Kimiko Glenn gets nutty in new Disney animated series KIFF

This week sees the premiere of Disney’s newest animated series Kiff, a nutty animated buddy-comedy about an optimistic squirrel Kiff and her chill bunny bestie Barry. Created by Lucy Heavens and Nic Smal, the duo had been impressed by their experiences rising up in Cape Town, South Africa. Throughout the present, viewers will watch and be entertained as Kiff and Barry navigate faculty, relationships and their often-eccentric group in Table Town, a world the place animals and magical oddballs deal with day-to-day life collectively.

Voicing the titular character is none aside from acclaimed and award-winning actress Kimiko Glenn. Ahead of the premiere of Kiff, The Beat had the chance to speak with Glenn about taking part in such an oddball character in addition to what viewers can anticipate. 

Taimur Dar: I discovered throughout interviews you probably did for Baby Shark’s Big Show that you just needed to audition a number of instances for Baby Shark as a result of it was such a serious franchise and so they wished to verify they obtained it proper. For Kiff, because you’ve labored on quite a few Disney initiatives and at this level they most likely know you effectively, did you continue to need to audition or did they method you immediately?

Kimiko Glenn: I undoubtedly auditioned. Kiff is a difficult one. She has rather a lot vitality and Is very quick paced and has a really particular rhythm to her. When I auditioned that they had me sing some songs. Songs are fairly onerous! [Laughs]. “Thirst to be the First” and one other one known as “Things” are equally intense songs. It wasn’t as in depth as Baby Shark.  

Dar: Even although you most likely weren’t in the identical room, I consider you and H Michael Croner, the voice of Kiff’s finest pal Barry, recorded your voices collectively. I don’t know when you recorded with another members of the forged, however I believe having you two collectively was important as a result of the characters have such a detailed dynamic. Did recording collectively make a distinction?   

Glenn: Of course. We’re ping-ponging forwards and backwards. [H Michael Croner] is so playful and simply intimidatingly great and hilarious. Being capable of truly learn with him and getting his inflection actually helps make it sound like an precise dialogue and dialog. It’s at all times so enjoyable and such an honor to have the ability to work with him. It’s largely remoted and us recording individually. But when our schedules and the scripts align we undoubtedly do it. It’s random right here and there however I cherish it.  

Dar: I’m an enormous fan of Lauren Ash from Superstore and James Iglehart from his musical theater work. They voice your mother and father in the present. Did you get to file with them?

Glenn: I didn’t know they had been part of the forged till I truly noticed it. Unfortunately, I haven’t been capable of work along with anybody aside from H Michael. I’d like to. I’m an enormous fan of lots of people in the present. One of my mates Eugene Cordero performs The Pone and Secretary Prince. I discovered that out later and I’m like, “We did the same show together? How fun! I wish we got to record!” Such is the world of animation. Somehow they make it nice. It’s such a ability and it’s at all times so spectacular.  

Dar: One of the important thing folks making that occur is Kiff voice director Sam Riegel who’s extremely completed not simply as a VO director however in the leisure trade as an entire. You’ve labored with him for just about all if not most of your Disney animation initiatives. What’s been the expertise with him as a voice director?

Glenn: Sam’s the perfect! I’ve recognized him for a lot of, many, a few years. The evolution of our friendship has expanded. He additionally reads you in with the funniest reads. I’m in awe of him. I noticed just lately that he was fairly well-known. I had no thought as a result of it’s not usually {that a} voice director has that kind of notoriety. They’re usually in the background. I felt so foolish for not recognizing that till just lately. He is so proficient and great. We love Sam!

Dar: Aside out of your animation voiceover work, I believe most individuals are accustomed to your on-camera work like Orange is the New Black. For you as a performer, what sort of satisfaction do you get from working in youngsters’s media?

Glenn: I really like youngsters’s programming. I need in my life to be a mom and to have the ability to see what we’re instructing children. The indisputable fact that I play an element in that someway, it tickles me and makes me really feel like I’m making a distinction immediately. I do TV and movie and it’s great. It kind of feels nearly egocentric in a means. But this feels very selfless as a result of it’s not me in the forefront. It’s Kiff in the forefront. I’m simply voicing and deciphering this character that they’re going to know and love. I take it to coronary heart.  

Dar: There’s undoubtedly some who view kindness as a weak point. However, I really feel like there’s been a shift in our tradition away from that pessimism in direction of valuing positivity as exemplified by media by means of exhibits like Ted Lasso. Do you see that development in a present and character like Kiff?

Glenn: Absolutely. It’s one thing that we’re studying as a society that constructive reinforcement and positivity in normal is the best way to go, or at the very least the best way I wish to go. I respect it as a result of it’s going to develop youngsters’s minds and permit them to comprehend that it’s okay to be earnestly keen about issues and to steer with a smile. I really respect it. That’s an ideal query and one thing I’ve thought of rather a lot.  

Dar: Finally, what do you hope each children and adults can get out of watching Kiff?

Glenn: I hope that they get a way of enthusiasm. It can really open portals with their mind to develop their humorousness. The conditions are so outlandish and artistic and fascinating. The first episode talks about whether or not or not you get the primary or fifth tub. What an idea! The entire series gets weirder. The creativity of that’s so humorous. I hope that oldsters truly get to benefit from the exhibits they’re permitting their children to observe. I believe a variety of instances they simply set them in entrance of the TV and go, “Ok, have fun!” I believe persons are truly going to get pleasure from watching this with their children.

Kiff premieres on Disney Channel on Friday, March 10 (8:00 p.m. EST/PST) and on Disney+ shortly thereafter.

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