Interview with Jessica Calvello
The voice of Cutey Honey
Jessica had
the distinct honor of being cast by Cutey Honey creator Go Nagai himself. Under
A.D.V. Films, she also voiced Minerva in Princess Minerva, Fam in Ruin
Explorers, Yuri in the Original Dirty Pair series. Since
her move to New York in 1999, Jessica has done voiceover work for Central Park
Media and the Right Stuf.
Conducted 4/8/2000
Your comments on your character Cutey Honey...
Comments? Well, Honey is
everything pure and good. She fights for love and justice and always looks good
doing it. I love her outrageous outfits and monologues that go with the action
when she is doing her famous "HONEY FLAAAAASH!!!" I also really love the
character because she ONLY fights when it is necessary, and is always clear
about it. She is loyal to those she loves and will die for any of them. Of
course, Honey can't die.
What did you enjoy most about playing Cutey Honey?
My measurements:
44-22-44, or something like that. I can always wish for that kind-of
voluptuousness, can't I? :) Actually, I loved that I got to use such a wide
vocal range for her. Honey has many emotions and I got to explore that with my
voice. She was a challenge!
Which is your favorite scene in the series?
Two of them, actually. The
scene where Honey keeps changing into characters, but that pervert keeps
stripping her down! Is it Volume 3? It was some hilarious voice acting by Rob
Mungle that really made it work. And my favorite line, (after Honey has changed
into Sakomoto) "I'm going to have to get Medieval on yo' ass."
Then there is the scene with Chokkei up on the roof in Volume 3. I think that
was some of the most real acting between two characters I have ever heard. David
Nance really captured the essence of Chokkei and I think the scene really
defines the relationship between Honey and Chokkei.
Ok, well, three scenes, really. The last episode, V4, when Honey is tied up
in the same room with Devilman, voiced by the awesome Brett Weaver. Honey is
trying to be so cool and so "manly" and she just can't help but be a little
freaked out by the "psychopath set" known as Devilman. Perhaps, she is a little
attracted to him, too. Ok, well maybe I am a little attracted to him! But how
could you not be?! Honey doesn't want to blow her cover, but she realizes too
late that saying she is Leader of the Honey Angels Biker Gang, or whatever she
calls it, just doesn't sound that threatening. Her reaction to herself after
that line always makes me laugh.
My favorite scene with Honey is in volume 3 when she is up on the roof with
Chokkei. Your comments on that particular scene...
Ah, yes! You like that
one, too? It is one of my favorites as I stated in Question 3. At this point in
the series, Chokkei has grown up more and knows that Honey has so much love for
him. I think that the boyish crush that Chokkei used to have on Honey in the
beginning of the series is disappearing and Chokkei sees her more as a kind-of
mother figure. The way that Honey has always protected and fawned over Chokkei
confirms that she only wants the best for him. Now he has matured. I think the
scene is really more about Chokkei than Honey. It is a definite turning point
for his character. For Honey, it is simple. She knows that Chokkei is growing
up, and I think that even though she tickles and plays around with him, she
knows that he is "outgrowing" the crush and seeing her for something deeper.
Honey knows that she can still get a rise out of him (and I don't mean the word
"rise" as a pun at all!) and embarrass him a little, but she also knows that the
relationship between them has gone to another level. I think it may make Honey a
little sad, I mean it is the same instance were someone dotes on your every word
and looks at you with googly eyes, and then over time, they see you for more
than just "attractive" because they KNOW you. They recognize your wonderful
qualities, and they love your heart, and then they can't think of you in the
original way that they used to because now the feelings have gone to another
place. In this case, Chokkei's feelings have become aware to him, and he doesn't
want Honey to play with him in that sexual manner, because it cheapens the
"real" feelings that he has for her now. Honey is all aware of this, but she
still likes to tease!
Your comments on the series overall...
Well, of course, I love the
series. I think the animation is so pretty, and I love the pureness of Honey and
what she stands for. I love the relationships between the characters and the way
that they all grow as the series progresses. Nothing is more boring than a
series with the same thing happening over and over again. But with each volume,
we see growth within characters and relationships. Chokkei grows and matures, so
does Natsuko. Even Daiko has a breakthrough at one point. And Honey, well what
an extraordinary being: to be an super android with super powers and to possess
the real emotions of a human. One of my favorite endings is (I think it is
volume 3) the episode with Yasha, and how Honey felt connected to her, and was
truly sorry that she couldn't get through to her. Honey experienced great sorrow
when Yasha was destroyed. She wished that they could have been sisters. Such
emotional expression is human growth and this is what keeps the Cutey Honey
series alive for me. It isn't just T&A, but sympathetic and endearing. Ok,
it is a LOT of T&A, but hey, it is Go Nagai!
Thank you for your time, Jessica.
Thank you, Edgard, for these wonderful
questions! It has been a while since someone has gotten me to thinking about
Honey, and the series. It has been nice for me to take the little anime walk
down memory lane...
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