Podtalk: Rob Paulsen, Voice of Yakko in 'Animaniacs,' at C2E2 in Chicago thru Mar. 24, 2019

CHICAGO – If the words, “We’re Animaniacs…” immediately makes you think, “There’s baloney in our slacks…” then you’ll want to experience voiceover artist Rob Paulsen, the iconic character of Yakko on that series. Rob, along with Animaniacs voices Jess Harnell (Wakko), Tress MacNeille (Dot) and Maurice LaMarche (the Brain) are at C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo) through Sunday, March 24, 2019. For ticket information and details, click here. [24]

Rob Paulsen was born in Michigan, and moved to Los Angeles in the 1980s to pursue acting work. It was a chance audition in 1983 with the “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” cartoon series that launched him into a lifelong pursuit, leading him to do voice characters for the aforementioned “Animaniacs” (with Jess Harnell and Tress MacNeille) “Pinky and the Brain” (Paulsen as Pinky, and the Maurice LaMarche as Brain), “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Jimmy Neutron,” “The Tick,” and many more.

Rob Paulsen (and Friends) of at C2E2 through March 24th
Photo credit: RobPaulsenLive.com

Rob Paulsen is in Booth Six in the autograph area of C2E2, with his voiceover compatriots close by. He is also touring the country in “Animaniacs in Concert!,” which pairs him with composer Randy Rogel to perform many of the shows original songs like “Yakko’s World” (all the countries of the world in song! Updated from 1993!), “Yakko’s Universe” and “Variety Speak” (finally the Hollywood trade papers explained!). For anybody that grew up in the 1990s and/or was an Animaniacs fan, this is a night of nostalgia and pure joy (click link below for dates and locations).

In Part One of a Podtalk wtih Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Rob Paulsen talks about the “Animaniacs” reboot, inspiration from classic cartoons and celebrities doing voiceover work.

In Part Two, Paulsen talks about the Hank Azaria/Apu (“The Simpsons”) controversy, his in-front-of-the-camera acting work and the cartoon character that he’d like to sit down with for dinner.

[26]	By PATRICK McDONALD [27] Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com [26]