Where are you from?
Depends on how you look at things! Born in New York, but brought to Florida when I was four and raised by my very New Yorker Italian-American family.
Why do you want to be a voice actor?
Like many, I’ve been into animation and video games since I was a kid. It was all I ever wanted to spend my time on. I really love the projects I get to be a part of from the bottom up, every perspective. Be it the writing, art, message it spreads, the design philosophy, or even just a fun little romp for the viewer/player. I really love the creative energy I get to bring to the table with the addictive power of acting. Honing my skillset and seeing the finished projects come to life, as the many talented people behind them envisioned, is something that has been a thrill for me for five years. I can’t see myself stopping now.
Who is your favorite VO actor?
This is just a mean question! What they’ve each brought to the table through the years has undeniably been a pleasure for so many like myself. I really love the work of D.C. Douglas (Wesker, Resident Evil 5, with most notoriety). Steve Blum is a name that’s been said to me hundreds of times through the years in reference to my sound. Truthfully, when I listen side by side, I can sort of hear what people mean, but for the most part I hear how many leagues above me in skill he is, and I hear the many differences to his voice.
Still, that being said, I have studied his work to get inspiration more than most other voice actors. I don’t attempt to impersonate his work though. It’s been a big focus of mine to try to create my own style to things through the years. I don’t want to be “the next Steve Blum”, as prestigious as the title would be. The world has a Steve Blum and will only ever need that one Steve Blum. I want to be the next Gianni Matragrano.
The truth about me is that when it comes to naming voice actors, shamefully, I’m one of the worst. You’d think in five years I would have done more research about the most famous ones, but I guess I’ve actually been more focused on recording for my own projects hahah.
Who is your favorite anime/game/cartoon character?
Max Payne. No question.
If you could voice any character, who would it be and why?
I voice him. A character named Legend in the series called Eden. Eden had been a webseries for some years, and has recently launched into becoming a game you can check out at www.edenbluethegame.com. I’m really hoping for the best with Eden, it’s been a series I love being a part of.
The gist of what I’m trying to say is, back to my point about being “the next Gianni Matragrano”, is that what I want the most is for a new character to be tied to me in that way where folks just go “Yeah, that’s what that character sounds like. That’s his voice.” I’m not thinking I’ll be famous overnight, it’s a long road ahead and I know that.
To answer the question in a more forward way, Max Payne. Max Payne is a character whose game-style bleeds through every sentence spoken, and due to the really fascinating nature of the writing, each line brings a lot of creative opportunity for the actor playing him. If you ask me though, James McCaffrey will always be the only Max Payne, and even I’d be a little mad about me “officially” replacing him.
What drew you to audition for Cosmic Rage?
Uh oh. I can’t remember. Haha! Oops! It was probably posted to an audition board or forwarded to me by a friend, and I probably looked at it and said “This seems fun, interesting, and like it has some potential at a glance! Good enough, let’s jump in!” I really think the world is full of surprises, and if I even get the slightest feeling of a project having potential, I can’t resist jumping on it. It’s like I can hear opportunity knocking and I’m compelled to answer the door. Not to mention, this project has been fun to work on, and one thing about its style is that even from the audition info I was probably able to tell that it was going to be fun.
Where can fans follow you at or find more of your work?
http://giannimatragrano.wix.com/voice
(the website has links to past role playlists)
www.twitter.com/Gianni_VM
https://www.youtube.com/c/GianniMatragranoVoiceActor
http://gianni.newgrounds.com
I know, I know “Newgrounds? What is this, middle school?” But that’s legitimately where I started off, and I have to say, it’s an absolutely great place for beginning creators (and experienced ones too!). You’ll find a community of fellow creators ready to love and constructively critique your work, and a site staff ready to support up and comers by posting their latest work to the front page and even enabling artists to make front page news posts themselves! It’s not all hentai and jabs at celebrities (though that’s loveably still there), there are many beautiful animations, songs, voice demos, art, you name it, residing on that website.
Thanks for reading!
