can just listen to and everything they do is just so buttery and so good. I’d say, my favorite voice actor is Steve Blum. I think Steve Blum has such an alluring voice and when he talks you’re just so addicted you need to pay attention. Especially in Legend of Korra. I grew up with Naruto, it’s my favorite anime. Orochimaru was always something, he’s so intimidating.

My favorite actress I would have to say is Colleen Clinkenbeard. Again the same kind of texture of voice, that she can do anything. She goes from Luffy, to Momo to everything else she’s ever done. It’s just like how do you do the things you do.

MK: What about on the Japanese side?

KW: Japanese side, I gotta be a fan of Naruto‘s voice actress. I can’t remember her name right now because, blanking. She is incredible and in fact she has, she messaged. I remember meeting Maile Flanagan who voices Naruto in English and she had video called or had done something where they got to meet for the first time. Seeing that video was really cool. I think she has just a great texture. Yes! Junko Takeuchi, I think that she’s just incredible. Yeah, those are my favorites.

MK: Good options, I know that people will say Goku’s voice.

KW: People love Goku’s voice and don’t get me wrong, incredible but when it comes down to my personal opinion, these are the people that made me feel something in both languages. You gotta love it.

MK: Thank you very much for your time.

Kiba: Thank you! Thank you for interviewing me and I loved this, this was great.

MK: Do you want to plug any socials?

Kiba Walker: Yes you can follow me on Twitter @JustKibaWalker or on Instagram @ KibatheVoice. I’m literally always on there and you can DM me and say hello, all that stuff! Just Behave.