‘Adventure Time’ voice talent coming to Manila

JEREMY Shada, 18, says Finn’s voice is higher than his natural pitch.

“It’s so crazy and I never really know what to expect,” American actor and voice talent Jeremy Shada said of reading scripts for the hit Cartoon Network series “Adventure Time,” in a phone interview. He voices Finn, a sword-wielding boy who figures in wacky, even surreal encounters with his friend, the shape-shifting dog Jake.

Shada, 18, appeared in “Lost” prior to landing the voice-acting job. His other TV credits include guest appearances in “Parenthood” and “Ghost Whisperer.” He voiced other animated characters in “Batman: Brave and the Bold” and “ParaNorman.”

The teen actor will visit the country as one of the guest artists of Asiapop Comicon Manila, which will be held from Sept. 17 to 20 at the World Trade Center. Shada will perform with his band Make Out Monday as co-vocalist and bassist. His older brother Zack is among its members.

“Adventure Time” airs weekdays, 5 p.m. on Cartoon Network.

How would you describe growing with the character through the years?

It’s really cool. He’s kind of a fun kid… You know, I’m kinda registering voice changes. I’m really growing up with the character.

How often do you get surprised by the show’s scripts?

JEREMY Shada, 18, says Finn’s voice is higher than his natural pitch.

There are a million opportunities in the impossible! There is so much you can do with the show. Basically, it’s the writer’s field and their creative minds. They definitely know what they’re doing, and they come up with amazing story lines. We never know [their] reasons and how they put the characters in [situations].

Do you bond with the writers?

I don’t see them a lot. Sometimes they’re kind of having a nap! But I think, definitely, no matter what kind of show, the more someone becomes an avid fan of a character, the more he can portray the role.

What are the best and most difficult things about voicing Finn?

I think the best thing about voicing Finn is that he is such a crazy character. He screams battle cries! I think, sometimes, I get crazy [like him]. And, honestly, the challenge here is that Finn is not actually my normal voice, and it’s higher than my pitch. But the thing is just making sure that [the portrayal] is somehow grounded.

Name some voice talents that you admire.

The most amazing thing about voicing Finn in “Adventure Time” is the fact that it has the [voices] of John DiMaggio (Jake), Tom Kenny (Ice King), and so on. There are a lot of people that I love. It’s super-cool!

How would you describe the fans of “Adventure Time”?

There are fans who are super-dedicated. Like in Australia, I saw this guy with his car, painted with Finn and Jake… The whole thing is crazy. It’s definitely funny. Maybe one factor is the writing. And [the show] is colorful and vibrant, beautiful to look at. It’s pretty surprising. It can also be super-relatable!

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