BotCon panels 7/12 - Animated Voice Actors.

[griffin]

Saturday noon.
Panelists - Weird Al Yankovic (Wreckgar), David Kaye (Optimus, Lugnut. Grimlock)

David never expected to get Optimus when auditioning for Animated, and had such a habit of doing Megatron for so many years, it took a while to do Optimus instinctively at the recordings.
For inspiration for Grimlock, he watche the 1986 Movie.

Weird Al's parodies are usually done by perusing the current music charts for ideas, thinking of a wacky idea, getting permission of those involved, writing up the lyrics and recording/shooting it.

David was awed by and honoured to have Weird Al at the Animated Recordings.

Weird Al was thrilled to be doing Transformers, and is apparently a bit of a fan.

Most bizarre autographs they've done:
Weird Al - on someone's body and then seeing it later tattooed.
David - on a baby that morning.

David's favourite series is Animated, but favourite character is Beast Wars Megatron, yessss....

Apparently Weird Al has been on the Simpsons, and considers it as the highlight of his career so far.
Would have loved to work with Orson Wells though.

David has a role in the new Pixar movie 'Up'.

[Sleeve]

Personal highlight of that panel was when Weird Al said he could do an Optimus Prime or Megatron voice, and would simply shout "Hey I'm Optimus Prime/Megatron!" in his Wreck-Gar voice.

[Robzy]

Man, I love Weird Al! He cracks me up!!

I would've loved to have seen him and Peter Cullen!