ShampooBeer

How do you find the specific soul of a character using only your voice? Prolific actor Phil LaMarr pulls back the curtain on his technical process for building iconic personalities from the ground up. In this professional master class, Phil explores the vocal DNA of his most famous roles—from the grounded humanity of John Stewart to the manic energy of Bolbi Stroganovsky. Learn how he navigates script constraints, adapts to different animation styles, and differentiates between over 500 credited roles.

From the early, often complicated depictions of the past to the rise of modern icons like Afro Samurai, Michiko & Hatchin, and Yasuke, this panel explores how representation has shifted over the decades. We’ll discuss the impact of Black creators in the industry, the deep cultural exchange between Hip-Hop and Anime, and the power of seeing diverse heroes on screen.