“INTERVIEW: The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated ADR Director Talks Video Games and Anime”

English dubs have been an integral part of the way we watch anime since Astro Boy in the '60s, and today we're talking to one of the people who helps bring those dubs to life! An ADR (automated dialog replacement) director is responsible for overseeing the entire process for English dubs and works closely with actors, scriptwriters, and audio engineers to make sure the end product is the best it can possibly be! We had the opportunity to chat with ADR Director Jonathan Rigg (director of The Great Jahy Will Not Be Defeated, BLUELOCK, and more) about his career, how he got started in the industry and some of his favorite anime in and outside of the booth! 

Crunchyroll: What is your name and how long have you been an ADR Director? 

Jonathan Rigg: My name is Jonathan Adams Rigg (most call me Rigg) and I've been directing for more than a decade. As for the title "ADR Director," well, I just got started doing anime in 2022. I'm honored to enter this iconic arena of entertainment.

How did you get your start in anime and what has brought you here now?

Rigg: I got my start in anime by simply applying for an open position at Funimation (now part of Crunchyroll). What got me here? I built my resume on 10+ years of work in the video game industry, from IGN Entertainment to the one and only Nintendo of America, where I wrote and directed numerous videos, including Nintendo Direct. It was an honor to meet and write for some of the mentors of my heart, including Shigeru Miyamoto, Reggie Fils-Aimé, and the late, great Satoru Iwata.

If you've done any voice acting yourself, what roles have you played?

Rigg: I'm a director first, but when I was at Nintendo, I lent my acting chops to occasional game trailers and Nintendo Direct, most notably the one for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, in which you can see me on camera nearly right from the start. No, I didn't really eat and of that 30-year-old Donkey Kong cereal, but it was still in the box!

What are your all-time favorite anime titles?

Rigg: I grew up on Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z. I deeply admire Cowboy Bebop, Galaxy Express 999, and Princess Tutu. And if you're looking to laugh until you cry and then just keep crying for other reasons, I highly recommend School Rumble.

Out of everything you've accomplished with Crunchyroll, and Funimation before that, what are you most proud of?

Rigg: I don't consider myself a prideful person. Instead, I am humbled by the greatness of Japanese animation. Manga artists and light novel authors are true auteurs. Everything I've worked on has flown from their hearts. And so, honestly, I am a servant to the art, and it's simply an honor to serve. 

What do you love most about the anime fandom?

Rigg: Anime fans have the shared experience of discovering other worlds together, following heroes who are often striving to be their best selves, while overcoming the villains or hardships that stand in their way. That insight also allows us anime fans to see ourselves as legends in the making and do our very best. So, let's just do that, eh? Ganbatte!

Can you share a fun/meaningful memory from your career?

Rigg: "The call." Although I'd been directing actors for many years, before my anime career, I'd never actually held a job with the title of "Director," and so even when I directed a legend like Luci Christian or worked on something incredibly high-profile at Nintendo, like the live gameplay reveal of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on Nintendo Treehouse: Live at E3, I'd doubt whether I'd really lived up to my dream of becoming a director. But when I got "the call," and signed, I knew I was officially living my childhood dream.

How can fans support your art or follow you online?

Rigg: You can find me on Twitter @retrojono. I'm not big on social, so I've minimized it in my life to that one spot. That said, the very best way to support the art is simply to enjoy it, and if you like one of the dubs I've directed, I suppose you could tell your friends to watch as well. Or not. As long as someone out there loves the shows and is satisifed with the efforts that went into them, that's all I care about as a director. And if you're that someone and that's why you're reading this, hey, it's all for you. Thanks for watching.

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